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 a lithium battery cathode electrode comprising multiple particulates of a cathode active material, wherein at least a particulate comprises one or a plurality of particles of a cathode active material being encapsulated by a thin layer of a sulfonated elastomer, wherein the encapsulating thin layer of sulfonated elastomer has a thickness from 1 nm to 10 m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 800%, and a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.7 S/cm to 510.sup.2 S/cm. The encapsulating layer may further contain an electron-conducting additive and/or a lithium ion-conducting additive dispersed in the sulfonated elastomer.

Provided is a lithium-selenium battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator/electrolyte assembly, wherein the anode comprises an anode active layer containing lithium or lithium alloy as an anode active material, and the cathode comprises a cathode active layer comprising a selenium-containing material, wherein an anode-protecting layer is disposed between the anode active layer and the separator/electrolyte and/or a cathode-protecting layer is disposed between the cathode active layer and the separator/electrolyte; the protecting layer comprising from 0.01% to 40% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material and from 0.01% to 40% by weight of an electrochemically stable inorganic filler dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.7 S/cm to 510.sup.2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10.sup.7 S/cm to 100 S/cm.

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 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.

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.

An immobilized chalcogen system or body includes a mixture or combination of chalcogen and carbon. The carbon can be in the form of a carbon skeleton. The chalcogen can include oxygen, sulfur, selenium, or tellurium, or a combination of any two or more of oxygen, sulfur, selenium, and tellurium. The activation energy for chalcogen to escape the immobilized chalcogen system or body is 96 kJ/mole.

A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell may comprise exposing a surface of a metal substrate to a chalcogen in gas phase such that a metal chalcogenide layer forms on the surface of the metal substrate. A lithium metal foil may be laminated onto the metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate such that a surface of the lithium metal foil physically and chemically bonds to the metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate.

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.

An aluminum-air secondary battery is provided. In an aluminum-air secondary battery capable of being charged and discharged multiple times, the aluminum-air secondary battery may comprise: a positive electrode including an electrode structure formed of a compound containing a transition metal, a chalcogen element, and phosphorus; a negative electrode disposed on the positive electrode and containing aluminum; and a solid electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and containing a base composite fiber having bacterial cellulose and chitosan bound to the bacterial cellulose.