Abstract: An electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry, is described. In either case, the cell has a negative electrode of lithium or of an anode material which is capable of intercalating and de-intercalating lithium coupled with a positive electrode of a cathode active material. A phosphonate compound is mixed with either the anode material or the cathode active material prior to contact with its current collector. The resulting electrode couple is activated by a non-aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte flows into and throughout the electrodes causing the phosphonate additive to dissolve in the electrolyte. The phosphonate solute is then able to contact the lithium to provide an electrically insulating and ionically conducting passivation layer thereon.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry, is described. In either case, the cell has a negative electrode of lithium or of an anode material which is capable of intercalating and de-intercalating lithium coupled with a positive electrode of a cathode active material. A nitrite compound is mixed with either the anode material or the cathode active material prior to contact with its current collector. The resulting electrode couple is activated by a non-aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte flows into and throughout the electrodes causing the nitrite compound to dissolve in the electrolyte. The nitrite solute is then able to contact the lithium to provide an electrically insulating and ionically conducting passivation layer thereon.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry, is described. In either case, the cell has a negative electrode of lithium or of an anode material which is capable of intercalating and de-intercalating lithium coupled with a positive electrode of a cathode active material. A phosphate compound is mixed with either the anode material or the cathode active material prior to contact with its current collector. The resulting electrode couple is activated by a non-aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte flows into and throughout the electrodes causing the phosphate compound to dissolve in the electrolyte. The phosphate solute is then able to contact the lithium to provide an electrically insulating and ionically conducting passivation layer thereon.

Abstract: A system and method for cutting and heat sealing polypropylene film and/or other separator material around individually shaped cathode, anode or other active components, for use in a battery or capacitor and/or other implantable medical device.

Abstract: A lithium ion electrochemical cell having high charge/discharge capacity, long cycle life and exhibiting a reduced first cycle irreversible capacity, is described. The stated benefits are realized by the addition of at least one phosphonate additive having the formula (R1O)P(═O) (OR2) (R3) provided in the electrolyte. In the phosphonate formula, R3 is a hydrogen atom and wherein at least one, but not both, of R1 and R2 is a hydrogen atom and the other of R1 and R2 is an organic group containing 1 to 13 carbon atoms. Or, at least one of R1 and R2 is an organic group containing at least 3 carbon atoms and having an sp or sp2 hybridized carbon atom bonded to an sp3 hybridized carbon atom bonded to the oxygen atom bonded to the phosphorous atom, or at least one of R1 and R2 is an unsaturated inorganic group.

Abstract: A separator for shutting down current flow in a lithium or other alkali metal battery during a short circuit condition to prevent cell rupture. In one form, the separator comprises a layer of microporous polyethylene film, or other suitable microporous film having a melting point which is less than about 135° C., for providing good puncture resistance and for melting at a low temperature for increasing the margin of safety without significantly sacrificing performance. The separator also includes a layer of non-woven polypropylene, or other suitable non-woven material having a melting point which is at least about 10° C. higher than the melting point of the microporous film, to provide good strength and tear resistance so as to maintain physical integrity of the separator so that the short circuit condition is not worsened. In another form the separator comprises the combination of polyethylene on one of the battery electrodes, i.e.

Abstract: A header insulator for an electrochemical cell is described. The header insulator provides a boss for the terminal ferrule, a boss for the fill ferrule, and at least one boss disposed along the length of the insulator to provide for alignment of the electrode assembly inside the case.

Abstract: A deposition process for coating a substrate with an ultrasonically generated aerosol spray of a pseudocapacitive material, or a precursor thereof, contacted to a substrate heated to a temperature to instantaneously solidify the pseudocapacitive material or convert the precursor to a solidified pseudocapacitive metal compound, is described. The ultrasonic aerosol droplets are much smaller in size than those produced by conventional processes and the heated substrate minimizes the possibility of contamination, thereby providing the present coating having an increased surface area. When the coated substrate is an electrode in a capacitor, a greater surface area results in an increased electrode capacitance.

Abstract: The basket weave structures has a lattice construction surrounded by a frame and comprising first strand structures intersecting second strand structures to provide a plurality of diamond-shaped openings or interstices bordered by the strands. The strand structures intersect or join with each other at junctions thereby forming the current collector as an integral unit.

Abstract: An electrode assembly constructed of continuous anode and cathode electrodes that are overlaid in overlapping fashion and wound into a cell stack suitable for prismatic and cuboidal-shaped cases. The cathode electrode strip has some regions where the electrode material is pressed to a high density and has some regions where the active material is substantially removed from the current collector screen.

Abstract: A pseudocapacitive material contacted to a substrate by a thermal spraying process, is described. Suitable thermal spraying processes include chemical combustion spraying and electrical heating spraying, using both wire and powder processes. The thusly coated substrate is useful as an electrode in an electrical energy storage device such as a capacitor, an electrochemical cell and the like.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump including a housing having an interior fluid containing region, a check valve operatively flow in a direction from an inlet toward an outlet and blocking fluid flow in a direction from the outlet to the inlet, an electromagnet carried by the housing located external to the fluid containing region, and a barrier of fluid impervious material for isolating the electromagnet from the fluid. An armature movable in the housing through pumping and return strokes has a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by the electromagnet and has a plunger portion extending from the pole portion. The armature plunger and pole portions have formations crimped together to secure the plunger and pole portions together. The barrier or an end surface of the armature pole portion are shaped to enhance separation of the barrier and armature pole portion at the beginning of the return stroke. The housing is provided with shims for adjustment of the delivered stroke volume.

Abstract: An alkali metal/solid cathode electrochemical cell, particularly a Li/CFx cell, having an electrolyte-to-cathode (E/C) weight ratio of about 0.938 to about 0.73, and an anode-to-cathode (A/C) capacity ratio of about 1.03, is described. This provides the cell with an improvement in terms of delivered capacity of about 6% to about 15% under a 1 kohm discharge load, and of about 2% to about 5% under a 2 kohm load in comparison to prior art Li/CFx cells. Fabricating the cathode electrode at such high pressures was not previously thought possible.

Abstract: An alkali metal, solid cathode, non-aqueous electrochemical cell capable of delivering high current pulses, rapidly recovering its open circuit voltage and having high current capacity, is described. The stated benefits are realized by the addition of at least one organic sulfate additive to an electrolyte comprising an alkali metal salt dissolved in a mixture of a low viscosity solvent and a high permittivity solvent. A preferred solvent mixture includes propylene carbonate, 1,2-dimethoxyethane and a sulfate additive having at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon containing a C(sp or sp2)-C(sp3) bond unit having the C(sp3) carbon directly connected to the —OSO3— functional group.

Abstract: A protection device and a method of protecting an electrical component. The protection device has a protective housing and a terminal cap. The protective housing has a base with a contact hole therethrough for receiving an electrical terminal pin, and has a projecting shoulder extending from the base to a first distance from the base. The protective housing also has a retaining clip extending from the base to a second distance from the base, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The terminal cap has a first side and a second side, and in use, at least part of the first side of the terminal cap contacts the projecting shoulder and at least part of the second side of the terminal cap contacts the retaining clip. A method according to the present invention includes steps for determining the temperature to which the protective housing was exposed.

Abstract: A protection device for an electrical component that has a protective housing and a terminal cap. The protective housing has a base with a contact hole therethrough for accommodating an electrical terminal pin. A projecting perimeter wall extends from the base. Attached to the perimeter wall is an inwardly extending tapered rib. Each rib is tapered such that the end of each rib closest to the base surface extends from the perimeter wall further than the end of the rib furthest from the base surface. A terminal cap is placed within the perimeter wall and forced toward the base surface until the tapered ribs engage and are deformed by the terminal cap to provide an interference fit between the ribs and the terminal cap. A method of assembling a battery and an electrical component with such a protection device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode assembly in which overlayed electrodes are wound together in a bi-directional fashion yielding a high energy density cell stack with low internal impedance is described. The overlayed electrodes are such that either a single cathode is paired with two anodes or a single anode is paired with two cathodes prior to winding of the cell stack assembly. For example, the electrode assembly is formed by overlapping the two anode electrodes on opposite sides of the cathode electrode across a midportion and then winding the electrode strips bi-directionally about the midportion.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode assembly in which opposite polarity electrodes are wound together in a bi-directional fashion yielding a high energy density cell stack with low internal impedance is described. Each electrodes is constructed having a slot provided into its width at about a midportion thereof. The slots are brought into registry with each other to form a collapsible X-shaped electrode assembly, which is then bi-directionally folded to provide a wound electrode assembly.

Abstract: An electrode assembly constructed of continuous anode and cathode electrodes that are overlaid in overlapping fashion and wound into a cell stack suitable for prismatic or other non-cylindrically-shaped cases. The cathode electrode strip has some regions where the electrode material is pressed to a high density and has some regions where the active material is pressed to a lower density, such that the lower density regions correspond to the bend regions in the wound cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for preparing a cathode active material consisting of a single phase of mixed metal oxide, such as a single phase silver vanadium oxide. The synthesis technique involves first heating the starting materials to melt a decomposable starting constituent. This first heating temperature is held for a period of time sufficient to enable the decomposable starting constituent to melt and completely flow throughout and within the other starting materials. Then, the thusly produced melt impregnated reaction admixture is preferably ground to ensure complete homogeneity of the starting materials, followed by heating to the decomposition temperature of the decomposable starting constituent. To finish the synthesis, the decomposed admixture is heated to an elevated temperature above the decomposition temperature to provide the single phase mixed metal oxide.