A cathode structure for a battery includes a substrate having an electrically conductive surface and an electrode deposited onto the electrically conductive surface. The electrode is made of two or more electrode materials, including (i) one or more active materials, and (ii) specified weight percentage ranges of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (“MWCNTs”), or milled carbon fibers (“MCFs”), or a mixture of MWCNTs and MCFs. Using the specified weight percentage ranges, the electrode may be produced with a thickness of greater than 120 μm. Also disclosed are a slurry formulation for producing thick electrodes for a battery, and a method of fabricating a cathode structure for a battery.

A method of fabricating and using a zinc negative electrode and systems thereof are described. A zinc electroplated electrode including a layer of zinc metal bonded to a surface of an electrically conductive current collector is fabricated by an electroplating process using a zinc electroplating system. The zinc electroplating system includes: a zinc metal anode, a cathode including the current collector for plating zinc thereon, and an electrolyte bath comprising zinc ions. The electroplating process bonds the zinc metal to the surface of the current collector to create the electroplated zinc electrode. The electroplated zinc electrode is used as a negative electrode in a zinc metal cell. The zinc metal cell may be a primary cell or a secondary cell.

Methods for the deposition of thin films comprising at least preparing a solution containing at least one transition metal oxide powder in a solvent, continuously stirring said solution in order to form a sol, and using said sol in the form of said transition metal oxide film, wherein the powder is subjected to a preliminary preparation step.

A method for the preparation of an electrode comprising a substrate made of an aluminium based material, vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and an electrically conductive polymer matrix, the method comprising the following successive steps: (a) synthesising, on a substrate made of an aluminium based material, a carpet of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes according to the technique of CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) at a temperature less than or equal to 650° C.; (b) electrochemically depositing the polymer matrix on the carbon nanotubes from an electrolyte solution including at least one precursor monomer of the matrix, at least one ionic liquid and at least one protic or aprotic solvent. Further disclosed is the prepared electrode and a device for storing and returning electricity such as a supercapacitor comprising the electrode.

A method of fabricating and using a zinc negative electrode and systems thereof are described. A zinc electroplated electrode including a layer of zinc metal bonded to a surface of an electrically conductive current collector is fabricated by an electroplating process using a zinc electroplating system. The zinc electroplating system includes: a zinc metal anode, a cathode including the current collector for plating zinc thereon, and an electrolyte bath comprising zinc ions. The electroplating process bonds the zinc metal to the surface of the current collector to create the electroplated zinc electrode. The electroplated zinc electrode is used as a negative electrode in a zinc metal cell. The zinc metal cell may be a primary cell or a secondary cell.

An anode plate for a film plating machine and a film plating machine are provided. The anode plate is formed by splicing a plurality of anode plate splicing units, and two adjacent anode plate splicing units are separated by an insulating medium. Each anode plate splicing unit is connected with a power supply. The anode plate is applicable to film plating machines of different breadth.

An apparatus for pre-lithiating a negative includes a pre-lithiation reactor sequentially divided into an impregnation section, a pre-lithiation section and an aging section, and accommodates a pre-lithiation solution in which a negative electrode structure is moved; a negative electrode roll arranged outside the pre-lithiation solution and on which the negative electrode structure before being moved is wound; a lithium metal counter electrode arranged in the pre-lithiation solution in the pre-lithiation section and is spaced apart from the negative electrode structure by a predetermined distance to face the negative electrode structure which is moved in the pre-lithiation solution; and a charge and discharge unit connected to the negative electrode structure and the lithium metal counter electrode, in which a separation distance between the lithium metal counter electrode and the negative electrode structure is in a range of 7 to 15 mm. A method for pre-lithiating the negative electrode is also provided.

In an embodiment an electrochemical cell includes a first electrode having a first surface area A1, a second electrode having a second surface area A2, an electrolyte arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrochemical cell is configured to provide a first electrochemical half-cell reaction at the first electrode and provide a second electrochemical half-cell reaction at the second electrode, and wherein a surface area ratio A1/A2 is larger than a stoichiometric ratio of the first half-cell reaction and the second half-cell reaction.

A process is provided comprising submerging a substrate in an electrochemical deposit bath having at least a metal salt and saccharin. In embodiments, the film is further treated with anodization, and in other cases chemical vapor deposition. Films are also provided formed by the disclosed processes. The films are nanoporous on at least a portion of a surface of the films. Also disclosed are electronic devices having the films disclosed, including lithium-ion batteries, storage devices, supercapacitors, electrodes, semiconductors, fuel cells, and/or combinations thereof.

Graphene is formed with a practically uniform thickness on an uneven object. The object is immersed in a graphene oxide solution, and then taken out of the solution and dried; alternatively, the object and an electrode are immersed therein and voltage is applied between the electrode and the object used as an anode. Graphene oxide is negatively charged, and thus is drawn to and deposited on a surface of the object, with a practically uniform thickness. After that, the object is heated in vacuum or a reducing atmosphere, so that the graphene oxide is reduced to be graphene. In this manner, a graphene layer with a practically uniform thickness can be formed even on a surface of the uneven object.