An electrochemical cell including at least one nitrogen-containing compound is disclosed. The at least one nitrogen-containing compound may form part of or be included in: an anode structure, a cathode structure, an electrolyte and/or a separator of the electrochemical cell. Also disclosed is a battery including the electrochemical cell.

An immobilized selenium body, made from carbon and selenium and optionally sulfur, makes selenium more stable, requiring a higher temperature or an increase in kinetic energy for selenium to escape from the immobilized selenium body and enter a gas system, as compared to selenium alone. Immobilized selenium localized in a carbon skeleton can be utilized in a rechargeable battery. Immobilization of the selenium can impart compression stress on both the carbon skeleton and the selenium. Such compression stress enhances the electrical conductivity in the carbon skeleton and among the selenium particles and creates an interface for electrons to be delivered and or harvested in use of the battery. A rechargeable battery made from immobilized selenium can be charged or discharged at a faster rate over conventional batteries and can demonstrate excellent cycling stability.

The present invention relates to a negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery, the negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material containing a first carbon and a second carbon, in which the first carbon is spherical graphite, the second carbon is massive graphite, and the sulfur concentration in the first carbon (Sx) and the sulfur concentration in the second carbon (Sy) are each independently 0 ppm or more and 300 ppm or less.

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.

A negative electrode material applied to a lithium battery or a sodium battery is provided. The negative electrode material is composed of a first chemical element, a second chemical element and a third chemical element with an atomic ratio of x, 1-x, and 2, wherein 0<x<1, the first chemical element is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), tungsten (W), manganese (Mn), technetium (Tc) and rhenium (Re), the second chemical element is selected from the group consisting of Mo, Cr and W, the third chemical element is selected from the group consisting of sulfur (S), selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te), and the first chemical element is different from the second chemical element.

An electrode for use in a lithium-ion battery. The electrode comprises a group IV-VI compound and a transition metal group VI compound on a three-dimensional graphene network. A major portion of the transition metal group VI compound is provided on top of the group IV-VI compound or in close proximity to it, whereby the molybdenum group VI compound contributes to the decomposition of a lithium group VI compound at the surface of the group IV-VI compound.

In an embodiment, a metal or metal-ion battery cell, includes anode and cathode electrodes, a separator electrically separating the anode and the cathode, and a solid electrolyte ionically coupling the anode and the cathode, wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a material having one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups that are configured to transport at least one metal-ion or metal-ion mixture through the solid electrolyte, wherein the solid electrolyte exhibits a melting point below about 350 C. In an example, the solid electrolyte may be produced by mixing different dry metal-ion compositions together, arranging the mixture inside of a mold, and heating the mixture while arranged inside of the mold at least to a melting point (e.g., below about 350 C.) of the mixture so as to produce a material comprising one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups.

Provided is an electrode material for secondary batteries, including a porous carbon material being derived from a plant and having an average particle size of less than 4 m.

An anode for a rechargeable battery includes a Type II clathrate having the formula M.sub.xX.sub.136, where a cage structure is formed by X, M represents one or more guest ions, and 0<x<24. When x=0, no guest ion is present in the cage structure. X may be Si, Ge, Sn, or a combination thereof. M may be an ion of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ba, Sr, Ca, Cl, Br, I, Eu, P, Te, Li, Mg, or a combination thereof. A rechargeable battery including the anode (e.g., as an anode) includes a cathode and an electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode. Forming the anode may include preparing a composition including the Type II clathrate contacting the composition with a current collector to form the anode. Guest ions may be electrochemically inserted and removed from the cage structure during operation of the rechargeable battery.

A composite particle is provided. The particle comprises a first particle component and a second particle component in which: (a) the first particle component comprises a body portion and a surface portion, the surface portion comprising one or more structural features and one or more voids, whereby the surface portion and body portion define together a structured particle; and (b) the second component comprises a removable filler; characterized in that (i) one or both of the body portion and the surface portion comprise an active material; and (ii) the filler is contained within one or more voids comprised within the surface portion of the first component. The use of the particle in applications such as electrochemical cells, metal-ion batteries such as secondary battery applications, lithium air batteries, flow cell batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, filters, sensors, electrical and thermal capacitors, micro-fluidic devices, gas or vapor sensors, thermal or dielectric insulating devices, devices for controlling or modifying the transmission, absorption or reflectance of light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation, chromatography or wound dressings is disclosed.