Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sodium-ion storage material and an electrode material for a sodium-ion battery, an electrode material for a seawater battery, an electrode for a sodium-ion battery, an electrode for a seawater battery, a sodium-ion battery, and a seawater battery, which include the sodium-ion storage material. Specifically, the sodium-ion storage material may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of CuxS, FeS, FeS2, Ni3S, NbS2, SbOx, SbSx, SnS and SnS2, wherein 0<x?2. When the sodium-ion storage material according to the present disclosure is used, it may exhibit high discharge capacity, and when the sodium-ion storage material is applied to a sodium-ion battery which is a secondary battery, it may exhibit excellent charge/discharge cycle characteristics.

Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between these electrodes. The positive electrode includes a positive current collector containing a first metal, a carbon layer containing a conductive carbon material, a barrier layer disposed between the positive current collector and the carbon layer, and an active layer disposed on the carbon layer. The barrier layer has conductivity and higher acid resistance than the positive current collector. The active layer contains a conductive polymer. The first metal is preferably aluminum.

Abstract: In accordance with at least certain embodiments of the present invention, a novel concept of utilizing PIMS minerals as a filler component within a microporous lead-acid battery separator is provided. In accordance with more particular embodiments or examples, the PIMS mineral (preferably fish meal, a bio-mineral) is provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler component in a silica filled lead acid battery separator (preferably a polyethylene/silica separator formulation). In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved batteries, separators, components, and/or compositions having heavy metal removal capabilities and/or methods of manufacture and/or methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Presented are fuel cell systems and control logic for extracting water from system exhaust, methods for making/using such systems, and electric-drive vehicles with aftertreatment systems for extracting water from fuel cell exhaust. An aftertreatment system for a fuel cell stack includes a condensate generator that fluidly connects to the fuel cell stack to receive exhaust output therefrom. The condensate generator includes an evaporator core with a refrigerant line that actively cool the exhaust via controlled circulation of refrigerant fluid. A condensate collector fluidly connected to the condensate generator includes a reservoir housing with a condensate trap that separates entrained water vapor from the cooled exhaust. The reservoir housing collects the separated water vapor as liquid water. A liquid storage container fluidly connected to the condensate collector receives and stores the collected water.

Abstract: Lithium ion batteries and electrolytes therefor are provided, which include electrolyte additives having dithioester functional group(s) that stabilize the SEI (solid-electrolyte interface) at the surfaces of the anode material particles, and/or stabilize the CEI (cathode electrolyte interface) at the surfaces of the cathode material particles, and/or act as oxygen scavengers to prevent cell degradation. The electrolyte additives having dithioester functional group(s) may function as polymerization controlling and/or chain transfer agents that regulate the level of polymerization of other electrolyte components, such as VC (vinyl carbonate) and improve the formation and operation of the batteries. The lithium ion batteries may have metalloid-based anodes—including mostly Si, Ge and/or Sn as anode active material particles.

Abstract: Batteries include an anode, an electrolyte having a high solubility for lithium ions and oxygen, and a cathode formed on a substrate. Lithium ions migrate from the anode through the electrolyte to form Li2O2 at a surface of the cathode. A current collector positioned in the electrolyte, the electrolyte separating the anode from the cathode.

Abstract: In a production method and a production apparatus for producing a joint separator, in the state where first and second separators are stacked together, a step of fixing the first and second separators by holding the first and second separators between a base and a holder is performed. Thereafter, a step of welding the first and second separators by radiating a laser light from laser light emitting units, through gaps provided in the holder is performed. After the welding step, an additional pressing step of moving pressing members ahead through the gaps to press heat affected zones welded by the laser light, by the pressing members is performed.

Abstract: A pouch battery contains a pouch, an electrode material and a safety protection device. The electrode material is located in the pouch. The safety protection device is configured to generate an action based on a change in gas pressure within the pouch. In this way, even if the pouch battery is abnormal, its internal circuit can be cut off in time to avoid providing power to external devices while being under abnormal conditions.

Abstract: An electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter includes a primary thermal energy source; a working fluid; an electrochemical cell comprising at least one membrane electrode assembly including a first porous electrode, a second porous electrode and at least one membrane, wherein the at least one membrane is sandwiched between the first and second porous electrodes and is a conductor of ions of the working fluid; an energy storage reservoir; and an external load. The electrochemical cell operates on heat to produce electricity. When thermal energy available from the primary thermal energy source is greater than necessary to meet demands of the external load, excess energy is stored in the energy storage reservoir, and when the thermal energy available from the primary thermal energy source is insufficient to meet the demands of the external load, at least a portion of the excess energy stored in the energy storage reservoir is used to supply power to the external load.

Abstract: An alkaline dry cell includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an electrolytic solution contained in the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator, wherein the electrolytic solution contains an alkaline aqueous solution. The negative electrode contains an additive and a negative electrode active material containing zinc; and the additive contains at least one selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and salts of the foregoing. The amount of the negative electrode active material contained in the negative electrode is from 176 to 221 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of water contained in the electrolytic solution. The amount of the additive contained in the negative electrode is from 0.1 to 1.0 part by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the negative electrode active material.

Abstract: Discussed is a notching apparatus for a secondary battery that includes: a lower mechanism comprising a die and a die holder to which the die is fixed, the die engaging an electrode provided with a coating portion and a non-coating portion; a stripper including a first stripper pressing the coating portion and a pair of second strippers pressing and fixing the non-coating portion; an upper mechanism including a punch provided between the pair of second strippers and provided with a cutting blade cutting the non-coating portion disposed between the pair of second strippers and a punch holder allowing the punch to move in a direction of the lower mechanism; and a pressing member pressing the non-coating portion disposed between the pair of second strippers to increase in tension force when the non-coating portion is cut by the punch.

Abstract: A stainless steel substrate used for a fuel cell separator that is excellent in corrosion resistance is disclosed. The embodiments relate to a stainless steel substrate used for a fuel cell separator, comprising substantially no Nb, and comprising Ti.

Abstract: Among other things, a gas storage system includes a group of capsules and an activation element coupled to the group. The group of capsules are formed within a substrate and contain gas stored at a relatively high pressure compared to atmospheric pressure. The activation element is configured to deliver energy in an amount sufficient to cause at least one of the capsules to release stored gas.

Abstract: A button battery and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The button battery includes a housing with a positive electrode shell and a negative electrode shell, wherein a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates are provided in the housing. The positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are stacked at intervals to form a columnar cell. The positive electrode plates and the negative electrode plates are connected to the positive electrode shell and the negative electrode shell through a current collector respectively.

Abstract: A power storage module includes: a plurality of power storage elements; a plurality of cooling members each of which has a coolant and a sealing body hermetically sealing the coolant, is stacked on the power storage element, and is configured to form a bulging portion by deformation of the sealing body caused by evaporation of the coolant at an extension portion extending in a region not overlapping the power storage element; and a heat dissipation member that receives heat of the plurality of cooling members and dissipates the heat to an outside. The heat dissipation member has a spacer portion that is disposed between the adjacent extension portions of the plurality of cooling members and is configured to abut with the bulging portion.

Abstract: Provided are a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, a method of preparing the same, and a lithium secondary battery including a cathode including the cathode active material. The cathode active material includes: a secondary particle of a nickel-based active material, wherein the secondary particle including a plurality of primary particles, wherein the secondary particle includes a radial arrangement structure and an irregular porous structure, the radial arrangement structure is located closer to a surface of the secondary particle than the irregular porous structure, and a lithium fluoride-based compound is present on a surface of the nickel-based active material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a lithium difluorophosphate crystal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of preparing a high-purity lithium difluorophosphate crystal at a high yield, and the high-purity lithium difluorophosphate crystal prepared by the method can be used for various purposes.

Abstract: A hybrid electrolyte includes: an inorganic solid electrolyte; and an organic electrolyte, wherein the organic electrolyte includes an organic salt including an organic cation and an organic anion, and the organic cation includes a halogen. An electrode and a solid-state secondary battery each includes the hybrid electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a microelectronic device, successively including: forming a first current collector on a face of a substrate; forming a first electrode on, and in electrical continuity with, a portion of the first current collector; heat treating the first electrode wherein: forming the first collector comprises forming a first collector layer on the face of the substrate and forming a second collector layer covering at least one part to produce a covered part of the first collector layer and having a first face in contact with the first electrode, the second collector layer is configured to protect the covered part during the heat treating, such that the heat treating does not oxidise the covered part.

Abstract: A novel hybrid lithium-ion anode material based on coaxially coated Si shells on vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (CNF) arrays. The unique cup-stacking graphitic microstructure makes the bare vertically aligned CNF array an effective Li+ intercalation medium. Highly reversible Li+ intercalation and extraction were observed at high power rates. More importantly, the highly conductive and mechanically stable CNF core optionally supports a coaxially coated amorphous Si shell which has much higher theoretical specific capacity by forming fully lithiated alloy. Addition of surface effect dominant sites in close proximity to the intercalation medium results in a hybrid device that includes advantages of both batteries and capacitors.