Abstract: An electrochemically stabilized Ca—Ni hydrogen storage alloy material for use as the active negative electrode material of an alkaline electrochemical cell. The alloy material includes at least one modifier element which stabilizes the alloy material from degradation during electrochemical cycling in an alkaline cell, by protecting calcium within the alloy and preventing dissolution of calcium into the alkaline electrolyte. The alloy has the formula (Ca1−x−yMxNi2y)Ni5−zQz, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of misch metal, rare earth metals, zirconium and mixtures of Zr with Ti or V, Q is at least one element selected form the group consisting of Si, Al, Ge, Sn, In, Cu, Zn, Co, and mixtures thereof, x ranges between about 0.02 and 0.2, y ranges between about 0.02 and 0.4, and z ranges from about 0.05 to about 1.00.

Abstract: A complete infrastructure system for the generation, storage, transportation, and delivery of hydrogen which makes a hydrogen ecosystem possible. The infrastructure system utilizes high capacity, low cost, light weight thermal hydrogen storage alloy materials having fast kinetics. Also, a novel hydrogen storage bed design which includes a support/heat-transfer component which is made from a highly porous, high thermal conductivity, solid material such as a high thermal conductivity graphitic foam. Finally a material including at least one particle having atomically engineered local chemical and electronic environments, characterized in that the local environments providing bulk nucleation.

Abstract: A low temperature hydrogen storage alloy which is not pyrophoric upon exposure to ambient atmosphere, particularly even after hydrogen charge/discharge cycling.

Abstract: A layered hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode for an alkaline electrochemical cell. The layered electrode comprises a outer layer comprising a metal oxide, metal sulfide or mixtures thereof. The outer layer reduces the internal pressure of electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Practice of this invention provides, at least, a method of making a hydrogen storage material comprising the steps of: 1. forming a molten mixture comprising nickel and at least one other transition metal element, the combination of which will form a TiNi alloy and including in said molten mixture from about 0.1 at. % to about 10 at. % of one or more elements which will form an alloy which is immiscible in the TiNi-type alloy; and (b) cooling said molten mixture to form a solid alloy-system material by rapid solidification of said molten mixture at a cooling rate of at least 103° C. per second.

Abstract: Hydrogen propelled vehicles and fundamentally new magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloy materials which for the first time make it feasible and practical to use solid state storage and delivery of hydrogen to power internal combustion engine or fuel cell vehicles. These exceptional alloys have remarkable hydrogen storage capacity of well over 6 weight % coupled with extraordinary absorption kinetics such that the alloy powder absorbs 80% of its total capacity within 10 minutes at 300° C. and a cycle life of at least 500 cycles without loss of capacity or kinetics.

Abstract: A composite hydrogen storage material including 1) an active material having hydrogen storage capacity; and 2) a catalytic material having greater catalytic activity toward the dissociation of molecular hydrogen and/or oxidation of hydrogen than that of said active material having hydrogen storage capacity. Also, a fuel cell employing anodes formed from the composite hydrogen storage material. The fuel cell has the ability to start up instantly and can accept recaptured energy such as that of regenerative braking by operating in reverse as an electrolyzer.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell having a hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode. The electrochemical cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte comprising an additive material which reduces cell pressure by decreasing hydrogen gas evolution.

Abstract: A method for making a hydrided hydrogen storage alloy powder from component material. In the present method a material is worked at the same time it is hydrided. Working preferably involves comminution of the material.

Abstract: An anti-pyrophoric hydrogen storage material having an engineered surface oxide to enhance initial activation and a method for making the same. The method for making. the hydrogen storage material includes the steps of providing a hydrogen storage powder and oxidizing the powder with a controlled oxidation reaction. In a preferred aspect hereof, the method includes providing a bulk hydrogen storage alloy; hydriding the alloy to form a comminuted material; and oxidizing the surface of the comminuted material with a controlled oxidation reaction. In another preferred aspect hereof, a passivating material is added to the comminuted material prior to the step for oxidizing to enhance initial activation. In still another preferred aspect hereof, at least one sacrificial modifier is provided in the particalized material to enhance initial activation.

Abstract: A method for initializing a phase change information storage device. The method includes the steps of: providing a data storage device having a phase change data storage medium, and exposing the phase change data storage medium with a first, energy exposure for about 1 &mgr;sec or less.

Abstract: A fuel cell which has the ability to start up instantly and can accept recaptured energy such as that of regenerative braking by operating in reverse as an electrolyzer. The instant startup fuel cells have increased efficiency and power availability (higher voltage and current) and a dramatic improvement in operating temperature range of about −20 to 150° C.

Abstract: High capacity, long cycle life positive electrode modified nickel hydroxide material for use in an alkaline rechargeable electrochemical cell at least one modifier and has modified activation energy, chemical potential and electrical conductivity. Particle size, particle size distribution, electrical conductivity have been controlled by introducing modifier elements throughout the bulk of the active material and by controlling process parameters.

Abstract: A process for making a positive battery electrode material using a secondary metal. The secondary metal is preferably treated using an non-electrolytic process and formed into an active, positive battery electrode material by a precipitation reaction.

Abstract: A process for making a nickel hydroxide material without the necessity of a preamine reactor. The process includes the steps of providing a metal and forming the metal into an active positive electrode material. The process for making a nickel hydroxide material may also include one or more blending steps. The step for forming may include concurrently combining the metal with ammonium ions and hydroxide ions. The step for forming may also include a continuously stirred precipitation reaction of metal ions. In a preferred aspect of the process hereof, the metal may be a secondary nickel source, such as a spent or virgin electrolyte solution from a nickel electrorefining process, nickel electroless plating process or nickel electroplating process.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage element which includes a hydrogen storage alloy material in which hydrogen flow channels are provided. The flow channels provide pathways through the hydrogen storage material to allow for high speed hydrogen gas flow. A portion of the high speed hydrogen flow is stored within the storage material which releases its heat of hydride formation. The remainder of the hydrogen flows through the hydrogen storage material at a sufficient mass flow rate to remove the heat of hydride formation.

Abstract: A nickel hydroxide particle having a first active nickel hydroxide material and a second active nickel hydroxide material disposed about the first material, wherein the second active nickel hydroxide material has a mass at least 10% of the total particle mass. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the first active material and the second active material have a compositional difference of 1 to 25.

Abstract: A negative electrode alloy material including an effective amount of a catalyst to substantially increase the discharge capacity of the alloy at high discharge rates. Preferably the catalyst is palladium.

Abstract: A hydrogen cooled hydrogen storage unit. The unit employs excess hydrogen flow between hydrogen storage alloy rods in the hydrogen storage unit in order to provide convective cooling thereof. The unit provides for high packing density of the storage materials. The unit also allows for efficient thermal transfer of heat energy from a central source of heat through the rods thereof during discharge of the stored hydrogen. The hydrogen storage rods of the unit are encased in an encapsulant layer which prevents entrainment of the hydrogen storage material in the high flow rate hydrogen.

Abstract: Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries and modules. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The optimized thickness, width and height allow for maximum capacity and power output, while eliminating deleterious side affects. The battery case design allows for unidirectional expansion which is readily compensated for by applying external mechanical compression counter to that direction. In the module, the batteries are bound within a module bundling/compression means under external mechanical compression which is optimized to balance outward pressure due to expansion and provide additional inward compression to reduce the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby increasing overall battery power.