A composition includes a silicon nanoparticle having surface-attached groups, and the silicon nanoparticle is represented by the formula:
[Si]-[linker]-[terminal group].
In the formula [Si] represents the surface of the silicon nanoparticle; [terminal group] is a moiety that is configured for further reaction or is compatible with the electrolyte; and [linker] is a group linking the surface of the silicon nanoparticle to the [terminal group].

A composition includes a silicon nanoparticle having surface-attached groups, and the silicon nanoparticle is represented by the formula:
[Si]-[linker]-[terminal group].
In the formula [Si] represents the surface of the silicon nanoparticle; [terminal group] is a moiety that is configured for further reaction or is compatible with the electrolyte; and [linker] is a group linking the surface of the silicon nanoparticle to the [terminal group].

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 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.

Provided is an electrode, including: a collector; and an active material layer formed on the collector, wherein the active material layer contains sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile and a lithium-titanium oxide, wherein an average secondary particle diameter of the sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile is larger than an average secondary particle diameter of the lithium-titanium oxide, and wherein a content of the sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile in the active material layer is from 5 mass % to 85 mass %, and a content of the lithium-titanium oxide in the active material layer is from 5 mass % to 85 mass %.

The present invention provides a sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile having a total content of sulfur of from 30 mass % to 55 mass % and having a content of free sulfur of from 0.05 ppm by mass to 4 mass % determined by a solvent extraction method, an electrode active material containing the same, an electrode for a secondary battery including the electrode active material, a method of manufacturing the electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the electrode.

Described herein are improved composite anodes and lithium-ion batteries made therefrom. Further described are methods of making and using the improved anodes and batteries. In general, the anodes include a porous composite having a plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites. At least one of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites is formed from a dendritic particle, which is a three-dimensional, randomly-ordered assembly of nanoparticles of an electrically conducting material and a plurality of discrete non-porous nanoparticles of a non-carbon Group 4A element or mixture thereof disposed on a surface of the dendritic particle. At least one nanocomposite of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites has at least a portion of its dendritic particle in electrical communication with at least a portion of a dendritic particle of an adjacent nanocomposite in the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites.

Described herein are improved composite anodes and lithium-ion batteries made therefrom. Further described are methods of making and using the improved anodes and batteries. In general, the anodes include a porous composite having a plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites. At least one of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites is formed from a dendritic particle, which is a three-dimensional, randomly-ordered assembly of nanoparticles of an electrically conducting material and a plurality of discrete non-porous nanoparticles of a non-carbon Group 4A element or mixture thereof disposed on a surface of the dendritic particle. At least one nanocomposite of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites has at least a portion of its dendritic particle in electrical communication with at least a portion of a dendritic particle of an adjacent nanocomposite in the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites.

An energy storage module includes: a cover member accommodating a plurality of battery cells in an internal receiving space, each of the battery cells including a vent; a top plate coupled to a top of the cover member and including a duct corresponding to the vent of at least one of the battery cells; a top cover coupled to a top of the top plate and having an exhaust area corresponding to the duct, the exhaust area having a plurality of discharge openings, the top cover including a protrusion protruding from a bottom surface of the top cover, the protrusion extending around a periphery of the exhaust area and around a distal end of the duct; and an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a reference temperature.

An energy storage module includes: a cover member accommodating a plurality of battery cells in an internal receiving space, each of the battery cells including a vent; a top plate coupled to a top of the cover member and including a duct corresponding to the vent of at least one of the battery cells; a top cover coupled to a top of the top plate and having an exhaust area corresponding to the duct, the exhaust area having a plurality of discharge openings, the top cover including a protrusion protruding from a bottom surface of the top cover, the protrusion extending around a periphery of the exhaust area and around a distal end of the duct; and an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a reference temperature.