Abstract: A regenerative ion exchange fuel cell having an anode, a metal ion conductor coupled to the anode, an aqueous electrolyte solution positioned adjacent the metal ion conductor, a proton conductor mounted adjacent the aqueous electrolyte solution opposite the metal ion conductor, a cathode positioned adjacent the proton conductor opposite the aqueous electrolyte solution, and a cathode current collector associated with the cathode.

Abstract: An electrolyte medium suitable for use as a separator for an electrochemical cell comprises a substantially solid, thermoset polyimide polymer matrix doped with a lithium salt. The lithium salt comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LITFSI).

Abstract: A lithium oxygen or air battery (80) is disclosed having two halves (81) that are joined together along their edges. Each battery half (81) has a carbon cloth or mesh cathode current collector (82), a cathode (83), a cathode terminal (84), an anode (85), an anode current collector, anode terminal (88) and a solid separator (87). The cathode includes randomly distributed carbon fibers throughout.

Abstract: An anhydrous, proton-conductive medium comprises a poly(amic acid)-based polyimide and at least one phosphorus compound from the group consisting of phosphorus oxides and phosphoric acids. The precursor solution for the polyimide is a mixture of a phosphorus oxide and a poly(amic acid). A suitable phosphorus oxide has the formula P4O10. A process for forming an anhydrous, proton-conductive membrane comprises mixing a phosphorus oxide in a poly(amic acid) solution to form a mixture, dispensing the mixture upon a support structure, and substantially drying the mixture. The mixture may then be cured.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a cell assembly that has an anode, an air cathode infused with a liquid electrolyte, an ionically-conductive separator medium disposed between and coupling said anode and said air cathode, a housing enclosing said anode, said cathode, and said ionically-conductive separator medium, and a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide disposed within said housing in gaseous communication with said air cathode, wherein said carbon dioxide comprises from about 0.04% to about 95% molar fraction of said mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has an anode of electrochemically-active material; a cathode of electrochemically-active, porous, liquid-permeable, sintered, ceramic material; and a solid-state, liquid-impermeable electrolyte medium disposed between the anode and the cathode. The electrolyte may be a layer of glass or a layer of glass ceramic, or may be a combination of a layer of glass and a layer of glass ceramic. The cell may further contain a liquid electrolyte diffused throughout the cathode.

Abstract: A packaged battery (60) is provided having a thin film lithium battery cell (62) sealed with a packaging foil or layer (67). The battery cell (60) includes a substrate (61) and an active cell (62) with an anode current collector (65) and a cathode current collector (64). The packaged battery is produced by heat sealing a packaging foil (67) to the exterior surfaces of the active cell (62).

Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium-air battery (10) comprises a non-aqueous, organic-solvent-based electrolyte (16) including a lithium salt and an additive containing an alkylene group, disposed between a spaced-apart pair of a lithium anode (12) and an air cathode (14). The alkylene additive may be alkylene carbonate, alkylene siloxane, or a combination of alkylene carbonate and alkylene siloxane. The alkylene carbonate may be vinylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, or a combination of vinylene carbonate and butylene carbonate. The alkylene siloxane may be a polymerizable silane. The polymerizable silane is triacetoxyvinylsilane.

Abstract: An anode environment mitigates undesired effects of oxygen upon the anode of a lithium-oxygen electrochemical cell. As a means of mitigating oxygen effect, a lithium anode and an air cathode are separated from one another by a lithium-ion-conductive electrolyte separator including material having low oxygen permeability that reduces the amount of oxygen that contacts the anode. As another means of mitigating oxygen effect, a cell comprises lithium-affinity anode material capable of receiving and retaining lithium in a state that is not significantly adversely affected by the presence of oxygen during cell charging and recharging and an air cathode separated by a lithium-ion-conductive electrolyte separator. Lithium-affinity material is capable of drawing lithium thereinto during charging of the cell and retaining the lithium substantially until discharge of the cell.

Abstract: A battery (10) is disclosed having a lithium foil anode (11) embedded within a liquid electrolyte (12) which is positioned between two similarly constructed battery cathode halves (13) and (14). Each cathode half has a first glass barrier (16) coupled to a first porous metal substrate (17), a second glass barrier (18) coupled to a second porous metal substrate (19), a third glass barrier (20) coupled to a third porous metal substrate (21), and a lithium air cathode (22). A peripheral layer of edge sealant (25) surrounds the peripheral edge of the electrolyte and bonds the two halves together. The battery also includes an anode terminal (27) coupled to the anode and a cathode terminal (28) coupled to the cathode.

Abstract: An air lithium battery (10) is provided having two equal halves (11) that are joined together along a centerline (12). Each half includes a substrate (13), a carbon based cathode (14), a solid electrolyte (15), an anode (16), an anode current collector (17), and end seals (19). The solid electrolyte includes alternating layers of ion conductive glass (21) and ion conductive polymer (22) materials.

Abstract: A lithium oxygen cell system (10) includes a battery cell (15), a containment vessel (106) having an air inlet conduit (114) and an air outlet conduit (112). An access control valve (101), a one way check valve (102), a H2O scrubber (103) and a CO2 scrubber (104) are mounted within inlet conduit. A one way check valve (107) and a forced air device (108) are mounted within outlet conduit. A charge controller (109) is coupled to battery and to the air device. The pair of one way check valves insure that the inside of the containment vessel (106) may be sealed. The system further includes a safety controller (111) coupled to an environmental sensor (110), and to control valve (101). When an unsafe temperature or pressure condition is detected, it closes control valve to shut down operation of the battery and thereby prevent a catastrophic event.

Abstract: A thin-film battery (10) is disclosed which includes a cathode current collector (11), a cathode (12), an electrolyte (13), an anode (14), and an anode current collector (15). The cathode is produced by grinding lithium cobalt oxide or other suitable cathode material to a powder having a mean particle size of between 5 and 12 microns, forming a liquid slurry with the cathode material, casting the liquid slurry upon a substrate, drying the liquid slurry to form a layer of cathode material, and compressing the cathode layer to a generally uniform and smooth thickness of between 5 and 12 microns. The compressed layer is then heated to a temperature which sinters or melts the peripheral edges of the cathode particles together.

Abstract: A packaged battery (10) and method of producing such is provided having a thin film lithium battery cell (11) sealably encased within a packaging layer (12). The battery cell (11) includes a substrate (13), an anode (16), an electrolyte (15), a cathode (14), a passivation layer (19), an anode current collector (17) and a cathode current collector (18). The packaged battery is produced by heat sealing a packaging foil (21, 22) to the exterior surfaces of the battery cell (11).

Abstract: An electrochemical conversion system (110) is disclosed having a housing (111) defining an opening (112) and an internal chamber (113). An electrochemical cell (116) is mounted within the opening (112) which is electrically coupled to a circuit (117). A mass of metal hydride material (118) is positioned within the chamber (113). The circuit (117) includes a load (127) and a battery (128) electrically coupled in series. The system may also be adapted to generate DC power with the addition of a rectifier (131).

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a thin film electrolyte is provided wherein a volatile lithium-containing precursor and a volatile phosphate-containing precursor are mixed into a plasma generated from a plasma source. The mixture is then deposited upon a substrate. The apparatus has a plasma source (13) having a primary plenum (16) and a secondary plenum (23). The primary plenum is in fluid communication with a source of nitrogen gas (47) and a source of hydrogen gas (51). The secondary plenum is in fluid communication with a first bubbler (31) and a second bubbler (38).

Abstract: A process of producing a thin film electrolyte is provided wherein a volatile lithium-containing precursor and a volatile phosphate-containing precursor are mixed into a plasma generated from a plasma source. The mixture is then deposited upon a substrate. The process is conducted with the use of a system (11) having a plasma source (13) having a primary plenum (16) and a secondary plenum (23). The primary plenum is in fluid communication with a source of nitrogen gas (47) and a source of hydrogen gas (51). The secondary plenum is in fluid communication with a first bubbler (31) and a second bubbler (38).

Abstract: A rechargeable, thin film lithium battery cell (10) is provided having a polyimide supporting substrate (11), a cathode current collector (13), a lithiated transition metal oxide or transition metal cathode (14), an electrolyte (15), an anode (16) and an anode current collector (17). The polyimide supporting substrate (11) is heated or dehydrated to remove water from therein. The cathode (14) is annealed at a relatively low temperature of approximately 300 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: An electrochemical conversion system (70) is disclosed having a housing divided by a hydrogen concentration cell (76) so as to define a first chamber (71) and a second chamber (72). A first mass of hydride material (84) is contained within the first chamber while a second mass of hydride material (85) is contained within the second chamber. The hydrogen concentration cell has a first gas diffusion electrode (20), a second gas diffusion electrode (21) and a proton conductive membrane (22) therebetween. The release of hydrogen from one of the masses of hydride material and its redox reaction creates an electrical potential across the cell. The housing first chamber (71) is tapered so that the housing easily pierces the ground upon impact from an elevated position.