A method of increasing secondary power source capacity includes doping a compound into an electrolyte as an additive which binding energy is higher than binding energy of combinations that are formed at a secondary power source discharge, the compound being ZnKr or CdAr. The method can be used in manufacturing secondary power sources such as batteries for electrical machines, transport vehicles, and cars, and for power sources for portable and mobile electronic devices.

A method of increasing secondary power source capacity includes doping a compound into an electrolyte as an additive which binding energy is higher than binding energy of combinations that are formed at a secondary power source discharge, the compound being ZnKr or CdAr. The method can be used in manufacturing secondary power sources such as batteries for electrical machines, transport vehicles, and cars, and for power sources for portable and mobile electronic devices.

This disclosure relates to an SO.sub.2-based electrolyte for a rechargeable battery cell containing at least one conducting salt of the Formula (I) ##STR00001##
wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, metals of group 12 of the periodic table of the elements and aluminum; x is an integer from 1 to 3; the substituents R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.1 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.1 alkynyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.14 aryl, and C.sub.5-C.sub.14 heteroaryl; and Z is aluminum or boron.

Disclosed are: a non-aqueous electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery containing 1-20 parts by weight of a cyano group-containing pyrimidine-based compound on the basis of 100 parts by weight of an organic solvent; and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same.

Disclosed are: a non-aqueous electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery containing 1-20 parts by weight of a cyano group-containing pyrimidine-based compound on the basis of 100 parts by weight of an organic solvent; and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same.

Provided are a nonaqueous electrolyte capable of providing a nonaqueous electrolyte energy storage device with reduced direct current resistance and an increased capacity retention ratio after charge-discharge cycles, a nonaqueous electrolyte energy storage device including such a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a method for producing such a nonaqueous electrolyte energy storage device. One mode of the present invention is a nonaqueous electrolyte for an energy storage device, containing an additive represented by the following Formula (1) or Formula (2). In Formula (1), R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a group represented by —NR.sup.a.sub.2, —OR.sup.a, —SR.sup.a, etc., with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 is a group represented by —OR.sup.a, —SR.sup.a, —COOR.sup.a, —COR.sup.a, —SO.sub.2R.sup.a, or —SO.sub.3R.sup.a. In Formula (2), R.sup.5 to R.sup.7 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a group represented by —NR.sup.b.sub.2, —OR.sup.b, or —SR.sup.b, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.5 to R.sup.7 is a group represented by —SR.sup.b. ##STR00001##

Provided are a nonaqueous electrolyte capable of providing a nonaqueous electrolyte energy storage device with reduced direct current resistance and an increased capacity retention ratio after charge-discharge cycles, a nonaqueous electrolyte energy storage device including such a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a method for producing such a nonaqueous electrolyte energy storage device. One mode of the present invention is a nonaqueous electrolyte for an energy storage device, containing an additive represented by the following Formula (1) or Formula (2). In Formula (1), R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a group represented by —NR.sup.a.sub.2, —OR.sup.a, —SR.sup.a, etc., with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 is a group represented by —OR.sup.a, —SR.sup.a, —COOR.sup.a, —COR.sup.a, —SO.sub.2R.sup.a, or —SO.sub.3R.sup.a. In Formula (2), R.sup.5 to R.sup.7 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a group represented by —NR.sup.b.sub.2, —OR.sup.b, or —SR.sup.b, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.5 to R.sup.7 is a group represented by —SR.sup.b. ##STR00001##

A metal-ion battery cell is provided that comprises anode and cathode electrodes, a separator, and an electrolyte. The anode electrode may, for example, have a capacity loading in the range of about 2 mAh/cm2 to about 10 mAh/cm2 and comprise anode particles that (i) have an average particle size in the range of about 0.2 microns to about 40 microns, (ii) exhibit a volume expansion in the range of about 8 vol. % to about 180 vol. % during one or more charge-discharge cycles of the battery cell, and (iii) exhibit a specific capacity in the range of about 600 mAh/g to about 2600 mAh/g. The electrolyte may comprise, for example, (i) one or more metal-ion salts and (ii) a solvent composition that comprises one or more low-melting point solvents that each have a melting point below about −70° C. and a boiling point above about +70° C.

There is provided a secondary battery including a cathode, an anode including an anode active material layer and a coating film, and an electrolytic solution. The anode active material layer includes a titanium-containing compound, and a surface of the anode active material layer is coated with the coating film. The electrolytic solution includes one or more of unsaturated cyclic carbonate esters. Porosity of a portion of the anode active material layer measured with use of a mercury intrusion technique is within a range from 30% to 50% both inclusive. The portion of the anode active material layer is cut together with a portion of the coating film from a surface of the coating film to a depth of 10 μm.

Electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising functional epoxides compounds are disclosed. Catalysts may be combined with the functional epoxides to create bi-component electrolyte additive systems, which can be utilized as additives to an electrolyte composition. The energy storage device may comprise a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte composition.