Abstract: A fuel cell component includes a first fluid distribution layer, a second fluid distribution layer, a cap layer, a third fluid distribution layer, and a pair of fluid diffusion medium layers. The individual layers are polymeric, mechanically integrated, and formed from a radiation-sensitive material. The first fluid distribution layer, the second fluid distribution layer, the cap layer, the third fluid distribution layer, and the pair of fluid diffusion medium layers are coated with an electrically conductive material. A pair of the fuel cell components may be arranged in a stack with a membrane electrode assembly therebetween to form a fuel cell.

Abstract: Scalable, hierarchically structure biopolymer carbon architectures that are suitable for use as bioelectrodes and biologically friendly methods for making the same.

Abstract: Provided are an electrolyte for a redox flow battery, the electrolyte allowing suppression of generation of precipitate and suppression of generation of hydrogen during a battery reaction; and a redox flow battery including the electrolyte. In the electrolyte for a redox flow battery, the total concentration of impurity element ions contributing to generation of precipitate during a battery reaction is 220 mass ppm or less, and the total concentration of platinum-group element ions is 4.5 mass ppm or less. In a case where the impurity element ions contributing to generation of precipitate include metal element ions, the total concentration of the metal element ions may be 195 mass ppm or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, comprising the steps of: mixing a silicon precursor, a surfactant comprising an ammonium halide salt having a organic group, an initiator, and a solvent; heat-treating the mixture; cooling the heat-treated mixture to room temperature; washing the cooled, heat treated mixture; and calcining the washed product.

Abstract: A battery includes a cell casing that has recessed portion on a major surface of the casing, the recessed portion being substantially planar and bordering a remainder of the major surface at a ridge portion on each of one or two sides of the recessed portion, whereby the recessed portion, the ridge portions, and the remainder of the major surface cooperate under an increase of gauge pressure to cause a plane defined by a boundary between the ridge portions and the remainder of the major surface to move.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery cell case. The battery cell case includes a front case plate and a rear case plate which are separably coupled to each other. The structures of the front and rear case plates are symmetrical structures, so that the battery cell case can be easily assembled in such a way that the front and rear case plates are coupled to each other with the battery cell disposed therebetween and are fastened to each other by holders fitted over the opposite ends of the case plates. In another embodiment, the structures of the front and rear case plates may be asymmetrical structures so that the front and rear case plates can be coupled with each other in an insert coupling manner without using a separate tool or fastening means.

Abstract: A battery pack including a plurality of unit cells, the battery pack including: a plurality of unit cells, a case accommodating the plurality of unit cells, and a first insulation structure covering a first external surface of the case. A plurality of first guide pins project from the first external surface of the case. A plurality of first coupling holes into which the first guide pins are respectively inserted is formed in the first insulation structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a secondary battery constructed in a structure in which pluralities of electrode tabs, protruding from an electrode assembly, are connected to corresponding electrode leads, and the electrode assembly is mounted in a receiving part, wherein a battery case is multi-formed, such that the battery case presses the upper end of the electrode assembly by a predetermined width, thereby preventing the upward movement of the electrode assembly, mounted in the receiving part, at the upper end space region of the receiving part, where the electrode assembly is spaced apart from the upper end of the receiving part, for the connection between the electrode tabs and the corresponding electrode leads, during the repetitive charge and discharge of the battery.

Abstract: Embodiments of a rechargeable battery include: an electrode assembly including first and second leads; a case for receiving the electrode assembly; a cap plate covering an opening of the case, connected to the first lead, and including a terminal hole; and an insulating terminal plate provided between the cap plate and the electrode assembly, connected to the second lead, and an electrode end installed in the terminal hole. The cap plate may include a protrusion oriented toward the electrode assembly. The terminal plate may include an extended unit extended to an external part of the protrusion with respect to the terminal hole and separated from the protrusion. The protrusion and the extended unit may be provided on a plane in parallel with the opening. A first distance between the terminal hole and the protrusion may be shorter than a second distance between the terminal hole and the extended unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control method therefor are provided. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell formed of a plurality of stacked power generating elements; a cell voltage measuring unit detecting negative voltage in any one of the power generating elements; a control unit controlling electric power output from the fuel cell; and an accumulated current value measuring unit measuring an accumulated current value obtained by time integration of current output from the fuel cell. The control unit prestores a correlation between accumulated current values and current densities that are allowable for the fuel cell in a period during which negative voltage is generated. When negative voltage has been detected, the control unit executes output restricting process of restricting electric power output from the fuel cell so as to fall within an operation allowable range defined by the accumulated current values and current densities of the correlation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery pack of a plurality of bare cells is disclosed. The method comprises: preparing a protective circuit module comprising N pads, wherein each pad comprises a first half pad and a second half pad, N is a natural number greater than 1, the plurality of bare cells comprises M tabs, and M is a natural number equal to N; connecting first through Mth tabs to the first half pads of first through Nth pads, respectively; and electrically connecting the first half pads to the second half pads in a sequential order of potential.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a battery electrode. This method comprises the steps of applying a binder solution 50 that contains a binder 54 and is adjusted so that the contact angle of the binder solution 50 with the surface of a current collector 10 is 73° or less, to form a binder solution layer 56; applying a mixed material paste 40 containing an active material 22 on top of the binder solution layer 56, to deposit both the binder solution layer 56 and a mixed material paste layer 46 on the current collector 10; and obtaining an electrode 30 in which a mixed material layer 20 is formed on the current collector 10, by drying the deposited binder solution layer 56 and mixed material paste layer 46 together.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is basically provided with a fuel cell, a pressure adjusting valve, a purge valve and an anode pressure controller. The fuel cell includes an anode that receives an anode gas and a cathode that receives a cathode gas to generate electric power corresponding to a load. The pressure adjusting valve is disposed in a supply path to adjust anode gas pressure to the anode. The purge valve is disposed in a discharging flow path to discharge an anode-off gas containing impurities from the fuel cell. The anode pressure controller is configured to control the pressure adjusting valve to perform a pulsation operation that pulsates the anode gas pressure of the fuel cell. The anode pressure controller decreases a median pressure of the pulsation operation as a wetness level of an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell stack is determined to become higher.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a double-layer anode structure on a pretreated porous metal substrate and a method for fabricating the same, for improving the redox stability and decreasing the anode polarization resistance of a SOFC. The anode structure comprises: a porous metal substrate of high gas permeability; a first porous anode functional layer, formed on the porous metal substrate by a high-voltage high-enthalpy Ar—He—H2—N2 atmospheric-pressure plasma spraying process; and a second porous anode functional layer, formed on the first porous anode functional layer by a high-voltage high-enthalpy Ar—He—H2—N2 atmospheric-pressure plasma spraying and hydrogen reduction. The first porous anode functional layer is composed a redox stable perovskite, the second porous anode functional layer is composed of a nanostructured cermet. The first porous anode functional layer is also used to prevent the second porous anode functional layer from being diffused by the composition elements of the porous metal substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack including: a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in at least two rows and a plurality of layers; and a partition member for partitioning the battery cells; wherein the partition member includes a partition plate and support plates; the battery cells in the state of being partitioned by the support plates have terminals on one side being fixed substantially in parallel to the partition plate by an electrode tab or tabs, and have terminals on the other side in at least one layer being fixed substantially in parallel to the partition plate by an electrode tab or tabs; and the support plates for clamping the battery cell of which the terminal on the other side is fixed by the electrode tab are formed respectively with projected pieces.

Abstract: An improved fuel cell system comprising a component designed to minimize or otherwise prevent the collection of water (and thus formation of ice at low temperatures) at valves or other anode exhaust flowpath control points. Thus, such system is configured to be operable under at least freeze start conditions. Also provided, in various embodiments, are methods of controlling ice blockage in a fuel cell system by, among other things, providing such a component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a top cap assembly mounted to a battery cell having an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure disposed in a battery case together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, the battery case being provided at an upper end thereof with a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal, the top cap assembly including a protection circuit module (PCM) and an electrically insulative top cap housing mounted to the upper end of the battery cell while surrounding an outside of the PCM, wherein the PCM includes a protection circuit board (PCB) having a protection circuit formed thereon, the PCB being coupled to a mechanical coupling part of a terminal block, connecting parts connected to the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal, a safety element, and the terminal block mounted to the PCM, the terminal block including connectors.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a structure in which generation modules are stacked. In each of the generation modules, there are cells are stacked. Each of the cells generates unitary power from fuel energy. A fuel cell system including the fuel stack operates either all or some of the generation modules in consideration of the quantity of power consumed by a load.

Abstract: Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising bound anionic functional groups and polyvalent cations, such as Mn or Ru cations, which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel superconducting hybrid polymer material and to the preparation method and uses thereof, particularly for proton superexchange membranes usable as fuel cell electrolytes.