Abstract: Various embodiments relate to interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells (“SOFCs”) comprising ferritic stainless steel and having at least one via that when subjected to an oxidizing atmosphere at an elevated temperature develops a scale comprising a manganese-chromate spinel on at least a portion of a surface thereof, and at least one gas flow channel that when subjected to an oxidizing atmosphere at an elevated temperature develops an aluminum-rich oxide scale on at least a portion of a surface thereof. Other embodiments relate to interconnects comprising a ferritic stainless steel and having a fuel side comprising metallic material that resists oxidation during operation of the SOFCs, and optionally include a nickel-base superalloy on the oxidant side thereof. Still other embodiments relate to ferritic stainless steels adapted for use as interconnects comprising ?0.1 weight percent aluminum and/or silicon, and >1 up to 2 weight percent manganese. Methods of making interconnects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery connector includes a housing having a bottom wall, two sides of the bottom wall extend upward to form two sidewalls, and the back end of the bottom wall extends upward to form a back wall. At least one partition wall is set between the two sidewalls and connects with the bottom wall and the back wall. A plurality of terminal recesses are defined in the housing and separated by the partition wall for receiving a plurality of electric terminals. Each electric terminal has a soldering portion extending forward to connect with a printed circuit board and a contacting portion protruding upward out of the housing for contacting a battery. Between the housing and the printed circuit board a stopping element is set. The stopping element can stop the contacting portion moving forward to contact the printed circuit board or lose resilience if improper installation of the battery occurs.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a separator that is excellent in heat resistance, shutdown function, flame retardancy and handling property. The separator for a nonaqueous secondary battery of the invention is a separator for a nonaqueous secondary battery that has a polyolefin microporous membrane at least one surface of which is laminated with a heat resistant porous layer containing a heat resistant resin, and is characterized by containing an inorganic filler containing a metallic hydroxide that undergoes dehydration reaction at a temperature of 200 to 400° C.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that has a fuel cell stack with a plurality of laminated cells, each of the laminated cells includes an electrolyte membrane interposed between a fuel electrode receiving a supply of fuel gas and an oxidizing agent electrode receiving a supply of oxidizing agent gas. A fuel gas supply device supplies a fuel gas to the fuel electrode. An oxidizing agent gas supply device supplies an oxidizing agent gas to the oxidizing agent electrode. A fuel electrode side discharge system discharges a discharge gas from the fuel electrode to an external. A circulation device re-circulates the discharge gas discharged from the fuel electrode into an upstream side of the fuel electrode. A voltage limit device limits a voltage across the fuel cell stack by drawing a current from the fuel cell stack at a time of an activation of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium rechargeable battery is provided. The negative electrode includes a current collector, a thermosetting resin layer disposed on the current collector, and a negative active material layer disposed on the thermosetting resin layer. Metal ions in the current collector are diffused into the thermosetting resin layer, creating a concentration gradient of metal ions in the thermosetting resin layer. The metal ions diffused into the thermosetting resin layer react with the thermosetting resin to form metal compounds.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and at least one bipolar plate having an anode-side gas distributor structure for distributing anode reactants, a cathode-side gas distributor structure for distributing cathode reactants, and a guide passage structure for distributing a cooling medium. At least one of the anode-side gas distributor structure and the cathode-side gas distributor structure is divided into at least a first field and a second field, each of the first and second fields having an entry port and an exit port for the reactants. In addition, a method for such a fuel cell includes passing a reactant into an entry port of the first field and out of an exit port of the first field, mixing the reactant with a fresh reactant so as to form a mixture, and passing the mixture into the entry port of the second field.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to electrochemical devices such as fuel cells and, in particular, to various component configurations including configurations for converting common fuels directly into electricity without additional fuel reforming or processing. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to configurations in which an anode of the device surrounds the electrolyte and/or the cathode of the device. In some embodiments, all single cells in a fuel cell stack share a common anode fuel chamber. The anode, in some cases, may be exposed to a fuel. In one set of embodiments, the anode of the device may be fluid during operation of the fuel cell, and in some cases, a porous container may be used to contain the anode during operation of the fuel cell. Other aspects of the invention relate to methods of making such devices, methods of promoting the making or use of such devices, and the like.