Abstract: A negative electrode material is provided for a rechargeable lithium-ion electrochemical cell comprising an intimate mixture of finely-divided elemental nickel and tin particles characterized in that the total oxygen content of said material is less than about 6 percent by weight of the mixture. Preferably, the negative electrode material comprises from about 5 to 90 percent by weight nickel particles and from about 10 to 95 percent by weight tin particles, the nickel and tin particles being composed of discrete, non-spherical, smooth particles of a size ranging from about 1 to 10 micrometers and having a density which is greater than about 5 grams per milliter and a specific surface area of less than about 1 square meter per gram.

Abstract: The invention is a fuel cell stack having an improved pressure plate and current collector. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cell component plates stacked adjacent each other to form a reaction portion of the fuel cell stack. A current collector is secured adjacent a first end of the stack of fuel cell component plates and a pressure plate is secured adjacent to the current collector. The current collector is made from a non-porous, electrically conductive graphite material and includes at least one conductive stud secured to the collector. The pressure plate is made of an electrically non-conductive, non-metallic, fiber reinforced composite material, so that the current collector and pressure plate are light, compact and have a low thermal capacity.

Abstract: An anhydrous inorganic gel-polymer electrolyte is prepared using a non-aqueous sol-gel process. The inorganic gel-polymer is prepared by reacting a metal halide (SiCl4) and an alcohol (tert-butyl alcohol) in a diluent solution containing a lithium salt (lithium bisperfluoroethanesulfonimide) and at least one carbonate. The resulting porous silicon oxide network encapsulates the liquid electrolyte. The gel polymer electrolyte can serve as both a separator and an electrolyte in a Li-ion cell. The material is stable and has demonstrated minimal flammability. Lithium-ion electrochemical cells made with the inorganic gel-polymer electrolyte function similarly to Li-ion cells made with a liquid electrolyte. The cells have low capacity fade, 0.69%, and low irreversible capacity, 7.6%.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte for an electrolytic cell is prepared by a sol-gel process in which an active metal ion conducting liquid electrolyte, e.g. a lithium-ion electrolyte, containing a salt which is stable in the presence of water, e.g. lithium bisperfluoroethanesulfonimide, LiN(SO2C2F5)2, is admixed in aqueous solution with an alkoxide, e.g. silica alkoxide, to form a liquid precursor which is added to the electrolytic cell between the anode and cathode thereof and allowed to solidify in situ to form the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A negative electrode material is provided for a rechargeable lithium-ion electrochemical cell comprising an intimate mixture of finely-divided elemental nickel and tin particles characterized in that the total oxygen content of said material is less than about 6 percent by weight of the mixture. Preferably, the negative electrode material comprises from about 5 to 90 percent by weight nickel particles and from about 10 to 95 percent by weight tin particles, the nickel and tin particles being composed of discrete, non-spherical, smooth particles of a size ranging from about 1 to 10 micrometers and having a density which is greater than about 5 grams per milliter and a specific surface area of less than about 1 square meter per gram.

Abstract: A novel and improved polymeric coating composition and method for applying adherent film coatings to metallic substrates is provided wherein a finely divided or powdered coating material, such as ceramic powders, carbon powders or metallic particles, is substantially uniformly dispersed within a polymeric binder comprising a host polymer and a suitable bonding promoter. The use of a bonding promoter allows a significant amount of cross-linking to occur in situ after the coating composition has been applied to the metallic substrate thereby achieving good adherence between the coating and the substrate and improving the robustness of the coating.

Abstract: An anhydrous inorganic gel-polymer electrolyte is prepared using a non-aqueous sol-gel process. The inorganic gel-polymer is prepared by reacting a metal halide (SiCl4) and an alcohol (tert-butyl alcohol) in a diluent solution containing a lithium salt (lithium bisperfluoroethanesulfonimide) and at least one carbonate. The resulting porous silicon oxide network encapsulates the liquid electrolyte. The gel polymer electrolyte can serve as both a separator and an electrolyte in a Li-ion cell. The material is stable and has demonstrated minimal flammability. Lithium-ion electrochemical cells made with the inorganic gel-polymer electrolyte function similarly to Li-ion cells made with a liquid electrolyte. The cells have low capacity fade, 0.69%, and low irreversible capacity, 7.6%.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte for an electrolytic cell is prepared by a sol-gel process in which an active metal ion conducting liquid electrolyte, e.g. a lithium-ion electrolyte, containing a salt which is stable in the presence of water, e.g. lithium bisperfluoroethanesulfonimide, LiN(SO2C2F5)2, is admixed in aqueous solution with an alkoxide, e.g. silica alkoxide, to form a liquid precursor which is added to the electrolytic cell between the anode and cathode thereof and allowed to solidify in situ to form the solid electroyte.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte for an electrochemical cell is prepared by a sol-gel process in which an active metal ion conducting liquid electrolyte, e.g. a lithium-ion electrolyte, containing a salt which is stable in the presence of water, e.g. lithium bisperfluoroethanesulfonimide, LiN(SO2C2F5)2, is admixed in aqueous solution with an alkoxide, e.g. silica alkoxide, to form a liquid precursor which is added to the electrochemical cell between the anode and cathode thereof and allowed to solidify in situ to form the solid electroyte.