Ut-battelle, Inc.

University of Texas System

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.

University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Xiao-Guang Sun

Sheng Dai

Bingkun Guo

Mariappan Parans Paranthaman

Richard T Mayes

Xiqing Wang

Jinshui Zhang

Gilbert Morris Brown

Hansan Liu

Teng Ben

Shilun Qiu

Chen Liao

Nancy Johnston Dudney

Huimin Luo

Timothy James McIntyre

Craig A Bridges

Sukeun Yoon

Zhonghe Bi

Shannon Mark Mahurin

Zhenan Qiao

Pasquale Fernando Fulvio

Xueguang Jiang

Shun Wan

Rui Qiao

Arumugan Manthiram

A nanoconfined metal-containing electrolyte comprising a layer of enclosed nanostructures in which each enclosed nanostructure contains a liquid metal-containing electrolyte, wherein said enclosed nanostructures are in physical contact with each other. Metal-ion batteries containing the nanoconfined electrolyte in contact with an anode and cathode of the battery are also described. Methods for producing the nanoconfined electrolyte are also described.

Nanoconfined electrolytes and their use in batteries

The invention is directed in a first aspect to electron-conducting porous compositions comprising an organic polymer matrix doped with nitrogen atoms and having elemental sulfur dispersed therein, particularly such compositions having an ordered framework structure. The invention is also directed to composites of such S/N-doped electron-conducting porous aromatic framework (PAF) compositions, or composites of an S/N-doped mesoporous carbon composition, which includes the S/N-doped composition in admixture with a binder, and optionally, conductive carbon. The invention is further directed to cathodes for a lithium-sulfur battery in which such composites are incorporated.

Nitrogen-sulfur-carbon nanocomposites and their application as cathode materials in lithium-sulfur batteries

The invention is directed in a first aspect to electrolyte salt of the general formula LiZ, wherein Zhas the following chemical formula: wherein Ris an alkyl group (R') containing at least one and up to twelve carbon atoms, and Rand Rare independently selected from fluorine atom, hydrocarbon groups R, alkoxy groups (&#x2014;OR), and ester groups &#x2014;OC(O)R, wherein Rand Rcan optionally interconnect via R functionalities to form a boron-containing ring. The invention is also directed to electrolyte compositions in which the above electrolyte salt is incorporated. The invention is further directed to lithium-ion batteries containing these electrolytes.

Stable fluorinated alkylated lithium malonatoborate salts for lithium-ion battery applications

An ionic liquid composition comprising a complex of a trihalo aluminum (III) species with at least one organic uncharged ligand comprising a ring structure having at least three ring carbon atoms and at least one ring heteroatom selected from nitrogen and sulfur, wherein the complex is a liquid at a temperature of 100&#xb0; C. or less. Methods of electroplating aluminum onto a metallic substrate using the above-described ionic liquid composition are also described.

Aluminum trihalide-neutral ligand ionic liquids and their use in aluminum deposition

A method of thermally insulating a surface, the method comprising applying a coating of a thermally insulating composition onto said surface, wherein said thermally insulating composition comprises: (i) hollow spherical nanoparticles having a mean particle size of less than 800 nm in diameter and a particle size distribution in which at least 90% of the hollow spherical nanoparticles have a size within &#xb1;20% of said mean particle size, and a first layer of cationic or anionic molecules attached to said surfaces of the hollow spherical nanoparticles; and (ii) a second layer of molecules of opposite charge to the first layer of molecules, wherein said second layer of molecules of opposite charge are ionically associated with said first layer of molecules, wherein the molecules in said second layer have at least eight carbon atoms.

Porous thermally insulating compositions containing hollow spherical nanoparticles

Compositions and methods of making are provided for coated electrodes and batteries comprising the same. The compositions may comprise a base composition having an active material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO, LiMnO, LiMnO, LiNiO, LiMnNiO, LiFePO, LiFePOF, LiCoNiMnO, Li(LiNiMnCo)O, and mixtures thereof. The compositions may also comprise a coating composition that covers at least a portion of the base composition, wherein the coating composition comprises a non-metal or metalloid element. The methods of making comprise providing the base composition and a doped carbon coating composition, and mixing the coating composition with the base electrode composition at an elevated temperature in a flowing inert gas atmosphere. The coating composition may be a nitrogen-doped carbon composition a nitrogen doping element selected from the group consisting of: pyridine, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide, and mixtures thereof.

Coating compositions for electrode compositions and their methods of making

Compositions and methods of making are provided for a high energy density lithium-aluminum battery. The battery comprises an anode comprising aluminum metal. The battery further comprises a cathode comprising a lithium metal oxide. The battery further comprises an electrolyte capable of supporting reversible deposition and stripping of aluminum at the anode, and reversible intercalation and deintercalation of lithium at the cathode.

High energy density aluminum battery

Alkoxide magnesium halide compounds having the formula:RO&#x2014;Mg&#x2014;X&#x2003;&#x2003;(1)wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group that is unsubstituted, or alternatively, substituted with one or more heteroatom linkers and/or one or more heteroatom-containing groups comprising at least one heteroatom selected from fluorine, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and silicon; and X is a halide atom. Also described are electrolyte compositions containing a compound of Formula (1) in a suitable polar aprotic or ionic solvent, as well as magnesium batteries in which such electrolytes are incorporated.

Alkoxide-based magnesium electrolyte compositions for magnesium batteries

Nanoporous metal oxide framework compositions useful as anodic materials in a lithium ion battery, the composition comprising metal oxide nanocrystals interconnected in a nanoporous framework and having interconnected channels, wherein the metal in said metal oxide comprises titanium and at least one metal selected from niobium and tantalum, e.g., TiNbTaO(wherein x is a value from 0 to 2, and y is a value from 7 to 10) and TiNbTaO(wherein v is a value from 0 to 2, and w is a value from 27 to 29). A novel sol gel method is also described in which sol gel reactive precursors are combined with a templating agent under sol gel reaction conditions to produce a hybrid precursor, and the precursor calcined to form the anodic composition. The invention is also directed to lithium ion batteries in which the nanoporous framework material is incorporated in an anode of the battery.

Nanoporous titanium niobium oxide and titanium tantalum oxide compositions and their use in anodes of lithium ion batteries

Compositions and methods of making are provided for mesoporous metal oxide microspheres electrodes. The mesoporous metal oxide microsphere compositions comprise (a) microspheres with an average diameter between 200 nanometers (nm) and 10 micrometers (&#x3bc;m); (b) mesopores on the surface and interior of the microspheres, wherein the mesopores have an average diameter between 1 nm and 50 nm and the microspheres have a surface area between 50 m/g and 500 m/g. The methods of making comprise forming composite powders. The methods may also comprise refluxing the composite powders in a basic solution to form an etched powder, washing the etched powder with an acid to form a hydrated metal oxide, and heat-treating the hydrated metal oxide to form mesoporous metal oxide microspheres.

Mesoporous metal oxide microsphere electrode compositions and their methods of making

Compositions and methods of making are provided for a high energy density aluminum battery. The battery comprises an anode comprising aluminum metal. The battery further comprises a cathode comprising a material capable of intercalating aluminum or lithium ions during a discharge cycle and deintercalating the aluminum or lithium ions during a charge cycle. The battery further comprises an electrolyte capable of supporting reversible deposition and stripping of aluminum at the anode, and reversible intercalation and deintercalation of aluminum or lithium at the cathode.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Xiao-Guang Sun