This positive electrode includes: a positive electrode current collector; a positive electrode mixed material layer that is formed on at least one surface of the positive electrode current collector; and a protective layer which includes an insulating inorganic compound and a conductive material, and is interposed between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode mixed material layer. The protective layer includes secondary particles comprising agglomerated primary particles of the inorganic compound. The median value of the particle size of the secondary particles is 30 m or less.

A circuit board assembly includes a wiring board, the lithium secondary battery electrically connected to the wiring board, and a wireless communication device electrically connected to the wiring board. The lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode arranged to face the positive electrode, and an electrolyte. In the lithium secondary battery, an electrode area (S) and a battery resistance (R) satisfy a relationship of 0.08R/S1.80 (/cm.sup.2), where the electrode area is an area where the positive electrode and the negative electrode face each other.

A positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery includes a sheet-like positive electrode current collector having conductivity, and a positive electrode active material plate that is a plate-like ceramic sintered compact joined to the positive electrode current collector via a conductive joint layer. The positive electrode active material plate includes at least one active material plate element. This at least one active material plate element is joined to the positive electrode current collector. A main surface of the active material plate element that opposes the positive electrode current collector includes a joint region in which the conductive joint layer exists between the positive electrode current collector and the active material plate element and a non-joint region in which the conductive joint layer does not exist between the positive electrode current collector and the active material plate element. The non joint region is arranged around the joint region.

Sulfur containing nanoparticles that may be used within cathode electrodes within lithium ion batteries include in a first instance porous carbon shape materials (i.e., either nanoparticle shapes or bulk shapes that are subsequently ground to nanoparticle shapes) that are infused with a sulfur material. A synthetic route to these carbon and sulfur containing nanoparticles may use a template nanoparticle to form a hollow carbon shape shell, and subsequent dissolution of the template nanoparticle prior to infusion of the hollow carbon shape shell with a sulfur material. Sulfur infusion into other porous carbon shapes that are not hollow is also contemplated. A second type of sulfur containing nanoparticle includes a metal oxide material core upon which is located a shell layer that includes a vulcanized polymultiene polymer material and ion conducting polymer material. The foregoing sulfur containing nanoparticle materials provide the electrodes and lithium ion batteries with enhanced performance.

An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having a metal layer; and a metal oxide layer provided in a first pattern overlaying the metal layer. The anode further includes a patterned lithium storage structure having a continuous porous lithium storage layer selectively overlaying at least a portion of the first pattern of metal oxide. A method of making an anode for use in an energy storage device includes providing a current collector having a metal layer and a metal oxide layer provided in a first pattern overlaying the metal layer. A continuous porous lithium storage layer is selectively formed by chemical vapor deposition by exposing the current collector to at least one lithium storage material precursor gas.

A positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material plate that is a plate-like ceramic sintered compact containing a lithium complex oxide. The positive plate is joined to the positive electrode current collector and opposes a separator. A negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer containing a carbonaceous material or a lithium occlusion substance. The negative layer coats the negative electrode current collector and opposes the separator. An outer sheath is joined to the positive electrode current collector via a joint layer and joined to the negative electrode current collector via a joint layer. Joint strength between the negative electrode current collector and the outer sheath is lower than joint strength between the positive electrode current collector and the outer sheath.

A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell has a casing of first and second ceramic substrates that are hermetically secured to each other to provide an internal space housing an electrode assembly. First and second conductive pathways extend through the ceramic substrates. The pathways have respective inner surfaces that are conductively connected to the respective anode and cathode current collectors and respective outer surfaces that provide for connection to a load. An electrolyte in the internal space of the housing activates the electrode assembly.

Polymer derived ceramic (PDC) materials, compositions and methods of making high capacity, long cycle, long life battery anodes to improve the performance of batteries of all types, including but not limited to coin cell batteries, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) batteries, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) batteries, battery electric vehicle (BEV) batteries, lithium cobalt (LCO) batteries, lithium iron (LFP) batteries; and lithium-ion (Li) batteries, and lead acid batteries. Silicon is incorporated in the PDC material at a molecular level when reacting a polymer derived ceramic precursor and a silicon hydride constituent or a silicon alkoxide constituent to form a PDC composition useful as a battery anode material. The resulting battery anode materials increase the specific capacity of a battery measured in milliampere-hours per gram (mAh/g) and increase the life cycle of a battery while minimizing distortion and stress of the anode structure.

The present disclosure relates to electrochemical devices, such as lithium battery electrodes, and solid-state lithium ion and lithium metal batteries including these electrodes. This invention also relates to methods for making such electrochemical devices. The present disclosure provides a porous ceramic-metal (cermet) cathode for supporting the solid electrolyte in a battery whereby the conductive additive adheres cathode particles and is the conductive diluent. The cermet cathode is processed to not only achieve adequate mechanical integrity to support thin solid-electrolyte layers but also to include interconnected porosity to allow permeating of a liquid, gel, or polymer electrolyte.

A lithium-sulfur battery includes: a substrate; a composite cathode disposed on the substrate; a solid-state electrolyte disposed on the composite cathode; and a lithium anode disposed on the solid-state electrolyte, such that the composite cathode comprises: active elemental sulfur, conductive carbon, sulfide electrolyte, and ionic liquid.