Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hydrogen separation membrane with a carrier is characterized by including a first step of providing, between the hydrogen separation membrane and the carrier that supports the hydrogen separation membrane, a low-hardness metal membrane having a hardness that is lower than the hardness of the hydrogen separation membrane, and a second step of joining the hydrogen separation membrane, the low-hardness metal membrane, and the carrier by a cold joining method. In this case, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the hydrogen separation membrane, the low-hardness metal membrane, and the carrier and, as a result, it is possible to prevent damaging of the hydrogen separation membrane. The adhesion of the contact between the hydrogen separation membrane and the carrier is also improved. The result is that it is not necessary to increase the severity of the cold joining conditions.

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: The present invention relates to a current collector including a base portion with a flat face, primary projections projecting from the flat face, and secondary projections projecting from the top of the primary projections. The present invention also relates to a current collector including a base portion with a flat face and primary projections projecting from the flat face, wherein the roughening rate of the top of the primary projections is 3 to 20. By using such a current collector, separation of the active material from the current collector can be inhibited when using an active material that has a high capacity but undergoes a large expansion at the time of lithium ion absorption.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an output of a dynamic fuel cell is provided. A dynamic fuel cell has a membrane wherein a dimension of the membrane is variable during operation of the dynamic fuel cell in response to a control signal from an intelligent controller. By varying the dimension of the membrane, the output voltage of the dynamic fuel cell can be altered. An intelligent controller is provided that can measure a number of outputs and input parameters of the dynamic fuel cell and approximate input parameters using the measured values to adjust the input of the dynamic fuel cell to the approximated values.

Abstract: To solve a problem that in a battery having a negative electrode having a capability of releasing a metal ion, a positive electrode for causing a liquid such as water or seawater to contribute to battery reaction, and an inorganic solid electrolyte, the inorganic solid electrolyte contacts the positive electrode for a long term, whereby a deterioration is generated from the interface between the electrolyte and the positive electrode so that the battery capacity falls or the battery cannot give a high power. The positive electrode and the inorganic solid electrolyte are not brought into contact with each other. Preferably, the interval between the positive electrode and the electrolyte is set to 0.3 nm or more.

Abstract: A unitized electrode assembly (9) for use in the fuel cell comprises a first GDL (23), a PEM (28), and a second GDL (12), with electrode catalysts (27, 30) disposed between said PEM and each of said GDLs, said layers (23, 27, 30, 12) being impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer a sufficient distance from each edge of the UEA so as to form a fluid seal (13). The UEA is formed by a process which comprises making a sandwich of some or all of said layers (23, 27, 28, 30 and 33), with thermoplastic polymer film (22, 25, 32, 35) extending inwardly from the edges of said sandwich a sufficient distance to form the seal, said thermoplastic polymer film being disposed between each electrode and the adjacent GDL and/or between each GDL and release film (21, 36) on the top and bottom of the sandwich.

Abstract: A manifold assembly for use with a fuel cell stack for the purpose of ensuring a desired flow distribution to fuel cells within the stack, with the most commonly desired being uniform flow distribution. Said manifold assembly comprising: an external manifold for abutting and sealingly enclosing a face of the fuel cell stack, wherein the manifold comprises an enclosure for one of: providing inlet gas to the fuel cell stack and receiving exhaust gas from said fuel cell stack; and one or more baffles disposed in the enclosure of the external manifold, the one or more baffles one of: (a) controlling gas flow distribution and direction of the inlet gas from the enclosure to fuel cells of the fuel cell stack to achieve a predetermined distribution or a uniform distribution; and (b) controlling gas flow distribution of the exhaust gas flow within the enclosure to achieve the predetermined distribution or the uniform distribution of gas to fuel cells of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A technique is described herein for monitoring the operational state of a fuel cell stack by the detection of nonlinearity in such a manner that an external test signal for frequency response is generated and applied to the fuel cell stack during operation, the resulting signal output from the fuel cell stack is measured, and the harmonic content of the measured signal is analyzed, the method including: applying a multiple frequency test signal comprising at least two sinusoidal waves as the test signal for frequency response to the fuel cell stack; and analyzing the resulting current or voltage signal output from the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an electrode material. The electrode material includes an active material which includes a titanium oxide compound having a monoclinic titanium dioxide crystal structure. The electrode material further includes a compound which exists on the surface of the active material and has a trialkylsilyl group represented by the formula (I). wherein R1, R2 and R3, which may be the same or different, respectively represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An electrochemical system includes: (1) a battery including an anode and a cathode; (2) a first source of a first electrolyte having a first concentration of ions; (3) a second source of a second electrolyte having a second concentration of the ions, wherein the second concentration is greater than the first concentration; and (4) a fluid conveyance mechanism connected between the battery and each of the first source and the second source. During charging of the battery, the anode and the cathode are at least partially immersed in the first electrolyte, and, during discharging of the battery, the anode and the cathode are at least partially immersed in the second electrolyte. The fluid conveyance mechanism exchanges the first electrolyte with the second electrolyte between charging and discharging of the battery, and exchanges the second electrolyte with the first electrolyte between discharging and charging of the battery.

Abstract: A lithium ion conductive glass ceramics which solves a problem of low thermal stability of the related-art lithium ion conductive glass ceramics and which is high in lithium ion conductivity, high in thermal stability of a raw glass and easy for molding is provided. The amount of a specified component in a glass ceramics (raw glass) is limited to a specified range, and specifically, a ZrO2 component is incorporated in the range of from 0.5% to 2.5% in terms of % by mass on the oxide basis.

Abstract: The invention relates to primary electrochemical cells, in addition to methods for manufacturing and discharging the same, having a jellyroll electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode with a coating comprising iron disulfide deposited on a current collector situated on the outermost circumference of the jellyroll, a lithium-based negative electrode and a polymeric separator. More particularly, the invention relates to a cell design which optimizes cell capacity and substantially eliminates premature voltage drop-off on intermittent service testing by eliminating the edge effect through, for example, deliberately relieving stack pressure and/or extending the distance lithium ions proximate to the terminal end of the positive electrode must travel to undergo an electrochemical reaction in that region.

Abstract: A battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics is provided. The battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode has an anode active material layer that contains an anode active material containing silicon on an anode current collector, and intensity ratio I1/I2 between peak intensity I1 originated in (220) crystalline plane of silicon obtained by X-ray diffraction and peak intensity I2 originated in (111) crystalline plane of silicon obtained by X-ray diffraction is 0.05 or more.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery cartridge configured in a frame structure to mount a plate-shaped battery cell therein, the battery cartridge comprising a pair of plate-shaped frames configured to fix the outer circumference of the battery cell in a state in which at least one side of the battery cell is open, wherein each of the frames is provided at the outside thereof with an elastic pressing member configured to fix a heat dissipation member to the open side of the battery cell in a tight contact manner upon manufacture of a battery module.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuel cell includes an electric-power generator, a fuel distribution mechanism, and a pump. The electric-power generator includes a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolytic membrane. The fuel distribution mechanism includes a container and a thin tube. The container includes a fuel discharge surface, and contains the electric-power generator inside. The thin tube is formed in the container in a manner that a fuel outlet and a fuel inlet communicate with each other. The pump is connected directly to the fuel inlet.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system capable of avoiding damage to a circulation pump at a low temperature to improve system efficiency. The fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel gas circulation system having a circulation path which re-circulates, through a fuel cell, a fuel off gas discharged from the fuel cell, and a circulation pump which feeds under pressure the fuel off gas in the circulation path; and a controller which controls driving of the circulation pump. The controller stops the driving of the circulation pump at a predetermined low temperature.

Abstract: A fuel cell module may include a membrane electrode assembly, two gas diffusion layers, two current collectors, two sealing members, a fluid flow plate assembly. The fluid flow plate assembly may include a first manifold, a second manifold, and a fluid flow channel. The membrane electrode assembly may include at least one membrane for fuel cell reactions. The two gas diffusion layers may be respectively coupled with two opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. The two current collectors respectively coupled with the two gas diffusion layers, and the two sealing members respectively coupled with the two current collectors.

Abstract: Electrode materials systems for planar solid oxide fuel cells with high electrochemical performance including anode materials that provide exceptional long-term durability when used in reducing gases and cathode materials that provide exceptional long-term durability when used in oxygen-containing gases. The anode materials may comprise a cermet in which the metal component is a cobalt-nickel alloy. These anode materials provide exceptional long-term durability when used in reducing gases, e.g., in SOFCs with sulfur contaminated fuels. The cermet also may comprise a mixed-conducting ceria-based electrolyte material. The anode may have a bi-layer structure. A cerium oxide-based interfacial layer with mixed electronic and ionic conduction may be provided at the electrolyte/anode interface.

Abstract: In various aspects, provided are solid oxide fuel cells with an operational temperature of less than about 500° C. that can provide, in various embodiments, a power density of greater than about 0.1 W/cm2 and/or have an ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1. In various embodiments, provided are solid oxide fuel cells comprising a solid oxide electrolyte layer that is both an electronic and ionic conductor. In various aspects, provided are methods of making solid oxide fuel cells. In various aspects, provided are solid oxide materials comprising a polycrystalline ceramic layer less than about 100 nm thick having a ionic conductivity of greater than about 0.00001 ohm?1 cm?1 at a temperature less than about 500° C.

Abstract: There is provided a lithium ion secondary battery exhibiting a high capacity retention rate over a long period.