Abstract: A polymer of formula (I), wherein the nitrogen atoms are coordinated with a lithium atom in 0% to 100% of repeat units in the polymer, and each R1 in each individual repeat unit independently represents a bivalent group, wherein the bivalent groups are, independently from one another, alkylene, arylene, or —CH2—CH2—(O—CH2—CH2)m—, wherein m is an integer of 1 or more, and wherein the alkylene, the arylene, and the —CH2—CH2—(O—CH2—CH2)m— are optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms. The polymers of the invention can be used as battery electrolytes.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing nanoparticles comprising the steps of feeding a core precursor into a plasma torch in a plasma reactor, thereby producing a vapor of silicon or alloy thereof; and allowing the vapor to migrate to a quenching zone of the plasma reactor, thereby cooling the vapor and allowing condensation of the vapor into a nanoparticle core made of the silicon or alloy thereof, wherein the quenching gas comprises a passivating gas precursor that reacts with the surface of the core in the quenching zone produce a passivation layer covering the core, thereby producing said nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to nanoparticles comprising a core covered with a passivation layer, the core being made of silicon or an alloy thereof, as well as their use, in particular in the manufacture of anodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle displaceable along aerial conductors of an electricity transmission line. The vehicle includes a body having arms. Each arm has a first end pivotably mounted to the body and a second distal end. A motorized wheel is mounted to each arm to engage one of the conductors to displace the vehicle. Support rotors have at least two blades. Each blade has an arm portion extending from the support rotor and a contact portion extending from the arm portion to engage one of the conductors to temporarily support the vehicle. An arm displacement mechanism engages the arms, and is operable to displace the arms in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle to move the arms together and apart.

Abstract: The disclosed method reconstructs a topology of an electrical distribution network. An ohmic matrix model is generated as a function of consumption measurements provided by smart meters in the network. A tree table of nodes to which the smart meters are connected is defined. A branch in exploration is defined in the table and the nodes of the branch meeting preestablished relations are entered in the table as a function of connection values derived from resistive quantities in the matrix model. One of the relations determines a junction of the branch in exploration with a branch already explored connectable to a root to which a distribution transformer of the distribution network is connected. The topology is reconstructed by iteratively proceeding with sequences of decreasing values derived from the resistive quantities.

Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes a solvent, an electrolyte salt, and an aminoanthraquinone polymer compound. The aminoanthraquinone polymer compound includes a divalent maleic anhydride part and a divalent aminoanthraquinone derivative part.

Abstract: The present technology relates to self-standing electrodes, their use in electrochemical cells, and their production processes using a water-based filtration process. For example, the self-standing electrodes may be used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Particularly, the self-standing electrodes comprise a first electronically conductive material serving as a current collector, the surface of the first electronically conductive material being grafted with a hydrophilic group, a binder comprising cellulose fibres, an electrochemically active material, and optionally a second electronically conductive material. A process for the preparation of the self-standing electrodes is also described.

Abstract: The technology described relates to a process for the safe dissolution of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and alloys predominantly comprising at least one thereof. The process comprises contacting the metal with a reaction inhibitor and water. In this process, the reaction inhibitor is selected from a hydrocarbon, a hydroxylated compound, and a mixture thereof. The uses of this process for the quantitative dissolution of metals and their analysis, for the destruction and stabilization of metallic residues, and for the recycling of batteries are also described.

Abstract: Method for cutting soft metals, comprising the use of a cutting tool capable of being set in motion by ultrasonic vibration. The method is employed for cutting components used in the manufacture of an electrochemical storage device, for example, a lithium battery. These components include the anodes, the cathodes, the solid electrolytes, the current collectors and the separators. The method is also employed in a system for manufacturing and/or characterizing an electrochemical storage device.

Abstract: A method, a system and a tangible product and non-transitory computer program are provided to automatically identify electrical installations in an electrical distribution system that are likely to exhibit an electrical non-conformity (ENC). The method requires only electrical profiles collected from meters and IT tools, without the need for any other sub-metering equipment. The method includes the steps of recovering electrical profiles generated by the meters; applying algorithmic processing associated with indicators of an ENC on the profiles; and identifying electrical installations likely to exhibit an ENC, according to the indicators that have met their target conditions. The method may include the recovery of local meteorological data and nominal data related to the electrical installations to confirm or deny that the identified electrical installations are likely to be non-conforming.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel metal hydrides, processes for their preparation, and their use in hydrogen storage applications.

Abstract: The present technology relates to self-standing electrodes, their use in electrochemical cells, and their production processes using a water-based filtration process. For example, the self-standing electrodes may be used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Particularly, the self-standing electrodes comprise a first electronically conductive material serving as a current collector, the surface of the first electronically conductive material being grafted with a hydrophilic group, a binder comprising cellulose fibres, an electrochemically active material, and optionally a second electronically conductive material. A process for the preparation of the self-standing electrodes is also described.

Abstract: A process for purifying raw carbon nanotubes to obtain a content in metallic impurities of between 5 ppm and 200 ppm. The process includes an increase in the bulk density of the raw carbon nanotubes via compacting to produce compacted carbon nanotubes. The process further includes sintering the compacted carbon nanotubes by undergoing thermal treatment under gaseous atmosphere in order to remove at least a portion of the metallic impurities contained in the raw carbon nanotubes, and consequently producing purified carbon nanotubes. These purified carbon nanotubes are directly usable as electronic conductors serving as basis additive to an electrode material without requiring any subsequent purification step. The electrode material can then be used to manufacture an electrode destined to a lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an ionic polymer comprising at least one repeating unit comprising the reaction product between at least one compound comprising at least two functional groups and a metal bis(halosulfonyl)imide for use in electrochemical applications, particularly in electrochemical accumulators such as batteries, electrochromic devices and supercapacitors. The present technology also relates to a polymer composition, a solid polymer electrolyte composition, a solid polymer electrolyte, an electrode material comprising said ionic polymer. Their uses in electrochemical cells and electrochemical accumulators as well as their manufacturing processes are also described.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing nanoparticles comprising the steps of feeding a core precursor into a plasma torch in a plasma reactor, thereby producing a vapor of silicon or alloy thereof; and allowing the vapor to migrate to a quenching zone of the plasma reactor, thereby cooling the vapor and allowing condensation of the vapor into a nanoparticle core made of the silicon or alloy thereof, wherein the quenching gas comprises a passivating gas precursor that reacts with the surface of the core in the quenching zone produce a passivation layer covering the core, thereby producing said nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to nanoparticles comprising a core covered with a passivation layer, the core being made of silicon or an alloy thereof, as well as their use, in particular in the manufacture of anodes.

Abstract: A system and a method for reducing a risk of bacterial contamination in a water heater are disclosed. A bypass conduit is connected to cold water supply and hot water outlet conduits of the water heater with T-shaped fittings, the bypass conduit generally extending in a same horizontal plane as the fittings and running alongside a top surface of the water heater. A thermostatic mixing valve is integrated to the bypass conduit close to the fitting with the hot water outlet so that its mixed water outlet is connected to the fitting with the hot water and its cold water inlet is connected to the fitting with the cold water, its hot water inlet being blocked. The thermostatic mixing valve is adjusted to regulate the hot water temperature at the outlet of the system and to produce a thermosiphon loop in the system depending on whether there is extraction or no extraction of hot water from the water heater.

Abstract: A positive-electrode material for a lithium secondary battery is provided. The material includes a lithium oxide compound or a complex oxide as reactive substance. The material also includes at least one type of carbon material, and optionally a binder. A first type of carbon material is provided as a coating on the reactive substance particles surface. A second type of carbon material is carbon black. And a third type of carbon material is a fibrous carbon material provided as a mixture of at least two types of fibrous carbon material different in fiber diameter and/or fiber length. Also, a method for preparing the material as well as lithium secondary batteries including the material is provided.

Abstract: A use, in an electrolyte for a battery, of an additive which includes at least one organocatalyst. Also, a method of preventing the contact between the anode and residual water in a battery and/or reducing the level of gas in a battery. Moreover, an electrolyte for a battery, including an additive which includes at least one organocatalyst. Moreover, a battery including an electrolyte which includes an additive which comprises at least one organocatalyst.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing an anode for lithium batteries. The method comprises: providing a current collector, forming a layer of protective material thereon, depositing a lithiophilic material on the layer of protective material, and depositing a molten lithium material on the layer of lithiophilic material. The lithiophilic material and the molten lithium material subsequently react to form the anode active material. The current collector and/or at least one other layer of the anode may comprise a continuous 3D structure on a surface thereof. The protective material deposited on the current collector constitutes a barrier between the current collector and lithium in the anode active material, therefore formation of cracks in the current collector is avoided.

Abstract: A method of preparing an electrochemical electrode which is partially or totally covered with a film that is obtained by spreading an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble binder over the electrode and subsequently drying same. The production cost of the electrodes thus obtained is reduced and the surface porosity thereof is associated with desirable resistance values.

Abstract: A system for cycling battery cells with pressure regulation is disclosed. The system comprises supports for receiving the battery cells which insert in a clamping arrangement having jaws moving one with respect to the other by an actuator operated by a controller in order to apply a pressure in a pressure application axis to the cells. A pressure sensor measures the pressure applied to the cells while a cycling module connected to the cells performs their cycling and measures their charge and discharge level. A programmable processing unit ensures a control of the pressure and, if desired, the temperature applied to the cells according to a programmed cycling mode and records data representative of the pressure and other cycling measurements.