Preparation, characterization, and an electrochemical study of Mg.sub.0.1V.sub.2O.sub.5 prepared by a novel sol-gel method with no high-temperature post-processing are disclosed. Cyclic voltammetry showed the material to be quasi-reversible, with improved kinetics in an acetonitrile-, relative to a carbonate-, based electrolyte. Galvanostatic test data under a C/10 discharge showed a delivered capacity >250 mAh/g over several cycles. Based on these results, a magnesium anode battery, as disclosed, would yield an average operating voltage 3.2 Volts with an energy density 800 mWh/g for the cathode material, making the newly synthesized material a viable cathode material for secondary magnesium batteries.

Provided are a black mixed oxide that contains chromium per se of any valency as a main component, and fails to contain cobalt as the main component material, and has a high safety, an excellent color tone and economical efficiency, and a method for producing the same, and various products using the black mixed oxide material. The mixed oxides comprise oxides containing La, Mn and Cu as main components but containing neither Cr nor Co as a main component, wherein the contents of La, Mn and Cu in the mixed oxides satisfy the following ratios, as oxide equivalent amount with respect to 100% by weight of the oxide equivalent amount: the La content as La.sub.2O.sub.3 being 35-70 wt %; the Mn content as MnO.sub.2 being 25-60 wt %; and the Cu content as CuO being 0.5-10 wt %.

Process for the fabrication of an electrode structure comprising an electrochemically active material suitable for use in an energy storage device. The method includes electrodepositing the electrochemically active material onto an electrode in electrodeposition bath containing a non-aqueous electrolyte. The electrode structure can be used for various applications such as electrochemical energy storage devices including high power and high-energy lithium-ion batteries.

A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery has a rock salt type structure represented by General Formula:
Li.sub.xTi.sub.2x-1Mn.sub.2-3xO (0.50<x<0.67)(1)
and has an average particle size of 0.5 m or less.

A method of forming a high energy density composite cathode material is disclosed. The method includes providing a lithium-rich manganese layered oxide (LRMO), coating the LRMO with a TiO.sub.2 precursor, and ball-milling the TiO.sub.2 coated LRMO with LiH to form a Li.sub.xTiO.sub.2 coated LRMO composite, wherein x is less than or equal to 1 and greater than zero.

A sacrificial positive active material for a lithium-ion electrochemical element which is a compound of formula (Li.sub.2O).sub.x (MnO.sub.2).sub.y(MnO).sub.z(MO.sub.a).sub.t in which: x+y+z+t=1; 1xy0; 0.97x0.6; y0.45; x 0.17; y0; y+z>0; t0; 1a<3. M is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, B, Al, Ti, Si, V, Mo, Zr and a mixture thereof.

Provided are a black mixed oxide that contains chromium per se of any valency as a main component, and fails to contain cobalt as the main component material, and has a high safety, an excellent color tone and economical efficiency, and a method for producing the same, and various products using the black mixed oxide material. The mixed oxides comprise oxides containing La, Mn and Cu as main components but containing neither Cr nor Co as a main component, wherein the contents of La, Mn and Cu in the mixed oxides satisfy the following ratios, as oxide equivalent amount with respect to 100% by weight of the oxide equivalent amount: the La content as La.sub.2O.sub.3 being 35-70 wt %; the Mn content as MnO.sub.2 being 25-60 wt %; and the Cu content as CuO being 0.5-10 wt %.

Nanowires useful as heterogeneous catalysts are provided. The nanowire catalysts are prepared by polymer templated methods and are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to ethane and/or ethylene. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

A method for producing a nickel cobalt complex hydroxide includes first crystallization of supplying a solution containing Ni, Co and Mn, a complex ion forming agent and a basic solution separately and simultaneously to one reaction vessel to obtain nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles, and a second crystallization of, after the first crystallization, further supplying a solution containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese, a solution of a complex ion forming agent, a basic solution, and a solution containing said element M separately and simultaneously to the reaction vessel to crystallize a complex hydroxide particles containing nickel, cobalt, manganese and said element M on the nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles crystallizing a complex hydroxide particles comprising Ni, Co, Mn and the element M on the nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles.

The proposed method relates to producing inorganic sorbents for extracting lithium from lithium-containing natural and industrial brines. The method consists of a plurality of sequential steps, which include contacting a mixture of a soluble manganese (II) salt and aluminum (III) salt with an alkali solution in the presence of an alkali metal permanganate to obtain a precipitate of a mixed hydrated manganese (III), manganese (IV), and aluminum (III) oxide. After multiple reactions and conversions of intermediate products of the mixed hydrated manganese (III), manganese (IV), and aluminum (III) oxide, the final product is obtained as an ion exchanger in the H-form of high selectivity to lithium.