A device and method of generating an electrical potential including an electrochemical cell, and at least one heat source, cooling source or both. The electrochemical cell includes an anode and a cathode connected by a polymer electrolyte layer, preferably a dry polymer electrolyte layer. The heat source, if present, is placed in direct thermal contact with one of the anode or cathode, while the cooling source, if present, is placed in direct thermal contact with one of the anode or cathode not in contact with the heat source. The resulting temperature differential between the anode and cathode induces a concentration gradient between the anode and the cathode generating the electrical potential.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with improved output characteristics. An example of an embodiment of the present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly having a structure in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are stacked with a separator therebetween. The positive electrode plate contains a lithium transition metal oxide containing tungsten as a positive electrode active material and also contains a phosphate compound. The negative electrode plate contains a graphitic carbon material and an amorphous/noncrystalline carbon material as negative electrode active materials and includes a coating of tungsten or a tungsten compound on the surface of the amorphous/noncrystalline carbon material.

Disclosed are systems for producing hydrogen gas and upgrading biomass reactants. The systems are able to couple the oxidation of the biomass reactant to hydrogen gas evolution using catalysts that include a metal component and a non-metal component. Also disclosed are methods of using the systems for producing hydrogen gas and upgrading a biomass reactant.

A lithium ion battery component includes a support selected from the group consisting of a current collector, a negative electrode, and a porous polymer separator. A lithium donor is present i) as an additive with a non-lithium active material in a negative electrode on the current collector, or ii) as a coating on at least a portion of the negative electrode, or iii) as a coating on at least a portion of the porous polymer separator. The lithium donor has a formula selected from the group consisting of Li.sub.8-yM.sub.yP.sub.4, wherein M is Fe, V, or Mn and wherein y ranges from 1 to 4; Li.sub.10-yTi.sub.yP.sub.4, wherein y ranges from 1 to 2; Li.sub.xP, wherein 0<x3; and Li.sub.2CuP.

An apparatus includes an electrochemical half-cell comprising: an electrolyte, an anode; and an ionomeric barrier positioned between the electrolyte and the anode. The anode may comprise a multi-electron vanadium phosphorous alloy, such as VP.sub.x, wherein x is 1-5. The electrochemical half-cell is configured to oxidize the vanadium and phosphorous alloy to release electrons. A method of mitigating corrosion in an electrochemical cell includes disposing an ionomeric barrier in a path of electrolyte or ion flow to an anode and mitigating anion accumulation on the surface of the anode.

A lithium-ion battery cathode material includes a composite of sulfur and porous carbon, and glass particles and/or glass ceramic particles that satisfy a composition represented by the following formula (1),
Li.sub.aM.sub.bP.sub.cS.sub.d(1)
wherein M is B, Zn, Si, Cu, Ga, or Ge, and a to d are the compositional ratio of each element, and satisfy a:b:c:d=1 to 12:0 to 0.2:1:2 to 9.

A particulate lithium metal composite materials having a layer containing phosphorous and a method for producing said phosphorous-coated lithium metal products, characterized in that melted, droplet-shaped lithium metal is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent with a phosphorous source that contains the phosphorous in the oxidation stage 3, and use thereof for the pre-lithiation of electrode materials and the production of battery anodes.

To provide a method for forming a storage battery electrode including an active material layer with high density in which the proportion of conductive additive is low and the proportion of the active material is high. To provide a storage battery having a higher capacity per unit volume of an electrode with the use of a storage battery electrode formed by the formation method. A method for forming a storage battery electrode includes the steps of forming a mixture including an active material, graphene oxide, and a binder; providing a mixture over a current collector; and immersing the mixture provided over the current collector in a polar solvent containing a reducer, so that the graphene oxide is reduced.

A secondary battery in which the difference between the voltage at the time of discharging and the voltage at the time of charging is small, ensuring good energy efficiency, and the charge/discharge life is long. Therefore, in order to attain the above-described object, a secondary battery containing a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode contains, as the active material, at least one selected from the group consisting of a metal ion-containing fluoride, a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal nitride, and a metal phosphide; the electrolytic solution contains an anion receptor; and the anion receptor forms a salt or a complex with an anion contained in the active material, thereby enabling the active material to dissolve in the electrolytic solution.

The invention is to provide a positive electrode material for sodium batteries, which has high operating potential and enable charging and discharging at high potential, and a method for producing thereof. Disclosed is a positive electrode material for sodium batteries, comprising positive electrode active material particles represented by the following general formula (1), and an electroconductive carbonaceous material that coats at least part of the surface of the positive electrode active material particles: General Formula (1): Na.sub.xM.sub.y(AO.sub.4).sub.z(P.sub.2O.sub.7).sub.w wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, P, S, Ti, V and W; x is a value that satisfies 4x2; y is a value that satisfies 4y1; z is a value that satisfies 4x0; w is a value that satisfies 1w0; and at least one of z and w is 1 or more.