Abstract: A process for producing lithium titanate which includes the steps of synthesizing a lithium titanate hydrate intermediate via aqueous chemical processing, and thermally treating the lithium titanate hydrate intermediate to produce the lithium titanate. The lithium titanate hydrate is preferably (Li1.81H0.19)Ti2O<<2H2O. The lithium titanate is preferably Li4Ti5O12 (LTO). Synthesizing the lithium titanate hydrate intermediate may include mixing a titanium-containing compound with a lithium-containing compound in a solvent to produce a lithium-titanium precursor mixture. Preferably the titanium-containing compound includes titanium tetrachloride TiCl4. Also, a lithium titanate obtained according to the process and a lithium battery including the lithium titanate.

Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, wherein ? is >0 and ?0.5, ? is a number >0 and ?0.33, Z is a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators. The process may involve the steps of a) preparing a dispersion of a mixture of TiOx—LizY-carbon, wherein x is a number between 1 and 2, z is 1 or 2, and Y is a radical chosen among CO3, OH, O and TiO3 or a mixture thereof; and 2) heating of the dispersion, preferably to a temperature of between about 400° C. and about 1000° C.

Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery including positive and negative electrodes, a separator element, an electrical conductor element and a binder, wherein the positive electrode includes a lithium-containing metal phosphate compound coated with a carbon material having at least one phase selected from a graphene phase and an amorphous phase, and further includes carbon black and a fibrous carbon material and wherein the negative-electrode material includes a graphite carbon material having at least one carbon phase selected from a graphene phase and an amorphous phase, and further includes carbon black and a fibrous carbon material, and wherein the binder includes a water-soluble synthetic resin or a water-dispersible synthetic resin. The most preferred positive electrode includes LiFePO4. The most preferred negative electrode includes artificial graphite or graphitazable powder. The most preferred binder is carboxyl methyl cellulose further including a surface active agent.

Abstract: A multilayer material including a solid substrate and at least two superimposed solid layers containing particles of an electrochemically active material, the first solid layer adhering to the solid substrate and the second solid layer adhering to the first solid layer. The multilayer material has a constant thickness of upper layer not less than 95% and a depth of penetration of the second layer into the first layer which is less than 10% of the thickness of the first layer, and enables as electrode constituent, generators having a low risk of overload degradation to be prepared.

Abstract: According to the invention, a time synchronization of phase between measurement devices that do not share a same clock for their respective sampling of the signals is carried out by a time tagging of samples of the signals in time blocks followed by an adjustment of the phase values of components of interest of the signals in the regrouped time blocks so that the values refer to common time references between the measurement devices. The tagging is carried out with a synchronization signal available to the measurement devices, completed with count values provided by a counter operated by a reference clock for each measurement device.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self-discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.

Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.

Abstract: The invention concerns a nanocrystalline alloy of the formula: Fe3?xAl1+xMyTz wherein: M represents at least one catalytic specie selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ir, Pd, Pt, Rh, Os, Re, Ag and Ni; T represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, Co, Cr, V, Cu, Zn, Nb, W, Zr, Y, Mn, Cd, Si, B, C, O, N, P, F, S, Cl and Na; x is a number larger than ?1 and smaller than or equal to +1 y is a number larger than 0 and smaller or equal to +1 z is a number ranging between 0 and +1 The invention also concerns the use of this alloy in a nanocrystalline form or not for the fabrication of electrodes which in particular, can be used for the synthesis of sodium chlorate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by a separator and a gel electrolyte. The method comprises the steps of assembling the electrodes and the separator, and injecting a liquid electrolyte composition between the electrodes, the liquid electrolyte composition comprising a polymer, an aprotic liquid solvent and a lithium salt, wherein the polymer in the liquid electrolyte composition has functional groups capable of polymerizing via cationic polymerization, and the cell is submitted to an electrochemical cycling comprising a charging step and a discharging step.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.

Abstract: Method for preparing a particulate material including particles of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof, the method including: (a) dry grinding particles from an ingot of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof to obtain micrometer size particles; and (b) wet grinding the micrometer particles dispersed in a solvent carrier to obtain nanometer size particles having a size between 10 to 100 nanometers, optionally a stabilizing agent is added during or after the wet grinding. Method can include further steps of (c) drying the nanometer size particles, (d) mixing the nanometer size particles with a carbon precursor; and (e) pyrolysing the mixture, thereby forming a coat of conductive carbon on at least part of the surface of the particles. The particulate material can be used in fabrication of an anode in an electrochemical cell or electrochemical storage energy apparatus.

Abstract: A flexible transparent electrochromic device, which includes the following components, each of which is a flexible film: a working electrode comprising a transparent conducting substrate supporting an working electrode active material; a counter electrode including a transparent conducting substrate supporting a counter electrode active material; a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) including a solution of a lithium salt in a polymer solvent. A method for preparing an electrochromic device includes the steps of: preparing a working electrode film, preparing a counter electrode film, preparing a polymer electrolyte film, and assembling the electrodes and the electrolyte, the method being implemented continuously.

Abstract: Mixture of particles comprising a non-conducting or semi-conducting nucleus covered with a hybrid conductor coating and hybrid conductor chains located between the particles of the mixture to constitute a conductivity network, that is prepared by mechanical crushing. Due to a very good conductivity of the network, a low resistivity, a very good capacity under elevated current and/or a good density of energy, these mixtures of particles are advantageously incorporated in anodes and cathodes of electrochemical generators, resulting in highly performing electrochemical systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A method for measuring the real hot-spot temperature in an electric apparatus containing an oil, such as an electric power transformer. The electric apparatus is operated under predetermined and modifiable operating conditions. This method comprises the use of one or several chemical compounds or tracers present and soluble in the oil. Each tracer may transform, at a given temperature, in order to form a residue, such as a soluble gas. From the presence of the residue in the oil, the operator will be able to determine under which predetermined operating condition the hot-spot has been reached and to deduce the hot-spot for a given condition. Among different used compounds, there are diazoic compounds, carbonyl metals, colorants, pigments, liquid crystals and albumins. The method also allows to check the quality of the apparatus on the market and to estimate its life span.

Abstract: A method for preparing ceramic powders in the presence of a carbon powder including a step which consists in homogenizing a mixture of particles capable of resulting in a ceramic by heat treatment. Said method can be carried out in the presence of an accelerated solvent and provides, at reduced energy consumption, carbon-coated ceramic powders and then ceramics.

Abstract: The present invention concerns polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiations that are not reactive in the presence of anionic polymerization initiators. The presence of such cationic initiation functions allow an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after molding, particularly in the form of a thin film. It is thus possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density. The polymers of the present invention are capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity for the preparation of solid electrolytes.

Abstract: A multi-stage quick charging system is proposed. The system uses an intermediate power battery as voltage supporting point so that a converter having a fraction of the output voltage may control the entire power flow towards or from the battery of a vehicle or an electrical power device. The intermediate battery comprises several stages in series, associated with respective small chargers allowing a management of the charge balancing of the stages of the intermediate battery, since the chargers may be controlled in order to separately vary the contribution of each stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material of formula: (C—N—B-MR)x(Al-MR)y(R)z in which C—N—B-MR is one or more carbides, nitrides or borides of one or more refractory metals of group IV, V or VI of the Periodic Table and/or one or more aluminium carbides, nitrides or borides chosen from Al4C3, AlN, AlB2 and Al1-67B22; Al-MR is one or more aluminides of one or more of the above refractory metals, it being understood that: if MR=Nb, Ta, Hf, Zr, Ti or V, then Al-MR=Al3MR; if MR=W or Cr, then Al-MR=Al4MR; if MR=Mo, then Al-MR=Al8Mo3 or Al17Mo4 (?Al4Mo), and R is a residual component other than carbon, comprising one or more phases chosen from Al4C3, AlN, AlB2, Al1-67B22 and MRtAlu(C—N—B)v in which t, u and v are numbers greater than or equal to zero, and x, y and z are the volume fractions of the respective components with x>y; x+y>0.5; x+y+z+1 and 0.01<y<0.5.

Abstract: A submersible robot for operating a tool relative to a surface of an underwater structure has a tool holder movably mounted on a support assembly provided with a driving arrangement for movably holding the tool in operative position relative to the surface. Position and orientation of the support assembly relative to the surface is locked and adjusted by locking and leveling arrangements. A programmable control unit operates the driving, locking and leveling arrangements and the tool and receives measurements from a sensor unit. The control unit has an operation mode wherein a positioning of the robot is determined and controlled as function of an initial position for defining a first work area, and shifted positions of the robot for defining additional work areas, the work areas having overlapping portions with one another for tracking displacements of the robot relative to the surface of the structure using the sensor unit.