Abstract: A positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte intervening between the positive electrode and the negative electrode are employed, and a molecule capable of being excited due to absorption of light and electrochemically oxidizing carbohydrate is provided at at least either the negative electrode or the electrolyte, with production of electromotive force occurring between the positive electrode and the negative electrode as a result of supply of carbohydrate while the molecule is irradiated with light and oxidization of carbohydrate by the molecule at the negative electrode. This method makes it possible for the chemical energy which carbohydrates possess to be directly utilized as electrical energy.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising an ionically conductive member with a first surface and a second surface. An anode electrode is disposed on the first surface of the ionically conductive member and a cathode electrode is disposed on the second surface of the ionically conductive member. A first electrically conductive fluid distribution element is disposed on the anode and a second electrically conductive fluid distribution element is disposed on the cathode. The first and second electrically conductive fluid distribution elements each include a plurality of alternating lands and fluid passages. The anode and the cathode are comprised of a plurality of electrochemically active regions that are disposed to essentially align with the fluid passages.

Abstract: An electric power generating system is provided that comprises a fuel cell stack having at least one solid polymer fuel cell, a cooling system having a coolant flow path that directs coolant to and from the stack, a fuel regulating system having a fuel flow path and for regulating the supply of fuel from a fuel supply to the stack via the fuel flow path, and a hydrogen concentration sensor. The sensor is located in the vicinity of the fuel regulating system and in the coolant flow path at a location downstream of the stack to detect hydrogen that may have been discharged by components of the power generating system in the coolant flow path upstream of the sensor, or by the fuel regulating system. In the event the measured hydrogen concentration exceeds a threshold level, steps are taken to reduce or stop the discharge of hydrogen from the power generating system.

Abstract: An air-hydrogen battery with high energy density and satisfactory cycle characteristics is provided. The air-hydrogen battery includes: a positive electrode made of an air electrode; a negative electrode provided with a hydrogen-absorbing alloy; and a cation-exchange film or an anion-exchange film formed as an electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein a periphery of the hydrogen-absorbing alloy of the negative electrode is covered with an anion-exchange resin, whereby the contact area between the anion-exchange resin that functions as an electrolyte and the hydrogen-absorbing alloy is increased, and the utilization factor and resistance to corrosion of the hydrogen-absorbing alloy are enhanced.

Abstract: A sensor for monitoring the lambda of a component of a reactant feed stream flowing through a fuel cell stack. The sensor comprises one or more fuel cells that are sensitive to a change in lambda of a specific component of a reactant feed stream flowing through the fuel cell. The sensitivity of the fuel cell causes a voltage produced by the lambda sensing fuel cell to vary in response to variation in the lambda of the specific component. The variation of the voltage output can be modeled and/or compared to empirical data to correlate the voltage output to the lambda of the specific component. Based on the lambda of the specific component, the operation of the fuel cell stack can be optimized.

Abstract: For simplifying cooling of a fuel cell system which may be a single cell (1), a stack (15) or a similar configuration and which comprises at least one active membrane (2) sandwiched between an anode layer (4) and a cathode layer (3) and comprising a catalyst, a fuel supply having access to the anode layer and an air supply (17, 18) having access to the cathode layer, while at the same time keeping the effectivity of the system with reference to energy conversion, volume and weight favourable, the fuel cell system is to be operated such that the air which is supplied by the air supply, is introduced by pressure into the fuel cell system, passes along the cathode layer and then leaves the fuel cell system, is used for both oxidant and coolant. For this purpose, the air is introduced into the fuel cell system (1, 15) with a rate resulting in a stoichiometric rate in the range between 25 and 140.

Abstract: The invention provides novel lithium-containing phosphate materials having a high proportion of lithium per formula unit of the material. Upon electrochemical interaction, such material deintercalates lithium ions, and is capable of reversibly cycling lithium ions. The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrode formed from the novel lithium-containing phosphates.

Abstract: The invention provides novel active material represented by the general formula LiaMI1-yMIIyPO4, wherein MI is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Mn, V, Sn, Ti, Cr, and mixtures thereof; MII is selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cd, and a mixture thereof; a is about 1; and 0<y<1, which, upon electrochemical interaction, releases lithium ions, and is capable of reversibly cycling lithium ions. The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrode formed from the novel active material, wherein MI is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu, V, Sn, Ti, Cr, and mixtures thereof. Methods for making the novel active material and methods for using such a material in electrochemical cells are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a series of novel particulate stabilized lithiated compounds which can be utilized as cathodic materials in lithium ion battery cells. Each particle of the material defines an inner lithiated metal oxide core which acts as an intercalation cathode. A lithium ion conductor coating surrounds the core to stabilize the latter and to improve the electrochemical properties of the material.

Abstract: A polymer battery module (2) provided with tabs (4) is put in a package (5) and an open end part of the package (5) is heat-sealed by a heat-sealing machine (10). The heat-sealing machine (10) is provided with a pair of sealing heads (10a, 10b) respectively having sealing surfaces (12). The sealing surfaces (12) of the sealing heads (10a, 10b) are provided with recesses (11) in parts thereof corresponding to the tabs (4) of the polymer battery module (2) contained in the package (5) as located in place between the sealing heads (10a, 10b) for heat-sealing.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing electric cells which can improve the production yield, and for that purpose there is provided a method of producing an electric cell, wherein an acidic solution as an electrolytic solution and electrically conductive rubber as an exterior material are used, characterized in that sealing both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode piled via the separator with both of the gasket, through which the stainless needle is inserted, and the electrically conductive rubber, performing a vulcanization binding, after said vulcanization binding, forming a hole by pulling off the stainless needle from the gasket, injecting the electrolytic solution through said hole and sealing said hole; thus obtaining electric cells at high production yield.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the selection of cathode materials. The cathode materials of concern are the conducting polymer or backbone and the redox active species or sulfur species. The selection of the materials is based on the characteristics of the materials relating to the other components of the batteries and to each other. The present invention also pertains to the resultant cathode materials, particularly a selected cathode material of a single component sulfur-based conducting polymer with the sulfur species covalently linked to the conducting polymer, and most particularly a thiophene based polymer with covalently linked sulfur species. The conducting polymers have been covalently-derivatized with sulfides and/or sulfide-containing groups as battery cathode materials. The present invention also pertains to a battery employing the selection method and resultant cathode materials.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell of the invention comprises a cation-exchange resin, carbon particles and a catalyst metal which is amorphous. The electrode has high activity, a high catalyst utilization and high CO tolerance and is highly active in the electrochemical oxidation reaction of methanol. Furthermore these qualities of the electrode were extremely improved when the catalyst metal was loaded mainly on sites where the surface of the carbon particles contacts proton-conductive passages in the cation-exchange resin. Consequently, a fuel cell with the electrode of the invention has a high output current and a long life, and can be produced at low cost.

Abstract: A layered membrane or membrane electrode assembly for use with a direct oxidation fuel cell provides reduced water carryover and fuel crossover while maintaining a high total protonic exchange between anode and cathode. A layer of material which is substantially impermeable to water and fuel, but which is foraminous to allow contact between adjacent protonically conductive layers, is used to significantly increase the system's carryover resistance while only modestly increasing the total reaction resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte containing ethylene carbonate and ?-butyrolactone, wherein, when a charge-discharge cycle test satisfying conditions (A) to (D) given below is performed under an environment of 45° C., the capacity retention rate at 100-th charge-discharge cycle is at least 85% based on the discharge capacity in the first charge-discharge cycle, (A) for the charging, the constant current-constant voltage charging to 4.2V is performed for 3 hours under a current of 1C, (B) the discharging is performed to 3V under a current of 1C, (C) after the charging, the secondary battery is left to stand for 10 minutes, followed by performing the discharging, and (D) after the discharging, the secondary battery is left to stand for 10 minutes, followed by performing the charging.

Abstract: The invention provides new and novel lithium-metal-fluorophosphates which, upon electrochemical interaction, release lithium ions, and are capable of reversibly cycling lithium ions. The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrode formed from the novel lithium-metal-fluorophosphates. The lithium-metal-fluorophosphates comprise lithium and at least one other metal besides lithium.

Abstract: A negative electrode is disclosed for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell. The electrode has an intermetallic compound as its basic structural unit with the formula M2M? in which M and M? are selected from two or more metal elements including Si, and the M2M? structure is a Cu2Sb-type structure. Preferably M is Cu, Mn and/or Li, and M? is Sb. Also disclosed is a non-aqueous electrochemical cell having a negative electrode of the type described, an electrolyte and a positive electrode. A plurality of cells may be arranged to form a battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polymer electrolyte electrochemical cell using an electrolyte precursor, said precursor comprising one or more solvents, one or more salts and a polymer which dissolves in the solvent at a first temperature (Tdissol) and which is capable of forming a gel on subsequent cooling following heating to a second temperature (Tgel). Tdissol being lower than Tgel, which method comprises: (a) heating the electrolyte precursor to Tdissol; (b) optionally cooling the electrolyte precursor, (c) incorporating the electrolyte precursor into the electrochemical cell; (d) heating the electrochemical cell to Tgel; (e) cooling the polymer electrochemical cell to ambient temperature to bring about gelling of the polymer electrolyte. Preferably the polymer is a homopolymer or copolymer from the group of monomers of vinyl fluoride, vinylidenefluoride, trifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene.

Abstract: Electrochemical cell stack comprises, in one embodiment, a plurality of cells arranged in series in a bipolar configuration, each cell including a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. A multi-layer metal screen for defining a first fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the anode, and an electrically-conductive, spring-like, porous pad for defining a second fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode. The porous pad comprises a mat of carbon fibers having a density of about 0.2-0.55 g/cm3. Cell frames are placed in peripheral contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for peripherally containing fluids present therewithin. Electrically-conductive separators are placed in contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for axially containing fluids present therewithin.

Abstract: A method for preparation of an anode for a solid oxide fuel cellin which a plurality of zircon fibers are mixed with a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powder, forming a fiber/powder mixture. The fiber/powder mixture is formed into a porus YSZ layer and calcined. The calcined porous YSZ layer is then impregnated with a metal-containing salt solution. Preferred metals are Cu and Ni. An anode and a method for manufacturing a fuel cell containing such anode is also disclosed. Such anode is particularly peformant when the fuel cell is fed with dry hydrocarbons, in absence or low content of steam.