Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a cell assembly that has an anode, an air cathode infused with a liquid electrolyte, an ionically-conductive separator medium disposed between and coupling said anode and said air cathode, a housing enclosing said anode, said cathode, and said ionically-conductive separator medium, and a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide disposed within said housing in gaseous communication with said air cathode, wherein said carbon dioxide comprises from about 0.04% to about 95% molar fraction of said mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.

Abstract: An amorphous lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) thin film is produced by the sol-gel method wherein a polymer is mixed with a liquid alcohol to form a first solution. A second solution is then prepared by mixing a lanthanum alkoxide with an alcohol. The first solution is then mixed with the lanthanum based second solution. A lithium alkoxide and a titanium alkoxide are then also added to the lanthanum based second solution. This process produces a batch of LLTO precursor solution. The LLTO precursor solution is applied to a substrate to form a precursor layer which is then dried. The coating techniques that may be used include spin coating, spraying, casting, dripping, and the like, however, the spin coating technique is the preferred method recited herein.

Abstract: A toy water gun has an energizable linear-drive piston mechanism selectively operable between anterior translational movement and posterior translational movement. The mechanism drives a piston assembly including a piston head within a piston housing to pressurize a piston chamber for impelling fluid therefrom. A discharge structure is in fluid-flow communication with the piston chamber. The mechanism includes a reversible, electric motor and an actuator switch for selectively actuating the reversible, electric motor.

Abstract: An ambient-heat engine has a substantially thermally-conductive housing whose interior is divided into a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber by a substantially gas-impermeable barrier. An ionically-conductive, electrical-energy-generating mechanism forms at least a portion of the barrier. First hydrogen-storage medium is disposed within the high-pressure chamber and second hydrogen-storage medium is disposed within the low-pressure chamber. An electrical-energy storage device connected to the ionically-conductive, electrical-energy-generating mechanism is operable between a charge condition and a discharge condition. In a charge condition, hydrogen atoms within the high-pressure chamber are converted to hydrogen ions and conducted through the electrical-energy-generating mechanism to the low-pressure chamber causing electrical-energy to be generated to the electrical-energy storage device.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has an anode of electrochemically-active material; a cathode of electrochemically-active, porous, liquid-permeable, sintered, ceramic material; and a solid-state, liquid-impermeable electrolyte medium disposed between the anode and the cathode. The electrolyte may be a layer of glass or a layer of glass ceramic, or may be a combination of a layer of glass and a layer of glass ceramic. The cell may further contain a liquid electrolyte diffused throughout the cathode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical conversion system (40) for energy management which includes multi-electrochemical cells. The system 40 includes a conduit system (41), an electrical system (42), first electrochemical cell (43), a second electrochemical cell (44), a third electrochemical cell (45), a first recuperative heat exchanger (RHX) (46), and a second recuperative heat exchanger (47). The conduit system, electrical system (42), heat exchangers, and electrochemical cells are all constructed and function in the same manner as previously described. The system (40) also includes an additional, second recuperative heat exchanger (47) (RHX) to thermally isolate the third electrochemical cell from the other two. As shown, the electrochemical cells are electrically and pneumatically connected in series so that the electrical current flow and the proton flow through the electrochemical cells are balanced.

Abstract: A thin film ceramic proton conducting electrolyte assembly (10) is provided having a includes a nanoporous, copper supporting substrate (11), a temporary substrate pore filler material (12), and a ceramic electrolyte layer (13) positioned upon the substrate (11). The ceramic electrolyte layer may be made of a yttrium doped strontium zirconate. To produce the electrolyte the substrate pores (14) are filled with the pore filler material to provide a smooth surface upon which the electrolyte layer is deposited. The filler material is then removed from the pores and the substrate and electrolyte layer are annealed.

Abstract: A method of producing a passivated thin film material is disclosed wherein an insulating thin film layer (10), having pinholes (12) therein, is positioned upon an underlying electrically conductive substrate (11). The thin film layer is then electroplated so that the pinholes are filled with a reactive metal. The thin film layer and substrate are then immersed within a silicon doped tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution. Excess silica within the solution precipitates onto the top surfaces of the aluminum plugs (13) to form an electrically insulative cap which electrically insulates the top of the aluminum plug. As an alternative, the previously described metal plugs may be anodized so that at least a portion thereof becomes an oxidized metal which is electrically insulative.

Abstract: An anode environment mitigates undesired effects of oxygen upon the anode of a lithium-oxygen electrochemical cell. As a means of mitigating oxygen effect, a lithium anode and an air cathode are separated from one another by a lithium-ion-conductive electrolyte separator including material having low oxygen permeability that reduces the amount of oxygen that contacts the anode. As another means of mitigating oxygen effect, a cell comprises lithium-affinity anode material capable of receiving and retaining lithium in a state that is not significantly adversely affected by the presence of oxygen during cell charging and recharging and an air cathode separated by a lithium-ion-conductive electrolyte separator. Lithium-affinity material is capable of drawing lithium thereinto during charging of the cell and retaining the lithium substantially until discharge of the cell.

Abstract: A method of producing a passivated thin film material is disclosed wherein an insulating thin film layer (10), having pinholes (12) therein, is positioned upon an underlying electrically conductive substrate (11). The thin film layer is then electroplated so that the pinholes are filled with a reactive metal. The thin film layer and substrate are then immersed within a silicon doped tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution. Excess silica within the solution precipitates onto the top surfaces of the aluminum plugs (13) to form an electrically insulative cap which electrically insulates the top of the aluminum plug. As an alternative, the previously described metal plugs may be anodized so that at least a portion thereof becomes an oxidized metal which is electrically insulative.

Abstract: A battery (10) is disclosed having a lithium foil anode (11) embedded within a liquid electrolyte (12) which is positioned between two similarly constructed battery cathode halves (13) and (14). Each cathode half has a first glass barrier (16) coupled to a first porous metal substrate (17), a second glass barrier (18) coupled to a second porous metal substrate (19), a third glass barrier (20) coupled to a third porous metal substrate (21), and a lithium air cathode (22). A peripheral layer of edge sealant (25) surrounds the peripheral edge of the electrolyte and bonds the two halves together. The battery also includes an anode terminal (27) coupled to the anode and a cathode terminal (28) coupled to the cathode.

Abstract: A method of producing a passivated thin film material is disclosed wherein an insulating thin film layer (10), having pinholes (12) therein, is positioned upon an underlying electrically conductive substrate (11). The thin film layer is then electroplated so that the pinholes are filled with a reactive metal. The thin film layer and substrate are then immersed within a silicon doped tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution. Excess silica within the solution precipitates onto the top surfaces of the aluminum plugs (13) to form an electrically insulative cap which electrically insulates the top of the aluminum plug. As an alternative, the previously described metal plugs may be anodized so that at least a portion thereof becomes an oxidized metal which is electrically insulative.

Abstract: An air lithium battery (10) is provided having two equal halves (11) that are joined together along a centerline (12). Each half includes a substrate (13), a carbon based cathode (14), a solid electrolyte (15), an anode (16), an anode current collector (17), and end seals (19). The solid electrolyte includes alternating layers of ion conductive glass (21) and ion conductive polymer (22) materials.

Abstract: A battery (10) is disclosed having a lithium foil anode (11) embedded within a liquid electrolyte (12) which is positioned between two similarly constructed battery cathode halves (13) and (14). Each cathode half has a first glass barrier (16) coupled to a first porous metal substrate (17), a second glass barrier (18) coupled to a second porous metal substrate (19), a third glass barrier (20) coupled to a third porous metal substrate (21), and a lithium air cathode (22). A peripheral layer of edge sealant (25) surrounds the peripheral edge of the electrolyte and bonds the two halves together. The battery also includes an anode terminal (27) coupled to the anode and a cathode terminal (28) coupled to the cathode.

Abstract: A lithium oxygen cell system (10) includes a battery cell (15), a containment vessel (106) having an air inlet conduit (114) and an air outlet conduit (112). An access control valve (101), a one way check valve (102), a H2O scrubber (103) and a CO2 scrubber (104) are mounted within inlet conduit. A one way check valve (107) and a forced air device (108) are mounted within outlet conduit. A charge controller (109) is coupled to battery and to the air device. The pair of one way check valves insure that the inside of the containment vessel (106) may be sealed. The system further includes a safety controller (111) coupled to an environmental sensor (110), and to control valve (101). When an unsafe temperature or pressure condition is detected, it closes control valve to shut down operation of the battery and thereby prevent a catastrophic event.

Abstract: A thin-film battery (10) is disclosed which includes a cathode current collector (11), a cathode (12), an electrolyte (13), an anode (14), and an anode current collector (15). The cathode is produced by grinding lithium cobalt oxide or other suitable cathode material to a powder having a mean particle size of between 5 and 12 microns, forming a liquid slurry with the cathode material, casting the liquid slurry upon a substrate, drying the liquid slurry to form a layer of cathode material, and compressing the cathode layer to a generally uniform and smooth thickness of between 5 and 12 microns. The compressed layer is then heated to a temperature which sinters or melts the peripheral edges of the cathode particles together.

Abstract: A thin-film battery (10) is disclosed which includes a cathode current collector (11), a cathode (12), an electrolyte (13), an anode (14), and an anode current collector (15). The cathode is produced by grinding lithium cobalt oxide or other suitable cathode material to a powder having a mean particle size of between 5 and 12 microns, forming a liquid slurry with the cathode material, casting the liquid slurry upon a substrate, drying the liquid slurry to form a layer of cathode material, and compressing the cathode layer to a generally uniform and smooth thickness of between 5 and 12 microns. The compressed layer is then heated to a temperature which sinters or melts the peripheral edges of the cathode particles together.

Abstract: A solid state Li battery and an all ceramic Li-ion battery are disclosed. The all ceramic battery has a solid state battery cathode comprised of a mixture of an active cathode material, an electronically conductive material, and a solid ionically conductive material. The cathode mixture is sintered. The battery also has a solid state battery anode comprised of a mixture of an active anode material, an electronically conductive material, and a solid ionically conductive material. The anode mixture is sintered. The battery also has a solid state separator positioned between said solid state battery cathode and said solid state battery anode. In the solid state Li battery the all ceramic anode is replaced with an evaporated thin film Li metal anode.

Abstract: An air battery having an air cathode having a porous carbon based air cathode containing a non-aqueous organic solvent based electrolyte including a lithium salt and an alkylene carbonage additive. The battery also includes a separator loaded with an organic solvent based electrolyte including a lithium salt and an alkylene carbonate additive, a cathode current collector, an anode, an anode current collector, and a housing. The housing contains the cathode, separator, cathode current collector, anode, anode current collector, and a supply of air.