A polythiophene derivative including a repeating unit represented by General Formula (1) below:

##STR00001## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently denote a group having from 2 through 9 carbon atoms represented by —(R.sup.3—S).sub.p—R.sup.4 (where R.sup.3 denotes an alkylene group having from 1 through 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 denotes an alkyl group having from 1 through 6 carbon atoms or an aromatic group having from 5 through 6 carbon atoms, and p denotes an integer of 1 or 2), Ar denotes an optionally substituted divalent or monovalent aromatic ring moiety or aromatic heterocyclic moiety, m denotes a natural number of 2 or more, and n denotes a natural number of 0 or 2 or more.

Cathodes for a fast charging lithium ion battery, processes for manufacturing thereof and corresponding batteries are provided. Cathode formulations comprise cathode material having an olivine-based structure, binder material, and monomer material selected to polymerize into a conductive polymer upon partial delithiation of the cathode material during at least a first charging cycle of a cell having a cathode made of the cathode formulation. When the cathode is used in a battery, polymerization is induced in-situ (in-cell) during first charging cycle(s) of the battery to provide a polymer matrix which is evenly dispersed throughout the cathode.

An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent binder agent composition solving problems such as the decrease in a charge/discharge capacity that occurs in a case where a silicon-containing active material is used, a slurry composition and an electrode in which the binder agent composition is used, and a method for preparing the electrode. The present invention relates to “a binder agent composition containing (A) one or more kinds of polymers containing polyacrylic acid, (B) a bivalent to decavalent alcohol, and (C) water”, “a slurry composition for lithium batteries, containing 1) a silicon-containing active material, 2) a conductive assistant, and 3) the binder agent composition”, “an electrode for lithium batteries that has 1) a silicon-containing active material, 2) a conductive assistant, 3) a binder agent derived from the binder agent composition, and 4) a current collector”, and “a method for preparing an electrode for lithium batteries, including coating a current collector with the slurry composition and drying the slurry composition after the coating”.

Improved anodes and cells are provided, which enable fast charging rates with enhanced safety due to much reduced probability of metallization of lithium on the anode, preventing dendrite growth and related risks of fire or explosion. Anodes and/or electrolytes have buffering zones for partly reducing and gradually introducing lithium ions into the anode for lithiation, to prevent lithium ion accumulation at the anode electrolyte interface and consequent metallization and dendrite growth. Various anode active materials and combinations, modifications through nanoparticles and a range of coatings which implement the improved anodes are provided.

The present invention relates to a one-step process for preparation of “in-situ” or “ex-situ” self-organized and electrically conducting polymer nanocomposites using thermally initiated polymerization of a halogenated 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer or its derivatives. This approach does not require additional polymerization initiators or catalysts, produce gaseous products that are naturally removed without affecting the polymer matrix, and do not leave by-product contaminants. It is demonstrated that self-polymerization of halogenated 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer is not affected by the presence of a solid-state phase in the form of nanoparticles and results in formation of 3,4-polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) nanocomposites.

Disclosed is a carbon product, including a carbon material, and a redox functional group-containing polymer layer on a surface of the carbon material, as well as a sulfur-carbon composite containing the same, and a lithium secondary battery containing the same. More specifically, since the redox functional group-containing polymer functions to promote the reduction of lithium polysulfide, when the carbon material having the redox functional group-containing polymer layer formed or the sulfur-carbon composite is applied as a positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery, the performance of the battery may be improved.

An energy storage system includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a first current collector having a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode including a plurality of carbon nanotubes on the second surface of the first current collector. The plurality of carbon nanotubes include a polydisulfide applied onto a surface of the plurality of nanotubes. The energy storage system also includes an ionically conductive separator having a first surface and a second surface, with first surface of the ionically conductive separator positioned on the first electrode, a second current collector having a first surface and a second surface, and a second electrode including a plurality of carbon nanotubes positioned between the first surface of the second current collector and the second surface of the ionically conductive separator.

The present invention is concerned with novel compounds derived from polyquinonic ionic compounds and their use in electrochemical generators.

Described are a composition at least comprising complexes of polythiophene and polyanions, at least one lithium-containing compound, and at least one solvent, wherein the composition comprises less than 1 g of a material comprising elemental carbon, based on 1 g of the polythiophenes, or comprises no material at all comprising elemental carbon, and a process for the preparation of a composition, the composition obtainable by this process, the use of a composition and a cathode in an Li ion accumulator.

A method for making a cathode composite material is disclosed. In the method, a maleimide-based material is provided. The maleimide-based material is a maleimide monomer, a maleimide polymer formed from the maleimide monomer, or combinations thereof. The maleimide-based material, an inorganic electrical conductive carbonaceous material, and a cathode active material are mixed to form a mixture. The mixture is heated to a temperature of about 200° C. to about 280° C. in a protective gas to obtain the cathode composite material. A cathode composite material and a lithium ion battery are also disclosed.