Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising phosphazene based compounds are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises 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, an electrolyte comprising at least two electrolyte co-solvents, wherein at least one electrolyte co-solvent comprises a phosphazene based compound.

An silicon-containing electrode is formed by coating a silicon-containing slurry onto a conductive current collector. The slurry comprises a binder solution comprising a poly(carboxylic acid) binder dissolved in a mixed solvent system comprising an amide solvent of Formula I, as described herein, and a second solvent which can be water and/or an organic solvent. The binder preferably comprises poly(acrylic acid). The mixed solvent system comprises about 10 to about 99 vol % of the amide solvent of Formula I. The binder solution is utilized as a solvent for a slurry of silicon-containing particles for preparing the silicon-containing electrode. The slurries comprising the mixed solvent system have higher viscosity and are more stable than slurries containing the same concentrations of silicon particles, carbon particles, and binder in water as the sole solvent.

An silicon-containing electrode is formed by coating a silicon-containing slurry onto a conductive current collector. The slurry comprises a binder solution comprising a poly(carboxylic acid) binder dissolved in a mixed solvent system comprising an amide solvent of Formula I, as described herein, and a second solvent which can be water and/or an organic solvent. The binder preferably comprises poly(acrylic acid). The mixed solvent system comprises about 10 to about 99 vol % of the amide solvent of Formula I. The binder solution is utilized as a solvent for a slurry of silicon-containing particles for preparing the silicon-containing electrode. The slurries comprising the mixed solvent system have higher viscosity and are more stable than slurries containing the same concentrations of silicon particles, carbon particles, and binder in water as the sole solvent.

The present disclosure relates to polymer resins, fibers, and yarns with permanent antimicrobial activity, and a method of producing the same. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial polymer resin comprises a polymer having less than 2500 ppm of zinc dispersed within the polymer, less than 1000 ppm of phosphorus, wherein the weight ratio of zinc to phosphorus is at least 1.3:1 or less than 0.64:1.

The present disclosure relates to polymer resins, fibers, and yarns with permanent antimicrobial activity, and a method of producing the same. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial polymer resin comprises a polymer having less than 2500 ppm of zinc dispersed within the polymer, less than 1000 ppm of phosphorus, wherein the weight ratio of zinc to phosphorus is at least 1.3:1 or less than 0.64:1.

This fluorine-containing elastomer composition contains a fluorine-containing elastomer and a filler that has a particle diameter of from 10 nm to 100 nm. The fluorine-containing elastomer is a perfluoro elastomer or a fluorine rubber. The filler is composed of silicon particles, and silicon particles each having an oxide film. This fluorine-containing elastomer composition contains no other substance as a filler.

This fluorine-containing elastomer composition contains a fluorine-containing elastomer and a filler that has a particle diameter of from 10 nm to 100 nm. The fluorine-containing elastomer is a perfluoro elastomer or a fluorine rubber. The filler is composed of silicon particles, and silicon particles each having an oxide film. This fluorine-containing elastomer composition contains no other substance as a filler.

The present invention provides a method for producing a polymer compound for use as a binder for a secondary battery that exhibits reduced foaming when kneaded with an active material. A method for producing a polymer compound for use as a binder for a secondary battery, the polymer compound containing a repeating unit represented by formula (1) and a repeating unit represented by formula (2): [Formula 1]

wherein each R.sup.1 is independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and each R.sup.2 is independently an NH.sub.2 group, an OH group, an ONa group, or an OLi group, the method comprising the steps of copolymerizing monomers for forming the polymer compound in the presence of an azo polymerization catalyst; and saponifying the resulting copolymer.

The present invention provides a method for producing a polymer compound for use as a binder for a secondary battery that exhibits reduced foaming when kneaded with an active material. A method for producing a polymer compound for use as a binder for a secondary battery, the polymer compound containing a repeating unit represented by formula (1) and a repeating unit represented by formula (2): [Formula 1]

wherein each R.sup.1 is independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and each R.sup.2 is independently an NH.sub.2 group, an OH group, an ONa group, or an OLi group, the method comprising the steps of copolymerizing monomers for forming the polymer compound in the presence of an azo polymerization catalyst; and saponifying the resulting copolymer.

A method for making crystalline graphite composite includes the following steps: additives are dry blended with a melt-flowable polylignin to form a blend. The blend is heated to create a melted flowable polylignin with the additives dispersed therein. The melted flowable polylignin is then solidified to a grindable form or to a shaped article of polylignin with dispersed additives, after which sufficient heat is provided to thermoset and carbonize the polylignin with dispersed additives. Additional heat is then provided to graphitize the carbonized polylignin and form a crystalline graphite matrix with uniformly dispersed additives.