Abstract: A solid molecular composite polymer-based electrolyte is made for batteries, wherein silicate compositing produces a electrolytic polymer with a semi-rigid silicate condensate framework, and then mechanical-stabilization by radiation of the outer surface of the composited material is done to form a durable and non-tacky texture on the electrolyte. The preferred ultraviolet radiation produces this desirable outer surface by creating a thin, shallow skin of crosslinked polymer on the composite material. Preferably, a short-duration of low-medium range ultraviolet radiation is used to crosslink the polymers only a short distance into the polymer, so that the properties of the bulk of the polymer and the bulk of the molecular composite material remain unchanged, but the tough and stable skin formed on the outer surface lends durability and processability to the entire composite material product.

Abstract: All-solid-state electrochemical cells and batteries employing very thin film, highly conductive polymeric electrolyte and very thin electrode structures are disclosed, along with economical and high-speed methods of manufacturing. A preferred embodiment is a rechargeable lithium polymer electrolyte battery. New polymeric electrolytes employed in the devices are strong yet flexible, dry and non-tacky. The new, thinner electrode structures have strength and flexibility characteristics very much like thin film capacitor dielectric material that can be tightly wound in the making of a capacitor. A wide range of polymers, or polymer blends, characterized by high ionic conductivity at room temperature, and below, are used as the polymer base material for making the solid polymer electrolytes. The preferred polymeric electrolyte is a cationic conductor. In addition to the polymer base material, the polymer electrolyte compositions exhibit a conductivity greater than 1×10−4 S/cm at 25° C.

Abstract: A wide range of solid polymer electrolytes characterized by high ionic conductivity at room temperature, and below, are disclosed. These all-solid-state polymer electrolytes are suitable for use in electrochemical cells and batteries. A preferred polymer electrolyte is a cationic conductor which is flexible, dry, non-tacky, and lends itself to economical manufacture in very thin film form. Solid polymer electrolyte compositions which exhibit a conductivity of at least approximately 10−3-10−4 S/cm at 25° C. comprise a base polymer or polymer blend containing an electrically conductive polymer, a metal salt, a finely divided inorganic filler material, and a finely divided ion conductor.

Abstract: There are provided glass-ceramics having a high lithium ion conductivity which include in mol %: 1 P2O5 38-40% TiO2 25-45% M2O3 (where M is Al or Ga)  5-15% Li2O 10-20%

Abstract: A ceramic composite containing alkali-metal-beta- or beta″-alumina and an oxygen-ion conductor is fabricated by converting alpha-alumina to alkali-metal-beta- or beta″-alumina. A ceramic composite with continuous phases of alpha-alumina and the oxygen-ion conducting ceramic, such as zirconia, is exposed to a vapor containing an alkali-metal oxide, such as an oxide of sodium or potassium. Alkali metal ions diffuse through alkali-metal-beta- or beta″-alumina converted from &agr;-alumina and oxygen ions diffuse through the oxygen-ion conducting ceramic to a reaction front where alpha-alumina is converted to alkali-metal-beta- or beta″-alumina. A stabilizer for alkali-metal-beta″-alumina is preferably introduced into the &agr;-alumina/oxygen-ion conductor composite or introduced into the vapor used to convert the alpha-alumina to an alkali-metal-beta″-alumina.

Abstract: A new PEM and fuel cell using that PEM are disclosed. The proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) comprises a polymer matrix and an ionically conductive ceramic material adapted to create a superconductive interface, the ceramic material being uniformly dispersed throughout the matrix. The polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of proton exchange polymers, non-proton exchange polymers, and combinations thereof. The material is selected from the group consisting of beta alumina oxides, SnO2(nH2O) , fumed silica, SiO2, fumed Al2O3, H4SiW12O2(28H2O), tin mordenite/SnO2 composite, zirconium phosphate-phosphate/silica composite.

Abstract: An active voltage limiting and failure detection system for an energy storage cell of a multiple energy storage cell pack includes a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit connected to the energy storage cell. The first electrical circuit is powered by the energy storage cell and includes means for drawing a significant amount of power from the energy storage cell when a cell voltage Vcell reaches a maximum voltage Vmax to reduce the cell voltage Vcell, means for stopping the drawing of the significant amount of power to reduce the cell voltage Vcell when the cell voltage Vcell reaches a minimum voltage Vmin, and means for drawing no power when the cell voltage Vcell reaches a shutdown voltage Vshutdown. The second electrical circuit includes means for indicating a cell active condition when the cell voltage Vcell is above a threshhold active voltage Vactive, and means for indicating a cell inactive condition when the cell voltage Vcell drops below the threshhold active voltage Vactive.

Abstract: This invention is in solid polymer-based electrolytes for battery applications. It uses molecular composite technology, coupled with unique preparation techniques to render a self-doped, stabilized electrolyte material suitable for inclusion in both primary and secondary batteries. In particular, a salt is incorporated in a nano-composite material formed by the in situ catalyzed condensation of a ceramic precursor in the presence of a solvated polymer material, utilizing a condensation agent comprised of at least one cation amenable to SPE applications. As such, the counterion in the condensation agent used in the formation of the molecular composite is already present as the electrolyte matrix develops.

Abstract: A ceramic composite containing alkali-metal-&bgr;- or &bgr;″-alumina and an oxygen-ion conductor is fabricated by converting &agr;-alumina to alkali-metal-&bgr;- or &bgr;″-alumina. A ceramic composite with continuous phases of &agr;-alumina and the oxygen-ion conducting ceramic, such as zirconia, is exposed to a vapor containing an alkali-metal oxide, such as an oxide of sodium or potassium. Alkali metal ions diffuse through alkali-metal-&bgr;- or &bgr;″-alumina converted from &agr;-alumina and oxygen ions diffuse through the oxygen-ion conducting ceramic to a reaction front where &agr;-alumina is converted to alkali-metal-&bgr;- or &bgr;″-alumina. A stabilizer for alkali-metal-&bgr;″-alumina is preferably introduced into the &agr;-alumina/oxygen-ion conductor composite or introduced into the vapor used to convert the &agr;-alumina to an alkali-metal-&bgr;″-alumina.

Abstract: Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.

Abstract: Lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics comprise in mol %: P2O5 30-45% SiO2 0-15% GeO2 + TiO2 25-50% in which GeO2 0-50% TiO2 0-50% ZrO2 0-8% M2O3 0<-10% where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu Al2O3 0-12% Ga2O3 0-12% Li2O 10-25% and contain Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1−YTiY)2−X(PO4)3 (where 0<X≦0.8 and 0≦Y≦1.0) as a predominant crystal phase. A solid electrolyte, an electric cell and a gas sensor utilizing these glass-ceramics are also provided.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery cell (10) having high operating voltage and significantly increased specific capacity comprises a positive electrode member (13), a negative electrode member (17), and an interposed separator member (15) containing an electrolyte comprising a solution of a polyvalent aluminum cation solute in a non-aqueous solvent. The positive electrode member comprises an active material which reversibly takes up and releases the reactive polyvalent cation species during operation of the cell while the active material of the negative electrode contemporaneously reversibly releases into and takes up from the electrolyte solvent a monovalent cation species. Preferred cation species are those of aluminum, such as Al3+, and alkali metals, such as Li+.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a beta-alumina solid electrolyte without calcination of starting materials, according to which the step of synthesizing a magnesium-aluminum spinel starting material is not needed and a beta-alumina solid electrolyte of low resistance can be produced at lower cost. According to this method, the beta-alumina solid electrolyte is produced without carrying out calcination of the starting materials by granulating a slurry obtained by milling and mixing starting materials of an aluminum source, a magnesium source and a sodium source in water, molding the granulated product and then firing the molded product. In this method, magnesium hydroxide is used as the magnesium source and an active spinel high in reactivity is synthesized in the course of firing, and citric acid is added to the slurry as a dispersing agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non-aqueous electrochemical apparatus in which the difference (&ggr;l-&ggr;se) between the surface tension &ggr;l of non-aqueous electrolyte and the surface free energy &ggr;se of electrode is not more than 10 dynes/cm.

Abstract: An oxide ion conductor is manufactured having a relatively high mechanical strength while the ionic conduction thereof is maintained at a satisfactory level. The oxide ion conductor is represented by the formula Ln11-xAxGa1-y-z-wB1yB2zB3wO3-d. In the oxide ion conductor, Ln1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm, A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca, and Ba, B1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, and In, B2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, Ni, and Cu, and B3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Zr, wherein x is 0.05 to 0.3, y is 0.025 to 0.29, z is 0.01 to 0.15, w is 0.01 to 0.15, y+z+w is 0.035 to 0.3, and d is 0.04 to 0.3.

Abstract: A sealed non-aqueous electrolyte cell which has a casing made of a laminated material and which inhibits deterioration in the performance of the cell attributable to a decrease in the degree of sealing. This cell is achieved by addition of an inorganic oxide fine powder which is not an active material and is accommodated together with electric energy generating elements within the casing made from a laminated material composed of a metal foil and a resin film. A polypropylene layer is disposed inside the casing and is bonded on the inner surface of the metal foil through a carboxylic acid-denatured polypropylene layer.

Abstract: A polycarbonate electrolyte comprising a polycarbonate membrane matrix and a lithium salt-containing electrolytic solution impregnated into the polycarbonate membrane matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cathode for use in a secondary electrochemical cell, such cathode being coated with a very thin, protective film, permeable to ions. The protective film of the cathode usually has a thickness of up to about 0.1 &mgr;m and it provides protection against high voltage charging and overdiscbarging. The present invention further provides a secondary electrochemical cell comprising such a cathode.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is disclosed, which hardly causes deterioration of its properties at high temperatures. The battery has a chargeable and dischargeable cathode, a chargeable and dischargeable anode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte and includes a substance which produces water with an increase in temperature in any one of the cathode, the anode, the non-aqueous electrolyte, other elements, and voids in the battery. Examples of the substance which produces water include hydroxides and compounds having water of crystallization.

Abstract: A ceramic composite containing alkali-metal-.beta.- or .beta."-alumina and an oxygen-ion conductor is fabricated by converting .alpha.-alumina to alkali-metal-.beta.- or .beta."-alumina. A ceramic composite with continuous phases of .alpha.-alumina and the oxygen-ion conducting ceramic, such as zirconia, is exposed to a vapor containing an alkali-metal oxide, such as an oxide of sodium or potassium. Alkali metal ions diffuse through alkali-metal-.beta.- or .beta."-alumina converted from .alpha.-alumina and oxygen ions diffuse through the oxygen-ion conducting ceramic to a reaction front where .alpha.-alumina is converted to alkali-metal-.beta.- or .beta."-alumina. A stabilizer for alkali-metal-.beta."-alumina is preferably introduced into the .alpha.-alumina/oxygen-ion conductor composite or introduced into the vapor used to convert the .alpha.-alumina to an alkali-metal-.beta."-alumina.

Abstract: This invention provides a film comprising a cross-linked polymer having an oxyalkylene group or a cross-linked polymer having an oxyalkylene group through a urethane bond, as a constituent component, a production method of the film, and an electrochemical apparatus using the film as a separator.The film for separator of an electrochemical apparatus can be easily and uniformly processed, can include an electrolytic solution, exhibits good film thickness and ensures excellent safety and reliability. The electrochemical apparatus is free of leakage of the solution.

Abstract: A process for manufacture of molten carbonate fuel cell matrices in which an aluminate precursor material and a lithium salt are mixed in an aqueous or organic solvent, resulting in formation of a suspension, the suspension is heated to a temperature less than a boiling of the solvent, resulting in formation of a slurry comprising a lithium aluminate precursor material, at least one casting additive is added to the slurry, the slurry is formed into a desired shape, the desired shape is dried or cured to yield a green molten carbonate fuel cell structure, and the green molten carbonate fuel cell structure is heated after assembly into a molten carbonate fuel cell to the molten carbonate fuel cell operating temperature, resulting in transformation of the lithium aluminate precursor material to lithium aluminate.