Abstract: An electrically conductive fluid distribution element for use in a fuel cell having a conductive non-metallic porous media having a surface with an electrically conductive metal deposited along one or more metallized regions. The metallized regions are arranged to contact a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in a fuel cell assembly, and thus improve electrical conductance at contact regions between the MEA and the fluid distribution media. Methods of making such a fluid distribution element and operating fuel cell assemblies are also provided.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery has a wound electrode assembly (5). The wound electrode assembly (5) has a negative electrode (2) having a negative electrode active material layer containing a negative electrode active material capable of alloying with lithium and having a filling density of 2.0 g/cc or less, a positive electrode (1) having a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material made of a transition metal composite oxide, a separator (3) disposed between the positive and negative electrodes and having a penetration resistance of 500 g or greater, and a cylindrical hollow space (14) at a winding axis and in the vicinity thereof, wherein the positive electrode (1), the negative electrode (2), and the separator (3) are spirally wound. A columnar center pin (15) having a diameter of from 75% to 95% of the diameter of the hollow space is disposed in the hollow space.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a can having an opening at one end of the can. The electrode assembly is housed in the can. A cap plate seals the opening. The cap plate includes an electrolyte injection hole. An electrode terminal is coupled to the cap plate electrical connecting the electrode terminal and the electrode assembly. A gasket is located between the electrode terminal and the cap plate to insulate the electrode terminal from the cap plate. A plug seals the electrolyte injection hole, the plug being coated with an elastic film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst-coated ion-conducting membrane and a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) for electrochemical devices, in particular for fuel cells. The catalyst-coated, ion-conducting membrane is provided with a sealing material which is applied in the edge region to one side of the membrane and has a thickness which corresponds to at least the total thickness of the catalyst-coated membrane. Owing to their simple, material-conserving construction, the catalyst-coated ion-conducting membranes and the membrane-electrode assemblies produced therefrom can be manufactured inexpensively. They are used in PEM fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), electrolyzers and other electrochemical devices.

Abstract: A method of refurbishing a lithium-containing energy storage and/or conversion device is disclosed, wherein the energy storage and/or conversion device includes electrodes and an electrolyte, and wherein the method includes substantially removing the electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device, substantially removing waste products from surfaces of the electrodes, and adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cylindrical secondary battery constructed in a structure in which a crimping region, at which a cap assembly is mounted to the open upper end of a cylindrical container having an electrode assembly mounted therein, is formed at the upper end of the container, wherein the crimping region is constructed in a structure in which the upper end of the crimping region is gently bent at a predetermined radius of curvature (R), such that the crimping region surrounds a gasket located at the inside of the crimping region, the bent front end extends inward, such that the bent end presses the gasket, and an inclination of a predetermined angle is formed at the sidewall of the crimping region, such that the upper part of the crimping region is directed inward. According to the secondary battery of the present invention, the sealability of the gasket is improved, and external impacts are partially absorbed by the inclination formed at the crimping region.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell, and a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell system including the same. The electrode for a fuel cell includes a supporter including a nano-carbon fiber, a nano-carbon grown from the nano-carbon fiber, and a catalyst disposed on the nano-carbon.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an electrode for fuel cells which can manufacture an electrode having superior electric power generation characteristics by enlarging the contact area of a polymer electrolyte with catalyst particles to increase the area of the three-phase interface, resulting in improvement of availability of the catalyst particle surface.

Abstract: The nickel hydroxide particles for a nickel hydroxide electrode may be treated using an alkaline solution of a strong oxidizing agent such as sodium or potassium persulfate to modify the surface nickel hydroxide structure. The resulting modified surface structure has been found to impart various benefits to electrodes formed from the nickel hydroxide. It is believed that the oxidation of cobalt compounds at the surface of the nickel hydroxide particles results in a highly conductive cobalt compound that plays an important role in the high reliability, high stability and high capacity utilization of nickel electrodes as described herein.

Abstract: Active material for a positive electrode of a rechargeable alkaline electrochemical cell is made with nickel hydroxide particles or cobalt-coated nickel hydroxide particles treated with strongly oxidizing reagents such as alkali metal persulfate in alkaline solution. The active material also may be made with cobalt-coated nickel hydroxide particles having a high percentage of cobalt(III) on a surface or an average cobalt oxidation state of about 3 measured across the particles. The treated nickel hydroxide or cobalt-coated nickel hydroxide decreases the cobalt solubility in the alkaline electrolyte and increases the high-rate charge and discharge capability. The lower cobalt solubility decreases cobalt migration that can increase self discharge and lead to premature failure.

Abstract: Problems of acceleration of drying of electrolyte membrane and local reaction, etc. can be properly coped with to attain the stabilization of performance of fuel cell.

Abstract: A unit cell for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a membrane/electrode assembly including a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode disposed on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the assembly being sandwiched from either side by a first separator and a second separator to give a stacked construction to form therebetween a fuel gas flow passage and an oxidant gas flow passage. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane has a projecting portion projecting outwardly beyond the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode, and the projecting portion is coated by a reinforcing resin member. Connecting grooves formed on a primary face of the separators connecting both ends of the fuel gas/oxidant gas flow passages with a fuel/oxidant gas feed/discharge ports, respectively. The reinforcing resin member is placed so as to bridge openings of the connecting grooves in order to give a tunnel construction to the connecting grooves.

Abstract: A strategy of controlling a state of hydration of a fuel cell(s) and actively managing operation of the fuel cell(s) to achieve a desired state of hydration. The control strategy monitors the state of hydration and a rate of change of the state of hydration which are used to control the operation of the fuel cell(s). A supervisory control strategy is implemented that alters the operating parameters of the fuel cell(s) based upon the state of hydration, the rate of change of the state of hydration, and a desired operational range for the state of hydration.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte for an electrochemical half-cell, such as a reference half-cell, contains a polymer which can be produced by polymerization of N-acryloyl-amino-ethoxy-ethanol or by co-polymerization of N-acryloyl-amino-ethoxy-ethanol with at least one further monomer component.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit incorporates a pair of plates; one plate an anode, the other a cathode. Respective anode and cathode plates are physically bonded together to form such pairs; wherein pluralities of the pairs are secured together to form commercially available fuel cells utilized to generate electric power. Material employed between respective pairs of plates are in the nature of resilient media arranged about selected areas of the plates to confine paths for fluids adapted to flow within said selected areas. A method of manufacturing such fuel cell units involves the injection of a rapidly curable liquid silicone material into aligned apertures of the respective plates, whereby liquid silicone material flows through and between the plates to a) seal between respective anode and cathode plates and to b) form an insulation layer on the backside of the anode.

Abstract: A fuel cell having a heat exchanger that has a structure suitable for reducing space occupancy of the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a stack where a chemical reaction for transforming chemical energy of a fuel into electricity occurs and a heat exchanger that removes heat generated during the energy transformation process in the stack, wherein the heat exchanger is built in at least one plate mounted on the stack. Therefore, the occupancy of the fuel cell can be reduced to be approximately half of a conventional externally mounted type heat exchanger.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell containing an electricity-generating element with at least a cathode, a separator and an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte inside a cathode case, electrode units each consisting of the cathode and the anode opposite to each another via the separator laminated to form an electrode group, or an electrode unit in a sheet form consisting of the cathode and the anode opposite to each another via the separator wound to form an electrode group, or a sheet-shape cathode wrapped with the separator except for a part contacting at inner face of cathode case and a sheet-shaped anode set on the sheet-shaped cathode in a right angled position each other and bent alternately to form an electrode group, and the total sum of the areas of the opposing cathode and anode in the electrode group larger than the area of the opening of an insulating gasket in a sealed portion in the cathode case or than the area of an opening in a sealed plate in a sealed portion in the cathode case.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes at least one electrode operatively disposed in the fuel cell, and having a catalytically active surface. The present invention further includes a mechanism for maintaining a substantially uniform maximum catalytic activity over the surface of the electrode.

Abstract: The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention is equipped with a cell having an MEA having a hydrogen ion-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane and an anode and a cathode sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; a platelike anode-side separator positioned on one side of the MEA so that the front surface thereof contacts the anode, with fuel gas passages through which fuel gas flows being formed in the front surface; and a platelike cathode-side separator positioned on the other side of the MEA so that the front surface thereof contacts the cathode, with oxidizing gas passages through which oxidizing gas flows being formed in the front surface; a cell stack in which a plurality of said cells is stacked; and a cooling water flow passage, through which cooling water flows, formed on at least the rear surface of one from among the anode-side separator and the cathode-side separator of at least a prescribed cell in said cell stack; where said fuel gas, oxidizing gas, and cooling water flow thro

Abstract: The solid electrolyte of the present invention is composed of an organic/inorganic composite material having pores with a mean pore diameter of 1 to 30 nm and having a skeleton comprising a metal atom, an oxygen atom bonded to the metal atom, and an organic group having at least one carbon atom bonded to the metal atom or the oxygen atom, and a functional group having an ion exchange function and bonded to the organic group inside the pores. As a result, even if the relative pressure of the water vapor in the atmosphere is less than 1.0, it is still possible to achieve a solid electrolyte with a sufficiently high ion conductivity at a lower temperature than with a conventional solid electrolyte such as stabilized zirconia.