Abstract: A spill containment system and method that contain leaks and spills from devices including but not limited to batteries. The system neutralizes and absorbs leaks and spills to prevent the leaks and spills from spreading. The system not only detects leaks, but also indicates whether a leak has occurred. The system can communicate with personnel or devices to raise an alarm or cause corrective measures to occur. The spill containment system includes a battery rack inside a battery rack cabinet having a door. To open the door and gain access to the batteries, one of the rigid containment rails is removed such that the exposed flexible corrosion-resistant liner may be flexed to permit the opening and closing of the door.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte cell having a high working voltage in a low temperature range of 0° C. or below and thereby attaining excellent low temperature discharge characteristics, a reduced internally-generated gas, and an excellent safety against heat. This is achieved by a cell comprising a non-aqueous electrolyte containing propylene carbonate and LiN(SO2C2F5)2 as an electrolyte salt, a graphite negative electrode, and a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material comprising a Ti-attached LiCoO2 in which a particle of titanium and/or titanium compound is attached on a surface of a particle of lithium cobalt oxide and a mole ratio of titanium and/or titanium compound in the Ti-attached LiCoO2 is within the range of from 0.00001 to 0.02.

Abstract: A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery which exhibits good discharge capacity and charge and discharge efficiency, and enables the use of all types of electrolytes. The active material includes a crystalline carbon core and a semi-crystalline carbon shell. The semi-crystalline carbon shell includes at least one element or a compound of at least two different types of elements, and has a turbostratic or half onion-sheath. The compound includes only element. The element serves graphitization catalyst and causes a change in a structure of surrounding carbon. In particular, the negative active material includes metal boride.

Abstract: A hybrid polymer electrolyte includes a copolymer matrix of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinylidene chloride) having a plurality of pores, and a solution of an alkali metal salt in an organic solvent entrained in the pores of the copolymer matrix. The pores of the copolymer matrix occupy 10 to 50 volume percent of the hybrid polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: A lead is connected to the electrode plate of the power generating element, and exposed externally from the deposited portion of a battery case. The portion of the lead crossing film edges is covered with two flat insulating covering resins which are thermally deposited to each other. At this portion, the covering resins and film edges are thermally deposited to each other. The covering resin is composed of two layers of an outer layer and an inner layer. At least the outer layer is colored and crosslink-coupled by irradiation of electron beams. The outer layer has a higher softening point than the inner layer.

Abstract: An assembly includes a receptacle and a sensor body. The receptacle includes an orifice for receiving the sensor body. At least one tab is located on the receptacle or sensor body to engage a feature such as a notch on the other. The sensor body is adapted to be inserted into the orifice. At least one prominence may be included on the receptacle or sensor body to lift the tab(s) out of the feature to release the sensor body from the receptacle when the sensor body is rotated with respect to the receptacle.

Abstract: Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery capable of ensuring good characteristics even in case of low-voltage charge at 2.5 V or so. A composite oxide of a compositional formula, LiaCubTicO4 (with 0<a≦1, 0<b≦0.5, 1.5≦c<2) serving as a positive or negative electrode active material is mixed with an electroconductive agent and a binder, and shaped under pressure into electrodes for the battery.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell having an electrolyte which comprises a solute, a solvent, and an additive. The additive is a dialkylamide. The dialkylamide lessens the extent of decomposition of the solute, which is a lithium salt. The ionic species of the lithium salt are thereby preserved. The additive also prevents damage to active material by absorbing excess charge energy below the breakdown potential of the active material.

Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode has a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The catalyst layer has a porous electrolyte A with pores which three-dimensionally communicate with one another. A micro-porous catalyst-electrolyte aggregate including a catalyst and an electrolyte B is provided in said pores.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery encased in a pouch and having a simplified and cheap safety device. In the lithium secondary battery, an aluminum terminal is bent and extends to the rear surface of the pouch, and around the front and bottom surfaces. The terminal is positioned at the original location of the aluminum terminal as a positive electrode. The extended terminal has a narrower region in the central portion and is fixed to the pouch using a tape. The narrower portion ruptures if the pouch swells due to increasing internal pressure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method of the invention monitors one or more of the following conditions: a relatively low temperature value of the gas stream; a relatively high temperature value of the gas stream; and a rate-of-change of monitored temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the rate of temperature change is monitored to prevent the occurrence of an unacceptably high or low temperature condition. Here, at least two temperatures of the recirculating gas stream are monitored over a period of time. The rate-of-change of temperature versus time is determined. Then the monitored rate-of-change of temperature is compared to a preselected rate-of-change of value. The monitoring of rate-of-change of temperature provides proactive means for preventing occurrence of an unacceptably high temperature in the catalytic reactor.

Abstract: In a lithium secondary battery of this invention, either a positive electrode or a negative electrode includes, as an active material, an orthorhombic composite oxide represented by a composition formula, MxMo1−xOy, wherein M is at least one transition element selected from the group consisting of Cu, V, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni; 0<x≦0.46; and 2.6≦y≦3.1, or a composition formula, MxNb2−xOy, wherein M is at least one transition element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mo, W. Mn and Fe; 0<x≦0.6; and 4.7≦y≦5.3, or an orthorhombic lithium-containing composite oxide obtained by incorporating lithium into the orthorhombic composite oxide. Thus, the lithium secondary battery can exhibit better charge-discharge cycle performance than a lithium secondary battery using MoO3 or Nb2O5 as an active material.

Abstract: An integrated fuel cell stack assembly (26) and selective oxidizer bed assembly (200) is provided. The fuel cell stack assembly (26) also includes a number of fuel cells. A fuel inlet manifold (22) and fuel inlet plenum to cell stack (38) manifold are arranged in fluid communication with the fuel stack assembly (26) for supplying to and exhausting from, respectively, the fuel supply in the fuel cells in the fuel stack assembly (26). The bed resides in said fuel inlet manifold. The bed includes a selective oxidation catalyst with a heat exchange fluid conduit routed therethrough. Oxygen-containing gas is supplied into the bed via the input plenum. The temperature of the internal selective oxidizer bed is controlled by the fluid conduit in the bed to reduce carbon monoxide in the fuel.

Abstract: Conventional batteries are disadvantageous in that a firm outer case must be used to maintain an electrical connection between electrodes, which has been an obstacle to size reduction. Those in which each electrode and a separator are joined with an adhesive resin suffer from conflict between adhesive strength and battery characteristics. To solve these problems, it is an object of the invention to provide a battery which requires no outer case so as to realize reduction in thickness and weight and yet exhibits excellence in both battery characteristics and adhesive strength. A positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator are joined via an adhesive resin layer having at least one adhesive resin layer containing a filler. The adhesive resin layer has pores, which are filled with an electrolytic solution to exhibit sufficient ion conductivity thereby to improve battery characteristics and to retain adhesive strength.

Abstract: An electric storage battery having a solid phase Fe(VI) salt cathode. The anode may be any of a large variety of conventional anode materials capable of being oxidized. The cathode and anode are located in separate half-cells which are in electrochemical contact through an electrically neutral ionic conductor. Small material additions to the Fe(VI) salt containing half cell can be used to control the conductance and electrochemical characteristics of the battery.

Abstract: Separators for unit cells of a fuel cell each have a plurality of through holes extending therethrough and a recessed portion formed in a surface thereof. In a fuel cell incorporating such separators, the recessed portion of each separator forms an in-cell oxidative gas passage, together with an adjacent cathode. An oxidative gas, supplied from an external device into the fuel cell, is distributed from an oxidative gas supply manifold formed by holes of the separators, to the in-cell oxidative gas passages. The oxidative gas is then collected in an oxidative gas discharge manifold formed by holes of the separators, and conveyed out of the fuel cell by the discharge manifold. During the passage through each in-cell oxidative gas passage, the oxidative gas flows via an oxidative gas transit manifold formed by holes of the separators.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a third electrode for use in a metal-air tricell comprising a support structure coated with a layer of a lanthanum nickel compound and at least one metal mixture, wherein the mixture is adhered to the support structure without the use of an adhesive. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a metal-air tricell comprising: an air electrode; a metal electrode; and a third electrode, wherein the third electrode comprises a support structure coated with a mixture of a lanthanum nickel compound and at least one metal, wherein the mixture is adhered to the support structure without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing water and a free acids content in an electrolytic solution for a lithium battery, and to an electrolytic solution for a lithium battery having a low water content and acids content. The present method is characterized by comprising steps of (a) leading an inert gas through the solvent having a water content of 100 ppm or lower under heating of the solvent to vaporize water together with the solvent to thereby reduce the water content of the solvent, and (b) dissolving the lithium electrolyte in the solvent while maintaining a temperature of the solvent at 20° C. or lower. The present method can make the water content at most 3 ppm and the free acids content less than 1 ppm.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is disclosed including a cell housing, an ion-permeable, oxygen transmission restricting membrane that divides the interior of the cell housing into a first portion exposed to ambient air and a substantially air-tight second portion, an air electrode provided in contact with the membrane within the first portion of the cell housing interior that reoxidizes when exposed to ambient air, and a working cell provided in the substantially air-tight second portion of the cell housing interior. The working cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode is in contact with the membrane and is made of an electrochemically active material that is the same material that is used in the air electrode, such that the air electrode supplies ions to the positive electrode to thereby reoxidize the positive electrode as it discharges without exposing the negative electrode or the positive electrode of the working cell to oxygen from the surrounding air.

Abstract: A porous product, typically a foam sheet, can be produced by peeling of a foam supply. By peeling the foam supply along its z axis, a product is produced having pores with a uniform pore aspect ratio in the longitudinal direction. Such a porous product, when containing an active filler, can be used as a battery electrode. The electrode can have enhanced electrical and mechanical properties.