Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Faradion Limited

Sharp Corporation

Iti Scotland Limited

Emma Kendrick

Robert Gruar

Jeremy Barker

Joshua Charles Treacher

Motoaki Nishijima

Hirotaka Mizuhata

Yuichi Kamimura

Isao Asako

Katherine Louise Smith

Takuya Otani

Chaou Choak Tan

A method of operating a rechargeable sodium ion cell, wherein the cell comprises an anode material which is a disordered carbon and a nickel-containing sodium oxide cathode material comprises: in a formation charge phase, charging the cell to a first voltage at which sodium is irreversibly liberated from the cathode material; and in a subsequent charge-discharge cycle, charging the cell to a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The voltage to which the cell is charged in the formation charge phase may be selected such that the amount of sodium irreversibly liberated from the cathode material in the formation charge phase substantially equals the amount of sodium deposited in a surface electrolyte layer on the anode in the formation charge phase.

Formation method for sodium ion cell or battery

The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: AMMMx02wherein A is one or more alkali metals; Mcomprises one or more redox active metals with an oxidation state in the range +2 to +4; Mcomprises tin, optionally in combination with one or more transition metals; Mcomprises one or more transition metals either alone or in combination with one or more non-transition elements selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, other metals, metalloids and non-metals, with an oxidation state in the range +1 to +5; wherein the oxidation state of M1, M2, and M3 are chosen to maintain charge neutrality and further wherein &#x3b4; is in the range 0&#x2264;&#x3b4;&#x2264;0.4; U is in the range 0.3&#x3c;U&#x3c;2; V is in the range 0.1&#x2264;V&#x3c;0.75; W is in the range 0&#x3c;W&#x3c;0.75; X is in the range 0&#x2264;X&#x3c;0.5; and (U+V+W+X)&#x3c;4.0. Such materials are useful, for example as electrode materials, in rechargeable battery applications.

Tin-containing compounds

The present invention is directed to an electrode comprising one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds of the formula: AMMXOwherein A comprises sodium or a mixture of sodium with lithium and/or potassium Mcomprises one or more transition metals, wherein Mis capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher oxidation state, Mcomprises one or more non transition metals and/or metalloids, X comprises at least 40 mol % silicon, a is &#x3e;0, b is &#x3e;0 c is &#x2265;0, d is &#x2265;1, e is &#x2265;2, wherein the values of a, b, c, d, and e are selected to maintain the electroneutrality of the compound; and further wherein the one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds does not include NaMnSiO.

Sodium transition metal silicates

Materials are presented of the formula: The formula includes compounds that are oxygen deficient. Further the oxidation states may or may not be integers i.e. they may be whole numbers or fractions or a combination of whole numbers and fractions and may be averaged over different crystallographic sites in the material. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in rechargeable battery applications. Also presented is a method of preparing a compound having the formula AMMO.

Layered oxide materials for batteries

Materials are presented of the formula:AMMO,where A is sodium or a mixed alkali metal including sodium as a major constituent;

The present invention provides a convenient process for making lithium sulfide involving heating one or more lithium-containing compounds and sulphur, wherein the heating step is performed at a temperature of 600 to 1500&#xb0; C.

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Oxford, United Kingdom

Emma Kendrick