University of Minnesota

Jun Xu

Frank Steven Bates

Boone B Owens

William H Smyrl

A blend that includes (a) a continuous phase comprising isotactic polypropylene and (b) a dispersed phase comprising a poly-(ethylene-alt-propylene)-b-poly(ethylene-ran-ethyl ethylene) diblock copolymer. The amount of diblock copolymer is less thanwt % based on the total weight of the blend.

Block copolymer-toughened isotactic polypropylene

Amorphous manganese dioxide cathodes for lithium batteries with lithium metal or other lithium-containing anodes, the cathode being synthesized by a sol-gel approach involving reduction of sodium permanganate with fumaric acid disodium salt carried out at room temperature to ensure an amorphous structure. The resulting amorphous manganese dioxide has a nanoporous structure and a high internal surface area of 350 m /g. The amorphous manganese dioxide can electrochemically intercalate more than 1.6 moles of lithium per mole of manganese, and its theoretical capacity is 2 moles of lithium per mole of manganese. The host structure remains amorphous in the entire intercalation range and the intercalation process is reversible. Lithium battery cathodes comprising the amorphous manganese dioxide, a carbon powder and a binder provide a charge capacity in the level of 436 mAh/g and store energy at the level of 1056 mWh/g. Copper doped amorphous manganese oxides showed significant improvement in cycling performance.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Jun Xu