DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.

Batteries including electrochemically active cathode materials comprising a stabilized non-stoichiometric delithiated layered nickel-metal composite oxide having a layered crystal structure, wherein the electrochemically active cathode material includes about 2.5 mol % to less than about 50 mol % of a second metal ion relative to the total non-alkali metal content, and methods of preparing and using same.

Provided are methods of preparing an electrochemically active cathode material including the steps of combining an alkali metal-containing nickel oxide having a formula A 1−a Ni 1+a O 2 , wherein A comprises an alkali metal and 0<a≤0.2, with a fluid composition including an oxidant comprising a peroxydisulfate salt, a monopersulfate salt, or a combination thereof to form a mixture, heating the mixture to a temperature of 50° C. or greater; and maintaining the mixture at the temperature for at least a period of time sufficient to form an alkali metal-deficient nickel oxide electrochemically active cathode material having a general formula A x H y Ni 1+a O 2 ·nH 2 O, wherein A comprises an alkali metal; 0.08≤x<0.2; 0≤y<0.3; 0.02≤a≤0.2; and 0<n<2.

The invention is directed towards a cathode. The cathode includes an electrochemically active cathode material and at least one cathode additive. The at least one cathode additive includes a head group and at least one hydrocarbon tail group. The head group includes at least one p-element atom that is bonded to a second p-element atom. The at least one p-element atom has an electronegativity and the second p-element atom has an electronegativity. The electronegativity of the at least one p-element atom is different from the electronegativity of the second p-element atom.

A battery cell comprising a composite water-responsive safety layer and/or composite water- and pH-responsive safety layer to protect against bodily tissue damage and/or electrolysis, when the battery cell is exposed to aqueous solution or bodily tissue, is provided.

A battery includes a housing, and within the housing, an anode having an alkali metal as the active material, a cathode having a mass (m) of a cathode active material, for example, iron disulfide as the active material, a separator between the anode and the cathode, and an increased electrolyte volume (v).

A portable power station includes a housing and a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing. A charging power port is disposed on the exterior of the housing. The charging power port is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery and the charging power port provides an electrical current to the rechargeable battery for recharging the rechargeable battery. A power outlet is disposed on the exterior of the housing. The power outlet is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The power outlet provides electrical current from the battery to a rechargeable device electrically connected to the power outlet for the purpose of recharging the rechargeable device. An illuminating device is disposed about a perimeter of the housing, proximate a top of the housing. The illuminating device is configured to emit light from substantially the entire perimeter of the housing.

A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank transmits an indication of the health value to a mobile computing device.

A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery and/or a remote server may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank and/or remote server determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank and/or remote server compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank and/or remote server transmits an indication of the health value.

Provided are methods of preparing an electrochemically active cathode material including the steps of combining an alkali metal-containing nickel oxide having a formula A 1−a Ni 1+a O 2 , wherein A comprises an alkali metal and 0<a≤0.2, with a fluid composition including an oxidant comprising a peroxydisulfate salt, a monopersulfate salt, or a combination thereof to form a mixture, heating the mixture to a temperature of 50° C. or greater; and maintaining the mixture at the temperature for at least a period of time sufficient to form an alkali metal-deficient nickel oxide electrochemically active cathode material having a general formula A x H y Ni 1+a O 2 ·nH 2 O, wherein A comprises an alkali metal; 0.08≤x<0.2; 0≤y<0.3; 0.02≤a≤0.2; and 0<n<2.