Abstract: A rechargeable battery, which features a simplified assembly process by reducing the number of components includes a bare cell, a body portion which is attached to one side surface of the bare cell and a protective circuit board portion which has two electrical terminals respectively electrically connected to two electrode terminals of the bare cell and formed into one single body by molding. A method of fabrication of the rechargeable battery includes forming a protective circuit board portion into one single body through resin molding, attaching the protective circuit board portion to a bare cell, and respectively electrically connecting two electrical terminals of the protective circuit board portion to two electrodes of the bare cell.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing cathode carbon corrosion during start-up of a fuel cell stack. If a long enough period of time has gone by since the last system shutdown, then both the anode side and the cathode side of the stack will be filled with air. If the system includes split sub-stacks, then a start-up sequence uses a fast hydrogen purge through each sub-stack separately so as to minimize the time of the hydrogen/air front flowing through the anode side of the stacks. The start-up sequence then employs a slow hydrogen purge through the sub-stacks at the same time. If the time from the last shutdown is short enough where a significant amount of hydrogen still exists in the cathode side and the anode side of the sub-stacks, then the fast hydrogen purge can be eliminated, and the start-up sequence proceeds directly to the slow hydrogen purge.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating an electrochemical conversion cell is provided wherein the method comprises the steps of (i) initiating a membrane dehydration sequence when the membrane is characterized by an initial membrane hydration ?WET and (ii) maintaining the membrane dehydration sequence until the membrane is characterized by a target membrane hydration ?DRY. According to the method, the membrane dehydration sequence is characterized by a drying rate that varies in a manner that substantially corresponds to a fatigue life contour map of the membrane. Additional methods and corresponding systems are contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply apparatus and method for a line connection type fuel cell system. The power supply apparatus for the line connection type fuel cell system includes: a storing unit for pre-storing a normal region and a warning region according to an operating condition of a fuel cell and a correlation between an output voltage and an output current of the fuel cell; and a control unit for detecting an operating point on the basis of the operating condition of the fuel cell, comparing the detected operating point with the normal region and the warning region, and outputting a control signal for increasing or decreasing the output current of the fuel cell according to the comparison result.

Abstract: During manufacture of an SOFC assembly, an inhibitor is included to prevent migration of silver braze during subsequent use of the SOFC assembly. The inhibitor may take any of several forms, either individually or in combination. Inhibitors comprehended by the present invention include, but are not limited to: a) a mechanical barrier that can be printed or dispensed onto one or more SOFC stack elements around the braze areas to prevent mechanically-driven migration; b) an electrically insulating feature in the electrolyte or interlayer over the electrolyte layer in the seal margins to prevent electrical potential-driven migration; and 3) chemical modification of the braze itself as by addition of an alloying metal such as palladium.

Abstract: Disclosed are a cathode for a battery and a lithium ion battery. The cathode for a battery comprises a metal hydroxide having a large specific surface area as a cathode additive. The lithium ion battery comprises a cathode, an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the cathode comprises a metal hydroxide having a large specific surface area as a cathode additive. When a metal hydroxide having a large specific surface area is used as a cathode additive, excellent storage properties of a battery at a high temperature can be obtained, even if the metal hydroxide is used in a small amount.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided, in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are held by a center frame, a bottom-side frame, and a terminal-side frame in a parallel spaced relationship, the plurality of rechargeable batteries being connected in series and integrated with a circuit substrate by mounting the circuit substrate on the terminal-side frame, the circuit substrate being provided with a resin mold, whereby the battery pack is free of damage to electrical circuit parts even in the event of entrance of water or dust through vents that are provided for suppressing temperature rise of the rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A negative electrode 10 for a nonaqueous secondary battery, has an active material layer 2 containing active material particles 2a. The active material layer 2 has a metallic material 4 deposited among the particles by electroplating. The negative electrode 10 has a large number of holes 5 open on at least one side thereof and extending through the thickness of the active material layer. The negative electrode 10 further has a pair of current collecting layers 3a and 3b adapted to be brought into contact with an electrolyte. The active material layer 2 is between the current collecting layers 3a and 3b. The holes 5 open on the negative electrode 10 preferably have an opening area ratio of 0.3% to 30%. At least one of the pair of the current collecting layers 3a and 3b preferably has a thickness of 0.3 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material including lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and a transition metal that can be in the hexavalent state is used. As the transition metal that can be in the hexavalent state, for example, one or both of tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) can be used. As the positive electrode active material including a plurality of materials as mentioned above, LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 can be used. As a negative electrode, a carbon material or a silicon material capable of storing and releasing lithium ions can be used.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell stack and a high voltage battery. The fuel cell system also includes a cell voltage controller that controls the average cell voltage of the cells in the fuel cell stack, a damped driver request module that damps a driver power request signal, and a power balancing module. The power balancing module maintains the cell voltage of the cells in the stack within a predetermined range, and uses excess power from the stack beyond what is requested to charge the battery. The power balancing module includes a base load limiter that prevents the cell voltage from going above a predetermined value, unless the battery is at is maximum state of charge.

Abstract: A battery receptacle for receiving a plurality of batteries for providing a direct current to an electrical device is disclosed. The battery receptacle has a plurality of battery slots each defined by a positive terminal end wall, a negative terminal end wall, and a battery support surface between each positive terminal end wall and each negative terminal end wall. Each positive terminal end wall supports a positive lead for engagement with a positive terminal of each of the plurality of batteries, and each negative terminal end wall supports a negative lead for engagement with a negative terminal of each of the plurality of batteries.

Abstract: A battery module is provided with a battery cell stack and a module case. The battery cell stack includes a plurality of stacked flat secondary battery cells. The module case includes an inwardly protruding section, a low rigidity section and a high rigidity section. The inwardly protruding section is disposed on at least one of two oppositely facing sides of the module case that faces in a battery cell stacking direction and protruding toward the interior area of the module case to apply pressure to an end surface of the battery cell stack. The low rigidity section elastically supports a periphery of the inwardly protruding section due the low rigidity section having a lower rigidity than the inwardly protruding section. The high rigidity section supports a periphery of the low rigidity section with the high rigidity section having a higher rigidity than low rigidity section.

Abstract: A battery pack with at least two electrochemical cells, lithium ion cells in particular, has each cell including a positive pole and a negative pole on the end face of the particular cell body, the poles of the cells being electrically connected in series and/or in parallel. A cell connector for electrically connecting the cells is provided on at least two cells, on the end face on the same side relative to their position in the battery pack, the cell connector connecting one pole of the connected cells and extending to a contact region of a circuit board; the cell bodies of the cells are positioned parallel to each other, and the end faces of the cell bodies are located in the same plane.

Abstract: An inter-battery connection device for connecting terminals of two batteries (1a, 1b) arranged with their axes parallel to each other. The inter-battery connection device includes an inter-battery connection plate (11) that connects the battery case bottom (2) and the sealing plate (3) of the two batteries. The inter-battery connection plate (11) includes welding portions (4) at the ends of its base plate (6) for welding to the case bottom (2) and the sealing plate (3), respectively. An intermediate metal plate (7) is joined to the middle part of the base plate (6) between the welding portions (4, 4) to form an intermediate portion (5) having a greater thickness than each welding portion (4). The inter-battery connection device has reduced electric resistance while achieving improved weldability.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a fuel cell unit which comprises an anode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and an anode-forming material carried by this mesh, a cathode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and a cathode-forming material carried by this mesh, and a solid electrolytic layer in the form of a thin film arranged between and supported by the anode layer and the cathode layer.

Abstract: A lithium-air battery includes a lithium negative electrode, a positive electrode including a catalyst containing gold, and a non-aqueous electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode and the lithium negative electrode. The catalyst includes gold supported on a cerium-containing oxide, such as a cerium-zirconium compound oxide or a cerium-aluminum compound oxide. The amount of catalyst of the positive electrode is in the range of 0.01 to 50 weight percent relative to the total weight of the positive electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cap assembly mold mounted to a battery cell, in which an electrode assembly including cathodes/separators/anodes is disposed, wherein the cap assembly mold is manufactured by integrally forming a protection circuit board, a safety element, connection terminals, and a cap housing by insert injection molding, and, when the insert injection molding is carried out, the connection terminals are partially exposed from the lower end surface of the cap assembly mold such that the connection terminals can be electrically connected to electrode terminals of the battery cell. According to the present invention, the cap assembly mold is formed by insert injection molding in the state that the protection circuit and the battery are not connected with each other.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a bipolar battery that is constructed to improve battery performance by reducing distortions within electrode material of the bipolar battery. The bipolar battery includes multiple battery elements that each includes multiple unit batteries. Each unit battery contains a conductor having a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer. A collector is positioned between adjacent positive and negative electrode layers of adjacent unit batteries, and an accumulated thickness absorption member is used to separate collectors of adjacent battery elements. The bipolar battery may be used in a motor vehicle, such as an electric car.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell system includes a fuel cell main body including at least one membrane-electrode assembly having an electrolyte membrane, and an anode and a cathode positioned on opposite sides of the electrolyte membrane; a fuel-supplying unit feeding a mixing tank with high concentration fuel; the mixing tank mixing and storing the fuel fed from the fuel-supplying unit and an outlet stream discharged from the fuel cell main body; a fuel feeder supplying mixed fuel stored in the mixing tank to the fuel cell main body; and a controller controlling the fuel-supplying unit to stop operating in response to a stop request signal, and controlling the fuel feeder to operate to circulate the mixed fuel via the anode of the fuel cell main body until a fuel concentration of the mixed fuel is less than or equal to a reference concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery wherein an active material layer of at least one of positive and negative electrodes, or a separator carries a porous insulating layer, and the surface of the active material layer or separator carrying the porous insulating layer has a first region in which the porous insulating layer is formed and a second region including plural discontinuous deficient hole portions where the porous insulating layer is not formed. When a given reference deficient hole portion is selected from the plural deficient hole portions and a given circle having an area ten times that of the reference deficient hole portion is set on the surface of the active material layer or separator, the area of a part of the second region surrounded by the circle is controlled to not less than 10 ?m2 and not more than 100 mm2.