A planar dissolved oxygen sensing electrode for water quality monitoring and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The sensing electrode includes an insulating base plate, an electric-conductive layer, an oxygen sensing layer, a reference sensing layer, and an electrolyte layer. The electric-conductive layer is disposed on the planar surface of the insulating base plate. The electric-conductive layer includes a first conductive part, a second conductive part, a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone. The first conductive part and the second conductive part are connected to the first reaction zone and the second reaction zone, respectively. The oxygen sensing layer disposed on the first reaction zone includes plural catalyst particles dispersed in the polymer matrix. The reference sensing layer is disposed on the second reaction zone. The electrolyte layer is disposed on the oxygen sensing layer and the reference sensing layer.

This invention provides a rechargeable cell comprising an electrode including: a plurality of porous clusters of silver particles, wherein each cluster includes: (a) a plurality of silver particles, and (b) crystalline particles of zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2), wherein at least a portion of the crystalline particles of ZrO.sub.2 is located in pores formed by a surface of the plurality of silver particles. Electrodes of the present invention catalyze the reduction of oxygen in alkaline solution. When the cell is charged, the silver in the electrodes can be oxidized to Ag.sub.2O and further to AgO. Upon discharge, the reduction of the oxidized silver results in additional available energy. This invention provides electrodes for use in rechargeable cells or batteries and methods of making thereof.

This invention provides a rechargeable cell comprising an electrode including: a plurality of porous clusters of silver particles, wherein each cluster includes: (a) a plurality of silver particles, and (b) crystalline particles of zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2), wherein at least a portion of the crystalline particles of ZrO.sub.2 is located in pores formed by a surface of the plurality of silver particles. Electrodes of the present invention catalyze the reduction of oxygen in alkaline solution. When the cell is charged, the silver in the electrodes can be oxidized to Ag.sub.2O and further to AgO. Upon discharge, the reduction of the oxidized silver results in additional available energy. This invention provides electrodes for use in rechargeable cells or batteries and methods of making thereof.

In some embodiments, a battery, a cathode for a battery, and a method for making a cathode and a battery are provided. The method comprises the steps of at least combining an electrode active material, one or more conductive diluents, a binder and a solvent to form an electrode active mixture having a first solvent to powder weight ratio, reducing a solvent to powder weight ratio to form a paste, feeding the paste into a plastic tube; and calendering the plastic tube. A dry cathode mixture is provided. The dry cathode mixture includes a cathode active material, a conductive diluent and a polymeric binder. A solvent is mixed with the dry mixture to form a slurry. Solvent is removed from the slurry to form a doughy composition. The doughy composition is calender sheeted to form a sheet. The sheet is baked at a temperature of 30 C. to 120 C. for 15 minutes to 6 hours to form a dry sheet. The dry sheet is cut into coupons. The coupons are pressed to form a pressed coupon. The pressed coupons are baked to form cathodes, by subjecting the pressed coupons to a temperature of 30 C. to 120 C. for at least one hour. The cathodes may be processed into batteries.

A battery is provided including a positive electrode; a negative electrode including a first negative electrode active material; and an electrolytic solution, wherein the first negative electrode active material includes a core portion having a core portion surface, wherein the core portion has a median diameter of 0.3 m to 20 m, and a covering portion that covers at least part of the core portion surface, wherein the covering portion comprises at least Si, O and at least of one element M1 selected from Li, carbon (C), Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ge, Zr, Mo, Ag, Sn, Ba, W, Ta, Na, and K.

A battery is provided including a positive electrode; a negative electrode including a first negative electrode active material; and an electrolytic solution, wherein the first negative electrode active material includes a core portion having a core portion surface, wherein the core portion has a median diameter of 0.3 m to 20 m, and a covering portion that covers at least part of the core portion surface, wherein the covering portion comprises at least Si, O and at least of one element M1 selected from Li, carbon (C), Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ge, Zr, Mo, Ag, Sn, Ba, W, Ta, Na, and K.

An energy storage device, such as a silver oxide battery, can include a silver-containing cathode and an electrolyte having an ionic liquid. An anion of the ionic liquid is selected from the group consisting of: methanesulfonate, methylsulfate, acetate, and fluoroacetate. A cation of the ionic liquid can be selected from the group consisting of: imidazolium, pyridinium, ammonium, piperidinium, pyrrolidinium, sulfonium, and phosphonium. The energy storage device may include a printed or non-printed separator. The printed separator can include a gel including dissolved cellulose powder and the electrolyte. The non-printed separator can include a gel including at least partially dissolved regenerate cellulose and the electrolyte. An energy storage device fabrication process can include applying a plasma treatment to a surface of each of a cathode, anode, separator, and current collectors. The plasma treatment process can improve wettability, adhesion, electron and/or ionic transport across the treated surface.

An energy storage device, such as a silver oxide battery, can include a silver-containing cathode and an electrolyte having an ionic liquid. An anion of the ionic liquid is selected from the group consisting of: methanesulfonate, methylsulfate, acetate, and fluoroacetate. A cation of the ionic liquid can be selected from the group consisting of: imidazolium, pyridinium, ammonium, piperidinium, pyrrolidinium, sulfonium, and phosphonium. The energy storage device may include a printed or non-printed separator. The printed separator can include a gel including dissolved cellulose powder and the electrolyte. The non-printed separator can include a gel including at least partially dissolved regenerate cellulose and the electrolyte. An energy storage device fabrication process can include applying a plasma treatment to a surface of each of a cathode, anode, separator, and current collectors. The plasma treatment process can improve wettability, adhesion, electron and/or ionic transport across the treated surface.

Separator and electrolyte composites include a porous self-supporting separator film between or adjacent one or two electrolyte films. The electrolyte films may contain a glyme or mixture of glymes, LiX salt and complexing agent, such as PEO. The porous self-supporting separator film may be used dry or wetted with a liquid electrolyte composition. Solid state batteries and electrochemical cells are disclosed that include the described separator and electrolyte composites in combination with an anode and a cathode.

Separator and electrolyte composites include a porous self-supporting separator film between or adjacent one or two electrolyte films. The electrolyte films may contain a glyme or mixture of glymes, LiX salt and complexing agent, such as PEO. The porous self-supporting separator film may be used dry or wetted with a liquid electrolyte composition. Solid state batteries and electrochemical cells are disclosed that include the described separator and electrolyte composites in combination with an anode and a cathode.