A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

In an ozone generating system in which an intermittent operation is performed, in which an ozone generating operation period in which ozone is generated by discharging gas which contains oxygen in a discharge space of an ozone generating apparatus and an ozone generating operation standby period in which gas is sealed in an ozone generating apparatus and discharge is stopped so as not to generate ozone are performed repeatedly, an absorbent which absorbs at least one of nitric acid and nitrogen oxide is provided in an ozone generating apparatus other than the discharge space.

A lithium metal electrode includes a current collector having a surface irregularity structure, a lithium metal layer disposed outside of the surface irregularity structure except the uppermost surface of the surface irregularity structure in the current collector, an electron-insulating protective layer disposed outside of the lithium metal layer, and a lithium ion-isolating layer disposed (1) on the uppermost surface of the surface irregularity structure of the current collector, or (2) on the uppermost surface of the surface irregularity structure of the current collector, on the uppermost surface of the lithium metal layer, and on the uppermost surface of the electron-insulating protective layer, wherein the electron-insulating protective layer includes a non-porous layer transporting lithium ions and having no pores, and a polymer porous layer disposed outside thereof. A lithium secondary battery and flexible secondary battery including the lithium metal electrode are also provided.

The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell, comprising: an anode in contact with an anode current collector, a cathode in contact with a cathode current collector, a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode is disposed between the separator and the anode current collector and wherein the cathode is disposed between the separator and the cathode current collector, wherein the anode current collector and the cathode current collector form an encapsulating housing for the assembly of anode, cathode and separator.

The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell, comprising: an anode in contact with an anode current collector, a cathode in contact with a cathode current collector, a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode is disposed between the separator and the anode current collector and wherein the cathode is disposed between the separator and the cathode current collector, wherein the anode current collector and the cathode current collector form an encapsulating housing for the assembly of anode, cathode and separator.

A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell includes transferring an anode semi-solid suspension to an anode compartment defined at least in part by an anode current collector and an separator spaced apart from the anode collector. The method also includes transferring a cathode semi-solid suspension to a cathode compartment defined at least in part by a cathode current collector and the separator spaced apart from the cathode collector. The transferring of the anode semi-solid suspension to the anode compartment and the cathode semi-solid to the cathode compartment is such that a difference between a minimum distance and a maximum distance between the anode current collector and the separator is maintained within a predetermined tolerance. The method includes sealing the anode compartment and the cathode compartment.

A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell includes transferring an anode semi-solid suspension to an anode compartment defined at least in part by an anode current collector and an separator spaced apart from the anode collector. The method also includes transferring a cathode semi-solid suspension to a cathode compartment defined at least in part by a cathode current collector and the separator spaced apart from the cathode collector. The transferring of the anode semi-solid suspension to the anode compartment and the cathode semi-solid to the cathode compartment is such that a difference between a minimum distance and a maximum distance between the anode current collector and the separator is maintained within a predetermined tolerance. The method includes sealing the anode compartment and the cathode compartment.

A rechargeable battery and an electrode thereof are provided. The rechargeable battery includes two electrodes and an ionic conduction layer. The ionic conduction layer is disposed between the two electrodes. At least one electrode includes a diffusion-assisting structure facing to the ionic conduction layer. The diffusion-assisting structure has a concaved pattern.

A rechargeable battery and an electrode thereof are provided. The rechargeable battery includes two electrodes and an ionic conduction layer. The ionic conduction layer is disposed between the two electrodes. At least one electrode includes a diffusion-assisting structure facing to the ionic conduction layer. The diffusion-assisting structure has a concaved pattern.

In a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery a separator includes a porous substrate, a first filler layer, and a second filler layer. The first filler layer comprises phosphate particles having a BET specific surface area of 5 to 100 m.sup.2/g and polyvinylidene fluoride and is formed on a first surface that faces the positive electrode side of the substrate and contacts the positive electrode. The second filler comprises inorganic particles which have a melting point higher than that of the phosphate particles and is formed on at least one of a second surface that faces the negative electrode side of the substrate and the area between the substrate and the first filler layer. The content of the polyvinylidene fluoride in the first filler layer is 10 to 50 mass % and is higher in a region on the positive electrode side than in a region on the substrate side.