A method of producing a porous carbon is provided that can change type of functional groups, amount of functional groups, or ratio of functional groups while inhibiting its pore structure from changing. A method of producing a porous carbon includes: a first step of carbonizing a material containing a carbon source and a template source, to prepare a carbonized product; and a second step of immersing the carbonized product into a template removing solution, to remove a template from the carbonized product, and the method is characterized by changing at least two or more of the following conditions: type of the material, ratio of the carbon source and the template source, size of the template, and type of the template removal solution, to thereby control type, amount, or ratio of functional groups that are present in the porous carbon.

An electrochemical cell comprises an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte composition, wherein the anode comprises as anode active material a combination of at least a carbon material and a silicon material; and the electrolyte composition comprises a solvent, from 0.5 wt. % to 70 wt. %, based on the total weight of the electrolyte, of a fluorinated acyclic carbonate compound, from 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the electrolyte, of a fluorinated cyclic carbonate compound; and an electrolyte salt.

An electrochemical cell comprises an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte composition, wherein the anode comprises as anode active material a combination of at least a carbon material and a silicon material; and the electrolyte composition comprises a solvent, from 0.5 wt. % to 70 wt. %, based on the total weight of the electrolyte, of a fluorinated acyclic carbonate compound, from 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the electrolyte, of a fluorinated cyclic carbonate compound; and an electrolyte salt.

A two-stage method of producing purified graphite is described. The first stage of the method comprises the steps of subjecting graphite material to a caustic bake and releasing any remaining caustic using water. The graphite material is then subjected to a first acid wash. Neutralising and washing the acid washed graphite material is then performed to deliver an intermediate purified graphite product. In the second stage the intermediate purified graphite product is subjected to a low temperature caustic leach. Any remaining caustic in the intermediate purified graphite product is released using water, and the intermediate purified graphite product is subjected to a second acid wash. Finally, neutralising and washing the intermediate purified graphite product is performed to deliver a final purified graphite product with a purity of 99.95% C and above.

Manufacturing a lithium-ion battery includes assembling the lithium-ion battery; and performing an initial charging on the lithium-ion battery. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte; the negative electrode contains a negative electrode active material containing a precursor of a silicon material, the precursor having a composition represented by SiO.sub.x where a relationship of 0<x<2 is satisfied. The initial charging includes a first step where the charging is performed to an intermediate voltage at a first current rate, and a second step where the charging is performed from the intermediate voltage to a maximum voltage at a second current rate. The first current rate is lower than 0.5 C; the second current rate is higher than the first current rate; and the intermediate voltage is 3.75 V or higher.

Manufacturing a lithium-ion battery includes assembling the lithium-ion battery; and performing an initial charging on the lithium-ion battery. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte; the negative electrode contains a negative electrode active material containing a precursor of a silicon material, the precursor having a composition represented by SiO.sub.x where a relationship of 0<x<2 is satisfied. The initial charging includes a first step where the charging is performed to an intermediate voltage at a first current rate, and a second step where the charging is performed from the intermediate voltage to a maximum voltage at a second current rate. The first current rate is lower than 0.5 C; the second current rate is higher than the first current rate; and the intermediate voltage is 3.75 V or higher.

Disclosed is a method for producing a battery electrode using a granulated polymeric binder composition where the binder composition comprises agglomerated particles wherein greater than 95% by weight of agglomerated particles are 400 um or greater but less than 2.5 mm and a bulk density of greater than 0.4 g/cc.

Disclosed is a method for producing a battery electrode using a granulated polymeric binder composition where the binder composition comprises agglomerated particles wherein greater than 95% by weight of agglomerated particles are 400 um or greater but less than 2.5 mm and a bulk density of greater than 0.4 g/cc.

A meta-material is disclosed that includes a first layer composed of graphene, and one or more additional layers, each composed of glassy carbon or graphene. A method of producing an engineered material includes depositing a graphene precursor on a substrate, pyrolyzing the graphene precursor to allow the formation of graphene, depositing a glassy carbon precursor the graphene, pyrolyzing to allow the formation of glassy carbon from the glassy carbon precursor, depositing a graphene precursor on the glassy carbon, and pyrolyzing the graphene precursor to allow the formation of graphene.

A meta-material is disclosed that includes a first layer composed of graphene, and one or more additional layers, each composed of glassy carbon or graphene. A method of producing an engineered material includes depositing a graphene precursor on a substrate, pyrolyzing the graphene precursor to allow the formation of graphene, depositing a glassy carbon precursor the graphene, pyrolyzing to allow the formation of glassy carbon from the glassy carbon precursor, depositing a graphene precursor on the glassy carbon, and pyrolyzing the graphene precursor to allow the formation of graphene.