MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR ALKALI METAL-SELENIUM SECONDARY BATTERY CONTAINING A CATHODE OF PROTECTED SELENIUM

Provided is a method of manufacturing a rechargeable alkali metal-selenium cell, comprising: (a) providing a cathode and an optional cathode current collector to support the cathode; (b) providing an alkali metal anode and an optional anode current collector to support said anode; and (c) providing an electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode and an optional separator electrically separating the anode and the cathode; wherein the cathode contains multiple particulates of a selenium-containing material wherein at least one of the particulates comprises one or a plurality of selenium-containing material particles being embraced or encapsulated by a thin layer of a high-elasticity polymer having a recoverable tensile strain from 5% to 1,000% when measured without an additive or reinforcement, a lithium ion conductivity no less than 10S/cm at room temperature, and a thickness from 0.5 nm to 10 μm.