Abstract: The present disclosure describes a series of improvements to the positive active material and negative active material of electrochemical cells. In particular, the present disclosure describes improvements in the lead oxide powder, processing, and additives used to make the positive active material and negative active material for pastes used to make electrodes for lead acid batteries. The present disclosure describes materials and processing that enable the formation of positive active materials having density comparable to conventional material but with substantially higher porosity and improved mechanical properties and the formation of negative active materials using substantially shorter and less energy intensive processing.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage system is provided for an application having design energy and power requirements. The electrochemical energy storage system comprises first and second energy storage system components having different electro-chemistries and formed in different units. Said first energy storage system component includes a non-lead-acid battery adapted to provide the energy requirements of the application. Said second energy storage system component includes a lead-acid battery adapted to provide the power requirements of the application. Said first and second energy storage system components have a combined capacity that is less than a capacity of a mono-electrochemical energy storage system adapted to supply both the power and energy requirements of the application.

Abstract: Components and systems for energy storage and conversion devices are disclosed. An exemplary system may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode for providing ionic transport. The system may also include a hydrophobic portion on the separator. The hydrophobic portion may comprise hydrophobic pathways formed on the surface of the separator. The system may also include a hydrophilic portion on the separator. Another exemplary system may include an absorptive glass mat separator having a hydrophobic portion and a textured PVC separator. An exemplary method may include manufacturing the separator and applying a hydrophobic portion on the separator. The method may also include applying a hydrophilic portion to the separator.

Abstract: An electrode and a lead-acid battery including the same are disclosed. The electrode comprises active material comprising lead and a carbon additive configured to increase a charge input of the lead-acid battery by at least 17%, relative to a negative electrode without the carbon additive.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a series of improvements to the positive active material and negative active material of electrochemical cells. In particular, the present disclosure describes improvements in the lead oxide powder, processing, and additives used to make the positive active material and negative active material for pastes used to make electrodes for lead acid batteries. The present disclosure describes materials and processing that enable the formation of positive active materials having density comparable to conventional material but with substantially higher porosity and improved mechanical properties and the formation of negative active materials using substantially shorter and less energy intensive processing.

Abstract: A battery module for an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle having two or more battery components. An lead-acid electrochemical storage device is provided, comprising a specific power of between about 550 and about 1,900 Watts/kilogram; and a specific energy of between about 25 and about 80 Watt-hours/kilogram.

Abstract: An improved substrate is disclosed for an electrode of an electrochemical cell. The improved substrate includes a core material surrounded by a coating. The coating is amorphous such that the coating includes substantially no grain boundaries. The core material may be one of lead, fiber glass, and titanium. The coating may be one of lead, lead-dioxide, titanium nitride, and titanium dioxide. Further, an intermediate adhesion promoter surrounds the core material to enhance adhesion between the coating and the core material.

Abstract: A bipolar battery comprising bipolar electrodes. The bipolar electrodes including corrugated bipolar substrates. The corrugated bipolar substrates may be formed as corrugated foils. The battery may be a nickel metal hydride battery.

Abstract: A nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure, which includes particles having a size of 10-200 nanometers. The particles are joined together to form a reticulated foam-like structure. The reticulated foam-like structure is similar to the structure of carbon nano-foam. The nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure may comprise a metal, such as a hydrogen storage alloy, either a gas-phase thermal or an electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy. The nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure may comprise alternatively comprise a hydroxide such as nickel hydroxide or manganese hydroxide or an oxide, such as a silver oxide or a copper oxide. When the nano-particulate reticulated foam-like structure is a hydrogen storage alloy, the material exhibits substantial immunity to hydrogen cycling decrepitation and an increase in the reversible hydrogen storage capacity by reduction of trapped hydrogen by at least 10% as compared to the same alloy in bulk form.

Abstract: Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries, modules and fluid-cooled battery pack systems. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The fluid-cooled battery pack includes; 1) a battery-pack case having coolant inlet and outlet; 2) battery modules within the case such that the battery module is spaced from the case walls and from other battery modules to form coolant flow channels along at least one surface of the bundled batteries; and 3) at least one coolant transport means. The width of the coolant flow channels allows for maximum heat transfer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fire resistant laminate and incorporating the laminate into an encapsulant for a photovoltaic module that may be used in a photovoltaic building material. More particularly, the present invention relates to fire resistant encapsulant that may be used in a triple junction amorphous silicon photovoltaic module that is fire resistant on a wide variety of buildings roofs, including residential housing, and that is flexible and lightweight. A fire resistant additive, such as solid glass spheres, may be added to encapsulant material to produce a fire resistant, cut resistant, lightweight photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A battery having at least one group of electric power-generating elements each comprising at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator; and a battery case containing the group of electric power-generating elements. The battery case is formed from a mixture which includes a matrix material selected from the group consisting of plastics, polymers, resins or combinations thereof. The mixture further includes a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material distributed throughout the matrix material. The thermally conductive material has a thermal conductivity at least one order of magnitude higher than the thermal conductivity of the matrix material. The present invention also includes battery cases (lids and containers) used in making the batteries and formed of the mixture.

Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes separators electrical the positive electrode from the negative electrodes. The separators preferably have a hi-pot resistance greater than 400 volts, an ionic resistance less than 15 ohm-cm. The separator may additionally have an absorbency between 30% and 50% at 100 psi.

Abstract: Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries, modules and fluid-cooled battery pack systems. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The optimized thickness, width and height allow for maximum capacity and power output, while eliminating deleterious side affects. The battery case design allows for unidirectional expansion which is readily compensated for by applying external mechanical compression counter to that direction. In the module, the batteries are bound within a module bundling/compression means under external mechanical compression which is optimized to balance outward pressure due to expansion and provide additional inward compression to reduce the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby increasing overall battery power.

Abstract: Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries, modules and fluid-cooled battery pack systems. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The optimized thickness, width and height allow for maximum capacity and power output, while eliminating deleterious side affects. The battery case design allows for unidirectional expansion which is readily compensated for by applying external mechanical compression counter to that direction. In the module, the batteries are bound within a module bundling/compression means under external mechanical compression which is optimized to balance outward pressure due to expansion and provide additional inward compression to reduce the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby increasing overall battery power.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having electrodes that are arranged in a zigzag configuration with folds and creases. Additional electrodes may be inserted within the folds of the zigzag configuration. Preferably, the electrochemical cell is a prismatic cell.

Abstract: Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries, modules and fluid-cooled battery pack systems. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The optimized thickness, width and height allow for maximum capacity and power output, while eliminating deleterious side affects. The battery case design allows for unidirectional expansion which is readily compensated for by applying external mechanical compression counter to that direction. In the module, the batteries are bound within a module bundling/compression means under external mechanical compression which is optimized to balance outward pressure due to expansion and provide additional inward compression to reduce the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby increasing overall battery power.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having an electrode stack arranged in a zigzag configuration. Additional electrodes may be inserted within the folds of the zigzag configuration. Preferably, the electrochemical cell is a prismatic cell.

Abstract: Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries and modules. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The optimized thickness, width and height allow for maximum capacity and power output, while eliminating deleterious side affects. The battery case design allows for unidirectional expansion which is readily compensated for by applying external mechanical compression counter to that direction. In the module, the batteries are bound within a module bundling/compression means under external mechanical compression which is optimized to balance outward pressure due to expansion and provide additional inward compression to reduce the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby increasing overall battery power.

Abstract: Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries, modules and fluid-cooled battery pack systems. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The optimized thickness, width and height allow for maximum capacity and power output, while eliminating deleterious side affects. The battery case design allows for unidirectional expansion which is readily compensated for by applying external mechanical compression counter to that direction. In the module, the batteries are bound within a module bundling/compression means under external mechanical compression which is optimized to balance outward pressure due to expansion and provide additional inward compression to reduce the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby increasing overall battery power.