Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell and a case housing the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a cell stack and a pressure plate arranged at an outermost position of a stacking direction relative to the cell stack. The case includes a cover section that faces the pressure plate and covers the pressure plate while the fuel cell is housed in the case. The cover section includes a pin housing portion having a through hole and a pin placed in the through hole with which the pressure plate is pressed. The pin housing portion has a thick part thicker than a thin part that is at least a part of the cover section continuous with the pin housing portion. The thick part is formed in an inward direction of the case.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotary tubular furnace including a rotatable furnace tube having an inlet end through which silicon compound particles (SiOx where 0.5?x<1.6) are put therein and an outlet end through which the particles coated with carbon are taken out therefrom; and a heating chamber having a heater to heat the furnace tube, wherein the furnace tube is composed of a heat portion inside the heating chamber and a non-heat portion outside the heating chamber, a length B of the heat portion and an overall length A of the furnace tube satisfy 0.4?B/A<1, and a distance C between the heat portion and the outlet end and the overall length A satisfy 0.04?C/A?0.35. This furnace can inhibit clogging of the furnace tube and mass-produce a negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high capacity with inhibited variations in the amount of carbon coating and crystallinity.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a lithium phosphate dispersion manufacturing step of manufacturing a lithium phosphate dispersion by dispersing lithium phosphate in a solvent without adding a positive-electrode active material; a positive electrode mixture paste manufacturing step of manufacturing a positive electrode mixture paste by mixing the lithium phosphate dispersion with a positive electrode material including the positive-electrode active material; and a step of manufacturing a positive electrode including a positive electrode mixture layer on a surface of a current collector member by applying the positive electrode mixture paste on the surface of the current collector member and drying the positive electrode mixture paste.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has the internal resistance of 10 m?/Ah or less (SOC of 50%) and has a power generating element containing the following: a positive electrode obtained by forming, on the surface of a positive electrode current collector, a positive electrode active substance layer containing a positive electrode active substance; a negative electrode obtained by forming, on the surface of a negative electrode current collector, a negative electrode active substance layer containing a negative electrode active substance; and a separator. The positive electrode active substance is made to contain a spinel type lithium manganese composite oxide and a lithium nickel-based composite oxide, and the mixing ratio of the lithium nickel-based composite oxide is 50 to 70% by weight relative to the total 100% by weight of the spinel type lithium manganese composite oxide and the lithium nickel-based composite oxide.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly that has an electrode catalyst layer formed on a surface of an electrolyte membrane comprises (a) producing an electrode catalyst layer by drying a catalyst ink that includes catalyst-supported particles having a catalyst metal supported thereon, a solvent and an ionomer; and (b) selecting a produced electrode catalyst layer that contains an amount of sulfate ion equal to or less than a specified reference value, and manufacturing the membrane electrode assembly by using the selected electrode catalyst layer.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator has: a reformer that produces hydrogen-containing gas from raw material gas through reforming; a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the reformer; a hydro-desulfurizer that removes sulfur from the raw material gas through hydrodesulfurization; a recycle flow passage through which recycle gas as a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the hydro-desulfurizer; a raw material gas flow detector that detects the flow rate of the raw material gas, the raw material gas flow detector located somewhere in a flow passage for the raw material gas upstream of a junction of the recycle gas and the raw material gas; and a controller that controls the flow rate of the recycle gas in accordance with the temperature of the reformer, the flow rate of the raw material gas, and the flow rate of the recycle gas.

Abstract: An electric storage device, includes an electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode each including a current collector provided with an active material layer on a surface thereof except one end, the positive electrode and the negative electrode being wound or stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, wherein one end of one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode on at least one side of the electrode assembly protrudes, as active material layer-unformed parts, from a side end of the remaining electrode different in polarity; a case for housing the electrode assembly with the protruding direction of the one end oriented sideways; and an electrolytic solution being reserved in the case, wherein the active material layer-unformed parts include electrolytic solution-sucking-up layers that are porous and are formed along a direction orthogonal to the protruding direction of the one end.

Abstract: An electrochemical device manufactured using an electrode layer in which severe increase of electrode resistance is prevented and/or a solid electrolyte layer in which severe decrease of ion conductivity of a solid electrolyte is prevented is provided. The electrochemical device includes a pair of electrode layers, and a solid electrolyte layer provided between the pair of electrode layers, wherein at least one layer of the electrode layers and the solid electrolyte layer is composed of first particles each providing a function of the at least one layer, second particles and a binder which is composed of an organic polymer and binds the first and second particles, and wherein the at least one layer is formed from a mixture material containing the first particles and binder particles, each of the binder particles including the second particle and the binder carried on at least a part of a surface thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell that may operate in two modes: a discharge mode (power generation) and a charge mode (electrolytic fuel production). A thermal system that utilizes a SOFB and is inclusive of selection of operating conditions that may enable roundtrip efficiencies exceeding about 80% to be realized is disclosed. Based on leverage of existing solid oxide fuel cell technology, the system concept is applicable to energy storage applications on the kW to MW scale.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: first and second circuit boards with respective electrodes thereon, the first and second circuit boards in a bonded configuration; one or more first layers positioned to be proximal to the one or more of the electrodes; electrolyte proximal to the respective electrodes; one or more second layers configured to provide for the bonded configuration in which the first and second circuit boards are bonded together, under curing, such that the respective one or more first layers are positioned between the one or more second layers and the electrodes, the bonding defining a chamber therebetween with the electrodes therein and facing one another, the chamber comprising the electrolyte; and wherein the one or more first layers are configured to inhibit interaction of the electrolyte with the one or more second layers during curing.

Abstract: An electrode comprises a conductor and an electrode coating, said electrode coating comprising as electronically active material a transition metal (T) oxidenitride of formula LixTImTIInNyOz in form of nanoparticles, wherein x=0-3, y+z=2-4, y>0, z>=0.25, m+n=1, m=0-1, n=0-1, TI and TII both being transition metals of the groups IVB, VB, VIB and VIIB, and periods 3d, 4d and 5d, in particular transition metals selected from Zr, Nb, Mo, Ti, V, Cr, W, Mn, Ni, Co, Fe and Cu. Dependent on the kind of transition metal, its oxidation state and the Li content, such materials may be used as anode materials or as cathode materials, respectively.

Abstract: A polymer solid electrolyte is provided that includes anatase-type titanium oxide, a lithium electrolyte salt, and an ion conductive polymer that binds the titanium oxide.

Abstract: Provided are a battery block and a secondary battery module capable of holding a plurality of battery cells stably and so reducing a load applied to a welding part of a conductive member that is connected to an electrode by welding or the like. The battery block includes a lower holding frame and a middle holding frame, one of which includes two protrusions that are in contact with an outer peripheral face of each battery cell and the other includes a pressing part that presses the outer peripheral face of the battery cell inwardly in the radial direction. Then, one of an upper holding frame and the middle holding frame includes two protrusions that are in contact with an outer peripheral face of each battery cell and the other includes a pressing part that presses the outer peripheral face of the battery cell inwardly in the radial direction.

Abstract: A negative electrode includes nanotubes including a metal/metalloid, disposed on a conductive substrate, and having opened ends. A lithium battery includes the negative electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery including a container, an electrode group including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, multiple current collecting tabs being extended from any one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode group, and overlapped with one another; a lead bonded to at least one of the current collecting tabs by ultrasonic bonding, a lid configured to close an opening portion of the container, and an external terminal provided on the lid and connected to the at least one current collecting tab via the lead, in which the lead has a cross-sectional area that is increased in a middle of extension of the lead from an ultrasonic-bonded portion to the at least one of the current collecting tabs to the external terminal.

Abstract: A series-parallel battery system with a buffer resistor coupled to each junction of batteries or battery cells. Buffer resistors on the same row are coupled to a measurement node. Terminals of the battery system and the measurement nodes are treated as measurement points that are coupled to a conventional battery management unit. The buffer resistors provide a means for limiting in-rush current and a means for maintaining voltage balance across the row of batteries in the parallel columns of batteries. A control unit in series with each series of batteries monitors current in the series and comprises a switch to deactivate the column when the current exceeds a set of predetermined current levels.

Abstract: A catalytic material for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst supported on a catalyst support, wherein the catalyst support comprises a Period IV transition metal phosphide is disclosed. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and fuel cell stack comprising such a catalytic material are similarly disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a secondary battery, a battery module, and a battery pack, which have improved safety. Particularly, since a bulletproof material is disposed on the inside and/or the outside of an exterior part, even when a conductive needle-shaped member penetrates a secondary battery, heating, burning, discharge of evaporated electrolyte, and electrical contact between the needle-shaped member and an electrode can be prevented, thereby improving safety of the secondary battery, the battery module, and the battery pack.

Abstract: A method of sealing together two elements of a bipolar battery, the method comprising: interposing an inductive heating element between the two elements; applying a current to the inductive heating element to generate localized heat to melt material in the vicinity of the heating element to seal the two elements together.

Abstract: A tubular solid oxide fuel cell assembly includes at least two tubular solid oxide fuel cell units, at least one shared current collector and a retainer for retaining a section of the fuel cell units and shared current collector in close fitting relationship therewith.