Abstract: An electrical interconnect device for a planar fuel cell having solid oxide electrolyte, a cathode and a nickel-containing anode comprises a plate-like chromium-containing substrate having fuel gas-flow channels on one side and an oxidation-resistant coating on surfaces of the one side adapted to contact the anode. The coating comprises an outer oxygen barrier layer for electrically contacting the anode comprising Ni, a noble metal except Ag or an alloy of one or more of these metals and an electrically conductive metal barrier layer comprising Nb, Ta, Ag or alloys of one or more of these metals between the substrate and the outer layer.

Abstract: This invention pertains to electrode cans and metal air electrochemical cells made with the electrode cans. The invention provides improvide structure, and methods for making the outer edge of the closed end of the can at the joinder of the closed end of the can with an side wall extinding from the closed end. A substantially flat portion of the outer surface of the closed end of the can extends outwardly of the inner surface of the side wall. The electrochemical cells are assembled using improved assembly methods. Button-type electrochemical cells made using the invention are free of the inward dishing common to especially cathode cans in such button cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (6) includes at least first and second cells (40) and a separator assembly (42). Each cell includes an anode (44), a cathode (46) and electrolyte (48) between them. The separator assembly includes a fluid separator (58) having a fuel side, an oxidant side, an anode spacer element (68) between the fuel side and the anode of the first cell and a cathode spacer element (80) between the oxidant side and the cathode of the second cell. The separator assembly further includes a cathode exhaust passageway(86), having an exhaust inlet (84) at the central region (82) of the cathode spacer element, and an anode feed passageway (64), including a continuous loop anode feed tube, located spaced apart from the cell peripheral edge, with radially inwardly and outwardly directed fuel outlets (76, 78). An air deflector (62) helps prevent radially inwardly moving air from contacting the anode while permitting the air access to the peripheral edge (102) of the cathode spacer element.

Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary cell is provided to remarkably improve a mechanical peel strength of heat fusion-bonding portions of a container as well as to improve a moisture permeability resistance, a sealing performance, a barrier property, a safety or the like of the container. A lead (3) for use with a lithium-ion secondary cell according to the present invention is sandwiched by heat fusion-bonding portions (2) of a container (5) so as to be exposed in the outside of the container (5) when the container (5) is sealed by heat fusion-bonding. The lead (3) is coated with a heat fusion-bonding seal material (1). This heat fusion-bonding seal material (1) has an excellent adhesion to the lead (3) rather than a material of a sealant layer (19). Also, in the lithium-ion secondary cell, an end portion (1a) on the outside portion in the longitudinal direction of the lead (3) in the layer made of the heat fusion-bonding seal material (1) is exposed from the end face of the container (5).

Abstract: Improved battery chamber contacts for handheld electronic devices include a plurality of longitudinally aligned and differently spaced battery contacts located on a lateral side of an elongated battery packet. The battery packet is housed in an elongated battery chamber in an electronic device. The battery chamber has chamber contacts mating and engageable with the battery contacts. Electronic coupling between the battery packet and the chamber will be established only when all mating contacts between the battery contacts and the chamber contacts are engaged.

Abstract: A method of forming battery grids or plates that includes the step of mechanically reshaping or refinishing battery grid wires to improve adhesion between the battery paste and the grid wires. The method is particularly useful in improving the paste adhesion to battery grids formed by a continuous battery grid making process (such as strip expansion, strip stamping, continuous casting) that produces grid wires and nodes with smooth surfaces and a rectangular cross-section. In a preferred version of the method, the grid wires of battery grids produced by a stamping process are deformed such that the grid wires have a cross-section other than the rectangular cross-section produced by the stamping process. The method increases the cycle life of a battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic electrolyte battery configured by sealing power generating elements comprising an organic electrolyte by a positive can, a negative can and a gasket, wherein said organic electrolyte includes a lithium salt containing a sulfonic acid group as a solute and at least one selected from a group consisting of sulfolane, 3-methyl sulfolane and Tetraglyme as a solvent. The aim of the invention is to provide an organic electrolyte battery having an excellent discharge performance in a low temperature environment and a superior reliability during long term storage, as well as a high temperature resistance which enables the battery to be mounted onto a substrate according to the Reflow method.

Abstract: A seal and method of sealing for use in electrochemical cells and similar devices. A preformed seal assembly is produced by insert-molding a seal element about a cell cover plate. By preforming the seal element, a more effective seal geometry is produced. In particular, the seal element is formed with a low profile seal flange on the outer face of the cover plate. One benefit of this lower profile is to assist in increasing the effective capacity of the associated cell. Another benefit of the preformed seal element is that it is not necessary to grossly deform the seal element during cell assembly in order to capture the cover plate. This enables use of more desired seal materials such as amorphous polymers, particularly polysulfone. To improve the effectiveness of the seal, a seal flange and shoulder portions, between which the cover plate is captured, are each axially compressed to increase the leakage path and reduce cold flow of the seal element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery having a higher concentration of Co in the surface portion than in the central portion. The surface portion is a region from the outermost surface to a depth of 10 microns. The positive active material is represented Li1+xMn2−yCoyO4 wherein −0.1<x0.1 and 0<y<0.1. The positive active material is produced by obtaining a sol or gel cobalt material by mixing lithium salts, cobalt salts, an alcohol and chelating agents and heating the mixture, mixing the sol or gel cobalt material with LiMn2O4, and heat-treating the resulting mixture.

Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A prismatic air recovery battery is provided. The battery includes a central longitudinal axis and a cathode having a major surface normal to the central longitudinal axis. The battery can further include a cathode can having at least one air access opening having a central longitudinal axis, wherein the cathode includes a major surface normal to the longitudinal axis of the opening.

Abstract: Thin-profile battery circuits and constructions, and in particular button-type battery circuits and constructions and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate is provided having an outer surface with a pair of spaced electrical contact pads thereon. At least two thin-profile batteries are conductively bonded together in a stack having a lowermost battery and an uppermost battery. The batteries include respective positive and negative terminals. The lowermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals adhesively bonded to one of the pair of electrical contact pads while the uppermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrical contact pads. The batteries can be provided into parallel or series electrical connections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a lithium ion polymer battery which has a high capacity and a good cyclability as well as no exudation of liquid electrolyte. The lithium ion polymer battery according to the present invention is prepared by the steps of forming electrode films, laminating the electrode films on both surfaces of a grid or extended metal so as to improve the interfacial adhesion between the electrode films, forming a polymer electrolyte film composed of a polymer, an electrolyte solution, and a filler, and laminating the composite anode, the polymer electrolyte and the composite cathode. The activated composite anode/polymer electrolyte film/activated composite cathode is laminated to obtain a lithium ion polymer battery structure. The lithium ion polymer battery is vacuum-packaged using a vacuum packaging apparatus.

Abstract: A metallic ring is insulatedly sealed around each of the positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal, previously, by the glass hermetic seal and ceramic hermetic seal in such a manner that it is sealed into the opening hole of the cover plate of a battery case. In this case, in order to prevent the corrosion of a metallic brazer which may occur in the ceramic hermetic seal and improve the workability, the ceramic material is brazed around the negative electrode terminal through a Au—Cu brazer or P—Cu brazer.

Abstract: A valve regulated lead-acid battery having a plurality of negative and positive electrode plates, a plurality of separators soaked with electrolyte interleaved between the plates, a negative strap and positive strap interconnecting the respective plurality of negative and positive electrodes includes separator material soaked with electrolyte disposed adjacent to the negative strap to thereby increase oxygen reduction.

Abstract: A metal-air cell including (a) a container having a positive end and a negative end; (b) a cathode having an end adjacent to the positive end of the container and an end adjacent to the negative end of the container; (c) an anode; (d) a separator between the cathode and the anode; and (e) a seal between the end of the cathode adjacent to the positive end of the container and the positive end of the container is disclosed. The seal includes a hot melt material.

Abstract: The invention provides a metal-air electrochemical cell, having a leak-proof, metal prismatic casing comprising a pair of interfacing interengaging rectangular tray-like casing components, a first substantially rectangular tray-like casing component having a first major surface and contiguous side walls for encompassing a cathode of the cell and a second inverted substantially tray-like casing component having a second major surface and contiguous depending side walls for encompassing an anode of the cell, the side walls of one of the casing components being of a height to facilitate the curling and crimping of an upper portion thereof over a peripheral edge area of the major surface of the other casing component to form a leak-proof, closed prismatic casing.

Abstract: To provide a binder for secondary battery using non-aqueous electrolyte which is soluble in usual organic solvents, does not swell in a non-aqueous electrolyte and besides enhances battery performance. As the binder, a copolymer comprising 50 to 80% by mole of vinylidene fluoride, 17 to 50% by mole of tetrafluoroethylene and less than 3% by mole of a monomer copolymerizable therewith is used.

Abstract: A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system in which a rechargeable hearing aid may be optically or inductively recharged by an optical or an inductive recharger. The optically rechargeable hearing aid may have a dual purpose optical fiber that may act as a light conduit for the recharging light, and that may also act as a draw string for the hearing aid. The rechargeable hearing aid may use a high energy nickel metal-hydride rechargeable battery or a high energy, high voltage lithium based rechargeable battery, in conjunction with a DC to DC voltage regulating circuit for converting the rechargeable battery's declining DC output voltage to the fixed DC input voltage needed by the hearing aid's audio related circuitry. The DC to DC voltage regulating circuit may also help to present a supply impedance that matches the input impedance of the audio related circuitry in the hearing aid.

Abstract: A battery includes a cylindrical housing, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator. The second electrode includes a plurality of cavities within the first electrode.