The formation method of graphene includes the steps of forming a layer including graphene oxide over a first conductive layer; and supplying a potential at which the reduction reaction of the graphene oxide occurs to the first conductive layer in an electrolyte where the first conductive layer as a working electrode and a second conductive layer with a as a counter electrode are immersed. A manufacturing method of a power storage device including at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator includes a step of forming graphene for an active material layer of one of or both the positive electrode and the negative electrode by the formation method.

Articles and methods involving protected electrode structures are generally provided. In some embodiments, a protected electrode structure includes an electrode comprising an alkali metal and a protective structure directly adjacent the electrode. In some embodiments, the protective structure comprises elemental carbon and intercalated ions. In some embodiments, the protective structure is a composite protective structure. The composite structure may comprise an alloy comprising an alkali metal, an oxide of an alkali metal, and/or a fluoride salt of an alkali metal.

A lithium ion secondary battery includes at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer. The negative electrode mixture layer is formed on a surface of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes graphite particles, inorganic filler particles, lithium titanate particles, and a water-based binder. The inorganic filler particles have an average primary particle size that is ½ or less of an average primary particle size of the graphite particles. The lithium titanate particles have an average primary particle size of 1 μm or less. A ratio of an average primary particle size of the lithium titanate particles with respect to an average primary particle size of the inorganic filler particles is one or less.

An electrochemical cell having a casing housing an electrode assembly of a separator residing between a lithium anode and a cathode comprising silver vanadium oxide and fluorinated carbon is described. The electrode assembly is activated with a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent system of propylene carbonate mixed with 1,2-dimethoxyethane, dibenzyl carbonate (DBC), lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB), and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). Preferably DBC is present in an amount ranging from about 0.005 moles (M) to about 0.25M, LiBOB is present in an amount ranging from about 0.005 wt. 5 to about 5 wt. %, and FEC is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 wt. % to about 10 wt. %. This electrolyte formulation is more conductive than the conventional or prior art binary and ternary solvent system electrolytes while being chemically and electrochemically stable toward Li/SVO cells, Li-SVO/CF.sub.x mixture cells, and Li-SVO/CF.sub.x sandwich cathode primary electrochemical cells.

An electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy to electrical energy includes a cathode with an active material of fluorinated carbon on a perforated metal cathode current collector, a lithium anode on a perforated metal anode current collector, a stepped header, a stable electrolyte, and a separator. In various embodiments, an anode current collector design, a cathode current collector design, a stepped header design, a cathode formulation, an electrolyte formulation, a separator, and a battery incorporating the electrochemical cell are provided.

Articles and methods involving electrochemical cells and/or electrochemical cell preproducts comprising passivating agents are generally provided. In certain embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes first and second passivating agents. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell may include a first electrode comprising a first surface, a second electrode (e.g., a counter electrode with respect to the first electrode) comprising a second surface, a first passivating agent configured and arranged to passivate the first surface, and a second passivating agent configured and arranged to passivate the second surface.

A secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte. The electrolyte contains a solvent, a lithium salt dissolved in the solvent, and a film forming compound. The film forming compound includes fluorine and an unsaturated bond between carbons. A surface of the positive electrode active material is at least partially covered with a film containing lithium, oxygen, carbon, and fluorine.

Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries comprise a hybrid nanocomposite of graphene and copper fluoride. Such cathode active materials are used, together with a polymeric binder material and optionally a conductive additive to form a cathode for a lithium-ion battery. Methods of producing hybrid nanocomposites of graphene and copper fluoride include hydrothermally reacting functionalized graphene, such as graphene oxide, and precursors of copper fluoride, such as aqueous fluorosilicic acid. Such hydrothermal reactions include sequential heating and freeze drying steps to produce a CuF.sub.2-graphene nanocomposite.

Separator and electrolyte composites include a porous self-supporting separator film between or adjacent one or two electrolyte films. The electrolyte films may contain a glyme or mixture of glymes, LiX salt and complexing agent, such as PEO. The porous self-supporting separator film may be used dry or wetted with a liquid electrolyte composition. Solid state batteries include the described separator and electrolyte composites in combination with an anode and a cathode.

A lithium ion secondary battery includes at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer. The negative electrode mixture layer is formed on a surface of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes graphite particles, inorganic filler particles, lithium titanate particles, and a water-based binder. The inorganic filler particles have an average primary particle size that is ½ or less of an average primary particle size of the graphite particles. The lithium titanate particles have an average primary particle size of 1 μm or less. A ratio of an average primary particle size of the lithium titanate particles with respect to an average primary particle size of the inorganic filler particles is one or less.