Batteries comprising alkali-transition metal phosphates and preferred electrolytes

A battery comprising:

• (a) a first electrode comprising an active material of the formula
• LiaMb(PO4)Zd,
• wherein
• (i) 0.1<a≦4;
• (ii) M is one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, and 1≦b≦3;
• and
• (iii) Z is halogen, and 0.1<d≦4;
• and
• wherein M, Z, a, b, and d are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality of said compound;
• (b) a second electrode which is a counter-electrode to said first electrode;
• and
• (c) an electrolyte comprising a mixture of a cyclic ester and a carbonate selected from the group consisting of alkyl carbonates, alkylene carbonates, and mixtures thereof.

A battery comprising:

• (a) a first electrode comprising an active material of the formula
• LiaCoeFefM1gM2hM3iXY4
• wherein
• (i) 0<a≦2, e>0, and f>0;
• (ii) M1 is one or more transition metals, where g≧0;
• (iii) M2 is one or more +2 oxidation state non-transition metals, where h≧0;
• (iv) M3 is one or more +3 oxidation state non-transition metals, where i≧0;
• and
• (v) XY4 is selected from the group consisting of X′O4-xY′x, X′O4-yY′2y, X″S4, and mixtures thereof, where X′ is selected from the group consisting of P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, V, S, and mixtures thereof;
• X″ is selected from the group consisting of P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, V and mixtures thereof;
• Y′ is selected from the group consisting of halogen, S, N, and mixtures thereof;
• 0≦x≦3;
• and 0<y≦2;
• and
• wherein (e+f+g+h+i)<2, and M1, M2, M3, XY4, a, e, f, g, h, i, x, and y are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality of said compound;
• and
• (b) a second electrode which is a counter-electrode to said first electrode;
• and
• (c) an electrolyte comprising an electrolyte salt, a cyclic ester and a carbonate selected from the group consisting of alkyl carbonates, alkylene carbonates, and mixtures thereof.

A battery comprising:

• (a) a first electrode comprising an active material having an olivine structure, of the formula
• LiM(PO4-xY′x)
• wherein M is M1gM2hM3iM4j, and
• (i) M1 is one or more transition metals;
• (ii) M2 is one or more +2 oxidation state non-transition metals;
• (iii) M3 is one or more +3 oxidation state non-transition metals,
• (iv) M4 is one or more +1 oxidation state non-transition metals;
• (v) Y′ is halogen;
• and
• g>0, each of h, i, and j≧0;
• (g+h+i+j)≦1, and 0≦x≦0.5;
• and
• (b) a second electrode which is a counter-electrode to said first electrode;
• and
• (c) an electrolyte comprising an electrolyte salt, an alkylene carbonate, and a cyclic ester and a carbonate selected from the group consisting of alkyl carbonates, alkylene carbonates, and mixtures thereof.

A battery comprising:

• (a) a first electrode comprising an active material of the formula
• LiCo0.8Fe0.1Al0.025Mg0.05PO3.975F0.025
• (b) a second electrode which is a counter-electrode to said first electrode;
• and
• (c) an electrolyte comprising
• (i) an electrolyte salt;
• (ii) an alkylene carbonate having a ring size of from 5 to 8 atoms and unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl on one or more carbon atoms;
• and
• (iii) a cyclic ester having a ring size of from 4 to 7 atoms, and is unsubstituted or substituted on one or more carbon atoms with a lower alkyl group.