Abstract: A battery comprising an electricity-generating element comprising a strip-form positive electrode, a strip-form negative electrode, and a strip-form separator, said positive electrode and said negative electrode being spirally wound through said separator and said positive electrode and said negative electrode respectively having current collecting lugs protruding from a side thereof, wherein the pitches of the current collecting lugs become longer toward the outer periphery side, and the at least one current collecting lug that located on the outer side has a larger width than that located on the inner side. In this battery, the electricity-generating element has at least one current collecting lug which has a larger width than the adjacent current collecting lug located on the inner side thereof.

Abstract: A contact plate for electrochemical cells, formed of a graphite-thermoplastic composite with a graphite percentage of at least 80% by mass, containing functional elements necessary for the transport of reaction media and creating electrical contact with electrodes, has a fluid mechanical construction such that it can be produced in an injection molding process without secondary working. The production of edge areas of non-conductive material surrounding the contact plate, and seals, can be integrated into the injection molding process through the use of multi-component technology so that the entire plate including the edge area and seals can be produced in one injection mold.

Abstract: Provided are low-cost, mechanically strong, highly electronically conductive current collects and associated structures for solid-state electrochemical devices, techniques for forming these structures, and devices incorporating the structures. The invention provides solid state electrochemical devices having as current interconnects a ferritic steel felt or screen coated with a protective oxide film.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a lead-acid battery having a heat-treated metal grid with an interconnected grain structure, wherein the grid is heat-treated after being at least partially coated with a paste containing lead. Also disclosed is a method of making a positive electrode for a lead-acid battery including applying a lead containing paste to a metal grid to produce a pasted grid, heating the pasted grid at a temperature and relative humidity sufficient to produce a cured grid, heat treating the cured grid at a temperature of at least about 125° C., for a period of time sufficient to produce an interconnected grain structure within the grid to produce a heat treated grid, and forming the electrode by assembling the heat treated grid into an electrochemical cell including a negative electrode and a sulfuric acid electrolyte, wherein an electric current is passed through the cell to convert at least a portion of the cured paste into lead dioxide.

Abstract: The battery electrode plate includes a core member (1) which is densely coated with a mixture paste chiefly including an active material (2). The core member (1) is made of a metal sheet (3), which is formed with rows (8) of first and second bowed portions (4, 7) arranged along one direction (X) of the metal sheet so as to protrude alternately on the front and back sides of the metal sheet, the rows (8) of bowed portions arranged along the direction (Y) orthogonal to the direction (X) with flat parts (9) of a predetermined width interposed between each two rows. The battery electrode plate is produced by any of a reciprocating type continuous press method, a rotary type molding method, and an electrolytic deposition method.

Abstract: A lithium (Li) polymer battery is provided. The Li polymer battery includes: a positive plate including a positive collector having a plurality of openings and a positive active material layer formed on at least one surface of the positive collector; a negative plate including a negative collector in a foil form, and a negative active material layer formed on at least on surface of the negative collector; and a separator between the positive and negative plates, for insulating the positive and negative plates.

Abstract: A storage battery including an electrode and an electrolyte material, in which the electrode has a grid with a mesh area of about 50 mm2 or less and an active material provided on the grid. Accordingly, it is made possible to prevent a decrease in the negative electrode's conductivity due to a contraction of the negative electrode active material that takes place extensively when a cycle of charge and discharge is repeated particularly at high temperatures with a resulting remarkable improvement in cycle life characteristics of a lead-acid storage battery.

Abstract: A Li-ion and/or Li-ion polymer battery, comprised of a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell comprised of at least one cathode section, an anode section and at least one separator layer disposed between the anode section and the at least one cathode section. A first, planar metal mesh layer is disposed within the anode section, the first metal mesh layer having a coplanar tab extending beyond the separator layer to define a negative lead. A second, planar metal mesh layer is disposed within the cathode section, the second metal mesh layer having a coplanar tab extending beyond the separator layer to form a positive lead. A plurality of reinforcing bands are wrapped around the peripheral edges of the battery cells securing the battery cells together.

Abstract: A titanium substrate having a thickened outer oxidation layer provided thereon by a treatment process performed either in an air atmosphere at elevated temperatures or through electrolytic oxidation (anodization), is described. The thusly conditioned titanium substrate serving as a cathode current collector for an electrode incorporated into an electrochemical cell exhibits improved electrical performance in comparison to the prior art techniques, i.e., electrically conducted carbon coated titanium screen and use of highly corrosion resistant materials, upon subsequent elevated temperature exposure.

Abstract: A lead-acid storage battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte material. The foregoing negative electrode has a first grid with a first grid geometry and a first active material provided on the above first grid. The foregoing positive electrode has a second grid with a second grid geometry and a second active material provided on the above second grid. A first mesh area of the foregoing first grid is smaller than a second mesh area of the foregoing second grid, thereby achieving an excellent high rate discharge cycle life.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a current collector for an electrochemical cell. The current collector is a substrate having a grid pattern comprising open areas converging at an imaginary focal point on a connector tab of the substrate. The openings are grouped into distinct regions with the larger openings immediately adjacent to the connector tab and the smaller openings distant there from. This provides more conductive pathways at greater distances from the tab.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a punched electrode and a rechargeable lithium battery using the same, and more particularly to a punched electrode and a rechargeable lithium battery using the same that can improve cycle life, capacity, and safety characteristics of the battery. The present invention can improve cycle life, capacity, and rate characteristics etc. of the battery by making the impregnation rate of an electrolyte higher and by uniformly controlling the impregnation degree, and it can improve safety properties of the battery by preventing lithium deposition such that a uniform electrode reaction occurs, through punching out a hole in an anode, an anode/cathode, or an anode/cathode/separator of an electrode group that comprises the inner part of the lithium secondary battery.

Abstract: A solid cathode liquid organic electrolyte alkali metal high rate cell wherein a combination of an elongated alkali metal anode and elongated solid cathode with separator therebetween is wound to form an anode-cathode subassembly having a jellyroll type configuration and wherein the combination is shaped so that the resulting sub-assembly has a substantially rectangular cross-section. The anode-cathode sub-assembly is placed in a conductive cell casing of prismatic shape having opposed flat faces, a lead of either the anode or cathode is attached to the cell casing depending upon whether case positive or case negative electrical configuration is desired and a lead of the other of the anode or cathode is connected to an electrical connector means extending through the casing in an insulated manner. The anode and cathode and separator are in face-to-face contact throughout the entire cross-section of the subassembly.

Abstract: The present comprises an electrode having the configuration: first active material/current collector screen/second active material. When one of the active materials is in a powder form, it is possible for that material to move through openings in the current collector screen to “contaminate” the interface between the other active material and the current collector. The present invention consists of having the other electrode active materials in a form incapable of moving through the current collector to the other side thereof. Then, the assembly is pressed from the direction of the other electrode active material. This seals off the current collector as the pressing force moves the current collector against the powdered electrode active material.

Abstract: A secondary cell having a long cycle lifetime and a superior charge and discharge performance is provided with an electrode having a collector having a metal matrix 301 having micropores 302 with an average diameter not larger than 3 microns. The micropores 302 is formed by utilizing reduction reaction of a metal.

Abstract: The invention provides a grid for a battery plate in which, when a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape, rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it.

Abstract: Fluid permeable graphite article in the form of a perforated flexible graphite sheet having increased electrical and thermal conductivity transverse to the surfaces of the sheet.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a nonaqueous electrolyte battery that satisfies both of a large discharge capacity and a superior cycle life characteristic by developing a novel negative electrode material. A nonaqueous electrolyte battery uses a negative electrode active material that is a compound expressed by Formula (1): AzMXy  (1) where A is at least one element selected from the alkali metals, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, and Mg, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, N, Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As, In, Sn, Sb, Pb, and Bi, 0≦z≦20, and 0.2≦y≦6.

Abstract: An encapsulated electrode assembly which retains a highly reactive material to enhance reaction efficiency within a liquid electrolyte battery cell. The electrode assembly comprises a structural member of a first active material formed into a chamber within which is retained a highly reactive non-structural second active material that preferably comprises a particulated form of reactive material which provides increased electrochemical reaction per unit area in relation to the first reactive material. By way of example, when the invention is practiced within a lead-acid battery, the electrode pouch preferably comprises a reactive structural lead alloy, and the highly reactive material comprises lead containing compounds that support charge generation within the battery. The encapsulated electrode may additionally incorporate grids within, and in contact with, the chamber to further reduce current density within the electrode.

Abstract: A current collector of positive electrode enabling a NaS battery to be excellent in the charge recovery characteristic and low in internal resistance is provided, which collector has a high resistance layer formed by needle-punching glass fibers with 5 to 15 &mgr;m fiber diameters into a felt substrate made of carbon fibers or graphite fibers by needle-punching from the one surface of the substrate. The density of the glass fibers needle-punched into the substrate is gradually decreased in the direction from the above mentioned surface to the other surface of the substrate, and the deepest portions of the needle-punched glass fibers reach the depths of 85 to 100% of the substrate thickness.

Abstract: A galvanic element including at least one positive electrode in strip form, at least one negative electrode in strip form, at least one separator in strip form interposed between the positive and negative electrodes such that the separator and the electrodes are spirally rolled, and at least one disk-shaped current collector connected mechanically and electrically conductively to an edge portion of at least one of the electrodes, the current collector having more than one contact tab.

Abstract: An economical manufacturing method and structure of electrodes for lithium based electrochemical devices, such as batteries and capacitors, which method results in the electrodes having various metal foil or grid current collectors embedded in the middle of their thickness by continuous dipping of said collectors in an electrode slurry, which is then solidified. The electrodes have superior performance and low resistance, due to short electron's travel to the collector, excellent adhesion of the electrode material to the grid, and uniform thickness at unlimited width. The method also includes additional steps and treatments to produce high quality electrodes.

Abstract: An electrode plate for an alkaline storage battery of the present invention includes a conductive core material as a current collector, in which a plurality of through-holes are linearly provided in the core material so as to be parallel to a longitudinal direction of the core material, each through-hole having an aperture area of 10 mm2 or less and at least two pairs of opposite sides parallel to each other.

Abstract: Described is a method for manufacturing a bipolar plate for, for instance, a bipolar battery. According to the present invention, a negative plate is manufactured by applying a suitable paste in a metal grid, and a positive plate is manufactured by applying a suitable paste in a metal grid. The pasted plates are formed, and arranged on opposite sides of a suitable platelike substrate. The substrate is thermally pressed, then a surface activating treatment is carried out, and thereafter the substrate is lead-plated. That surface activating treatment can be carried out with a corona or, preferably, a plasma. To ensure a good electrical contact, the substrate can be roughened, and the plates can be pressed against the substrate by utilizing a compressed glass fiber mat.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery having an anode comprising a powdery composite material, said powdery composite material comprising a plurality of powdery composites having a structure comprising a core whose surface is covered by a coat layer, said core comprising an alloy particle of an alloy capable of reversibly storing and releasing hydrogen as a main component, said alloy containing at least one kind of a metal element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti and V as a main constituent element, and said coat layer comprising a hydrous oxide (including a hydroxide) of a metal element having an affinity with oxygen which is greater than that of any of said metal elements as the main constituent element of said alloy.

Abstract: A first lithium secondary battery of the present invention is formed by placing at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte in a battery case in which a positive electrode connecting member to which the positive electrode is connected and a negative electrode connecting member to which the negative electrode is connected are electrically separated, wherein said positive electrode connecting member is composed of clad material comprising one of aluminum or aluminum alloy and one of austenitic stainless steel or ferrite stainless steel, and the aluminum or aluminum alloy in the clad material is in the positive electrode side.

Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.

Abstract: A fuel cell corrugated current collector having successive spaced rows of corrugations, with the corrugations in a given row establishing successive peak and valley regions along the given row and the spaced rows of corrugations being adapted so that corresponding peak regions from row-to-row establish through passages for receiving and supporting solid catalyst elements. The spaced rows of corrugations are such that there is a given pitch between successive peak regions. The corrugations in the rows are also such that corresponding peak regions from row-to-row have a finite off-set which is less than 50 percent of the pitch. This establishes a plurality of through passages in the current collector each extending from row-to-row for receiving and supporting the solid catalyst elements. Also, the off-set is based on the catalyst dimensions and is set such that the corrugations engage the catalyst elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode for a rechargeable cell including a two-dimensional electrically conductive substrate supporting a coating comprising nickel hydroxide and a binder, preferably a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene triblock copolymer binder. The coating is formed by applying a paste to the two-dimensional substrate surface. The present invention also includes the cell made therefrom. The present invention further provides a method of producing this electrode including the steps of forming the paste and coating the paste onto the two-dimensional substrate. The capacity, midpoint voltage and power delivery of the coated electrode are comparable to or exceed those of traditional sintered and foam positive electrodes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a composite plate for Pb/PbO2 batteries with bipolar electrodes, characterized by unidirectional electronic conduction provided by metal wires made at least at the surface of lead or lead alloy, arranged in a regular array and coated with a polymer, stable in an acid medium and capable of generating a strong bonding with the lead or lead alloy constituting the wire surface—the wire volume representing only at most 4% of the plate total volume at most. Hence the mass per unit area thereof remains of the order of 15 g/km2.

Abstract: A reduced weight lead-acid battery is produced incorporating light-weight negative battery plates each comprising an electrically-conductive open mesh grid formed from a strip of expanded, punched or cast metal, a pair of outer lower density support layers such as polymer or polymer-coated glass fibre or low density metal on each side of the central open grid, preferably arranged in a rectangular lattice, attached to each other through openings in the grid preferably by an acid-resistant adhesive, and an electrochemically-active paste saturating the void spaces thereof. An acid-resistant thermoplastic resin adhesive or ties or lugs may be used to attach the support layers together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a current collector for an electrochemical cell. The current collector has a unique grid structure comprised of a frame supporting a plurality of radial strands as conductors radiating outwardly from a focal point on a connector tab. The frame and radial conductors are maintained in a fan-like orientation with respect to each other by two groups of concentric conductor strands, one located adjacent to the tab, the other spaced a substantial distance therefrom. The radiating conductors provide a more direct path to the connector tab for electron flow. This results in the current collector having reduced internal resistance in comparison to conventional current collector designs.

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic electrolytic cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a solution of lithium salt in an aprotic organic solvent as an electrolytic solution. A current collector of positive electrode and a current collector of negative are respectively provided with pores piercing from the front surface to the back surface, an active material of negative electrode is capable of reversibly carrying lithium, and lithium originating in the negative electrode is carried by electrochemical contact with lithium arranged to face the negative or positive electrode. An opposed area of said lithium is not more than 40% of an area of the negative electrode.

Abstract: The basket weave structures has a lattice construction surrounded by a frame and comprising first strand structures intersecting second strand structures to provide a plurality of diamond-shaped openings or interstices bordered by the strands. The strand structures intersect or join with each other at junctions thereby forming the current collector as an integral unit.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrochemical cell having at least one of its electrodes produced by coating a slurry mixture of an active material, possibly a conductive additive, and a binder dispersed in a solvent and contacted to a perforated current collector foil. It is particularly important that the active slurry does not move through the perforations of the current collector. For this reason, a barrier is placed against the opposite side of the current collector to block the perforations as the current collector is being coated with the slurry. After volatilizing the solvent, a second, different active material is coated to the opposite side of the current collector, either as a slurry, a pressed powder, a pellet or a free standing sheet. An example of this is a cathode having a configuration of: SVO/current collector CFx. The opposed active materials on the current collector can also be of the same chemistry.

Abstract: A lithium polymer battery having a positive electrode including a positive electrode current collector and positive electrode sheets on at least one surface of the positive electrode current collector, the positive electrode sheets having a positive electrode active material layer as a main component, a negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector and negative electrode sheets on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector, the negative electrode sheets having a negative electrode active material layer as a main component, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, for insulating the electrodes from each other. The positive electrode and the negative electrode of the lithium polymer battery each include a plate and are wound with the separator interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A collector for a secondary battery includes a metal foil having throughholes shaped or arranged to achieve an increased hole area ratio to improve an active material's adhesion thereto. A throughhole in the metal foil has a largest dimension of at least 1.55 mm, and the foil has a hole area ratio of at least 40%, and a thickness of at least 5 &mgr;m and at most 200 &mgr;m. The throughhole has a peripheral shape including two substantially straight sides that extend along lines intersecting with each other on their respective extensions to form an acute angle at a corner of the throughhole. To form the metal foil, a resist film with a predetermined pattern is arranged on a solid foil, and is used as a mask to etch the foil to provide the plurality of throughholes penetrating the foil.

Abstract: A metal sheet (1) which constitutes a non-sintered type electrode support is processed to have minute irregularities on its surface. The irregularities are formed by a mechanical method such that protrusions (9) and indentations (8) are configured with a center-to-center pitch (P) in the range of from 50 to 300 &mgr;m and such that the apparent thickness after processing is at least three times as large as the unprocessed material thickness.

Abstract: Metal powders are spread on a feeding belt or a supporting sheet which is continuously fed; the feeding belt or the supporting sheet on which the metal powders have been spread is passed through a sintering oven; and the metal powders are sintered, with adjacent uncompressed metal powders in contact with each other partly and gaps present therebetween. Consequently, contact portions of the metal powders are integrated with each other and the gaps are formed as fine pores.

Abstract: A method for assembling battery element group includes the steps of folding the plates, arranging the positive and negative plates alternately, inserting a plate with one of the polarities into a laminated area of the plate with the other polarity, and providing a separator between the positive and negative plates. This invention improves the producing efficiency, decreases the waste products, and the plates can be integrated and connected with the bar reliably, thus decreases the resistance and increases the high current discharge performance.

Abstract: A common carrier that supports two or more current collectors in a horizontal planar array with geometric features providing datums for positioning tooling and other processes related to the fabrication of battery electrodes.

Abstract: A method of forming battery grids or plates that includes the step of applying a lead alloy coating to a continuous strip of interconnected battery grids formed from a lead alloy grid material is disclosed. The battery grids may be formed by a continuous battery grid making process such as strip expansion, strip punching, or continuous grid casting. In one version of the method, the grid wires of a continuous strip of battery grids produced by a punching process are immersed in a melt of the lead alloy coating. In another version of the method, the grid wires of a continuous strip of battery grids produced by a punching process are deformed such that the grid wires have a cross-section other than the rectangular cross-section produced by the punching process and the strip of interconnected grids is immersed in a melt of the lead alloy coating. The method increases the cycle life of a battery.

Abstract: The present comprises an electrode having the configuration: first active material/current collector/second active material. One of the electrode active materials in a cohesive form is incapable of moving through the current collector to the other side thereof. However, in an un-cohesive form, the one electrode active material is capable of communication through the current collector. The other or second active material is in a form in-capable of communication through the current collector, whether it is in a cohesive or un-cohesive powder form. Then, the assembly of first active material/current collector/second active material is pressed from either the direction of the first electrode active material to the second electrode active material, or visa versa.

Abstract: This invention provides a polymer rechargeable battery, which is obtained by integrally holding a separator, which comprises a polymer and a plasticizer, between positive and negative electrodes and then replacing the plasticizer with an electrolyte solution. The positive and negative electrodes are provided with current collectors obtained by etching metal-foil base materials, respectively. This invention also provides such current collectors. The polymer rechargeable battery according to this invention is excellent in impedance characteristic, load characteristic and the like.

Abstract: A collector, an electrode and a secondary battery adopting the same. The secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly having electrodes obtained by attaching an active material sheet to at least one side of a flat collector with a plurality of through holes formed in a predetermined pattern, and a separator interposed between the electrodes; a case for sealing the electrode assembly; and tabs connected to terminals of the electrode assembly and extended outwards the case, wherein the through holes have a regular polygonal shape and the rib widths among the through holes are equal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a lithium battery comprising a stack of a negative electrode, a separator, and a positive electrode. In said method a pattern of holes is produced in the negative electrode as well as in the positive electrode. Subsequently a polymeric material is applied on the stack, so that the polymeric material penetrates the holes by which the negative electrode, the positive electrode and the separator are sticked and pressed together. By subjecting the polymeric material to a treatment with high-energy radiation the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer are improved.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a third electrode for use in a metal-air tricell comprising a support structure coated with a layer of a lanthanum nickel compound and at least one metal mixture, wherein the mixture is adhered to the support structure without the use of an adhesive. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a metal-air tricell comprising: an air electrode; a metal electrode; and a third electrode, wherein the third electrode comprises a support structure coated with a mixture of a lanthanum nickel compound and at least one metal, wherein the mixture is adhered to the support structure without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: An electrode component for an electrochemical cell or a capacitor is described wherein the electrode is produced by physical vapor depositing an electrode active material onto a substrate to coat the substrate. The thusly produced electrode is useful as a cathode in a primary electrochemical cell and as a cathode and an anode in a secondary cell, and as an electrode in an electrochemical capacitor and an electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: A nickel-series rechargeable battery whose cathode active material comprising a material containing an amorphous phase-bearing nickel hydroxide particulate which in X-ray diffraction using K&agr;-rays of Cu as a radiation source, has a diffraction peak of a (001) face appeared near a diffraction angle 2&thgr;=19° having a half-value width of more than 1.2° and has a diffraction peak of a (101) face appeared near a diffraction angle 2&thgr;=38° having a half-value width of more than 1.5°. A process for the production of said rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A method of forming battery grids or plates that includes the step of mechanically reshaping or refinishing battery grid wires to improve adhesion between the battery paste and the grid wires. The method is particularly useful in improving the paste adhesion to battery grids formed by a continuous battery grid making process (such as strip expansion, strip stamping, continuous casting) that produces grid wires and nodes with smooth surfaces and a rectangular cross-section. In a preferred version of the method, the grid wires of battery grids produced by a stamping process are deformed such that the grid wires have a cross-section other than the rectangular cross-section produced by the stamping process. The method increases the cycle life of a battery.