Abstract: A noble metal-based electrocatalyst comprises a bimetallic particle comprising a noble metal and a non-noble metal and having a polyhedral shape. The bimetallic particle comprises a surface-segregated composition where an atomic ratio of the noble metal to the non-noble metal is higher in a surface region and in a core region than in a sub-surface region between the surface and core regions. A method of treating a noble metal-based electrocatalyst comprises annealing a bimetallic particle comprising a noble metal and a non-noble metal and having a polyhedral shape at a temperature in the range of from about 100° C. to about 1100° C.

Abstract: Described are electrolyte compositions and electrochemical devices containing them. The compositions include an organosilicon compound, an imide salt and optionally LiPF6. The electrolytes provide improved high-temperature performance and stability and will operate at temperatures as high as 250 C. An electrolyte composition comprising, in combination: an organosilicon compound and an imide salt and optionally UPF6; wherein when subjected to cyclic voltammetry at a plurality of cycles ranging from about 3V to about 5V and using a cathode current collector comprising aluminum versus Li/Lit electrodes the composition exhibits an oxidative corrosion current of about 0.10 mA/cm2 or less for a second and subsequent cycles.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a first terminal plate, a second terminal plate, a first resin end plate, and a second resin end plate. The stacked body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in a stacking direction. The first terminal plate is provided on the first end of the stacked body in the stacking direction to have a first surface substantially parallel to surfaces of first and second electrodes. The first terminal plate includes a first reinforcement rib provided in the first surface. The second terminal plate is provided on the second end of the stacked body in the stacking direction to have a second surface substantially parallel to the surfaces of the first and second electrodes. The second terminal plate includes a second reinforcement rib provided in the second surface.

Abstract: An energy storage module having a plurality of stacked flat cells. The energy storage module has an interconnection formed in such a way that the energy storage module can be connected mechanically, electrically and/or for exchanging coolant with at least one other energy storage module of the same kind.

Abstract: An electronic device having a heat source disposed in direct alignment with a battery for the device and a thermal management system in thermal contact with the heat source. The thermal management system may extend from at least a first surface of the battery to a second surface of the battery. The second surface of the battery may be adjacent a heat dissipation element. The thermal management system may further be in thermal contact with the heat dissipation element. Further a portion of the thermal management system extends along the first and second surfaces of the battery and has a sufficiently high anisotropic ratio to avoid the transfer of heat to the battery to the extent to inhibit the functioning of the battery.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery that has a spinel cathode and a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a fluorinated acyclic carboxylic acid ester and/or a fluorinated acyclic carbonate solvent is described. The lithium ion battery operates at a high voltage (i.e. up to about 5 V) and has improved cycling performance at high temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the uniform dispersion of nano scaled redox particles in a conductive fiber including, combining at least one nano sized redox capable material having metal oxides and/or metals, at least one conductive binder, and at least one solvent to form electrically conductive metal imbedded fiber(s) by fiber spinning and the conductive polymeric binder having a molecular weight greater than 20,000 Daltons, and coating a substrate with the electrically conductive fiber(s) to form an active layer/substrate complex having a conductivity greater than 0.05 S/cm.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a cell stack, a reformed gas introduction path introducing a reformed gas into the cell stack, an oxidizing agent gas introduction path introducing an oxidizing agent gas into the cell stack, and a cooling gas introduction path introducing a cooling gas into the oxidizing agent gas introduction path. A heat-absorption part absorbing heat is provided in a periphery of the cell stack, and the cooling gas introduction path is connected with the oxidizing agent gas introduction path through the heat-absorption part.

Abstract: An oxygen reduction reaction catalyst (ORR) and a method for making the catalyst are provided. The method may include depositing (e.g., by PVD) conductive catalyst material onto a non-conductive substrate, such as particles or powder, to form an intermediate ORR catalyst. The intermediate ORR catalyst may then be heat treated and another deposition process may be performed to form a thin, electrically interconnected catalyst network layer overlying the non-conductive substrate. The catalyst material may include, for example, platinum, gold, or other platinum group or noble metals, or alloys thereof. The non-conductive substrate may be a ceramic, for example, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ).

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing deformation of a fuel cell stack is provided. The apparatus includes a support unit, respective ends of which are connected to first endplates of a pair of stacked fuel cell stacks. The apparatus further includes a support protrusion that protrudes from a surface of the support unit and extends through a gap between the pair of fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device comprising an internal circuit and a battery compartment having an entrance and an exit. The battery compartment comprises a first conductor and a second conduct at the inner side of the battery compartment. The first conductor comprises at least two conductive contacts electrically connected to the internal circuit and having a distance from each other in the direction from the battery entrance to the battery exit so that, while a backup battery is sliding into the battery compartment from the battery entrance and pushing out a current battery through the battery exit, the first conductor may maintain electrical connection with conductive belt of the current battery and/or the backup battery. The structure of the second conductor is similar that of the first conductor and may maintain electrical connection with conductive belt of the current battery and/or the backup battery.

Abstract: A packaged battery, an assembled battery, and a film-covered battery, which can prevent a dangerous state involving a high-pressure gas filled in the film-covered battery while ensuring a sealing reliability, are provided. The Packaged battery includes film-covered battery 1 including a battery element and exterior films forming a sealed space housing the battery element, and holding member 10 holding film-covered battery 1. The sealed space includes a housing section housing the battery element, and a pocket communicating with the housing section to expand when the pressure in the sealed space increases. The pocket includes a safety valve which activates when the pocket expands. Holding member 10 includes an opening and a cavity fitting the housing section therein. When the housing section is fitted into the cavity, at least part of the pocket and the safety valve protrude to the outside of the holding member from the opening.

Abstract: Provided are a solid electrolyte for a sodium secondary battery, and a surface treatment method thereof, and more specifically, a solid electrolyte for a sodium secondary battery capable of having excellent electrochemical performance by improving wettability with respect to molten sodium, even under a low temperature operation environment of 250° C. or less, and a surface treatment method thereof.

Abstract: The demand for improvements in lithium non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries has been constantly increasing in recent years, but the durability—most prominently the cycle characteristics—have resided in a trade off relationship with properties such as the capacity, resistance, and output characteristics. A problem has thus been a poor overall property balance. In order to solve this problem, the present invention uses a non-aqueous electrolyte solution including, in addition to an electrolyte and a non-aqueous solvent, (A) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbonates having a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond, compounds represented by the following general formula (1), sulfoxides, sulfites, sulfones, sulfonates, sultones, and sulfates; (B) a fluorine atom-containing cyclic carbonate; and (C) a compound that has at least two isocyanate groups in the molecule.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a seal step (ST105) storing an electrode laminate in which a separator is disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode and an electrolyte within an exterior body constituted by a laminate film and sealing the exterior body; a pressure application step (ST106) of applying a pressure to the exterior body in which the electrode laminate is stored by means of a flat plate press working or so forth; charge step (ST102) of charging up to a full charge; a gas removal step (ST107) of unsealing the exterior body and removing gas generated within the exterior body at the charge step; and a re-seal step (ST108) of sealing the exterior body after the gas removal step. The number of times of the gas removal steps is small and an influence of gas on battery characteristics is suppressed.

Abstract: A battery includes: an external terminal protruding outward from a main body; a metal terminal for taking out electric power from inside the main body to the external terminal; and an insulating member for insulation between the main body, and the external terminal and the metal terminal. The metal terminal includes a base portion connected to the inside of the main body and extending along the same plane as one face of the main body from which the external terminal protrudes and an end portion which further extends from the base portion and to which the external terminal is fixed. The external terminal includes a tip end face formed as a sloping face which is low on the end portion side of the metal terminal and high on the base portion side of the metal terminal.

Abstract: A current collector including a first principal plane and a second principal plane. In the current collector, the roughness of the first principal plane and second principal plane being mutually different.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that has a battery element including a positive electrode member, a negative electrode member, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode member contains graphitizable carbon. With respect to 100 parts by weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte solution, fluoroethylenecarbonate is added at 0.5 parts by weight or more and 1.0 parts by weight or less, and lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate is added at 0.5 parts by weight or more and 1.0 parts by weight or less, or fluoroethylenecarbonate and lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate are added at 0.5 parts by weight or more and 2.0 parts by weight or less in total.

Abstract: A pouch battery cell container, including at least, one battery cell compartment, is interposed between two end plates. The planar electrode surfaces of a pouch battery cell, housed within the battery cell compartment, are subjected to a constant and optimal amount of compressive force during cell expansion and contraction for battery cell optimization. A first end plate and a second end plate are coupled together by a plurality of connecting devices, wherein each connecting device includes an elastic deformation component. As the battery cells housed within the battery container expand and/or contract, the first and second end plates move relative to each other while constrained by the elastic deformation device so as to maintain a constant amount of compressive force on the planar electrode surfaces housed within the battery cell.

Abstract: In order to make more specifically water autonomous a hydrogen cell electrochemical generating unit (10), the generating unit (1) comprises a condenser (13) provided with a fan (13V) and with a radiator (13R) in contact with a tank (12) stocking hydrogen into a hydride. The condenser simultaneously transfers heat from a steam filled air (17E) to an endothermic reaction of the hydride into an alloy and into hydrogen via the radiator and condenses the steam into condensation water (13EC) being collected by a tank (14) supplying an electrolysis facility (11) with water for producing the hydrogen to be stocked.