Patent ID: 7556890

Claim:
An electrochemical cell, comprising: as at least part of an anode, a lithium transition metal oxide compound which has a [B 2 ]X 4 n− spinel-type framework structure of an A[B 2 ]X 4 stoichiometric spinel or defect spinel wherein A comprises Li, B comprises Li and Ti, X is oxygen (O), and n− refers to the overall charge of the structural unit [B 2 ]X 4 of the framework structure, and the transition metal cation of which in the fully discharged state of the cell has a mean oxidation state greater than +3 for Ti, and further wherein the anode is further defined as comprising Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , which can be written as (Li) 8a [Li 0.33 Ti 1.67 ] 16d O 4 in ideal spinel notation; as at least part of a cathode, a lithium metal oxide compound having a layered-type structure; and an electrically insulative, lithium containing, liquid or polymeric, ionically conductive electrolyte between the anode and the cathode, such that, on discharging the cell, lithium ions are extracted from the spinel-type framework structure of the anode, with the oxidation state of the metal ions of the anode thereby increasing, while a concomitant insertion of lithium ions into the compound of the cathode takes place, with the oxidation state of the metal ions of the cathode decreasing correspondingly.