Abstract: There are disclosed electrolytes comprising solutions of lithium salts with large anions in polar aprotic solvents with a particular concentration of background salts. The concentration of the background salts is selected to be equal or close to the concentration of a saturated solution of these salts in the aprotic solvents used. The electrolytes disclosed can be used in chemical sources of electric energy such as secondary (rechargeable) cells and batteries comprising sulphur-based positive active materials. The use of such electrolytes increases cycling efficiency and cycle life of the cells and batteries.

Abstract: A portable battery-operated tool has a frame on which there are a working component, a drive, and a battery assembly. The battery assembly consists of a battery with at least a first electrical connector and housing with at least a second electrical connector. The battery is movable guidingly between first and second positions. With the battery in the first position the at least first electrical connector is electrically engaged with the at least second electrical connector. With the battery in the second position the at least first electrical connector is electrically disengaged from the at least second electrical connector so that the battery is not powering the drive to allow the drive to be operated. The battery assembly further has a locking assembly through which the battery is selectively releasably fixed in the second position.

Abstract: A Si—O—Al composite comprising silicon, silicon oxide, and aluminum oxide exhibits a powder XRD spectrum in which the intensity of a signal of silicon at 28.3° is 1-9 times the intensity of a signal near 21°. A negative electrode material comprising the Si—O—Al composite is used to construct a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which is improved in 1st cycle charge/discharge efficiency and cycle performance while maintaining the high battery capacity and low volume expansion upon charging of silicon oxide.

Abstract: In a rechargeable battery, a case is combined with an upper surface of a bare cell by being fixed to a lead plate electrically coupling a protection circuit board of a protection circuit module to the bare cell. Alternatively, the case is combined with the bare cell by being fixed to the protection circuit board so as not to be separated from the bare cell, thereby improving the reliability of the products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery separator including: a porous substrate; and a layer of a crosslinked polymer supported on at least one surface of the porous substrate, in which the crosslinked polymer is obtained by reacting (a) a reactive polymer having, in the molecule thereof, a reactive group containing active hydrogen with (b) a polycarbonate urethane prepolymer terminated by an isocyanate group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery separator including: a porous substrate; and a layer of a crosslinked polymer supported on at least one surface of the porous substrate, in which the crosslinked polymer is obtained by reacting (a) a reactive polymer having, in the molecule thereof, a first reactive group containing active hydrogen and a second reactive group having cationic polymerizability with (b) a polycarbonate urethane prepolymer terminated by an isocyanate group.

Abstract: Provided are a three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body in which the diameter of cells in the porous body is uneven in the thickness direction of the porous body; a current collector and an electrode each using the aluminum porous body; and methods for producing these members. The porous body is a three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body in a sheet form, for a current collector, in which the diameter of cells in the porous body is uneven in the thickness direction of the porous body. When a cross section in the thickness direction of the three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body is divided into three regions of a region 1, a region 2 and a region 3 in this order, the average cell diameter of the regions 1 and 3 is preferably different from the cell diameter of the region 2.

Abstract: A battery may include a short circuit member connected to a terminal having a first polarity and a deformable conductive member having a second polarity, the deformable conductive member being insulated from the short circuit member, the deformable conductive member being configured to contact the short circuit member when a voltage applied thereto exceeds a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery units, each including an electrode assembly and an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a bus bar connecting the electrode terminal of a first battery unit of the plurality of battery units and the electrode terminal of a second battery unit of the plurality of battery units; and a position arrangement unit configured to maintain a position of the bus bar relative to the electrode terminals of the first and second battery units.

Abstract: A fuel cell system performs control such that when a power requirement for the fuel cell is lower than a predetermined value, a supply of a reaction gas to a fuel cell is stopped to keep an output voltage from the fuel cell equal to a high-potential avoidance voltage that is lower than an open end voltage. The fuel cell system further controls the output voltage from the fuel cell with the high-potential avoidance voltage set to be an upper limit when the power requirement for the fuel cell is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. By setting the upper limit of the output voltage of the fuel cell to be the high-potential avoidance voltage, which is lower than the open end voltage, the catalyst can be inhibited from being degraded by an increase in the output voltage from the fuel cell up to the open end voltage.

Abstract: To improve high temperature storage characteristic of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery suitable for high input/output application, the structure of a positive electrode active material is optimized. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material includes secondary particles, each formed of an aggregate of primary particles. A value (VPr) defined by the formula: VPr=(1?C/D)/(A2×B3) is not less than 0.0005 and not greater than 0.04, where an average particle size of the primary particles is A ?m, an average particle size of the positive electrode active material is B ?m, a tap density of the positive electrode active material is C g/ml, and a true specific gravity of the positive electrode active material is D g/ml.

Abstract: An improved battery construction for increasing the life of a storage battery is disclosed, the storage battery including a lid addition integral with the battery case or jar which condenses escaping dielectric fluid and causes the condensed liquid to return to the main supply of dielectric fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery module comprising: a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules electrically connected with each other; a first module case constructed in a structure to entirely surround one side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a second module case coupled with the first module case, the second module case being constructed in a structure to entirely surround the other side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a sensing member mounted to the first module case or the second module case; and a battery management system (BMS) mounted to the first module case or the second module case.

Abstract: The positive electrode substrate exposed portions or the negative electrode substrate exposed portions, or both, of an electrode assembly is split into two groups, and therebetween is disposed an intermediate member made of a resin material and holding one or more connecting conductive members. Collector members for the substrate exposed portions split into two groups is electrically joined by a resistance welding method to the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, together with the connecting conductive member(s) of the intermediate member. The resin material portion of the intermediate member protrudes, in the extension direction of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups, beyond the ends of the substrate exposed portions split into two groups and the ends of the collector member to a prismatic outer can. This structure enables enhanced resistance between the substrate exposed portions and the collector member and curbs variation in the welding strength.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an electrically conductive, porous, silicon- and/or tin-containing carbon material which is suitable in particular for the production of an anode material, preferably for lithium ion batteries; in a first step of the process, preferably crystalline silicon nanoparticles and/or tin nanoparticles and/or silicon/tin nanoparticles are introduced into a matrix based on at least one organic polymer, being more particular dispersed therein, and subsequently, in a second step of the process, the resultant polymer matrix containing the silicon, tin and/or silicon/tin nanoparticles is carbonized to form carbon.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell that secures a flow path of a separator while preventing generation of a pin-hole. The membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, a microporous layer that is disposed at both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, a backing layer that is disposed on the microporous layer, and a circumferential edge protective layer that is disposed at an circumferential edge of the electrolyte membrane. An end portion of the microporous layer is positioned further inside of the membrane electrode assembly than an end portion of the backing layer. The circumferential edge protective layer is inserted between the backing layer and the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics is provided. A current collector containing copper (Cu), in which ratio I (200)/I (111) between intensity I (200) of a peak originated in (200) crystal plane of copper obtained by X-ray diffraction and intensity I (111) of a peak originated in (111) crystal plane thereof is in the range from 0.5 to 1.5.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein present a method for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication in fuel cells utilizing de-alloyed nanoparticle membranes as electrodes. A method for fabrication of a fuel cell electrode assembly, comprising: preparing a catalyst coated membrane, forming a membrane electrode assembly, assembling a fuel cell, and de-alloying the membrane electrode assembly. Further disclosed is a fuel cell apparatus, comprising a de-alloyed catalyst and a cathode comprising, a first membrane electrode assembly, wherein the de-alloyed catalyst is coated on the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a main body including a first partial header and a fastening point. The main body is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of plates forming a fuel cell stack, allowing a single plate design to be used for multiple fuel cell stack lengths having a large differential of energy requirements, affording a durable alignment mechanism for the fuel cell stack, and providing integration flexibility for components and configurations of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: Interconnection assemblies and methods are provided. An interconnection assembly includes a first cell tab constructed of a first metal, and a second cell tab disposed against the first cell tab. The second cell tab is constructed of a second metal having a hardness greater than the first metal. The assembly further includes an interconnect member disposed against the second cell tab. The assembly further includes a weld assisting layer disposed against the first cell tab such that the first and second cell tabs are disposed between the weld assisting layer and the interconnect member.