Abstract: Provided a method for generating an electrical current. The method includes: introducing water between the anode and at least one cathode of an electrochemical cell, to form an electrolyte; anaerobically oxidizing aluminum or an aluminum alloy; and electrochemically reducing water at the at least one cathode. The electrochemical cell includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack comprising an anode including the aluminum or aluminum alloy, and at least one cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, the electrolyte, and the physical separators; and a water injection port. When the cell is in operation, the hydroxyaluminate concentration of the electrolyte in the cell is maintained between at least 20% to at most 750% of the saturation concentration.

Abstract: An anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell includes electrode stacks, each electrode stack having an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one solid cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode. The cell further includes a liquid electrolyte between the anode and the at least one cathode, one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode, a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, the electrolyte, and the physical separators, and a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating an electrical current. The method includes: introducing water between the anode and at least one cathode of an electrochemical cell, to form an electrolyte; anaerobically oxidizing aluminum or an aluminum alloy at the anode; and electrochemically reducing water at the at least one cathode. The electrochemical cell includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack comprising an anode including the aluminum or aluminum alloy, and at least one cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, the electrolyte, and the physical separators; and a water injection port in the housing. When the cell is in operation, the concentration of aluminum species in the electrolyte is maintained between at least 0.01 M to at most 0.7 M.

Abstract: A lithium electrode includes a first lithium layer made of lithium or a lithium alloy, a current collector situated on a first side of the lithium layer, and a lithium-ion-conducting protective layer situated on a second side of the lithium layer opposite the first side. An intermediate layer completely covers the second side of the lithium layer and is situated between the lithium layer and the protective layer. The protective and intermediate layers have an electrical conductivity of less than 10?10 S/cm. The lithium electrode may be used as the anode of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A lithium layer is applied to a current collector, an intermediate layer is applied to the lithium layer so that the intermediate layer completely covers the lithium layer, and a lithium-ion-conducting protective layer is applied to the intermediate layer.

Abstract: An all-solid-state lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and a solid electrolyte arranged between the positive and negative electrodes, to conduct lithium ions. In the all-solid-state lithium secondary battery, a mixed layer is in close contact with a surface of the solid electrolyte adjacent to the positive electrode, the mixed layer containing the positive-electrode active material and (Lix(1??), Mx?/?)?+(B1?y, Ay)z+O2?? (wherein in the formula, M and A each represent at least one or more elements selected from C, Al, Si, Ga, Ge, In, and Sn, ? satisfies 0??<1, ? represents the valence of M, ? represents the average valence of (Li+x(1??), M?), y satisfies 0?y<1, z represents the average valence of (B1?y, Ay) and x, ?, ?, ?, z, and ? satisfy the relational expression (x(1??)+x?/?)?+z=2?) serving as a matrix.

Abstract: An energy storage apparatus including: an energy storage device; and an outer housing including a bottom surface, a side wall extending from the bottom surface in a first direction that intersects the bottom surface, and a support member that supports the side wall. An end of the side wall in the first direction is positioned in a first region that is further in the first direction than an end of a case of the energy storage device in the first direction. The support member is connected to the side wall in at least the first region and supports the side wall.

Abstract: An anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell is provided. The electrochemical cell includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack featuring an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, an electrolyte, and the physical separators; a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing; and an amount of hydroxide base sufficient to form an electrolyte having a hydroxide base concentration of at least 0.5% to at most 13% of the saturation concentration when water is introduced between the anode and the least one cathode.

Abstract: In a vehicle battery unit, since a second support plate (30B) and a second end plate (29B) of a second battery module (22B) having a plurality of battery cells (21) stacked are placed on top of a first support plate (30A) and a first end plate (29A) of a first battery module (22A) having a plurality of the battery cells (21), it is possible to prevent the weight of the second battery module (22B) from being imposed on the battery cells (21) of the first battery module (22A). Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide on the exterior of the first battery module (22A) a member for supporting the weight of the second battery module (22B), it is possible to reduce the dimensions of the first battery module (22A).

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode laminate having a current collector layer, an active material layer and a solid electrolyte layer includes applying an active material slurry onto a surface of the current collector to form an active material slurry layer, and applying an electrolyte slurry onto a surface of the active material slurry layer to form an electrolyte slurry layer. The active material slurry contains butyl butyrate and heptane, the electrolyte slurry contains butyl butyrate or contains butyl butyrate and heptane, and the mass % concentration of heptane in a dispersion medium in the active material slurry layer is higher than the mass % concentration of heptane in a dispersion medium in the electrolyte slurry.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly; a case containing the electrode assembly; a cap plate covering an opening of the case; a terminal extending outside the cap plate; a lead tab connecting the electrode assembly to the terminal; and a retainer coupled to the lead tab inside the case and arranged between the lead tab and the case, the retainer including an insertion guide facing away from the electrode assembly and being inclined toward the electrode assembly in a direction extending away from the cap plate.

Abstract: A film member stacking device includes a block having a bottom surface portion provided with an outer end configured to contact with an inner end of an opening of a first film member. The outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block is larger than the inner end of the opening of the first film member. The film member stacking device further includes a member configured to uniformly force the first film member in a direction of the bottom surface portion of the block. The inner end of the opening of the first film member is positioned by the block, and the first film member is stacked on a second film member. The block is configured to resist deformation upon contact between the outer end of the bottom surface portion of the block and the inner end of the opening of the first film member.

Abstract: A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap assembly including a cap plate coupled to the case, and a bottom plate attached to a bottom surface of the cap plate; and an electrode terminal protruding from the cap assembly and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and the bottom plate includes a terminal plate electrically connected to the electrode terminal, and an insulation film stacked on the terminal plate and electrically insulating the terminal plate and the cap plate from each other, the insulation film being integrally formed with the terminal plate.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery including: a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a sulfide solid electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode includes a positive active material particle and a coating film including an oxide including lithium (Li) and zirconium (Zr) on a surface of the positive active material particle.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an electric storage device includes: a current collector assembly step of disposing a current collector between an electrolyte solution pouring opening and a power generating element so as to block a view of the power generating element from the electrolyte solution pouring opening; an electrolyte solution pouring step of pouring an electrolyte solution through the electrolyte solution pouring opening; and a sealing step of disposing a sealing member at the electrolyte solution pouring opening and sealing the electrolyte solution pouring opening by welding.

Abstract: A battery module of the present invention includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries, each rechargeable battery having a first terminal and a second terminal, a bus bar having a first connection member and a second connection member, the first connection member being coupled to the bus bar via a serial connection member and a short-circuit connection member, and the second connection member being coupled to the bus bar via a fuse portion, and a short-circuit member connected to the first connection member through a serial connection member and connected to the second connection member through a fuse portion. The short-circuit member may be configured to be deformed by increased internal pressure in the respective rechargeable battery to couple to the short-circuit connection member.

Abstract: A energy storage device includes: an electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate being mutually insulated; a case that houses the electrode assembly; and a conductive member electrically coupled to the electrode assembly in the case. The conductive member includes a main body part that has a central axis in a direction passing through a wall surface of the case, and a conductive connection part that protrudes from the main body part in a direction intersecting with the central axis. The main body part includes a swage portion disposed at one end portion of the main body part and inserted into the wall surface of case, and a non-circular head disposed at another end portion of the main body part.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, the method comprising: mixing and reacting a nickel source, a cobalt source, and an aluminum source, ammonia water, sucrose, and a pH adjusting agent to prepare a mixed solution; drying and oxidizing the mixed solution to prepare a positive electrode active material precursor; and adding a lithium source to the positive electrode active material precursor and firing them to prepare a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery.

Abstract: Spliced bipolar plates for fuel cells are provided. The spliced bipolar plate includes a supporting plate and a splice plate. The supporting plate has three inlet openings and three outlet openings formed thereon. A plurality of coolant flow channels are provided on one side of the supporting plate, while a recess of a uniform thickness is provided on the opposite side of the supporting plate. One side of the recess is opened to a transverse or a longitudinal side of the supporting plate. The splice plate is divided into a reaction zone part and an extended part by the supporting plate. The size of the reaction zone part is substantially the same as the volume of the recess such that the reaction zone part is received in the recess, connecting the splice plate to the supporting plate. The extended part of the splice plate is projected beyond the supporting plate.

Abstract: A process for making a solid electrolyte for an electrochemical cell. The process includes providing a multilayer material having a porous layer and a nonporous layer, the nonporous layer containing a first oxide selected from alpha-alumina, gamma-alumina, alpha-gallium oxide, and/or combinations thereof. In addition, an alkali-metal oxide vapor is provided and the nonporous layer is exposed to the alkali-metal oxide vapor at an elevated temperature such that the nonporous layer is converted to a solid second oxide electrolyte layer that is conductive to alkali metal ions. The second oxide is an alkali-metal-beta-alumina, alkali-metal-beta?-alumina, alkali-metal-beta-gallate, and/or alkali-metal-beta?-gallate.