Celda electroquimica que comprende al menos un componente de multiples capas que comprende: - una pelicula de electrodo positivo que comprende, sobre un colector de corriente, particulas de azufre elemental como material electroquimicamente activo, un carbono conductor y un aglutinante polimerico, estando dichas particulas de azufre elemental encapsuladas en un material de recubrimiento; - una pelicula de electrodo negativo que comprende litio como material electroquimicamente activo; y - una pelicula de electrolito solido entre las peliculas de electrodos negativo y positivo, comprendiendo dicha pelicula de electrolito solido al menos una sal de litio y al menos una capa polimerica, siendo dicha pelicula de electrolito solido una pelicula conductora de iones y comprendiendo al menos un compuesto inorganico en la capa polimerica o en una capa solida independiente y conductora de iones, el polimero del electrolito consiste en un copolimero de bloque compuesto por al menos un segmento de solvatacion de iones de litio y al menos un segmento reticulable, siendo dicho segmento reticulable del polimero un segmento de polimero que comprende al menos un grupo funcional reticulable de manera multidimensional mediante irradiacion o tratamiento termico, y el segmento de solvatacion de iones de litio se elige de los homo o copolimeros que tienen unidades de repeticion de formula (I): **(Ver formula)** en la que, R se elige de H, alquilo C1-C10 o -(CH2-O-RaRb); Ra es (CH2-CH2-O)y; Rb se elige de H y un grupo alquilo C1-C10; x es un numero entero elegido del intervalo de 10 a 200.000; e y es un numero elegido del intervalo de 0 a 10.

Energy storage with high energy density and low cost has been the subject of a decades-long pursuit. Sodium-ion batteries are well expected because they utilize abundant resources. However, the lack of competent cathodes with both large capacities and long cycle lives prevents the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries. Conventional cathodes with hexagonal-P2-type structures suffer from structural degradations when the sodium content falls below 33%, or when the integral anions participate in gas evolution reactions. Here, we show a “pillar-beam” structure for sodium-ion battery cathodes where a few inert potassium ions uphold the layer-structured framework, while the working sodium ions could diffuse freely. The thus-created unorthodox orthogonal-P2 K 0.4 [Ni 0.2 Mn 0.8 ]O 2 cathode delivers a capacity of 194 mAh/g at 0.1 C, a rate capacity of 84% at 1 C, and an 86% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1 C. The addition of the potassium ions boosts simultaneously the energy density and the cycle life.

Un electrolito de bateria de litio o iones de litio que comprende una sal de litio conductora disuelta en al menos un compuesto ionico que es un liquido ionico y es de formula (I): **(Ver formula)** en la que: CAT+ representa un cation, conteniendo el cation un atomo monocargado positivamente, que es nitrogeno, fosforo o azufre, preferiblemente nitrogeno; R, R1 y R2 son independientemente grupos alquilo, alquenilo o alquinilo C1-C8, preferiblemente grupos alquilo o alquenilo C1-C8, mas preferiblemente grupos alquilo o alquenilo C1-C4, aun mas preferiblemente grupos alquilo C1-C4, incluso mas preferiblemente grupos alquilo C1-C2, lo mas preferiblemente metilo; L representa un ligador, en el que L es un grupo alquileno, alquenileno o alquinileno C1-C12, que comprende opcionalmente una o mas funciones eter, y opcionalmente sustituido con uno o mas atomos de halogeno, y ANI- representa un anion.

To provide a process for preparing SiOx having a nano-scale filament structure.SOLUTION: There is provided a process for preparing a SiOnano-filament particle, in which x is between 0.8 to 1.2, and the process includes a process consisting of a melting reaction between silica (SiO) and silicon (Si) at a temperature at least about 1410°C for producing gas silicon monoxide (SiO) and a process consisting of concentration of SiO gas for producing the SiOnano-filament particle. The process further includes using carbon.SELECTED DRAWING: None

In liithium–sulfur battery the lithium metal surface was analyzed by in situ Raman spectroscopy.

Blended cathode materials made by mixing LiFePO4 (LFP) with LiMnPO4 (LMP) or LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC) that exhibit either high specific energy and high rate capability were investigated. The layered blend LMP–LFP and the physically mixed blend NMC–LFP are evaluated in terms of particle morphology and electrochemical performance. Results indicate that the LMP–LFP (66:33) blend has a better discharge rate than the LiMn1−yFeyPO4 with the same composition (y = 0.33), and NMC–LFP (70:30) delivers a remarkable stable capacity over 125 cycles. Finally, in situ voltage measurement methods were applied for the evaluation of the phase evolution of blended cathodes and gradual changes in cell behavior upon cycling. We also discuss through these examples the promising development of blends as future electrodes for new generations of Li-ion batteries.

Crystalline lithium disulfide (Li2S2) is identified, for the first time, as a transient species in the lithium sulfur cell, by using an operando X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The observed XRD pattern precisely matches with the predicted pattern based on the density function theory. The formation of Li2S2 crystals is repetitively found in the highly concentrated (7 M Li+) electrolyte at high voltage region (>2 V) near the end of the first charge cycle and before the end of the second discharge cycle. These conditions indicate that crystalline Li2S2 exists in the non-equilibrium regime. The formation of crystalline Li2S2 under only the specified conditions suggests that it is not formed as an intermediate discharge product, contrary to what is generally believed, but as a transient species by the disproportionation reaction from higher order polysulfides which is facilitated by the "solvent-in-salt" conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rechargeable lithium batteries accelerated the wireless revolution over the last two decades, and they are now a mature technology for transportation applications in electric vehicles (EV). However, numerous studies have concluded that the proven lithium reserves can hardly absorb the growth in demand. Therefore, sustainable sodium batteries are being considered to overcome the lithium resource shortages that may arise from large-scale application in EVs and stationary energy storage. It is difficult to find a suitable host material for reversible Na-ion storage due to the size of the Na+ ion (0.102 nm) compared to the Li+ ion (0.076 nm). Here we report a low cost and simple sodium technology that is based on a metal-free cathode material. Sodium metal was used as the anode with a conducting polymer cathode and electrochemically tested in a liquid electrolyte. With this technology, a host material for Na intercalation is not required, and because a polymer conductor is used, the size of the Na ion is not an issue. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In-situ Raman spectroscopy is employed to investigate the valence state variations of nickel and manganese, as well as the local structure change of LiMn1.45Ni0.45M0.1O4 (M = Cr, Co) cathodes (LMN) during galvanostatic charge discharge. Raman spectra are collected between 3.5 and 4.9 V in the wave number range of 100-800 cm(-1). The Raman observations showed that the pristine cathodes of Cr- and Co-doped LMN have essentially the same spectra, and they also have similar evolution patterns during cycling showing their reversible behaviour in the de-lithiation and lithiation processes. The Raman spectra of the pristine cathodes have eleven bands, located at 162, 220, 378, 408, 486, 498, 528, 593, 613, 639 and 672 cm(-1). The bands with wave number <300 cm(-1) are attributed to the translation mode of molecular vibration; the 486, 593 and 639 cm(-1) bands are assigned to the stretching mode of Mn-O bond; and the vibration modes at 408, 498, 528 and 613 cm(-1) originated from the Ni-O bond; The band at 672 cm(-1) is attributed to A(1g) mode of Cr3+-O/Co3+-O. During cycling, several new bands are detected near the end of charge, among which the T-2g(T) band at 170 cm(-1) is attributed to the translation mode of lattice vibration in which the lithium concentration is low, and the T-2g band at 538 cm(-1) is due to the presence of Ni4+-O bond in the crystal structure. The T-2g(T) and T-2g(Ni4+-O) bands are clearly evident at V >= 4.78 (x similar to 0.32) and V >= 4.82 (x similar to 0.28). for Cr- and Co-doped LMN, respectively. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A series of metal-doped LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 (metal = Co, Al, Cu and Mg) positive electrode materials for lithium ion batteries were synthesized and their structural changes during the galvanostatic charge/discharge process at C/24 rate were investigated by using in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The phase diagram shows that similar series of first-order phase transitions with two regions of two-phase coexistence are observed during intercalation/de-intercalation of lithium among all the doped cathode materials. However, minor differences of the phase evolution and the electrochemical properties point to the different roles of the dopant ions. The phase diagram is analyzed and discussed, together with the differences among different results reported in the literature to distinguish between general intrinsic properties of spinel and sample-dependent properties due to the degree of cation ordering, out-of-equilibrium effects, electro-negativity and radii of the dopant ions. Among the metal-substituted samples, we argue that the Co-doping is the most promising approach with improved electrochemical property. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effects of moisture contamination in the Li-O2 battery system were investigated by comparing the electrochemical performance and post-mortem analysis of batteries prepared under different atmospheres: sealed container in an ambient atmosphere vs. sealed container in a dry-room or in a glove-box. The performance of the cells strongly depended on the atmosphere; furthermore it was found that the performance degradation of the Li metal anode comes from moisture contamination from the feed lines. In an ambient atmosphere, the cells showed higher 1st discharge capacity, higher impedance and significant increase of the cell weight owing to contamination of the oxygen by moisture. Post-mortem analysis revealed that the deterioration of lithium metal anode leads to the cell failure mechanism, and this comes from the moisture contamination. It was found that the performance of Li-O2 batteries is very sensitive to even traces of moisture contamination and every single part of the cell design including the choice of fitting parts and water permeability of the fitting material should be verified in order to obtain credible and reproducible results. This finding supports the idea that protection of the lithium metal electrode is indispensable to realize the practical application of Li-O2 or Li-air batteries.

In situ X-ray diffraction has been carried out to study the structural changes of the bare and Cr-doped LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 crystallized samples in the disordered phase (Fd m space group) are investigated during the galvanostatic charge/discharge process at C/24 rate. The de-intercalation of lithium proceeds through a series of first-order phase transitions with two regions of two-phase coexistence. The phase diagram is analyzed and discussed, together with the differences among different results reported in the literature.

High cycle life is a key component that any lithium-ion battery technology must achieve in order to obtain a commercial success. In this regard, multiple electrochemical (Impedance, ASI, floating current, etc.) and non-electrochemical techniques (XRD, FT-IR, SEM/TEM, etc.) are used and developed. The most complete techniques involved measurement while the battery is cycling (in situ experiment). Among them, in-situ SEM/TEM is able to focus on the same region/particle over the all range of oxidation/reduction. Hydro-Quebec has developed a complete expertise for in-situ techniques, especially in situ SEM. Lithium Polymer Battery (LPB), an all solid battery, is the preferred battery configuration for SEM in-situ experiment. We present in Figure 1 micrographs taken during in-situ experiment of a LPB (Li/PEO based SPE/Li1.2V3O8 based cathode) showing the variation in thickness for the Li, SPE and cathode layers with the cell voltage. Only the Li thickness shows an important variation during plating and unplating. The Li plating rate can also be measured. This experiment can clearly be used to better understand the Li plating mechanism. In figure 2 we present micrographs taken during an in-situ SEM cycling of a Li/PEO based SPE/SiO cell using backscattered electron signal. We clearly see an important decrease in the BSE intensity as a function of the cell voltage as a result of the Si phase transformation upon cycling (upon Li ‘insertion’, the BSE intensity is lower and the particle becomes darker). We also note that a region of the big particle remains white (i.e. the Li did not have sufficient time to ‘diffuse’ inside their core region). This result explains the rather low capacity observed with such particles and it gives evidence that the system is out of thermodynamic equilibrium. This in-situ experiment also shows no cracking of the relatively big SiO particles since the voltage was kept higher than 0.1V (stop at the Li22Si7 phase instead of Li22Si5) when compared to previous results [1]. We will also present in-situ SEM of nano-Si particles that did not suffer any cracking, but agglomerate (electrochemical sintering), which results in a more rigid and fractured electrodes [2] This presentation will also used in-situ SEM to obtain a better understanding of the failure mechanism of new electrode materials, including Li-S. References: [1] http://batt.lbl.gov/blog/research-tasks/in-situ-sem-seeing-battery-cycling-in-action/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-situ-sem-seeing-battery-cycling-in-action [2] Hovington et al, (2014) ‘in situ Scanning electron microscope study and micriostructural evolution of nano silicon anode for high energy Li-ion batteries’, Journal of Power Sources 248, 457-464

We examine the reactivity of the non-aqueous electrolyte at the surface of 5-volts positive electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. LiPF6-based electrolytes include various solutes as ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC) and 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), which react with the surface of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 in the voltage range 3.0-4.9 V vs. Li-0/Li+. Effects with mixed salts and electrolyte additive are also examined.

We report that the rotation speed of the stirring in the hydrothermal reactor process is an important parameter that affects the structural properties and the electrochemical performance of LiFePO4. The best results are obtained for a rotation speed of 280 revolutions per minute. It is argued that this improved performance is related to the optimized morphology of the particles, and a smaller agglomeration of the particles. This material meets a worldwide success as a positive electrode for commercial Li-ion batteries.

In situ and ex situ scanning electron microscopy of nano Si and SiO anode particles was carried out during the first cycles, and at various stages of charge. The particle size effects were explored in the range 0.1-20 mu m, providing a new insight into the micro-structural evolution of the particles as a function of their size, and into the 'mechanical' resistance upon important volume change upon phase transformation of these anodes. For small particles, the failure of the battery comes from an electrochemical sintering that compacts the whole electrode, which results in its cracking. The particles keep their integrity when the discharge is stopped at a voltage 0.1 V, which corresponds to the chemical composition Li12Si7, while the particles are known to crack at deeper discharge up to Li22Si5. Replacing the Si particles by SiO particles in an attempt to avoid these structural effects did not help, because of the different chemical reactions during cycling, with the loss of oxygen. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.