Abstract: A subassembly for a fuel cell includes a fuel cell plate having a first side and a second side. Each of the first side and the second side has a flow field disposed between a pair of headers. An insulating spacer abuts the first side of the fuel cell plate and is disposed adjacent a perimeter of the fuel cell plate. A unitized electrode assembly includes a subgasket, a membrane electrode assembly, and a pair of diffusion medium layers. The membrane electrode assembly has an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. The membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between the pair of diffusion medium layers. The subgasket surrounds, and is coupled to, the membrane electrode assembly. The subgasket abuts the insulating spacer. An elastomeric seal abuts the second side of the fuel cell plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proton conducting thin film having a dense nanometric ceramic material with a relative density of at least about 90% and a grain size of less than about 30 nm, wherein the proton conducting thin film is capable of operating at temperatures of less than about 100° C. in the presence of water vapor. The present invention also provides an electrochemical device using the proton conducting thin film, and a method of making the proton conducting thin film.

Abstract: A chlorine-modified lithium manganese-based AB2O4 spinel cathode material is provided. Furthermore, a lithium or lithium ion rechargeable electrochemical cell is provided incorporating chlorine-modified lithium manganese-based AB2O4 spinel cathode material in a positive electrode. In addition, a process for preparing a stable chlorine-modified lithium manganese-based AB2O4 spinel cathode material is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode material for a safe, high capacity, long lifetime lithium ion secondary battery capable of large current charging and discharging. The positive electrode material contains between 5% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less of a carbon black composite formed by joining together fibrous carbon and carbon black wherein ash is 1.0% or less by mass in accordance with JIS K 1469 and the remainder includes olivine-type lithium iron phosphate, and volatile oxygen-containing functional groups which constitutes 1.0% or less by mass of the positive electrode material. The fibrous carbon is preferably a nanotube having a fiber diameter of 5 nm or more and 50 nm or less and a specific surface area between 50 m2/g or more and 400 m2/g or less.

Abstract: A solid nanocomposite particle composition for lithium metal or lithium ion battery electrode applications. The composition comprises: (A) an electrode active material in a form of fine particles, rods, wires, fibers, or tubes with a dimension smaller than 1 ?m; (B) nano graphene platelets (NGPs); and (C) a protective matrix material reinforced by the NGPs; wherein the graphene platelets and the electrode active material are dispersed in the matrix material and the NGPs occupy a weight fraction wg of 1% to 90% of the total nanocomposite weight, the electrode active material occupies a weight fraction wa of 1% to 90% of the total nanocomposite weight, and the matrix material occupies a weight fraction wm of at least 2% of the total nanocomposite weight with wg+wa+wm=1. For a lithium ion battery anode application, the matrix material is preferably amorphous carbon, polymeric carbon, or meso-phase carbon. Such a solid nanocomposite composition provides a high anode capacity and good cycling stability.

Abstract: A fuel cell apparatus (A1) includes a stack structure (B) including a plurality of solid electrolyte cell units (10) stacked with interspaces separating one another, and a case (20) enclosing the stack structure (B). The fuel cell apparatus (A1) further includes an inlet port (30) to introduce a reactant gas into the case (20), an outlet port (40) to discharge the reactant gas from the case (20), and a gas guide extending from the inlet port (30) along an outer periphery of the stack structure (B). The gas guide may include at least one guide member (50), and a heat transfer section.

Abstract: A battery pack assembly for providing electric power to a load includes a battery pack, preferably made up of a plurality of lithium ion cells. A heating device formed of a flexible material flexes and covers at least part of the battery pack. The heating device includes a meandering heating strip. A thermal sensor is surrounded by the heating strip to sense the temperature of the battery pack. Electric current is applied to the heating strip to heat the battery pack when its temperature falls too low, thus improving performance of the battery pack. The heating device also includes a plurality of tabs extending beyond the peripheral sides of the heating device for direct connection to the cells. Thus, electric current for the heating strip is provided directly from the cells of the battery pack.

Abstract: An anode composition for a lithium secondary battery includes an anode active material, a binder, and a conductive material. The active material includes a plurality of anode active material particles, each of which includes a core made of metal or metalloid allowing alloying or dealloying with lithium, or a compound containing the metal or metalloid; and a shell formed at an outer portion of the core and having Ketjen black. The conductive material includes carbon nano fiber. The anode composition uses a metal-based anode active material that may controls the volume expansion, and also uses conductive material with excellent dispersion so that the life characteristic of the battery may be improved.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane (1) includes a base material layer (1) containing a hydrocarbon-based electrolyte as a main component, and a surface layer (5) laminated with the base material layer (1). The surface layer (5) is a layer containing, as a main component, a polymeric material having a hydroxyl group and a proton conductive group. The polymeric material that constitutes the surface layer (5) contains, for example, a first polymer having a hydroxyl group, and a second polymer having a proton conductive group. A matrix is formed by cross-linking the first polymer, and the second polymer can be held in the matrix.

Abstract: Provided is a composite for anode material, a method of manufacturing the composite for anode material, and a cathode and a lithium battery that includes the composite for anode material, and more particularly, to a composite for anode material that has a large charge and discharge capacity and a high capacity retention, a method of manufacturing the composite for anode material, and a cathode and a lithium battery that includes the composite for anode material. Also, the composite for anode material in which Si or Si and carbon are distributed in silicon oxide particles is provided.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a casing that includes a battery unit, which features a plurality of battery cells and a case, and a mechanical component. Housing the cells, the case includes a first part to contain at least one cell, a second part to contain at least one cell, and a third part to connect the first part and the second part, the third part including an escape section. The mechanical component is at least partially located in a space formed by the escape section.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell for generating electricity. The microbial fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode electrically coupled to the anode. The anode is in contact with a first fluid including microorganisms capable of catalyzing the oxidation of ammonium. The anode is in contact with a second fluid including microorganisms capable of catalyzing the reduction of nitrite. The anode and the cathode may be housed in a single compartment, and the cathode may rotate with respect to the anode. The microbial fuel cell can be used to remove ammonium from wastewater, to generate electricity, or both.

Abstract: A UEA for a fuel cell having an active region and a feed region is provided. The UEA includes an electrolyte membrane disposed between a pair of electrodes. The electrolyte membrane and the pair of electrodes is further disposed between a pair of DM. The electrolyte membrane, the pair of electrodes, and the DM are configured to be disposed at the active region of the fuel cell. A barrier film coupled to the electrolyte membrane is configured to be disposed at the feed region of the fuel cell. The dimensions of the electrolyte membrane are thereby optimized. A fuel cell having the UEA, and a fuel cell stack formed from a plurality of the fuel cells, is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to primary and secondary electrochemical energy storage systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to such systems as battery cells, especially battery cells utilizing metal fluorides with the presence of phosphates or fluorophosphates, which use materials that take up and release ions as a means of storing and supplying electrical energy.

Abstract: Positive electrode active materials are described that have a high tap density and high specific discharge capacity upon cycling at room temperature and at a moderate discharge rate. Some materials of interest have the formula Li1+xNi?Mn?Co?O2, where x ranges from about 0.05 to about 0.25, ? ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.4, ? ranges from about 0.4 to about 0.65, and ? ranges from about 0.05 to about 0.3. The materials can be coated with a metal fluoride to improve the performance of the materials especially upon cycling. Also, the coated materials can exhibit a very significant decrease in the irreversible capacity lose upon the first charge and discharge of the battery.

Abstract: The positive electrode active material sintered body for a battery of the present invention is a positive electrode active material sintered body for a battery satisfying the following requirements (I) to (VII): (I) fine particles in a positive electrode active material are sintered to constitute the sintered body; (II) a peak pore diameter which provides a maximum differential pore volume value in a pore diameter range of 0.01 to 10 ?m in a pore distribution is 0.3 to 5 ?m; (III) a total pore volume is 0.1 to 1 cc/g; (IV) an average particle diameter is not less than the peak pore diameter and not more than 20 ?m; (V) any peak, which provides a differential pore volume value of not less than 10% of the maximum differential pore volume value, is not present on a smaller pore diameter side than the peak pore diameter in the pore distribution; (VI) a BET specific surface area is 1 to 6 m2/g; and (VII) a full width at half maximum of a strongest X-ray diffraction peak is 0.13 to 0.2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte that provides high proton conductivity and low fuel crossover at the same time, as well as a member using the same. The embodiments of the invention can achieve high output and high energy density in the form of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. A polymer electrolyte comprising a proton conductive polymer (A) and a polymer (B) which is different from (A) wherein a ratio of the amount of unfreezable water, represented by formula (S1), in said polymer electrolyte is no less than 40 wt % and no greater than 100 wt % is disclosed. The ratio of amount of unfreezable water (S1)=(amount of unfreezable water)/(amount of low melting point water+amount of unfreezable water)×100 (%).

Abstract: A fuel purification system includes a fuel cell stack and a fuel purification unit, such as a distillation unit. The fuel cell stack is adapted to provide heat to the fuel purification unit, and the fuel purification unit is adapted to provide a purified fuel to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: This invention provides a mixed nano-filament composition for use as an electrochemical cell electrode. The composition comprises: (a) an aggregate of nanometer-scaled, electrically conductive filaments that are substantially interconnected, intersected, or percolated to form a porous, electrically conductive filament network, wherein the filaments have a length and a diameter or thickness with the diameter/thickness less than 500 nm (preferably <100 nm) and a length-to-diameter or length-to-thickness aspect ratio greater than 10; and (b) Multiple nanometer-scaled, electro-active filaments comprising an electro-active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions wherein the electro-active filaments have a diameter or thickness less than 500 nm (preferably <100 nm). The electro-active filaments (e.g., nanowires) and the electrically conductive filaments (e.g.

Abstract: The invention concerns an interconnection system (100) of an energy storage assembly (200), with an electronic support for controlling (300) the health status of the energy storage assembly (200), the interconnection system (101) being characterized in that it comprises an interconnection support (101) including a conductive circuit (800) formed on electrically conductive surface, said circuit (800) forming an electrical connection between the electronic control support (300) and the pole terminals (500) of the cells to which it is connected, respectively, through connecting means and through retaining means (110, 120, 150), said retaining means (110, 120, 150) being adapted to urged into contact, on the pole terminals (500), with support means (510) so as to arrange the pole terminals (500) on the interconnection support (101) and adapted to provide a direct electrical connection of the pole terminals (500) with the conductive circuit (800).