An electrode includes selenium, a selenium-containing compound, selenium-carbon composite, a selenium-containing compound-carbon composite, or a mixture thereof; a carbon electronic conductor; a binder; and a current collector; wherein: the electrode is a solid electrode.

An example of an electrolyte solution includes a solvent, a lithium salt, a fluorinated ether, and an additive. The additive is selected from the group consisting of RS.sub.xR, wherein x ranges from 3 to 18, and R(S.sub.nSe.sub.m)R, wherein 2<n<8 and 2<m<8. R and R are each independently selected from a straight alkyl group having from 1 carbon to 6 carbons or branched alkyl group having from 1 carbon to 6 carbons. The electrolyte solution may be suitable for use in a sulfur-based battery or a selenium-based battery.

The present invention relates to the application of a force to enhance the performance of an electrochemical cell. The force may comprise, in some instances, an anisotropic force with a component normal to an active surface of the anode of the electrochemical cell. In the embodiments described herein, electrochemical cells (e.g., rechargeable batteries) may undergo a charge/discharge cycle involving deposition of metal (e.g., lithium metal) on a surface of the anode upon charging and reaction of the metal on the anode surface, wherein the metal diffuses from the anode surface, upon discharging. The uniformity with which the metal is deposited on the anode may affect cell performance. For example, when lithium metal is redeposited on an anode, it may, in some cases, deposit unevenly forming a rough surface. The roughened surface may increase the amount of lithium metal available for undesired chemical reactions which may result in decreased cycling lifetime and/or poor cell performance. The application of force to the electrochemical cell has been found, in accordance with the invention, to reduce such behavior and to improve the cycling lifetime and/or performance of the cell.

The synthesis of 2D metal chalcogenide nanosheets and metal-ion or metalloid-ion doped 2D metal chalcogenide nanosheets by adding a metal complex to a hot dispersing medium. The mean lateral dimension of the nanosheets may be controlled by appropriate temperature selection.

Provided is an anode for use in electrochemical cells, wherein the anode active layer has a first layer comprising lithium metal and a multi-layer structure comprising single ion conducting layers and polymer layers in contact with the first layer comprising lithium metal or in contact with an intermediate protective layer, such as a temporary protective metal layer, on the surface of the lithium-containing first layer. Another aspect of the invention provides an anode active layer formed by the in-situ deposition of lithium vapor and a reactive gas. The anodes of the current invention are particularly useful in electrochemical cells comprising sulfur-containing cathode active materials, such as elemental sulfur.

A stabilized cathode composition is disclosed. The composition includes the formula: AxMChy, wherein x is 1 to 5; y is 2 to 5; A is selected from the group consisting of: Li, Na, K, Mg, and Ca; M is selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co free d-block transition metals or p-block metals or combination of two or more thereof, Ch is selected from the group consisting of S, Se or their combination with O and/or Te.

Disclosed is an electrochemical cell comprising a lithium anode and a sulfur-containing cathode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The cell exhibits high utilization of the electroactive sulfur-containing material of the cathode and a high charge-discharge efficiency.

Provided is a simple, fast, scalable, and environmentally benign method of producing graphene-embraced or encapsulated particles of a battery electrode active material directly from a graphitic material, the method comprising: a) mixing graphitic material particles, multiple particles of an electrode active material, and non-polymeric particles of milling media to form a mixture in an impacting chamber, wherein the graphitic material has never been intercalated, oxidized, or exfoliated and the chamber contains therein no previously produced graphene sheets; b) operating the energy impacting apparatus with a frequency and an intensity for a length of time sufficient for peeling off graphene sheets from the graphitic material and transferring graphene sheets to surfaces of electrode active material particles to produce graphene-embraced active material particles; and c) recovering the graphene-embraced particles from the impacting chamber. Also provided is a mass of the graphene-embraced particles, electrode containing such particles, and battery containing this electrode.

Provided is a simple, fast, scalable, and environmentally benign method of producing graphene-embraced or encapsulated particles of a battery electrode active material directly from a graphitic material, the method comprising: a) mixing graphitic material particles, multiple particles of an electrode active material, and non-polymeric particles of milling media to form a mixture in an impacting chamber, wherein the graphitic material has never been intercalated, oxidized, or exfoliated and the chamber contains therein no previously produced graphene sheets; b) operating the energy impacting apparatus with a frequency and an intensity for a length of time sufficient for peeling off graphene sheets from the graphitic material and transferring graphene sheets to surfaces of electrode active material particles to produce graphene-embraced active material particles; and c) recovering the graphene-embraced particles from the impacting chamber. Also provided is a mass of the graphene-embraced particles, electrode containing such particles, and battery containing this electrode.

The invention relates to Chevrel-phase materials and methods of preparing these materials utilizing a precursor approach. The Chevrel-phase materials are useful in assembling electrodes, e.g., cathodes, for use in electrochemical cells, such as rechargeable batteries. The Chevrel-phase materials have a general formula of Mo.sub.6Z.sub.8 and the precursors have a general formula of M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sub.8. The cathode containing the Chevrel-phase material in accordance with the invention can be combined with a magnesium-containing anode and an electrolyte.