Electroactive materials for rechargeable batteries

1. A process for the preparation of a lithium-activated or sodium-activated primary cathode active material, the process comprising:

combining a primary cathode active material and an alkaline source material selected from the group consisting of Na 2 O, NaO 2 , Na 2 O 2 , Na 2 S, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, Li 2 O, LiO 2 , Li 2 O 2 , Li 2 S, LiF, LiCl, LiBr, and a mixture of any two or more thereof to form a pre-activation material;

assembling a battery comprising a cathode comprising the pre-activation material; and

charging the battery and the pre-activation material to a pre-determined voltage at an elevated temperature to form the lithium-activated or sodium-activated primary cathode active material,

wherein:

the elevated temperature is from about 50° C. to about 60° C. and the pre-determined voltage is about 3.7 V to about 4.0 V;

the alkaline source material is present from about 1 wt % to about 40 wt %; and

the primary cathode active material comprises sulfur or a carbon cathode and the battery is a lithium-air battery or a sodium-air battery.

2. The process of claim 1 for the preparation of a lithium activated primary cathode active material, wherein the alkaline source material comprises Li 2 O.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkaline source material is present from about 10 wt % to about 40 wt %.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkaline source material is present from about 5 wt % to about 10 wt %.

5. An electrochemical device comprising:

the cathode produced by the process of claim 1 ; and

an anode comprising graphite, graphene, carbon, Si, Si—C, SiO, Sn, tin oxide, a composite tin alloy, a transition metal oxide, or a lithium metal nitride.