Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for indicating battery damage. A battery may comprise an odorant and/or visible indicator material configured to be released in response to battery damage. The battery may be configured to release the odorant and/or visible indicator in response to damage to the battery housing, a cell or cells in the battery, a seal of the battery, or any other specific component of the battery. The odorant and/or visible indicator may be stored in free space in the battery housing, a battery cell, or other battery component. The battery may be configured to emit an audible and/or visible indication of battery damage in addition to releasing the odorant and/or visible indicator.

Abstract: The object is to provide a secondary battery with higher performance, and especially to provide a secondary battery having low impedance. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a secondary battery, comprising an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are oppositely disposed, an electrolyte liquid, and a package which encloses the electrode assembly and the electrolyte liquid inside; wherein the negative electrode is formed by binding a negative electrode active substance to a negative electrode collector with a negative electrode binder; and wherein the electrolyte liquid comprises a fluorine-containing cyclic ether compound.

Abstract: An alkaline, rechargeable electrochemical cell includes a pasted electrode structure in which a composition comprising a paste matrix component includes cobalt in an amount greater than 6 weight percent ranging up to 14 weight percent. The matrix may also include a rare earth such as yttrium. The composition further includes particles of nickel hydroxide dispersed in the matrix, and these particles include cobalt levels ranging from greater than 8 atomic percent up to 15 atomic percent. Cells incorporating these materials have good charging efficiency at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A fuel cell plate includes at least one circulation channel for a reagent. The at least one circulation channel has an inlet communicating with a reagent distribution orifice formed through the plate. The plate also includes a reagent inlet collector orifice that is distinct from the reagent distribution orifice.

Abstract: The electrode active material includes a carbon material having a volume of macropores with 50 to 400 nm pore diameters of 0.05 to 0.40 cc/g. The carbon material may be a composite carbon material that contains a carbon material forming a core, and a coating carbon material covering at least part of the core-forming carbon material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery assembly with high thermal conductivity. The battery assembly comprises a metal case having a hollow accommodation cavity formed therein, a plurality of battery cells installed parallel to one another within the metal case, and a common electrode for connection to the other electrode in each of the battery cells. Each of the battery cells has two electrodes, with one of the electrodes that corresponds to those of the rest of the battery cells being connected in a thermally conductive manner to the metal case. The invention takes advantage of high thermal conductivity of metallic material and dissipates heat by connecting the metal case to the battery electrodes. The invention further comprises fixation troughs formed on the metal case, thereby reducing the size of the assembly.

Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery cell, a protection circuit module, and a temperature sensor, which are each held by a case. The case includes a dedicated space for the temperature sensor and a fixing element to fix the temperature sensor in the dedicated space.

Abstract: A binder resin for an electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided, which is used as the binder resin in a slurry composition for an electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, containing a binder resin, an active material and an organic solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte for batteries and a nonaqueous secondary battery using the same which maintains small internal resistance and high electric capacity in high temperature storage. The nonaqueous electrolyte has an electrolyte salt, a compound of general formula (1), and a compound of general formula (2) dissolved in an organic solvent. The ratio of the compound of formula (2) to the sum of the compound of formula (1) and the compound of formula (2) is 0.1 to 8 mass %. In the formulae, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represent C1-C8 alkyl.

Abstract: An alkaline, rechargeable electrochemical cell includes a pasted electrode structure in which a composition comprising a paste matrix component includes cobalt in an amount greater than 6 weight percent ranging up to 14 weight percent. The matrix may also include a rare earth such as yttrium. The composition further includes particles of nickel hydroxide dispersed in the matrix, and these particles include cobalt levels ranging from greater than 8 atomic percent up to 15 atomic percent. Cells incorporating these materials have good charging efficiency at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery is provided with a negative/positive electrode collector (18), which are disposed on either one of a wound negative/positive electrode substrate exposed portion (15), and a negative/positive electrode collector receiving member (19) which is disposed on another surface. At least one of the negative/positive electrode collector has a recess portion (30) formed in part on a surface on the side not facing the negative/positive electrode substrate exposed portions so as to be thinner than the thickness of the other portion. Resistance welding is carried out in this recessed part, thereby a large welding nugget is formed between the negative/positive electrode exposed portion and the negative/positive electrode collector.

Abstract: Reactors and methods that generate hydrogen from fuel, such as naturally-occurring or synthesized hydrocarbon fuel. One embodiment of the reactor comprises a CO2/H2 active membrane piston disposed inside a cylinder that provides for highly efficient and scalable hydrogen generation from hydrocarbon fuels. This embodiment may function in a two or four stroke modes. Another embodiment of the reactor comprises a dual piston configuration having CO2 and H2 active membrane pistons inside a single cylinder. Other embodiments of the reactor comprise flexible membranes or diaphragms that operate in a manner similar to pistons with or without regeneration of residual reaction products.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lithium-ion battery is provided comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator situated between the electrodes. At least one of the electrodes may include a proton absorbing material. The proton absorbing material may be an atomic intermetallic material including a proton absorbed state. The proton absorbing material may react with protons in the electrolyte to reduce moisture formation and cathode degradation in the battery. The proton absorbing material may absorb at least 0.5 wt. % hydrogen and may be present in the anode and/or cathode in an amount from 0.01 to 5 wt. %.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anode for a lithium secondary battery. The anode includes a current collector in the form of a wire and a porous anode active material layer coated to surround the surface of the current collector. The three-dimensional porous structure of the active material layer increases the surface area of the anode. Accordingly, the mobility of lithium ions through the anode is improved, achieving superior battery performance. In addition, the porous structure allows the anode to relieve internal stress and pressure, such as swelling, occurring during charge and discharge of a battery, ensuring high stability of the battery while preventing deformation of the battery. These advantages make the anode suitable for use in a cable-type secondary battery. Further disclosed is a lithium secondary battery including the anode.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel cathodes having a reduced resistivity and other improved electrical properties. Furthermore, this invention also presents methods of manufacturing novel electrochemical cells and novel cathodes. These novel cathodes comprise a silver material that is doped with a high valence early transition metal species.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator and a method for surface treatment of the same, in which ionized nanoparticles are attached to the surface of a separator to form fine projections such that the surface of the separator exhibits superhydrophobicity. For this purpose, the present invention provides a method for surface treatment of a fuel cell separator which provides nanoparticles for forming fine projections on the surface of the separator to a discharge electrode and ionizes the nanoparticles by an arc discharge generated in the discharge electrode. The ionized nanoparticles are then attached to the surface of the separator by an electric field generated by applying a high voltage between the separator and the discharge electrode, thereby forming fine projections for imparting superhydrophobicity.

Abstract: A safety vent including: a vent 3 that allows gas generated inside a laminate type battery 2 to release to the outside, a gas permeated membrane 4 through which the gas permeates, and a housing case 5 that internally houses the vent 3 and the gas permeated membrane 4, and that is attached to a gas spout out port 24 formed in a laminated exterior casing 21 of the laminate type battery 2.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack has a first block having a first number of cells, a first fuel supply channel for supplying fuel gas to the first block, a collecting channel for collecting fuel gas which has passed through the first block, a second block having a second number of cells, the second number being smaller than the first number, a second fuel supply channel for supplying the second block with fuel gas which has been collected into the collecting channel, and a discharge channel for discharging fuel gas which has passed through the second block. A throttling section smaller in channel diameter than first and second fuel gas trunk channels, first and second branch channels, the collecting channel, and the discharge channel is provided downstream of the collecting channel and upstream of the second fuel supply channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery or supercapacitor current collector which is prelithiated. The prelithiated current collector comprises: (a) an electrically conductive substrate having two opposed primary surfaces, and (b) a mixture layer of carbon (and/or other stabilizing element, such as B, Al, Ga, In, C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, Te, or a combination thereof) and lithium or lithium alloy coated on at least one of the primary surfaces, wherein lithium element is present in an amount of 1% to 99% by weight of the mixture layer. This current collector serves as an effective and safe lithium source for a wide variety of electrochemical energy storage cells, including the rechargeable lithium cell (e.g. lithium-metal, lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur, lithium-air, lithium-graphene, lithium-carbon, and lithium-carbon nanotube cell) and the lithium ion based supercapacitor cell (e.g, symmetric ultracapacitor, asymmetric ultracapacitor, hybrid supercapacitor-battery, or lithium-ion capacitor).

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack constituting a fuel cell module, electrolyte/electrode assemblies and separators are alternately laminated. An electrolyte/electrode assembly is arranged on one end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction, while a separator is arranged on the other end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction. A terminal separator is arranged adjacent to the electrolyte/electrode assembly, while a load relaxation member is arranged adjacent to the separator. The terminal separator controls the supply of a fuel gas to a fuel gas channel, and the load relaxation member is configured of a laminate of a plurality of flat metal plates.