Abstract: An activatable time-temperature indicator system useful in tracking the thermal exposure history of a temperature-sensitive perishable product and providing a visually-distinct signal, such as a change in color density, at the expiration of a predetermined time-temperature integral comprises a first element, such as a direct thermal printing label (11), comprising a composition (13) having at least a first co-reactant of a color-forming reaction. A second, activator element, such as an adhesive tab (21) capable of being affixed to the label element, comprises an activator component (25), such as a second co-reactant of the color-forming reaction or a solubilizing agent for prompting the interaction of the co-reactants of the label composition. The activator tab element is affixed to the label composition to activate for reaction at ambient conditions the normally high-temperature color-forming composition (13) of the label at about the same time as the label is affixed to the perishable product.

Abstract: Electrical connection is maintained between an electrical conductor element (32) and a fragile expanded-metal grid current collector element (12) of a flexible laminate structure rechargeable battery (10) by means of thermally-activated adhesive sheet material (34) which provides physical reinforcement as well as maintaining stable electrically-conductive contact between the elements, Such adhesive materials comprising a metal foil surface (46) may also provide direct electrical connection between current collector or battery electrode elements and external utilization devices.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithiated intercalation battery cell having reduced self-discharge comprises a negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a positive electrode wherein the surfaces of the aggregate lithiated intercalation composition particulates comprising the positive cell electrode have been coated with a passivating layer of a composition comprising a borate, lithiated borate, aluminate, lithiated aluminate, silicate, lithiated silicate, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous ternary lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.(x+5z+ny)/2, where M is a metal, 0<x.ltoreq.3, 0<y.ltoreq.3, 1.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.4, and n=2 or 3, comprising the steps of creating an aqueous solution of at least one metavanadate salt selected from the group consisting of NH.sub.4 VO.sub.3 and NaVO.sub.3, and a nitrate salt of the formula M(NO.sub.3).sub.n containing a large excess of a lithium salt; heating the solution; adding a sufficient amount of a base to obtain a suitable pH; and precipitating the amorphous lithiated vanadium metal oxide. A rechargeable lithiated intercalation battery cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein the active material of the negative electrode is an amorphous ternary lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.(x+5z+ny)/2 or an amorphous binary non-lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.

Abstract: An inverse twisted or super-twisted nematic liquid crystal device in which the alignment layers on the two sides are homeotropic so as to regularly cause the associated linear liquid-crystal molecules to be, in the absence of an applied field, perpendicular to the alignment layers. Nonetheless, the alignment layers are rubbed or otherwise conditioned, preferably in relatively perpendicular directions, and the gap is filled with a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy so that in the presence of a normally applied electric field the liquid crystals align perpendicularly to the applied field and are at their boundaries in parallel with the two perpendicularly aligned alignment layers, thereby forming a twisting structure within the cell gap. Thereby, in the absence of an applied voltage, light traverses the cell without effect upon its polarization.

Abstract: The extent of self-discharge of rechargeable Li-ion secondary batteries is significantly reduced by treatment of LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 intercalation compound electrode material with a chelating agent, such as acetylacetone. This treatment decreases the incidence of non-coordinated Mn-ion sites which can lead to battery electrolyte decomposition and resulting loss of battery capacity. The treatment, which also includes annealing at about 400.degree. C. to 800.degree. C., further prevents such decomposition by varying the surface area and topography of the potentially catalytic electrode material.

Abstract: Li.sub.x CoO.sub.2 wherein x is about 1.00 to 1.15 is annealed at about 950.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. for about 0.25 to 10 hours to yield a lithium intercalation material which is used in an electrode to provide a rechargeable battery having high specific capacity and the capability of maintaining such capacity over numerous operating charge/discharge cycles.

Abstract: The cycling stability and capacity of li-ion rechargeable batteries are improved by the use of lithium manganese oxy-fluoride electrode component intercalation materials having the general formula, Li.sub.1+x M.sub.y Mn.sub.2-x-y O.sub.4-z F.sub.z, where M is a transition metal, e.g., Co, Cr, or Fe, and x.ltoreq.0.4, y.ltoreq.0.3, and 0.05.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.0.

Abstract: A method of making a single phase, layered lithiated transition metal oxide material which comprises reacting a transition metal hydroxide with a lithium source in a basic solution in the presence of water at a pressure greater than atmospheric and at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A flexible polymeric film useful as an interelectrode separator or electrolyte member in electrolytic devices, such as rechargeable batteries, comprises a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride with 8 to 25% hexafluoropropylene. The film may be cast or formed as a self-supporting layer retaining about 20% to 70% of a high-boiling solvent plasticizer or plasticizer mixture comprising such solvents as ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, and dibutyl phthalate. The film may be used in such form or after extracting of the retained plasticizer with a film-inert low-boiling solvent to provide a separator member into which a solution of electrolytic salt is subsequently imbibed to displace retained plasticizer or replace plasticizer previously extracted from the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: A perforate current collector element (21) embedded within at least one of its polymeric intercalation electrodes (23) reduces the internal resistance of a flexible rechargeable lithium-ion battery (20).

Abstract: LiCoO.sub.2 and LiNiO.sub.2 are fully delithiated electrochemically using solid state electrolytic cells and oxidation resistant electrolytes to yield new phases of CoO.sub.2 and NiO.sub.2.

Abstract: A hybrid polymeric matrix composition for a lithium-ion rechargeable battery comprises a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride with about 8 to 20% by weight chlorotrifluoroethylene.

Abstract: An electrically-conductive collector element (23) in a polymeric laminate lithium ion rechargeable battery is cleaned of surface oxides and coated with an adherent conductive polymer film (34) which is substantially inert to battery electrolyte components and prevents recurrent formation of insulative collector surface oxides, thereby maintaining effective electrode/collector electrical conductivity and significantly reducing internal battery resistance.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery comprises a laminate electrolytic cell in which a flexible plasticized polymer hybrid electrolyte/separator layer is interposed between positive and negative electrode layers of lithium-ion intercalating polymeric matrix compositions bearing respective current collector foils. An elongate laminar cell is formed into a unified battery by means of an initial transverse fold disposing one electrode/collector within the structure and with subsequent sequential folds spiralling the cell, without need for interposed insulation, outwardly toward the electrode ends where the collectors accommodate battery terminals. Immersion of the structure in a solvent extracts the polymer plasticizer which is subsequently replaced by contact with lithium salt solution electrolyte to activate the battery.

Abstract: In order to extend the useful life of electrical storage battery cells under float voltage charge it is advisable to maintain the polarization of the positive plates of the cell relative to a reference electrode in the cell at a predetermined level. This invention provides a sensing and controller circuit which drains minute amounts of current from the positive cell plates when the polarization rises above the desired level and thereby prevents plate corrosion and loss of electrolyte. The present invention may be combined with a circuit for increasing cell polarization levels to provide a system for maintaining battery cells at optimum polarization levels over extended float charging periods.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of fabricating a rechargeable battery structure by extracting plasticizer from plastic battery preforms to render them insensitive to water while maintaining the homogeneous characteristics of the plastic materials to allow subsequent activation of the batteries through the introduction of an electrolyte solution. These battery preforms need not be maintained under anhydrous conditions and can be activated immediately preceding use thereof.

Abstract: Ferroelectric capacitor heterostructures exhibiting exceptional reliability and resistance to fatigue and imprinting comprise hybrid electrodes of highly conductive platinum with polycrystalline metallic oxide and ferroelectric materials deposited on Si-CMOS-compatible substrates without the requirement for interposed crystallographic orientation templates.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium ion battery comprises a plurality of interleaved flexible electrolytic cells, each of which is a unitary planar laminated structure comprising polymeric anode, cathode, and intermediate electrolyte layers disposed between electrically conductive anode and cathode collector foil elements. One of the collector foils of a cell has an open grid structure to allow penetration of electrolyte solution into the cell layer while the other is substantially more continuous to provide supporting strength to the cell. At least a pair of cells having respective continuous foil anode and cathode collectors are interleaved in spiral-folded fashion to present those collector foils at the outer surface of the resulting structure to provide terminal contacts for the resulting high-capacity, low-profile battery.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor heterostructure useful in fabricating high-density, non-volatile memory devices is improved by the interposition of an epitaxially-grown layer of oriented platinum which provides the level of electrical conductivity necessary for incorporation of such devices into integrated circuit structures. The reliability of the ferroelectric capacitor device is further improved by maintaining appropriate oxygenation during the fabrication process to ensure the symmetry of the ferroelectric hysteresis loop and thereby provide optimum control of such significant properties as aging, retention, imprint, and fatigue.