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 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 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 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.

Abstract: Olivine-type compounds, their preparation and use in cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The olivine-type compounds may be obtained by a direct synthesis embodying a hydrothermal method. The method may include preparing an aqueous mixture including a M-containing compound, a M?-containing compound and a M?-containing compound to obtain a M-M?-M? mixture; adding a P-containing compound to the mixture M-M?-M? mixture to obtain a M-M?-M?-P mixture; adding a Na-containing compound to the M-M?-M?-P mixture to obtain a Na-M-M?-M?-P mixture; and introducing the Na-M-M?-M?-P mixture into an autoclave to perform crystal growth and obtain the compound of general formula NahMiM?jM?kPO4.

Abstract: A method for locating and quantifying obstructions in a pipe is described. The method comprises the steps of emitting at one end of the pipe, by means of a loudspeaker, an emitted signal comprising a wave train at a first frequency, the waves being of an acoustic type; receiving at the same end of the pipe, by means of a microphone, a reflected signal, resulting from the reflection of the wave train from obstructions in the pipe; determining a position of each of the obstructions according to a delay measured between the wave train of the emitted signal and the wave train of the reflected signal received by the microphone; and determining, for each of the obstructions, its degree of obstruction by extrapolating the energies of the emitted, reflected and transmitted signals. A system comprising the loudspeaker, the microphone, a processor, and a memory for performing the above method is also described.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a process for purifying raw carbon nanotubes to obtain an content in metallic impurities comprised 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: A copolymer including a monomer A with a molar ratio a varying between around 0.01 and around 0.20, a monomer B with a molar ratio b varying between around 0.2 and around 0.4, and a monomer C with a molar ratio c varying between around 0.50 and around 0.70, the monomer A being a hydrophilic monomer including a pendant chain of poly(ethylene oxide) (POE) with low molar weight, the monomer B being a hydrophobic monomer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of around ?30° C. or less, the monomer C being a monomer that is more hydrophobic than the monomer Band having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of around 80° C. or more, said monomers being organised in a hydrophilic segment, a hydrophobic segment and an intermediate segment located between the hydrophilic segment and the hydrophobic segment.

Abstract: This document describes processes for preparing ceramics, especially lithium-based ceramics. The ceramics produced by this process and their use in electrochemical applications are also described as well as electrode materials, electrodes, electrolyte compositions, and electrochemical cells comprising them.

Abstract: Here are described polymers comprising monomeric units from vinylimidazole derivatives and their use in electrode materials and/or electrolyte compositions, as well as their methods of preparation. Also described are electrode materials, electrodes, and electrochemical cells comprising the polymers and their use.

Abstract: All-solid-state electrochemical cells comprising an inorganic particle-polymer composite, where the polymer is a crosslinked polymer and the content of inorganic particles in the composite is at least 50 wt. % are described. Also described are processes for the preparation of such all-solid-state electrochemical cells, all-solid-state batteries comprising them and their uses in mobile devices, electric or hybrid vehicles, or in renewable energy storage.

Abstract: The present technology relates to inorganic compounds having an argyrodite-type structure based on an alkali metal obtained by a preparation process comprising a step of grinding the sulfide of the alkali metal, the sulfate of the alkali metal, phosphorus pentasulfide and a halide of the alkali metal. Also described are electrode materials, electrodes, electrolytes comprising said inorganic compound having an argyrodite-type structure and their uses in electrochemical cells, for example, in electrochemical accumulators, particularly in all-solid-state batteries.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery. The method includes the following steps: (a) mixing components of a basic ingredient or active substance of electrode material and a conductive carbon material to obtain a conductive carbon material-composited material; (b) mixing the conductive carbon material-composited material and a surface layer-forming material; an (c) burning the mixture obtained at step (b) to obtain the electrode material. Also, a lithium-ion secondary battery including an electrode which includes the material.

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: The present technology relates to a sulfur-containing polymer or organic compound for use in a positive electrode material, especially in lithium batteries. More specifically, the use of this sulfur-containing polymer or compound as an active electrode material makes it possible to combine sulfur and an active organic cathode material. The present technology also relates to the use of the sulfur-containing polymer or organic compound as defined herein as a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) or as an additive for electrolyte, especially in lithium batteries.