Briefly, a sensor for a continuous biological monitor is provided for measuring the level of a target analyte for a patient. The sensor has a working wire and a reference wire, where the working wire has an analyte limiting layer that passes more than 1 in 1000 analyte molecules from the patient to the an enzyme layer. The enzyme layer has an enzyme entrapped in a polyurethane cross-linked with acrylic polyol. As free electrons are generated, a conductor transfers the electrons to the biological monitor. In some cases, the sensor may be constructed without the use of any expensive platinum.

A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a first positive active material including a secondary particle including at least two agglomerated primary particles, where at least a portion of the primary particles has a radial arrangement structure, and a second positive active material having a monolith structure, wherein the first and second positive active materials each include a nickel-based positive active material, and an X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak intensity ratio (I(003)/I(104)) of the positive electrode is greater than or equal to about 3. Further embodiments provide a method of manufacturing the positive electrode for rechargeable lithium battery, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.

The present invention provides a secondary battery that has high energy density, high capacity, excellent cycle characteristics, and high productivity. The present invention relates to a secondary battery including: a laminate formed by alternately folding a sheet at an acute angle a plurality of times, the sheet having a negative electrode that is free of a negative electrode active material, and separators or solid electrolytes disposed on both surfaces of the negative electrode; and a plurality of positive electrodes each disposed in a space between separators or solid electrolytes facing each other formed by folding the sheet.

A battery with many cavities that form tiny reaction zones having voids. During charging, lithium metal forms in each cavity on the anode current collector. The formation of lithium metal in each of the many thousands of small cavities that are isolated from each other prevents the buildup of significant quantities of lithium metal in one location. The combination of tiny reaction zones and voids allows lithium metal to form without stressing the structure of the battery cell.

A battery with many cavities that form tiny reaction zones having voids. A concave-shaped anode and convex shaped cathode is inserted into each of the cavities as layers. During charging, lithium metal forms in each cavity on the anode current collector. The formation of lithium metal in each of the many thousands of small cavities that are isolated from each other prevents the buildup of significant quantities of lithium metal in one location. The combination of tiny reaction zones and voids allows lithium metal to form without stressing the structure of the battery cell.

A lithium-ion battery having an anode including an array of nanowires electrochemically coated with a polymer electrolyte, and surrounded by a cathode matrix, forming thereby interpenetrating electrodes, wherein the diffusion length of the Li.sup.+ ions is significantly decreased, leading to faster charging/discharging, greater reversibility, and longer battery lifetime, is described. The battery design is applicable to a variety of battery materials. Methods for directly electrodepositing Cu.sub.2Sb from aqueous solutions at room temperature using citric acid as a complexing agent to form an array of nanowires for the anode, are also described. Conformal coating of poly-[Zn(4-vinyl-4′methyl-2,2′-bipyridine).sub.3](PF.sub.6).sub.2 by electroreductive polymerization onto films and high-aspect ratio nanowire arrays for a solid-state electrolyte is also described, as is reductive electropolymerization of a variety of vinyl monomers, such as those containing the acrylate functional group. Such materials display limited electronic conductivity but significant lithium ion conductivity. Cathode materials may include oxides, such as lithium cobalt oxide, lithium magnesium oxide, or lithium tin oxide, as examples, or phosphates, such as LiFePO.sub.4, as an example.

A working electrode for a subcutaneous sensor for use with a continuous biological monitor for a patient is disclosed. The working electrode includes a conductive substrate and a carbon-enzyme layer on the conductive substrate. The carbon-enzyme layer includes a polyurethane or silicone crosslinked with an acrylic polyol, and an enzyme fully entrapped by the polyurethane or silicone crosslinked with the acrylic polyol. The enzyme is selected according to a biological function to be monitored. The carbon-enzyme layer also includes a carbon material. The carbon-enzyme layer is electrically conductive and facilitates a generation of either peroxide or electrons within the carbon-enzyme layer responsive to reacting the enzyme with a target biologic from blood of the patient.

Briefly, a carbon working electrode is described that has a plastic substrate of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or polylactic acid, and may be formed into an elongated wire. The carbon material coats the plastic substrate, and may be, for example, graphene, diamagnetic graphite, pyrolytic graphite, pyrolytic carbon, carbon black, carbon paste, or carbon ink, which is aqueously dispersed in an elastomeric material such as polyurethane, silicone, acrylates or acrylics. Optionally, selected additives may be added to the carbon compound prior to it being layered onto the plastic substrate. These additives may, for example, improve electrical conductivity or sensitivity, or act as a catalyst for target analyte molecules.

Briefly, a sensor for a continuous biological monitor is provided that has a working electrode with an enhanced carbon-enzyme layer that in one embodiment is made by mixing an aqueous polyurethane emulsion with an acrylic polyol emulsion to make a base emulsion. An enzyme and carbon materials are added to the base emulsion, which is applied to the working electrode and cured. The carbon materials may include carbon and graphite to provide strength, as well as graphene or pyrolytic graphite to provide a desirable electrical resistance for the carbon-enzyme layer. Optionally, other additives can be added to the base emulsion prior to application, such as hydophiles, cross linkers, adding imodeoesters, hydroxysuccimide, carboldilite, melamines, epoxies, benzoyl peroxide or dicumyl peroxide.

A working electrode for a subcutaneous sensor for use with a continuous biological monitor for a patient is disclosed. The working electrode includes a conductive substrate and an enzyme layer on the conductive substrate. The enzyme layer includes an enzyme, and the enzyme selected according to a biological function to be monitored. A hydrophobic material cross-linked with an acrylic polyol is included. The enzyme is fully entrapped in the cross-linked hydrophobic material with the acrylic polyol.