Abstract: In one aspect, an embodiment of this invention comprises an energy storage device balancing apparatus. The energy storage device balancing apparatus comprises a balancing circuit and an alarm circuit. Both the balancing circuit and the alarm circuit are coupled to the energy storage device. The balancing circuit is configured to monitor a voltage of the energy storage cell and dissipate energy from the energy storage cell if the voltage is at or above a first reference voltage. The alarm circuit is configured to generate an alarm when the voltage of the energy storage cell is at or above a second reference voltage and dissipate energy from the energy storage cell when the voltage is at or above the second reference voltage.

Abstract: Dry process based energy storage device structures and methods for using a dry adhesive therein are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of fibrillizing a fibrillizable binder component of an electrode film can include providing a negatively charged fibrillizable binder component, and applying an electric field upon the negatively charged binder component to fibrillize the negatively charged fibrillizable binder component. A system for fibrillizing a binder component of an electrode film can include a mixing container made of a material having an affinity to donate electron(s) to the binder component, and an actuator configured to apply a force upon the mixing container so as to contact the mixing container with the binder component and to move the mixing container and the binder component relative to each other within a speed and range of motion sufficient to create an electrostatic force on the binder component and fibrillize the binder component.

Abstract: An energy storage device can include a first electrode, a second electrode and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode wherein the first electrode or the second electrode includes elemental lithium metal and carbon particles. A method for fabricating an energy storage device can include forming a first electrode and a second electrode, and inserting a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, where forming the first electrode or the second electrode can include combining elemental lithium metal and a plurality of carbon particles.

Abstract: An energy storage device can include a cathode, an anode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte where the electrolyte includes one or more additives and/or solvent components selected from vinylene carbonate (VC), vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), hydro fluorinated ether branched cyclic carbonate, a hydro fluorinated ether ethylene carbonate (HFEEC), hydro fluorinated ether (HFE), and fluorinated ethylene carbonate (FEC). The electrolyte may include a carbonate based solvent and one or more solvent components and/or one or more of vinylene carbonate (VC), vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), hydro fluorinated ether branched cyclic carbonate, a hydro fluorinated ether ethylene carbonate (HFEEC), hydro fluorinated ether (HFE), and fluorinated ethylene carbonate (FEC).

Abstract: An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, and a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode. At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode can include a treated carbon material, where the treated carbon material includes a reduction in a number of hydrogen-containing functional groups, nitrogen-containing functional groups and/or oxygen-containing functional groups.

Abstract: An energy storage device can include a cathode, an anode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode, where the anode comprises a first lithium ion intercalating carbon component and a second lithium ion intercalating carbon component. The first lithium ion intercalating carbon component can include hard carbon, and the second lithium ion intercalating component can include graphite or soft carbon. A ratio of the hard carbon to the graphite or of the hard carbon to the soft carbon can be between 1:19 to 19:1. The anode may comprise a first lithium ion intercalating carbon component, a second lithium ion intercalating carbon component and a third lithium ion intercalating carbon component. The first lithium ion intercalating carbon component can include hard carbon, the second lithium ion intercalating carbon component can include soft carbon, and the third lithium ion intercalating carbon component can include graphite.

Abstract: An energy storage device can have a first graphite film, a second graphite film and an electrode divider ring between the first graphite film and the second graphite film, forming a sealed enclosure. The energy storage device may be compatible with an aqueous electrolyte or a non-aqueous electrolyte. A method of forming an energy storage device can include providing an electrode divider ring, a first graphite film and a second graphite film. The method can include pressing a first edge of the electrode divider ring into a surface of the first graphite film, and pressing a second opposing edge of the electrode divider ring into a surface of the second graphite film to form a sealed enclosure. The sealed enclosure may have as opposing surfaces the surface of the first graphite film and the surface of the second graphite film.

Abstract: An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode, and an electrolyte in ionic contact with the electrodes and the separator. At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode can be made of a carbon based layer having a mesoporosity and/or a microporosity optimized for ionic mobility therewithin.

Abstract: An energy storage device having improved energy density performance may include an electrolyte having a salt concentration of about 0.6 moles/L (M) to about 0.95M. A final energy storage device product having a total mass of electrolyte that is at least 100% of a saturation quantity of electrolyte sufficient to fully saturate one or more electrode(s) and separator(s) of the device, and below a threshold quantity above the saturation quantity.

Abstract: This disclosure provides collector plates for an energy storage device, energy storage devices with a collector plate, and methods for manufacturing the same. In one aspect, a collector plate includes a body. One or more apertures extend into the body. The apertures are configured to allow a portion of a free end of a spirally wound current collector of a spirally wound electrode for an energy storage device to extend into the one or more apertures.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a engine start system. In one aspect, the engine start system includes: a booster battery selectively connected in parallel with the primary batteries of the engine. The booster battery is disconnected when the battery voltage of the primary batteries is below a first target voltage. The booster battery is connected when the battery voltage of the primary batteries is at or above the second target voltage, or in response to an external input.

Abstract: An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, and a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode. The capacitor may also include a protective coating disposed on an inner surface of the housing for the ultracapacitor.

Abstract: An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, and a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode. The capacitor may also include an electrolyte in ionic contact with the electrodes and the separator, the electrolyte having acetonitrile and a quaternary ammonium salt with a molarity of less than one.

Abstract: A method of pre-doping an anode of an energy storage device can include immersing the anode and a dopant source in an electrolyte, and coupling a substantially constant current between the anode and the dopant source. A method of pre-doping an anode of an energy storage device can include immersing the anode and a dopant source in an electrolyte, and coupling a substantially constant voltage across the anode and the dopant source. An energy storage device can include an anode having a lithium ion pre-doping level of about 60% to about 90%.

Abstract: An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, and a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode. At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode can include a treated carbon material, where the treated carbon material includes a reduction in a number of hydrogen-containing functional groups, nitrogen-containing functional groups and/or oxygen-containing functional groups.

Abstract: An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system includes a first energy storage cell, a second energy storage cell, and a first interconnect connecting the first and second cells. The interconnect includes a support member and a plurality of protrusions extending away from the support member. At least two protrusions are spaced relative to each other along a longitudinal axis of the interconnect.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a combined battery/capacitor energy storage device. The device includes a first device terminal, a second device terminal, a battery connected between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the battery. In one aspect, a rectifier is connected between the first terminal and the capacitor, the rectifier configured to allow substantially unidirectional current flow from the first terminal to the capacitor. In another aspect, a switch is between the capacitor and the first terminal. In another aspect, a current limiter extends between the first terminal and the capacitor.