Abstract: As an activation time power generation mode of a fuel cell system, a control device executes: a first step of determining whether or not hydrogen is present in an anode gas flow path; a second step of bringing a contactor to a connected state if hydrogen is detected in the first step as being present in the anode gas flow path; a third step of supplying air to a cathode through a cathode gas flow path after the second step has been executed; and a fourth step of, if a voltage of the fuel cell stack detected by a voltage detection device reaches a predetermined voltage, connecting an electrical load to the fuel cell stack, and performing electric power generation of the fuel cell stack while maintaining the voltage at or below the predetermined voltage.

Abstract: Electrochemical cells that use electrolytes made from new polymer compositions based on poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and other high-softening-temperature polymers are disclosed. These materials have a microphase domain structure that has an ionically-conductive phase and a phase with good mechanical strength and a high softening temperature. In one arrangement, the structural block has a softening temperature of about 210° C. These materials can be made with either homopolymers or with block copolymers. Such electrochemical cells can operate safely at higher temperatures than have been possible before, especially in lithium cells. The ionic conductivity of the electrolytes increases with increasing temperature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell stack having an electrically conductive interconnect, including the steps of: (a) providing a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, (b) providing a substrate having an iron-chromium alloy, (c) depositing a layer of metallic cobalt over a portion of substrate surface, (d) subjecting the layer of metallic cobalt to reducing conditions, (e) then exposing the remaining portion of the layer of metallic cobalt to oxidizing conditions for a predetermined time and temperature, such that the surface portion of the layer of metallic cobalt is oxidized to cobalt oxide, thereby forming the electrically conductive interconnect having a layer of metallic cobalt sandwiched between a surface layer of cobalt oxide and the layer of cobalt-iron-chromium alloy, and (f) sandwiching the substrate between the first and second fuel cells.

Abstract: A sodium-halogen secondary cell that includes a negative electrode compartment housing a negative, sodium-based electrode and a positive electrode compartment housing a current collector disposed in a liquid positive electrode solution. The liquid positive electrode solution includes a halogen and/or a halide. The cell includes a sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane that separates the negative electrode from the liquid positive electrode solution. Although in some cases, the negative sodium-based electrode is molten during cell operation, in other cases, the negative electrode includes a sodium electrode or a sodium intercalation carbon electrode that is solid during operation.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly comprising an enclosure having a fuel cell stack mounted therein, and an inlet opening into the enclosure. The fuel cell stack having an inlet face for receiving coolant/oxidant fluid. The fuel cell assembly further comprises a delivery gallery extending from the inlet in the enclosure to the inlet face of the fuel cell stack, the delivery gallery having a first region and a second region separated by an aperture. The delivery gallery and aperture are configured such that, in use, coolant/oxidant fluid within the first region of the delivery gallery is turbulent, and coolant/oxidant fluid within the second region of the delivery gallery has a generally uniform pressure.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode contains active material particles and a coating material. The active material particles are represented by any one of the following formulae (1) to (3): LixM1yO2??(1) LizM22wO4??(2) LisM3tPO4??(3) and have an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 10 ?m. The coating material comprises at least particles having an average particle diameter of 60 nm or less or layers having an average thickness of 60 nm or less. The particles or the layers contain at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Zr, Ba, B and C.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes, an oxidant feeder configured to supply an oxidant to a fuel cell, an oxidant passage which communicates with the fuel cell, a bypass passage which branches from the oxidant passage and along which part of the oxidant flows so as to bypass the fuel cell, a bypass valve which is provided in the bypass passage, an oxidant quantity-of-flow control unit which is configured to supply the quantity of flow of the oxidant corresponding to an amount of electricity required by the fuel cell, and an oxidant quantity-of-flow control unit for a sound vibration mode configured to supply a constant quantity of flow of the oxidant, and further includes a bypass valve control unit configured to control the bypass valve according to a requirement of the fuel cell when the oxidant quantity-of-flow control unit for the sound vibration mode controls the oxidant feeder.

Abstract: Provided are active materials for electrochemical cells. The active materials include silicon containing structures and treatment layers covering at least some surface of these structures. The treatment layers may include aminosilane, a poly(amine), and a poly(imine). These layers are used to increase adhesion of the structures to polymer binders within active material layers of the electrode. As such, when the silicon containing structures change their size during cycling, the bonds between the binder and the silicon containing structure structures or, more specifically, the bonds between the binder and the treatment layer are retained and cycling characteristics of the electrochemical cells are preserved. Also provided are electrochemical cells fabricated with such active materials and methods of fabricating these active materials and electrochemical cells.

Abstract: Provided is a negative electrode for a power storage device in which charge/discharge capacity is high and deterioration in battery characteristics due to charge/discharge is small. The negative electrode for a power storage device includes a negative electrode active material having a plurality of protrusions and a bar which serves as a connecting bridge over a first protrusion and a second protrusion among the plurality of protrusions. The bar is provided in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a current collector is bent. An axis of the first protrusion and an axis of the second protrusion are oriented in the same direction. Further, a graphene covering a side surface of the protrusion or covering the side surface of the protrusion and a top surface of the bar may be provided.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator, the separator being between the first electrode and the second electrode, a case including a space that receives the electrode assembly therein, a cap plate coupled with an opening of the case, a top cover covering the cap plate, a protective circuit module between the cap plate and the top cover, and a lead tab that electrically connects the protective circuit module and the cap plate. The lead tab includes fixing protrusions and the top cover includes fixing grooves into which the fixing protrusions are inserted.

Abstract: A positive active material is disclosed that includes a lithium nickel composite oxide represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, wherein a full width at half maximum (FWHM003) at a (003) plane in X-ray diffraction ranges from about 0.12 to about 0.155, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery including the same.

Abstract: A flow cell battery includes at least one anode compartment and at least one cathode compartment, with a separator membrane disposed between each anode compartment and each cathode compartment. Each anode compartment and cathode compartment includes a bipolar plate, a fluid electrolyte, and at least a carbon nanomaterial on the surface of the bipolar plate, wherein the fluid electrolyte flows around the carbon nanomaterial.

Abstract: Disclosed are a separator for a rechargeable lithium battery including a porous substrate and an adherence porous layer on at least one side of the porous substrate, and including a first fluorovinylidene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a second fluorovinylidene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and filler particles, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a secondary battery which enables both good battery characteristics and electrode strength at a predetermined level, a secondary battery, and a method for fabricating the positive electrode for a secondary battery are provided. The positive electrode for a secondary battery includes a current collector and an active material layer over the current collector. The active material layer includes an active material, graphene, and a binder. A carbon layer is on a surface of the active material. The proportion of the graphene in the active material layer is greater than or equal to 0.1 wt % and less than or equal to 1.0 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention provides an entire solid lithium secondary battery comprising: a cathode; an anode; and a solid electrolyte layer interposed between the cathode and the anode. The solid electrolyte layer is formed of a Li(1-x)NbO3 crystal (where 0.10?x?0.35) having a trigonal ilmenite crystal structure. This entire solid lithium secondary battery has a high charge-discharge property.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery structure with a third electrode as reference electrode is disclosed. The reference electrode may be fabricated from lithium metal, lithiated carbon, or a variety of other lithium-containing electrode materials. A porous current collector allows permeation of reference lithium ions from the reference electrode to the cathode or anode, enabling voltage monitoring under actual operation of a lithium-ion battery. The reference electrode therefore does not need to be spatially between the battery anode and cathode, thus avoiding a shielding effect. The battery structure includes an external reference circuit to dynamically display the anode and cathode voltage. The battery structure can result in improved battery monitoring, enhanced battery safety, and extended battery life.

Abstract: An electrode body includes a laminated body and an insulating fixing member. The laminated body includes a positive-electrode active material layer, a negative-electrode active material layer, a negative-electrode current collector layer, and a solid electrolyte layer. The negative-electrode current collector layer includes a current-collector extension portion that extends outward further than the negative-electrode active material layer. The solid electrolyte layer includes an electrolyte extension portion that integrally covers an end surface of the negative-electrode active material layer and a base end portion of the current-collector extension portion. The insulating fixing member covers at least front and back surfaces of a distal end portion exposed from the second electrolyte extension portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for preventing internal short circuits in a lithium-ion battery cell. In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a lithium-ion battery cell may include providing a cathode, providing an anode, providing a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, and covering an edge of the cathode to prevent a short between the cathode and the anode through the separator. The method may also include winding the cathode, the anode, and the separator into an electrode roll.

Abstract: A battery case of a rectangular battery includes a lid member welded to an opening portion in a main body member. Each opening rounded portion of the opening portion has, in the circumferential direction, a support projecting portion which projects inward over the entire opening rounded portion and which supports the lid member. Meanwhile, in the circumferential direction along an entire opening short side portion, the opening short side portion has a low projecting portion which projects inward at a position lower than the support projecting portion in the depth direction of the main body member.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising multiple arrays of one or more fuel cells, each comprising an electrolyte layer, an anode layer and a cathode layer; gas separator plates between adjacent fuel cells; and oxidant gas distribution passages and fuel gas distribution passages between adjacent fuel cells; and gas separators opening to the cathode layers and the anode layers, respectively, of the fuel cells. The fuel cell arrays comprise at least first stage fuel cell arrays having associated first fuel gas distribution passages to receive fuel gas from one or more fuel gas supply manifolds and second stage fuel cell arrays having associated second fuel gas distribution passages which receive fuel exhaust from the fuel cells of the first stage fuel cell arrays. The second stage fuel cell arrays are interleaved in the stack between first stage fuel cell arrays to improve thermal gradients. Other interleaving arrangements are possible.