Abstract: Provided are methods of passivating active materials for use in electrochemical cells as well as active materials and cell components prepared using such methods. Active material particles may be combined with passivating material particles, and this combination may be mixed together using high shear mixing. The mixed combination may not include any solvents or binders. As such, drying mixing may be performed on this combination of the active material particles and passivating material particles. A passivating layer is formed on the active material particles during mixing. This passivating layer later prevents direct contact between the active material particles and the electrolyte while still allowing ionic exchange. Furthermore, the passivating layer may increase electronic conductivity between active material particles in an electrode. The passivating layer may be mechanically bonded to the surface of the active material particles rather than chemically bonded.

Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery capable of preventing metal-plating and curling, the secondary battery including: at least one anode including an anode current collector and an anode active material layer coated on the anode current collector; at least one cathode including a cathode current collector, a cathode active material layer coated on one surface of the cathode current collector, which faces the anode, and an outermost coating layer coated on the other surface of the cathode current collector, which does not face the anode, the outermost coating layer being formed by coating an anode active material, an inorganic particle, or a mixture thereof; and at least one separator positioned between the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: Provided are a composite metal oxide material, a method of manufacturing the same, and a gas sensor using the same as a sensing material thereof. The composite metal oxide material may include polycrystalline nanofibers and at least one of microparticles and nanoparticles. The use of the composite metal oxide material makes it possible to improve structural, mechanical, thermal, and lifetime stabilities of the gas sensor. Further, the presence of the microparticles and/or nanoparticles allows the gas sensor to have a base resistance lower than that of a nanofiber-based gas sensor. Since the microparticles and/or nanoparticles are attached to the nanofibers, the composite metal oxide material can have an increased mobility of electrons or holes and an increased surface area, and thus, the gas sensor can have fast response/recovery speeds and high gas sensitivity.

Abstract: An electricity storage device includes an electrode assembly such that positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked in which the positive and negative electrodes are insulated from one another. Tab groups each including positive or negative electrode tabs bundled in the stacking direction of the electrode assembly are provided on an edge portion of the electrode assembly. The tab groups each include a first bent portion and an extending portion, which extends from the first bent portion in the stacking direction of the electrode assembly. The tab groups also each include a second bent portion at which the tab group is curved or bent such that the distal end in the extending direction of the tab that is located at an outermost position of the first bent portion is positioned between the electrode assembly and the tab that is located at an innermost position of the first bent portion.

Abstract: Described is an electrode comprising and preferably consisting of electronically active material (EAM) in nanoparticulate form and a matrix, said matrix consisting of a pyrolization product with therein incorporated graphene flakes and optionally an ionic lithium source. Also described are methods for producing a particle based, especially a fiber based, electrode material comprising a matrix formed from pyrolized material incorporating graphene flakes and rechargeable batteries comprising such electrodes.

Abstract: A separator for an electrode plate of a plate-shaped electrode of a battery, particularly a lead-acid battery, comprising a separator pocket providing a receiving space for said electrode plate and including two separator sheets bearing on each other, which are welded to each other along their respective longitudinal sides and upper front sides, the welding seam interconnecting said upper front sides presenting an interruption, which forms a recess for a current-collecting lug disposed on the upper outer edge of the electrode plate to pass through, said welding seam, for forming a degasification opening, being interrupted in a rim portion adjacent to a longitudinal side, a second welding seam spaced from said welding seam being provided which is positioned directly vis-à-vis the degasification opening of the first welding seam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage-battery vent cap which adjusts an internal pressure of a storage battery by exhausting a gas generated inside the storage battery to the outside and blocking inflow of external air. The vent cap includes a cylindrical body installed in a vent hole of the battery and formed with an exhaust hole; a cylindrical insert coupled to the body, a partition being formed inside the insert and a coupling hole and a air vent being formed in the partition; and a valve fixed to the coupling hole and elastically deformed by an internal pressure of the battery to open the air vent. The valve has an umbrella-like shape including a valve body having a larger diameter than that of the coupling hole, a cover formed on an outer circumferential surface of the valve body, and a fixing portion downwardly protruded from the valve body.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell includes a gas diffusion layer substrate and a microporous layer formed on the surface of the gas diffusion layer substrate. The microporous layer is formed into a sheet-like shape including a binder and a carbon material containing at least scale-like graphite, and the sheet-like microporous layer is attached to the gas diffusion layer substrate. The gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell having such a configuration, prevents the components included in the microporous layer from entering the gas diffusion layer substrate, so as to ensure gas permeability. In addition, the scale-like graphite contained in the microporous layer as an electrically conductive material improves electrical conductivity and gas permeability. Accordingly, the gas diffusion layer contributes to an improvement in performance of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Abstract: A carbon composite comprises carbon microstructures having interstitial spaces among the carbon microstructures; and a binder disposed in at least some of the interstitial spaces; wherein the carbon microstructures comprise unfilled voids within the carbon microstructures.

Abstract: A cooling structure can efficiently reduce heat, thereby suppressing temperature elevation in heat-producing electronic apparatuses, without using a heat sink or water-cooling jacket, and which can achieve their downsizing or weight reduction. The cooling structure includes: a heat conduction layer which is formed by coating a first paste on a surface of a heat-producing object; and a heat radiation layer which is formed by coating a second paste on a surface of the heat conduction layer. The heat conduction layer includes a first resin and a first filler, and a heat conductivity ? of the heat conduction layer is 1.0 W/(m·K) or more. The heat radiation layer includes a second resin and a second filler, and an infrared emissivity ? of the heat radiation layer is 0.7 or more.

Abstract: A high capacity lithium secondary battery includes a lithium manganese oxide having a layered structure exhibiting a great irreversible capacity in the event of overcharging at a high voltage and a spinel-based lithium manganese oxide. Because it is activated at a high voltage of 4.45 V or higher based on a positive electrode potential, additional lithium for utilizing a 3V range of the spinel-based lithium manganese oxide can be provided and an even profile in the entire SOC area can be obtained. Because the lithium secondary battery includes the mixed positive electrode active material including the spinel-based lithium manganese oxide and the lithium manganese oxide having a layered structure, and is charged at a high voltage, its stability can be improved. Also, the high capacity battery having a large available SOC area and improved stability without causing an output shortage due to a rapid voltage drop in the SOC area can be implemented.

Abstract: System and methods for estimating a temperature of a battery are presented. In some embodiments, a method of estimating a temperature of a battery system may utilize measured battery system temperature data and measured ambient temperature data. Based on the measured temperature data, an average estimated temperature of the battery system may be determined using, at least in part, an extended Kalman filter and an energy balance process model associated with the battery system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a proton conducting polymer membrane formed by laminating a plurality of solid electrolyte membranes. This proton conducting polymer membrane is one prepared by laminating at least one layer of a solid electrolyte membrane formed by using a resin having a bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)methide group in the chemical structure. This solid electrolyte membrane has a superior proton conductivity without transmitting the fuel (methanol or hydrogen).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles provide for cooling of a vehicle rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A control system is coupled to the RESS, and is configured to cool the RESS. The control system includes a passive cooling system for cooling the RESS, an active cooling system for cooling the RESS, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the passive cooling system and the active cooling system, and is configured to determine whether conditions are present for effective use of the passive cooling system, initiate cooling of the RESS using the passive cooling system if it is determined that the conditions are present for effective use of the passive cooling system, and initiate cooling of the RESS using the active cooling system if it is determined that the conditions are not present for effective use of the passive cooling system.

Abstract: In a fuel cell, a cell 105 including an anode 109, a solid electrolyte film 111 and a cathode 113 on an outer peripheral surface of a substrate tube 103 is formed in a circumferential direction of the substrate tube 103. A plurality of the cells 105 are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the substrate tube 103, and an interconnector 107 connecting the cells 105 electrically in series is formed between the adjacent cells 105. A thickness of an end portion of the cathode 113 in the longitudinal direction, the portion being in contact with the interconnector 107, is larger than a thickness of a center portion of the cathode 113 in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, high power generation performance can be achieved.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate covering an opening of the case; an electrode terminal on the cap plate; and a lead tab connecting the electrode assembly to the electrode terminal, and including a fuse, the fuse including a plurality of sub-fuses defined along a width of the lead tab by a plurality of through holes formed in the lead tab.

Abstract: The invention relates to microporous membranes comprising polymer and having well-balanced permeability, shutdown temperature, and pin puncture strength. The invention also relates to methods for making such membranes, and the use of such membranes as battery separator film in, e.g., lithium ion secondary batteries.

Abstract: A rechargable magnesium battery having an non-aqueous electrolyte is provided. The properties of the electrolyte include high conductivity, high Coulombic efficiency, and an electrochemical window that can exceed 3.5 V vs. Mg/Mg+2. The use of the electrolyte promotes the electrochemical deposition and dissolution of Mg without the use of any Grignard reagents, other organometallic materials, tetraphenyl borate, or tetrachloroaluminate derived anions. Other Mg-containing electrolyte systems that are expected to be suitable for use in secondary batteries are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery separator, comprising two fiber regions comprising glass fibers, and a middle fiber region disposed between them comprising larger average diameter fibers and specified amounts of silica, or fine fibers, or both; and processes for making the separator. Also disclosed is a battery separator, comprising a fiber region and either one or two silica-containing region(s) adjacent thereto, each of the regions containing a specified amount of silica; and processes for making the separator. Such separators are useful, e.g., in lead-acid batteries.

Abstract: An electric storage apparatus includes a plurality of cells and a holding member holding the plurality of cells, wherein a thermal resistance value between each of first cells of the plurality of cells and the holding member is lower than a thermal resistance value between each of second cells of the plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell and the holding member, the first cell being located at an end portion of the holding member in a state in which the plurality of cells are held by the holding member.