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 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 (Z=sulfur) or Mo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y (Z.sup.1=sulfur; Z.sup.2=selenium), and partially cuprated Cu.sub.1Mo.sub.6S.sub.8 as well as partially de-cuprated Cu.sub.1-xMg.sub.xMo.sub.6S.sub.8 and the precursors have a general formula of M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sub.8 or M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y, M=Cu. The cathode containing the Chevrel-phase material in accordance with the invention can be combined with a magnesium-containing anode and an electrolyte.

The present invention discloses a preparation method to make lithium selenium secondary battery cathode materials with a high energy density and stable electrochemical performances. Two dimensional carbon materials prepared from the presently-disclosed method is not only made from readily-available low-cost raw materials, but is also of simple preparation method. It can effectively shorten the migration distance of lithium ions in the charging and discharging process and improve conductivity and utilization of selenium after compounded with carbon and selenium; the selenium carbon cathode material can be assembled into lithium selenium secondary batteries with high energy density and stable electrochemical performances. By further scaling up, the assembled lithium selenium pouch-cell batteries still hold excellent electrochemical performances and high energy density, showing broad application prospects.

Provided is a rechargeable alkali metal-selenium cell comprising an anode active material layer, an electrolyte, and a cathode active material layer containing multiple particulates of a selenium-containing material selected from a selenium-carbon hybrid, selenium-graphite hybrid, selenium-graphene hybrid, conducting polymer-selenium hybrid, a metal selenide, a Se alloy or mixture with Sn, Sb, Bi, S, or Te, a selenium compound, or a combination thereof and wherein at least one of the particulates comprises one or a plurality of selenium-containing material particles being embraced or encapsulated by a thin layer of an elastomer having a recoverable tensile strain no less than 5% when measured without an additive or reinforcement, a lithium ion conductivity no less than 10.sup.−7 S/cm at room temperature, and a thickness from 0.5 nm to 10 μm This battery exhibits an excellent combination of high selenium content, high selenium utilization efficiency, high energy density, and long cycle life.

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.

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.

Disclosed is a lithium complex oxide and method of manufacturing the same, more particularly, a lithium complex oxide effective in improving the characteristics of capacity, resistance, and lifetime with reduced residual lithium and with different interplanar distances of crystalline structure between a primary particle locating in a internal part of secondary particle and a primary particle locating on the surface part of the secondary particle, and a method of preparing the same.

Disclosed is a negative electrode current collector for an anode-free lithium metal battery. The negative electrode current collector includes a PdTe.sub.2 layer and an intermediate layer to inhibit the growth of lithium dendrite, resulting in significant improves in lifespan and performance of the lithium metal battery. The negative electrode current collector further includes an ion conductive layer to improve the performance of the lithium metal battery.

A rechargeable transition metal battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode material which is a transition metal or an alloy of the transition metal. The positive electrode is electrically connected to the negative electrode and includes a host material and a positive electrode material. The host material includes a carbon. The positive electrode material is connected to the host material, and the positive electrode material is a compound of a metal, an elemental chalcogen or an elemental halogen. The electrolyte is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

Provided is a lithium battery anode electrode comprising multiple particulates of an anode active material, wherein at least a particulate is composed of one or a plurality of particles of an anode active material being encapsulated by a thin layer of inorganic filler-reinforced elastomer having from 0.01% to 50% by weight of an inorganic filler dispersed in an elastomeric matrix material based on the total weight of the inorganic filler-reinforced elastomer, wherein the encapsulating thin layer of inorganic filler-reinforced elastomer has a thickness from 1 nm to 10 μm, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, and a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.−7 to S/cm to 5×10.sup.−2 S/cm and the inorganic filler has a lithium intercalation potential from 1.1 V to 4.5 V (preferably 1.2-2.5 V) versus Li/Li.sup.+. The anode active material is preferably selected from Si, Ge, Sn, SnO.sub.2, SiO.sub.x, Co.sub.3O.sub.4, Mn.sub.3O.sub.4, etc.