Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a lithium secondary battery which may improve productivity and performance of the lithium secondary battery by visually measuring an actual electrolyte solution impregnation time for an electrode active material, setting an estimated impregnation time of the electrolyte solution for a battery based on a measured result, and reflecting the estimated impregnation time in a production process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a lithium secondary battery which may improve productivity and performance of the lithium secondary battery by visually measuring an electrolyte solution impregnation time for an electrode active material, setting an optimum estimated electrolyte solution impregnation time of the electrolyte solution for a battery based on a measured result, and reflecting the optimum estimated electrolyte solution impregnation time in a production process.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to electrodes that include a nickel-based material and at least one porous region with a plurality of nickel hydroxide moieties on a surface of the nickel-based material. The nickel-based material may be a nickel foil in the form of a film. The porous region of the electrode may be directly associated with the surface of the nickel-based material. The nickel hydroxide moieties may be in crystalline form and embedded with the porous region. The electrodes of the present disclosure may be a component of an energy storage device, such as a capacitor. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of fabricating the electrodes by anodizing a nickel-based material to form at least one porous region on a surface of the nickel-based material; and hydrothermally treating the porous region to form nickel hydroxide moieties associated with the porous region.

Abstract: An asymmetrical supercapacitor including an alkaline electrolyte, at least one separator, at least one positive electrode including a nickel-based hydroxide and a nickel-based current collector, and at least one negative electrode including a nickel-based current collector and having a porous three-dimensional structure. Some pores are open, the mean diameter of the open pores being greater than or equal to 100 ?m and being less than or equal to 300 ?m and two contiguous open pores (1, 2) communicate by at least one opening (5) the mean diameter of which is greater than or equal to 35 ?m and less than or equal to 130 ?m. The three-dimensional structure includes a mixture including at least one activated carbon, at least one electron-conducting additive, and a binding agent including at least one elastomer polymer and at least one thickening polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of electroplating a metal onto a substrate surface in an electroplating bath and adjusting the pH of the bath. The methods may include exposing the substrate surface, a counter-electrode, and an acid generating surface to the bath, biasing the substrate surface sufficiently negative relative to the counterelectrode such that metal ions from the bath are reduced and plated onto the substrate surface, and biasing the acid generating surface sufficiently positive relative to the counterelectrode such that free hydrogen ions are generated at the acid generating surface thereby decreasing the pH of the bath. Also disclosed are apparatuses for electroplating metal onto a substrate surface in an electroplating bath, and for adjusting the pH of the electroplating bath. The apparatuses may include an acid generating surface configured to generate free hydrogen ions in the bath upon supply of sufficient positive voltage bias relative to a counterelectrode electrical contact.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries includes a coating layer containing at least nickel (Ni) and/or manganese (Mn) on the surface of a complex oxide particle containing lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co), wherein a binding energy value obtained by analysis of a surface state by an ESCA surface analysis on the surface of the coating layer is 642.0 eV or more and not more than 642.5 eV in an Mn2p3 peak, and a peak interval of Co—Mn is 137.6 eV or more and not more than 138.0 eV.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anode for a lithium secondary battery. The anode includes a current collector in the form of a wire and a porous anode active material layer coated to surround the surface of the current collector. The three-dimensional porous structure of the active material layer increases the surface area of the anode. Accordingly, the mobility of lithium ions through the anode is improved, achieving superior battery performance. In addition, the porous structure allows the anode to relieve internal stress and pressure, such as swelling, occurring during charge and discharge of a battery, ensuring high stability of the battery while preventing deformation of the battery. These advantages make the anode suitable for use in a cable-type secondary battery. Further disclosed is a lithium secondary battery including the anode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanostructured materials for use in rechargeable energy storage devices such as lithium batteries, particularly rechargeable secondary lithium batteries, or lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The present invention includes materials, components, and devices, including nanostructured materials for use as battery active materials, and lithium ion battery (LIB) electrodes comprising such nanostructured materials, as well as manufacturing methods related thereto. Exemplary nanostructured materials include silicon-based nanostructures such as silicon nanowires and coated silicon nanowires, nanostructures disposed on substrates comprising active materials or current collectors such as silicon nanowires disposed on graphite particles or copper electrode plates, and LIB anode composites comprising high-capacity active material nanostructures formed on a porous copper and/or graphite powder substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anode active material for a lithium secondary battery, comprising a carbon material, and a coating layer formed on the surface of particles of the carbon material and having a plurality of Sn-based domains having an average diameter of 1 ?m or less. The inventive anode active material having a Sn-based domains coating layer on the surface of a carbon material can surprisingly prevent stress due to volume expansion which generates by an alloy of Sn and lithium. Also, the inventive method for preparing an anode active material can easily control the thickness of the coating layer.

Abstract: A negative active material for a lithium battery with an improved cycle characteristic and capacity retention rate, and the negative active material comprises a plurality of particles comprising a plurality of first particles comprising Si, Ti, and Ni; and composite particles comprising a plurality of second particles in which at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Ni, Au, Ag, Pd, Cr, Mn, Ti, B, and P is partially or completely deposited on surface(s) of other of first particles, a method of preparing the negative active material, and a lithium battery including a negative electrode including the negative active material.

Abstract: In an alkaline storage battery positive electrode, the surface of positive electrode active material particles is uniformly coated with a conductive agent and the alkaline storage battery positive electrode is capable of suppressing an increase in internal battery resistance. The method of fabricating includes: (A) fixing active material particles to a current collector, the active material particles containing, as a main component, nickel hydroxide coated with a conductive agent, the conductive agent containing, as a main component, at least one kind of cobalt compound selected from the group consisting of cobalt hydroxide, tricobalt tetroxide, and cobalt oxyhydroxide; and (B) reducing the cobalt atom in the cobalt compound such that the cobalt atom has an oxidation number of less than +2, by applying a reduction current in an electrolyte solution to the current collector to which the active material particles are fixed, after the step (A).

Abstract: A battery having a negative electrode including an anode current collector having at least one sheet of carbon nanotubes and semiconductor material deposited on the sheet; a positive electrode including a cathode current collector having at least one sheet of carbon nanotubes having a nickel sulfide or tin sulfide deposited on the sheet; and a separator situated between the negative electrode and positive electrode is provided. Methods for forming a cathode having nickel sulfide or tin sulfide deposited on a carbon nanotube sheet are also provided.

Abstract: A process for the electrochemical deposition of nanoscale catalyst particles using a sacrificial hydrogen anode as counter electrode for the working electrode is disclosed, whereby a concurrent development of hydrogen at the working electrode is mostly or completely avoided.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a material includes a nickel oxide/hydroxide active film, wherein the nickel oxide/hydroxide active film has a physical characteristic of maintaining greater than about 80% charge over greater than 500 charge/discharge cycles, and wherein the nickel oxide/hydroxide active film has a physical characteristic of storing electrons at greater than about 0.5 electron per nickel atom.

Abstract: A fabrication process for conformal coating of a thin polymer electrolyte layer on nanostructured electrode materials for three-dimensional micro/nanobattery applications, compositions thereof, and devices incorporating such compositions. In embodiments, conformal coatings (such as uniform thickness of around 20-30 nanometer) of polymer Polymethylmethacralate (PMMA) electrolyte layers around individual Ni—Sn nanowires were used as anodes for Li ion battery. This configuration showed high discharge capacity and excellent capacity retention even at high rates over extended cycling, allowing for scalable increase in areal capacity with electrode thickness. Such conformal nanoscale anode-electrolyte architectures were shown to be efficient Li-ion battery system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for a fiber battery having a long life duration, and also being enabling a high output and high capacity to be attained. For this purpose, the nickel positive electrode for a fiber battery is obtained by coating a carbon fiber with nickel, then causing a cathodic polarization in a nickel nitrate bath using the nickel-coated carbon fiber as a cathode, and then immersing the precipitate, which was deposited on the surface of the carbon fiber by the cathodic polarization, in an aqueous caustic alkali solution.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium (Li) secondary battery, a method of forming the same, and a secondary battery, the negative electrode including a tin (Sn) based current collector layer; and a multilayer film on the Sn based current collector, the multilayer film having two or more layers, wherein the multilayer film includes at least one porous layer.

Abstract: A system and method for fabricating lithium-ion batteries using thin-film deposition processes that form three-dimensional structures is provided. In one embodiment, an anodic structure used to form an energy storage device is provided. The anodic structure comprises a conductive substrate, a plurality of conductive microstructures formed on the substrate, a passivation film formed over the conductive microstructures, and an insulative separator layer formed over the conductive microstructures, wherein the conductive microstructures comprise columnar projections.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and an apparatus for the electrochemical deposition of fine catalyst particles onto carbon fibre-containing substrates which have a compensating layer (“microlayer”). The method comprises the preparation of a precursor suspension containing ionomer, carbon black and metal ions. This suspension is applied to the substrate and then dried. The deposition of the catalyst particles onto the carbon fibre-containing substrate is effected by a pulsed electrochemical method in an aqueous electrolyte. The noble metal-containing catalyst particles produced by the method have particle sizes in the nanometer range. The catalyst-coated substrates are used for the production of electrodes, gas diffusion electrodes and membrane electrode units for electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells (membrane fuel cells, PEMFC, DMFC, etc.), electrolysers or electrochemical sensors.

Abstract: In a ceramic capacitor according to the present invention, the electrode strips of an internal electrode and the dielectric strips of a ceramic dielectric member are arranged perpendicularly to the surface of a substrate, and as such, the plurality of electrode strips and the plurality of dielectric strips are arranged alternately along a parallel direction relative to the substrate surface. That is, the electrode strips and the dielectric strips are multi-layered along a parallel direction relative to the substrate surface, thereby facilitating the realization of multi-layering in the ceramic capacitor by a known patterning technology.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode having immobilized ?-conjugated ligands is provided. The method includes bringing an aqueous solution into contact with an electrically conductive base material, the aqueous solution including ?-conjugated ligands and at least one of (i) a surfactant, and (ii) a water-soluble molecule having a structure different from that of the ?-conjugated ligands, the water-soluble molecule having a ?-conjugated structure, and immobilizing the ?-conjugated ligands on the base material.

Abstract: A method for making the anode (or the cathode) of a nickel-metal hydride battery by electrodepositing a metal in the interstitial spaces a bed of metal-hydride active material particles (or electrodepositing a metal in the interstitial spaces of a bed of nickel hydroxide particles). Alternatively, the anode (or cathode) can be made by pressing metal-hydride active material particles (or nickel hydroxide particles) into a cellular metal substrate formed by electrodepositing a metal in the interstitial spaces of a bed of particles. Or, the anode (or cathode) can be made by flowing a suspension of metal-hydride active material particles (or nickel hydroxide particles) through a cellular metal substrate formed by electrodepositing a metal in the interstitial spaces of a bed of particles.

Abstract: A battery sheath made of formed and cold-rolled sheet metal as well as a process for manufacturing the battery sheath are proposed. In the process, cold-rolled strip stock is provided on at least one side with a coating of Ni, Co, Fe, Sn, In, Pd, Bi or their alloys in an electroplating bath, e.g., a Watts-type bath. As an additional component, the electroplating bath contains electrically conductive particles such as carbon, carbon black, graphite, TiS2, TaS2, MoSi2. These particles are deposited on the base material during electroplating together with Ni, Co, Fe, Sn, In, Pd, Bi or their alloys. The sheet metal side with, for example, the carbon-containing electroplated coating faces preferably inwardly when the sheet is formed into a battery sheath. Batteries with battery sheaths produced in this manner exhibit reduced increase in internal resistance, even with prolonged storage, as compared to known batteries.

Abstract: A porous nickel foil for a negative electrode of an alkaline battery formed by an electrolytic deposition method, wherein the porous nickel foil is flexible and has a thickness of 10-35 &mgr;m and a Vickers hardness of 70-130. An electrodeposition drum for producing porous metal foil by an electrolytic deposition method including a drum having a surface onto which metal foil is deposited, a plurality of holes formed in the surface and an insulating resin filled in the holes, wherein the ratio of depth L and diameter D (L/D) of the hole is at least 1 and no clearance, into which deposited metal otherwise cuts in a wedge shape, exists at the boundary between the insulating resin filled in the hole and an opening edge of the hole.

Abstract: The following steps are conducted: preparing a metal salt carried-substrate A by soaking a sintered nickel substrate in an acidic solution containing cobalt ions and at least one metal ions of magnesium ions, iron ions and manganese ions, and drying thus soaked substrate; preparing a hydroxide carried-substrate B by soaking the substrate A in an alkaline solution to deposit cobalt hydroxide and at least one metal hydroxide of magnesium hydroxide, iron hydroxide and manganese hydroxide in the pores and on the surface of the substrate A; obtaining an oxide carried-substrate C by oxidizing the cobalt hydroxide to produce cobalt oxide having a mean cobalt valence of over 2; and obtaining an active material carried-substrate D by soaking the substrate C in a solution containing nickel nitrate dissolved therein, drying thus soaked substrate C, and then soaking thus dried substrate C in an alkaline solution, to fill the active material in the substrate C.

Abstract: A rechargeable, thin film lithium battery cell (10) is provided having an aluminum cathode current collector (11) having a transition metal sandwiched between two crystallized cathodes (12). Each cathode has an electrolyte (13) deposited thereon which is overlaid with a lithium anode (14). An anode current collector (16) contacts the anode and substantially encases the cathode collector, cathode, electrolyte and anode. An insulator (18) occupies the spaces between the components and the anode current collector.

Abstract: A metallic porous body comprises a metallic framework having a three-dimensional network with a continuous-pore structure formed by linking sub-stantially polyhedral cells. The substantially polyhedral cells have an average cell diameter of about 200 to about 300 &mgr;m and an average window diameter of about 100 to about 200 &mgr;m. The metallic porous body can be obtained by the following method, for instance: First, a plastic porous body is provided that has an average cell diameter of about 200 to about 300 &mgr;m and an average window diameter of about 100 to about 200 &mgr;m. Second, a conductive layer is formed on a surface of the framework of the plastic porous body to produce a conductive porous body having a resistivity of about 1 k&OHgr;·cm or less. Finally, a continuous metal-plated layer is formed on a surface of the conductive layer by electroplating, with the conductive porous body serving as the cathode.

Abstract: A formation procedure for a NiMH electrochemical cell is disclosed that significantly shortens the time required to fully form such a cell. The formation procedure includes a first step during which the cell is charged at a constant voltage of preferably 1.0 volt for approximately three hours. A second charging step is performed by applying either a constant charge current at a predetermined rate of C/3 for five hours or applying a constant voltage of 1.45 to 1.5 volts for five to nine hours. A third step may optionally be used whereby the cell is charged at a constant current of C/10 for about two hours. NiMH cells subjected to this formation procedure have a much greater percentage of the starting cobalt material in the positive electrode converted to CoOOH thereby improving the conductive matrix formed about the Ni(OH)2/NiOOH particles, which constitute the active material of the positive electrode.

Abstract: A high capacity long cycle life positive electrode which includes an electronically conductive substrate for conducting electricity through the electrode and an electrochemically active nickel hydroxide material in electrical contact with the electronically conductive substrate, the electrochemically active nickel hydroxide material is composed of at least two different solid solution nickel hydroxide materials each having differing compositions. The positioning of the at least two different solid solution nickel hydroxide materials and their relative compositions alter the local redox potential or porosity to force discharge of the electrode in a stepwise fashion from the nickel hydroxide material remote from said conductive network or substrate, through any intermediate nickel hydroxide materials, to the nickel hydroxide material adjacent the conductive network or substrate.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery configured with an improved nickel positive electrode plate having a high capacity density and a high utilization of the active material is disclosed. The nickel positive electrode plate comprises a porous metal plaque, a first layer of nickel hydroxide loaded in close proximity to inner surfaces of pores of the porous metal plaque, and a second layer of nickel hydroxide loaded over the first layer. The nickel hydroxide in the second layer has a larger particle diameter than that in the first layer, and the amount of the nickel hydroxide in the second layer occupies a majority of the total amount of the active material filled in the positive electrode.

Abstract: A method of making a cathode for a high temperature rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises impregnating a mixture, in granular form, of an alkali metal halide and a substance comprising a transition metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, manganese, and mixtures thereof, with an alkali metal aluminium halide molten salt electrolyte. The impregnated mixture is subjected to at least one charge cycle in a high temperature electrochemical cell in which the impregnated mixture forms the cathode and is located in a cathode compartment of the cell. The cathode compartment is separated from an anode compartment by a solid electrolyte separator. Alkali metal forms in the anode compartment during the charge cycle.

Abstract: A high temperature rechargeable electrochemical power storage cell has an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated from each other by a separator. The cathode compartment contains a current collector; an alkali metal aluminium halide molten salt electrolyte having the formula MAlHal.sub.4 ; an alkali metal halide; and a cathode. The cathode comprises an electrolyte-permeable porous matrix, a first active cathode substance in the matrix in a first zone adjacent the current collector and spaced from the separator, and a second active cathode substance in the matrix in a further zone adjacent the first zone. The first active cathode substance is such that it gives rise to a higher cell potential than does the second active cathode substance. The cell is chargeable at a temperature at which the electrolyte and the alkali metal are molten to cause the active cathode substances to be halogenated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of pure nickel hydroxide by anodic oxidation of metallic nickel in aqueous electrolyte solution in the presence of sulfate ions and removal of the nickel hydroxide formed and to the use of the nickel hydroxide thus produced.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sealed-type nickel-hydrogen cell. The invention reduces the number of cycles of the charge-discharge operation required during the formation process used to manufacture a sealed-type nickel-hydrogen cell having a large high-rate discharge capacity. A sealed-type nickel-hydrogen cell is subjected to at least one cycle of a charge-discharge operation and thereafter maintained at a temperature in the range of about 30.degree. C. to 60.degree. C. for a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: A method for producing a metallic oxide-hydrogen secondary battery is provided. The method comprises the steps of disposing generating elements consisting of positive electrodes containing metallic oxides, negative electrodes containing hydrogen-absorbing alloys, and separators in a plurality of cell chambers equipped with safety valves, each cell chamber having different capacity; pouring an electrolyte into each cell chamber; and repeating charge and discharge cycles on condition that safety valves work at pressure G in the range of 1<G.ltoreq.6 atm so that the amount of the electrolyte in each cell chamber is kept constant.

Abstract: A method for making a battery electrode includes roughening the surface of a substrate (10) that constitutes a precursor to the electrode, using an electrolytic solution (12) with electrical potential perturbations applied thereto. The substrate (10) of porous sintered nickel powder is first formed. The electrolytic solution (12) prefereably contains the pure metal that forms the electrode. Then all gases in and around the substrate (10) are preferably removed. Next, the substrate (10) is placed in the solution (12) for a predetermined amount of time. Potential perturbations are then applied to the substrate (10) and the solution (12). The potential peturbations vary between the voltages necessary for electrodissolution and electrodepositon of the substrate (10), and thus, cause the surface of the substrate (10) to be roughened as portions of the substrate (10) are dissolved into the solution (12) and then redeposited onto the substrate's (10) surface.

Abstract: A polymer-gel-coated conductor has a conductor member and a cross-linked polymer in a gel state. The polymer in gel state contains an electrolyte and coats the conductor member. An oxidative product or a reduction product of an organic matter or an inorganic matter has been precipitated on the surface of the conductor member or in the region of the polymer in gel state near the surface of the conductor member. Also disclosed are a method of producing the polymer-gel coated conductor and an electric cell in which at least one of a pair of electrodes is made of the polymer-gel-coated conductor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure of a positive electrode possessing improved electrical capacity and intended for electrochemical generators working with a liquid electrolyte. It comprises, on the one hand, a metallic collector of high porosity, in particular of the non-woven fibrous type or of the isotropic, cross-linked type of open porosity and, on the other hand, a nickel hydroxide-based active material filling in part the pores of the collector and containing cobalt. This structure is characterized by a heterogeneous dispersion of the cobalt within the active material.