Abstract: This invention uses the process of osmosis and diffusion of a liquid of low concentration into a liquid of high concentration. The device taps the energy created by a liquid of low concentration flowing into a liquid of high concentration. The inventor has created several embodiments that can be heat engines, heat pumps, energy storage devices, and batteries. The invention changes solar ponds and concentration cells into heat storage devices and rechargeable batteries. Osmosis at two semipervious membranes, one heated and one cooled, in a loop of tubing produces a heat engine. A heat pipe is changed into a heat engine by using different concentrations at each end. Two vessels, one containing a high concentration of a liquid and the other containing a low concentration of a liquid, can be configured with the used of electrodes, turbines, semipervious membranes into heat engines, heat pumps, energy storage devices, and batteries.

Abstract: A hand holdable light comprises: a light body having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a central portion between the forward portion and to the rearward portion; a light source proximate a forward end; and a switch for energizing the light source. The rearward portion has a non-circular cross-section; the switch is on the forward portion; and the central portion has a recess opposite the switch. The light is holdable by a hand with a finger or thumb proximate the recess and the other of a finger or thumb proximate the switch. A battery assembly comprises: a battery housing for receiving and connecting a battery; an electrical switch on a first end of the battery housing; and a pattern of electrical contacts on a second end of the battery housing, wherein ones of the electrical contacts are connected to the battery.

Abstract: This application relates to the technical field of energy storage devices, and in particular, to a device, a battery pack, and a battery module. The battery module includes a battery cell and an insulation board. The insulation board includes a body portion and a first bulge. The first bulge includes a sidewall and a top wall that close in to form an accommodation cavity. At least a part of an electrode terminal is accommodated in the accommodation cavity, and the top wall covers a part of the electrode terminal, thereby reducing a risk of letting metal particles or other impurities enter a position between the battery cells, where the metal particles are generated during welding. This reduces difficulty of cleaning the battery module, and improves safety and reliability of the battery module.

Abstract: A negative active material, a lithium battery including the negative active material, and a method of preparing the negative active material. The negative active material includes: a core particle including a silicon based alloy; carbon nanoparticles disposed on a surface of the core particle; and an amorphous carbonaceous coating layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the core particle. The negative active material may improve the lifetime characteristics of the lithium batteries.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an electrode-separator composite: including (S1) coating an electrode active material slurry on at least one surface of an electrode current collector and drying to form an electrode, (S2) coating a polymer solution containing polymer particles on at least one surface of the electrode to form a separator coating layer, and (S3) drying the separator coating layer to form a porous separator, and an electrode-separator composite manufactured by the manufacturing method and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same.

Abstract: A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a composite carbon particle including a core particle including crystalline-based carbon and a coating layer positioned on the surface of the core particle and including amorphous carbon. A peak intensity (I1620) at 1620 cm?1 ranges from about 0.01 to about 0.1, a peak intensity (I1360) at 1360 cm?1 ranges from about 0.05 to about 0.5, and a peak intensity (I1580 at 1580 cm?1 ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.8 in a Raman spectrum of the composite carbon particle.

Abstract: A micro-battery is provided in which a metallic sealing layer is used to provide a hermetic seal between an anode side of the micro-battery and the cathode side of the micro-battery. In accordance with the present application, the metallic sealing layer is formed around a perimeter of each metallic anode structure located on the anode side and then the metallic sealing layer is bonded to a solderable metal layer of a wall structure present on the cathode side. The wall structure contains a cavity that exposes a metallic current collector structure, the cavity is filled with battery materials.

Abstract: A liquid reserve battery including: a collapsible storage unit having a liquid electrolyte stored therein; a battery cell in communication with an outlet of the collapsible storage unit, the battery cell having gaps dispersed therein; a first pyrotechnic material partially disposed adjacent the collapsible storage unit such that initiation of the first pyrotechnic material provides pressure to collapse the collapsible storage unit to heat and force the liquid electrolyte through the outlet and into the gaps; and a tube disposed in the battery cell, wherein second pyrotechnic material is disposed in the tube, the tube being one of formed of an electrically non-conductive material or covered with an electrically non-conductive material.

Abstract: There is provided a cathode active material precursor for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that is a complex metal hydroxide with a flow factor of 10 or greater to 20 or smaller.

Abstract: In an example, a process includes applying a platinum catalyst ink solution to a polymeric substrate to form a platinum-coated polymeric material having a first catalytic surface area. The process further includes utilizing a laser to process a portion of the platinum-coated polymeric material to form a patterned platinum-coated proton exchange membrane (PEM) material. The patterned platinum-coated PEM material has a second catalytic surface area that is greater than the first catalytic surface area.

Abstract: The present invention provided a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery including lithium cobalt oxide particles. The lithium cobalt oxide particles include lithium deficient lithium cobalt oxide having Li/Co molar ratio of less than 1, belongs to an Fd-3m space group, and having a cubic crystal structure, in surface of the particle and in a region corresponding to a distance from 0% to less than 100% from the surface of the particle relative to a distance (r) from the surface to the center of the particle. In the positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to the present invention, the intercalation and deintercalation of lithium at the surface of a particle may be easy, and the output property and rate characteristic may be improved when applied to a battery.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery that includes a positive electrode combination material having a positive electrode active material that produces a potential of 4.5 V or higher on the basis of metal lithium; a conduction aid; and a binder. The binder contains an aqueous binder as its main constituent, and the sum SE of the surface area SA of the positive electrode active material in the positive electrode combination material and the surface area SC of the conduction aid therein is 90 to 400 cm2/cm2 per unit coated area of the positive electrode combination material.

Abstract: Disclosed are embossed microporous membranes, as well as articles (e.g., battery separators, materials, textiles, composites, and laminates) comprising the embossed microporous membranes. Also provided are methods of making and/or using embossed microporous membranes.

Abstract: A coated nickel hydroxide powder that has improved dispersibility in a paste to inhibit agglomeration and can be densely packed in a three-dimensional metal porous body in the preparation of a positive electrode for alkaline secondary battery includes nickel hydroxide particles and a coating layer made of a cobalt compound and formed on a surface of the nickel hydroxide particles, wherein when 10 mL of water is added to 10 g of the coated nickel hydroxide powder to prepare a suspension, a total amount of eluted ions except for oxonium ions, hydroxide ions, and carbonate ions in the suspension is 6.5 mmol/L or less. The coated nickel hydroxide powder obtained through a crystallization step, a coating step, and a washing step is dried in a drying step in a decarbonated atmosphere whose partial pressure of a carbon-containing gas is 15 Pa or less.

Abstract: A positive active material, a method of preparing the positive active material, a positive electrode including the positive active material, and a lithium battery including the positive active material are disclosed. The positive active material includes a core and a coating layer on the core. The coating layer includes a sulfur component. When a binding energy peak of the sulfur is measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the binding energy peak is observed at about 165 eV to about 168 eV, and the stability of the positive active material may be improved due to the coating layer. Accordingly, the lifespan properties of a lithium battery including the positive active material may be improved.

Abstract: An exemplary method of cooling a fuel cell includes directing coolant through a coolant supply channel near at least one reactant flow channel. The coolant supply channel extends from a coolant inlet spaced from a reactant inlet to a coolant outlet. The coolant supply channel includes a first portion starting at the coolant inlet and a second portion near the reactant inlet. The first portion facilitates coolant flow from the coolant inlet directly toward the second portion. The second portion includes a plurality of channel sections that collectively facilitate coolant flow in a plurality of directions along the second portion near the reactant inlet. The coolant supply channel includes a third portion between the second portion and the coolant outlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power storage device packaging material. The packaging material includes at least a substrate protective layer, a substrate layer, an adhesive layer, a metal foil layer, a sealant adhesive layer, and a sealant layer in this order. The substrate protective layer is a cured product of a raw material containing a polyester resin and a polyisocyanate compound, has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 60 to 140° C., and has a thickness of 1 to 5 ?m, with a ratio of the thickness of the substrate protective layer to the thickness of the substrate layer being 35% or less.

Abstract: A separator for an energy store. The separator may be used in a lithium-sulfur battery in particular. To achieve improved cycle stability, the separator has at least one first layer and at least one second layer, the at least one first layer containing a material having an affine property with respect to at least one active electrode material, and the at least one second layer containing a material having a repellent property with respect to at least one active electrode material. The at least one first layer and the at least one second layer may be situated directly adjacent to one another. Also described is an energy store including the separator.

Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes an outer case, and an energy storage device housed in an inside of the outer case. The outer case includes a ventilation chamber which makes the inside and an outside of the outer case communicate with each other. The ventilation chamber includes a front wall in which a through hole communicating with the outside is formed, a back wall disposed at a position where the back wall opposedly faces the front wall, a first wall disposed between the through hole and the back wall, and a first side wall disposed in an extending manner along a first direction which intersects with the front wall with a gap formed between the first side wall and the first wall. The gap is formed over a distance from the front wall to the back wall along the first direction.

Abstract: A method of making a cover for the positive plate for acid batteries, comprising a set of thermally formed tubes of non-woven fabric, characterised in that a tape (1) of non-woven fabric of a width corresponding to the length of future tubes is wrapped into a single, oval loop, and the extreme ends are laid so as to form an overlap (2) in the zone between vertices (4) of the loop, then the loop is stitched crosswise to form a set of multiple channels (3) which are then thermally formed into cover tubes (6).