Abstract: A reinforced catalyst layer assembly, suitably for use in a fuel cell, said reinforced catalyst layer assembly comprising: (i) a planar reinforcing component consisting of a porous material having pores extending through the thickness of the material in the z-direction, and (ii) a first catalyst component comprising a first catalyst material and a first ion-conducting material, characterized in that the first catalyst component is at least partially embedded within the planar reinforcing component, forming a first catalyst layer having a first surface and a second surface is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a fuel cell that employs a fuel-electrode collector excellent in terms of thermal conductivity and the like, so that it is excellent in terms of power generation efficiency and cost effectiveness; and a method for operating the fuel cell. Included are a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a fuel-electrode collector that is a porous metal body disposed in contact with a fuel electrode and performing current collection, and a heating device operated by electric power, wherein a solid electrolyte is a proton-permeable electrolyte, a fuel-gas channel is provided to cause a fuel gas to pass through the fuel-electrode collector, and the porous metal body constituting the fuel-electrode collector is formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery or cell comprises electrode(s) of with current collector(s) of a fibrous material with an average interfiber spacing of less than 50 microns. The current collector material may be a carbon fiber material which has been thermally treated by electric arc discharge. The fibrous current collector material may comprise an impregnated paste comprising a mixture of lead sulphate particles and dilute sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: An electrode of the present invention includes: an electrically conductive support (11); and an active material layer (12) provided on the electrically conductive support (11), containing an electrode active material (13) and an electrical conductivity assistant (14), wherein: the electrode active material (13) includes at least one of a first polymer compound having a tetrachalcogenofulvalene structure in a repetition unit of a main chain, and a second polymer compound which is a copolymer between a first unit which has the tetrachalcogenofulvalene structure in a side chain and a second unit which does not have the tetrachalcogenofulvalene structure in the side chain; and in active material layer (13), the electrode active material (13) does not form particles but covers at least a portion of a surface of the electrical conductivity assistant (14).

Abstract: A battery cell interconnect and voltage sensing assembly having a plastic frame member having a plate portion and a central wall is provided. The central wall defines an interior region. The assembly further includes a first interconnect member that is coupled to the plate portion that is electrically coupled to a first electrical terminal of a first battery cell. The first interconnect member has a spade lug. The assembly further includes a removable wire harness assembly having an adaptor body, a spade clip, and an electrical cable. The spade clip is disposed in an aperture of the adapter member. The spade clip is electrically and physically coupled to the spade lug of the first interconnect member when the adapter member is at least partially disposed in the interior region.

Abstract: A multilayered structure suitable as an electrode in a power source and a method of producing the same. The structure comprises a conductive laminar layer; and an enzyme layer containing an essentially dry enzyme capable of oxidizing or dehydrogenating carbohydrate material under suitable conditions. Because the enzymatic anode layer and the fuel containing layer are not interacting during the production and since they are kept latent during storage time, the power source will remain stable for extended periods of time, thus increasing the utility of the power source.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a bipolar plate having a flow field formed therein. The flow field is partially defined by at least two adjacent channel portions separated by a wall portion. The wall portion includes a surface at least partially defining a passageway between the channel portions. The passageway may be sized so as to create a pressure difference between the channel portions. The pressure difference may draw at least a portion of a liquid droplet obstructing one of the channel portions toward and into the passageway.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte composition includes: an electrolyte salt; a nonaqueous solvent; a matrix polymer; and a ceramic powder having a thermal conductivity of 50 W/m° C. or more.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to energy storage devices, and to metal sulfide energy storage devices in particular. Some aspects of the invention relate to energy storage devices comprising at least one flowable electrode, wherein the flowable electrode comprises an electroactive metal sulfide material suspended and/or dissolved in a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the flowable electrode further comprises a plurality of electronically conductive particles suspended and/or dissolved in the carrier fluid, wherein the electronically conductive particles form a percolating conductive network. An energy storage device comprising a flowable electrode comprising a metal sulfide electroactive material and a percolating conductive network may advantageously exhibit, upon reversible cycling, higher energy densities and specific capacities than conventional energy storage devices.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells; a case accommodating the battery cells; a protective circuit module comprising a circuit board adjacent to the battery cells; a temperature sensitive element on the protective circuit module; and a flexible printed circuit board comprising a conductive pattern layer, wherein the conductive pattern layer is thermally connected to the temperature sensitive element.

Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly is provided which may include a housing, a battery system supported within the housing, and a connector electrically connected with the system and extending through and away from the recessed face into a region normal to the recessed face and adjacent to the ledge such that the ledge limits travel of objects into the region impacting the lateral end. The lateral end may have a step configuration defined by the ledge and the recessed face. The housing may also include a middle face extending between the ledge face and recessed face, opposing side faces, and a lower face. The connector may be a battery control interface connector, an accessory connector, or a high-voltage connector.

Abstract: A catalyst includes (i) a primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, and (ii) an electrically conductive carbon support material for the primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, wherein the carbon support material: (a) has a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g, and (b) has a micropore area of 10-90 m2/g.

Abstract: A storage system for storing hydrogen and providing controlled release of hydrogen gas includes a container having an outer wall defining an interior. The interior is configured to contain liquid lithium hydride, and a portion of the outer wall includes a thermally insulating layer. The storage system also includes a temperature control system configured to maintain the interior at a temperature such that the lithium hydride decomposes to produce hydrogen gas at a substantially equilibrium state.

Abstract: A lithium battery includes a cathode, an anode integrally formed within a silicon substrate, wherein a surface portion of the silicon substrate is patterned to form a plurality of sub-structures, and an electrolyte.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery (10) provided by the present invention includes a current interruption mechanism (40) operated by a rise in internal pressure. A positive electrode (32) of this battery (10) has a positive electrode mixture layer containing lithium carbonate, a conductive material and a positive electrode active material consisting primarily of a lithium-transition metal oxide. The lithium carbonate is disposed on the surface of the conductive material. Such a positive electrode mixture layer can preferably be fabricated using a positive electrode mixture composition containing a positive electrode active material and a composite conductive material comprising lithium carbonate retained on the surface of a conductive material.

Abstract: A fluid tube includes: a first fluid tube; a second fluid tube connected to the first fluid tube; and a flow velocity equalizer in the second fluid tube, where the flow velocity equalizer increases a uniformity of fluid flow passed therethrough, the second fluid tube is wider than the first fluid tube, and the flow velocity equalizer includes a diverging tube and a converging tube. The fluid tube may further include a fluid divider between the flow velocity equalizer and the first fluid tube. The diverging tube of the flow velocity equalizer may have a width increasing in a fluid flow direction, and the converging tube of the flow velocity equalizer may include a plurality of converging tubes having widths decreasing in the fluid flow direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochemical cell comprising an anode and a cathode compartment separated by a membrane, housing corresponding electrodes. The anode and the cathode compartments having external walls with frame-type flanged areas in the contact area of both compartments. The flanged areas having mounting bores marking an inner area and an outer area of the electrochemical cell a, gas-diffusion electrode resting on a support system, a porous material resting on the gas-diffusion electrode, and devices for the inlet and outlet of gas and electrolyte. At least one circumferential gasket frame is in the contact area of both compartments, between the frame-type flanged areas of the external walls of both compartments, said gasket resting on the membrane, with the porous material and the gas-diffusion electrode resting on the frame-type cathodic flanged area and the circumferential gasket frame overlapping in this area with the porous material and the gas-diffusion electrode.

Abstract: An intrinsically safe battery pack assembly (200) is formed by disposing electrical components (208) on a single side of a printed circuit board (PCB) (210) and coating the component side of the PCB with a low pressure molded encapsulation (220). The bottom surface of the PCB provides interface contacts for a charger and radio. The LPM encapsulation is formed over the top side of the PCB to cover the electrical components at a predetermined height set to be at the height of the tallest component. The top surface of the PCB having the electrical components and LPM encapsulation (220) is oriented to face the plurality of battery cells within the battery pack (200).

Abstract: Catalysts of the present invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalyst includes a metal oxycarbonitride containing two metals M selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, titanium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, vanadium, cobalt, cerium, aluminum and nickel, and containing zirconium and/or titanium. Also disclosed is a process for producing the catalyst.