Abstract: A current interruption device includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a first deformable member, and a second deformable member. The first conductive member is fixed to a casing. The second conductive member is disposed at a position opposed to the first conductive member. The first deformable member is in contact with the second conductive member when pressure in the casing is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Further, the first deformable member is brought out of contact with the second conductive member when the pressure in the casing exceeds the predetermined value. A plastic deformation portion deformed in a manner of projecting toward the second conductive member is provided on a center portion of the second deformable member.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode; a case in which the electrode assembly is accommodated, the case including an opening; a first terminal electrically coupled to the first electrode; a second terminal electrically coupled to the second electrode; a cap plate coupled to the opening, the cap plate including a short-circuit hole and being electrically coupled to the first electrode; a short-circuit member in the short-circuit hole, the short-circuit member electrically coupling the cap plate and the second terminal when deformed; and an upper cover including a first barrier wall covering the short-circuit hole, the first barrier wall protruding toward the short-circuit member, the first barrier wall including a first exhaust hole, and a top surface of the upper cover including an external hole connected to the first exhaust hole.

Abstract: There is provided a technique to suppress water from remaining in a fuel cell and auxiliary machines after a stop of operation of a fuel cell system. A fuel cell system 100 includes a controller 10, a fuel cell 20, a cathode gas supply discharge system 30 and an anode gas supply discharge circulation system 50. The controller 10 serves as a termination process controller 15 to control a termination process that is performed when operation of the fuel cell 20 is to be stopped. In the termination process, the termination process controller 15 performs a quick warm-up operation to quickly increase the temperature of the fuel cell 20, subsequently performs a standard warm-up operation that has a lower temperature rise rate of the fuel cell 20 than that in the quick warm-up operation, and then performs a purging process to purge the fuel cell 20.

Abstract: A battery module of the present invention is adaptable to be utilized in various configurations including and not limited to an overlapping battery cell packaging configuration and a vertical stack battery cell packaging configuration used in an automotive and non-automotive applications. The battery module has a plurality of battery heatsink assemblies with the cells disposed therebetween. A plurality of rods extend through the each heatsink assemblies to secure the heatsink assemblies and the cell with one another to form the battery module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal-air fuel cell based on a solid oxide electrolyte employing metal nanoparticles as fuel. The metal-air fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, a solid oxide electrolyte and a metal fuel, wherein the metal fuel comprises metal nanoparticles having an average particle diameter ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm. The metal nanoparticles have a low melting point and provide high reactivity. Thus, the metal-air fuel cell forms a metal molten phase at a relatively low temperature thereby improving contactability and has improved reactivity to promote oxidation, thereby enabling highly efficient power generation.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit with a plurality of fuel cells defining a longitudinal axis and a main flow direction coaxial to the longitudinal axis. Fuel cell inlets and fuel cell outlets are arranged at opposite ends of the fuel cell unit and in line with the main flow direction. Also, a component comprising first fluid conduits arranged parallel to the main flow direction, the first fluid conduits comprising first fluid inlets and first fluid outlets arranged at opposite ends of the component and in line with the main flow direction. The component is arranged adjacent the fuel cell unit such that at least one of the first fluid inlets and the first fluid outlets of the component are arranged adjacent at least one of the fuel cell outlets and the fuel cell inlets such that a fluid flow may flow substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus in the first fluid conduits of the component and in the fuel cell unit and when passing from the component to the fuel cell unit or vice versa.

Abstract: A membrane obtainable by A) mixing: (vii) aromatic tetraamino compounds and (viii) aromatic carboxylic acids or esters thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, or (ix) aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, in polyphosphoric acid to form a solution and/or dispersion B) heating the mixture from step A), and polymerizing until an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.8 dl/g, is obtained for the polymer being formed, C) adding polyazole polymers, D) heating the mixture from step C), E) applying a membrane layer using the mixture according to step D) on a carrier or an electrode, F) treating the membrane formed in the presence of water and/or moisture, G) removing the membrane from the carrier; wherein the content of all polyazole polymers in the membrane is between 5% to 25% by weight and wherein the membrane has a Young Modulus is at least 2.0 MPa.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also disclosed herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Also disclosed herein are methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also disclosed herein are sintering techniques, e.g.

Abstract: The electric storage device disclosed herein is a stacked type electric storage device. The electric storage device includes a separator insulating a first electrode from a second electrode. The electric storage device includes a first conductive path from a first electrode terminal to the first electrode, a second conductive path from a second electrode terminal to the second electrode, and a current interruption device disposed between the second electrode terminal and the second electrode, the current interruption device being configured to interrupt the second conductive path. The separator includes a first surface part covering the one surface of the first electrode, a second surface part covering the other surface of the first electrode, and a connection part connected to both the first and second surface parts. The connection part is disposed between the current interruption device and an end of the first electrode on a current interruption device side.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel supplying apparatus, for a direct carbon fuel cell, which has improved output density by ensuring the flow properties of an anode medium. The fuel supplying apparatus for a direct carbon fuel cell comprises: a flow pipe which forms a flow path around a tube-shaped cell contained in an anode medium in which a carbon fuel is mixed; and a bubbling means which provides a gas from below the flow pipe to the inside of the anode medium and thus enables the anode medium to flow by the upward movement of the gas. Consequently, the carbon fuel is forcibly provided to the anode of the tube-shaped cell by the flow of the anode medium which is linked with the upward movement of the gas.

Abstract: An exemplary all-solid lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active substance layer, a negative electrode, and a solid electrolyte layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive-electrode active substance layer is composed of lithium cobaltate, and has an ?-NaFeO2 type crystal structure. The positive-electrode active substance layer has a (018) plane oriented in a normal direction of a principal face of the positive-electrode active substance layer. The solid electrolyte layer is composed of lithium lanthanum titanate and has a tetragonal perovskite-type crystal structure. The solid electrolyte layer has a (110) plane or a (102) plane oriented in a normal direction of a principal face of the solid electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A mixture useful as an electrolyte in lithium ion batteries and use thereof are provided. Lithium ion batteries with good performance, especially good cyclability after prolonged operation are obtained. The mixture contains an aprotic organic solvent, a cyclic compound containing C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-alkoxy, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, benzyl or C6-C14-aryl, water, optionally an additive and a lithium salt.

Abstract: A battery module includes a battery assembly having battery structures arranged side by side, the battery structures each having a battery body and a battery holder, and a pressure application member. Each battery holder has a first surface, a second surface, a projecting portion, which projects from the first surface and has a distal end face, and a receptacle portion recessed in the second surface. The projecting portion of each battery holder is inserted into the receptacle portion of the adjacent battery holder in a state in which the distal end face is free of contact with the adjacent battery holder. Each battery body contacts the adjacent battery body such that at least one of the first and second surfaces of the battery holder, which holds a battery body, is free from contact with the adjacent battery holder.

Abstract: Electrodes employing as active material metal nanoparticles synthesized by a novel route are provided. The nanoparticle synthesis is facile and reproducible, and provides metal nanoparticles of very small dimension and high purity for a wide range of metals. The electrodes utilizing these nanoparticles thus may have superior capability. Electrochemical cells employing said electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cable-type secondary battery, comprising: an inner electrode; a separation layer surrounding the outer surface of the inner electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes; and a sheet-form outer electrode spirally wound to surround the separation layer or the inner electrode.

Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention comprises a control apparatus which performs performance restoration processing for a catalyst layer by decreasing the output voltage of a fuel cell to a predetermined voltage. When an oxide film formed on the catalyst layer during power generation of the fuel cell contains, in addition to a first oxide film that can be removed by decreasing the output voltage of the fuel cell to a first oxide film removal voltage, a second oxide film that can be removed by decreasing the output voltage of the fuel cell to a second oxide film removal voltage which is lower than the first oxide film removal voltage, the control apparatus estimates the amount of the second oxide film and performs performance restoration processing with a set voltage being equal to or lower than the second oxide film removal voltage only when it determines that the estimated amount exceeds a predetermined amount A.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon, including the steps of (a) preparing a mixture solution by adding a lithium precursor, an iron precursor and a phosphorus precursor in a triethanolamine solvent, (b) putting the mixture solution into a reactor and reacting to prepare amorphous lithium iron phosphate nanoseed particle, and (c) heat treating the lithium iron phosphate nanoseed particle thus to prepare the lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon on a portion or a whole of a surface of a particle, and a lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon prepared by the above method. The lithium iron phosphate nanopowder coated with carbon having controlled particle size and particle size distribution may be prepared in a short time by performing two simple steps.

Abstract: A battery module includes a housing, a plurality of battery cells disposed in the housing, and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly disposed in the housing. The PCB assembly includes a PCB and a shunt disposed across a first surface of the PCB. A second surface of the shunt directly contacts the first surface of the PCB, and the shunt is electrically coupled between the battery cells and a terminal of the battery module.

Abstract: A specific region of a polylactic acid sheet is heated by a microwave. To allow the polylactic acid sheet to exhibit piezoelectricity in the thickness direction of the polylactic acid sheet, a high voltage is applied to the heated polylactic acid sheet in the thickness direction of the polylactic acid sheet, and thereby the screw axes of at least a part of the polylactic acid molecules are relatively aligned with the thickness direction. Then the polylactic acid sheet is rapidly cooled, and thereby the polylactic acid molecules are immobilized. The same step is executed for other regions of the polylactic acid sheet, and thereby piezoelectricity is imparted to a wide area of the polylactic acid sheet in the thickness direction. The resultant piezoelectric sheet is capable of exhibiting a high piezoelectricity in the thickness direction.

Abstract: There is provided a separator used in an electrochemical device and more particularly, to a porous separator in which an organic/inorganic complex coating layer is applied to a porous substrate, a method for preparing the same, and an electrochemical device using the same.