Abstract: A method for making a lithium ion battery electrode is provided. A support having a support surface is provided. A graphene layer is formed on the support surface of the support. An electrode material layer is applied on an exposed surface of the graphene layer. The graphene layer is located between the electrode material layer and the support.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked includes an air manifold and a hydrogen manifold on a first side and a second side of the stack, respectively, a jet array including a tubular body inserted in the air manifold or the hydrogen manifold and a plurality of orifices formed in the tubular body and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the tubular body, a pump or a valve for supplying air or hydrogen to the jet array; and a controller that operates the pump or the valve.

Abstract: A fuel cell power plant keeps track, such as with a fuel-off timer (41), of the extent to which shutdown of the fuel cell power plant has occurred, in case the fuel cell power plant is quickly commanded to resume full operation. In one embodiment, if the fuel-off timer has not timed out at the time that the fuel cell power plant is ordered to resume full operation, a fuel-on timer is set (51) equal to the value of the fuel-off timer when the fuel cell power plant is ordered to resume full operation. Then, the fuel cell power plant is refueled (22), in a duration of time related to the setting of the fuel-off timer, rather than doing a full fuel purge.

Abstract: A self-burying microbial fuel cell can include a housing with conductive elements. An anode and cathode can be integrated into the housing at respective proximal and distal ends. A self-burying means for partially burying the microbial fuel cell in a submerged environment is included, so that the anode is buried but the cathode is exposed to the submerged environment can be included. The self-burying means can include omni-directional vibrating device located within the housing, a plurality of intake ports formed in the housing for a pump within the housing. The pump outputs into a longitudinal fluid conduit that extends through the housing and exits at the distal end of the housing. When the vibrating device activates at the same time as the pump, temporary slurry can be formed at the extreme distal end of the device, and the vibrating action causes the microbial fuel cell to become partially buried.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite material, the method comprising: (i) providing a ceramic powder comprising ceramic agglomerates, the agglomerates having an intra-agglomerate void volume space; (ii) providing a polymer; (iii) mixing the polymer with the ceramic powder to form a mixture comprising the agglomerates at least partially impregnated with the polymer, wherein the volume of polymer in the mixture is at least 80% of the total intra-agglomerate void volume space, but less than 130% of the total intra-agglomerate void volume space; (iv) optionally shaping the mixture to form a preform; (v) and treating the mixture to provide ceramic agglomerates which are at least partially impregnated with solid polymer.

Abstract: Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte battery excellent in initial static characteristics and continuous charge characteristics. The non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes a pellet-shaped positive electrode, a pellet-shaped negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material, aluminum powder, a conductive agent, and a binder. The positive electrode active material contains vanadium pentoxide. The positive electrode has a porosity of 35.6 to 45.4 vol %. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material containing silicon, a conductive agent, and a binder.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator includes: a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a material gas; a hydro-desulfurizer configured to remove a sulfur compound in the material gas; a material gas passage through which the material gas supplied to the reformer flows; a recycled gas passage connected between a first connection portion of a gas passage located downstream of the reformer and a second connection portion of the material gas passage located upstream of the hydro-desulfurizer; a first on-off valve disposed on the recycled gas passage; a second on-off valve disposed on the material gas passage between the second connection portion and the hydro-desulfurizer; and a controller configured to open the first on-off valve, after generation stop of the hydrogen-containing gas, to supply the material gas to the recycled gas passage, and to close the second on-off valve when the controller opens the first on-off valve.

Abstract: An example energy dissipation device for controlling a fuel cell fluid includes a conduit extending in longitudinal direction between a first opening and a second opening. A flow control insert is configured to be received within the conduit. The flow control insert is configured to cause a fuel cell fluid to flow helically relative to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A storage battery system includes: a secondary battery; a holding member comprising a flow channel of a cooling medium for cooling the secondary battery, which holds the secondary battery; a medium temperature measuring unit that measures temperatures T1 and T2 of the cooling medium at two locations in the flow channel; a battery temperature measuring unit that measures a temperature T3 of the secondary battery; and a judging unit that repetitively calculates a coefficient ? and that judges a cooling performance of the secondary battery based on a variation of the coefficient ?, the coefficient ? being defined as (T3?T1)/(T2?T1), (T3?T2)/(T2?T1), or (T3?T2)/(T3?T1).

Abstract: Provided is a cable-type secondary battery extending longitudinally including a lithium ion supplying core comprising an electrolyte, an inner electrode support of a hollow structure formed to surround an outer surface of the lithium ion supplying core, an inner electrode formed on a surface of the inner electrode support and including an inner current collector and an inner electrode active material, a separation layer formed to surround an outer surface of the inner electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes, and an outer electrode formed to surround an outer surface of the separation layer and including an outer electrode active material layer and an outer current collector.

Abstract: Titanium suboxide (TixO2x-1) nanoparticles useful as a support for a catalyst electrode of a fuel cell, and a method for synthesizing the titanium suboxide (TixO2x-1) nanoparticles by using TiO2, a Co catalyst and hydrogen gas at a low temperature ranging from 600 to 900° C. are described Since the titanium suboxide nanoparticles show high corrosion resistance to acid and durability and have excellent thermal and electric conductivities, a catalyst electrode manufactured by using the same as a support exhibits improved catalytic activity and oxidation reduction (redox) properties.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having high rate capability, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods of producing high capacity and high rate capability batteries having relatively thick semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes an anode, a semi-solid cathode that includes a suspension of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte, and an ion permeable membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The semi-solid cathode has a thickness in the range of about 250 ?m-2,500 ?m, and the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 5 mAh/cm2 at a C-rate of C/2.

Abstract: A secondary battery pack is provided. The secondary battery pack has a structure in which a protection circuit module (PCM) is mounted to a top of a plate-shaped battery cell having electrode terminals formed at an upper end thereof, the PCM includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a protection circuit formed thereon, a safety element electrically connected between one of the electrode terminals of the battery cell and the protection circuit of the PCB, an external input and output terminal electrically connected to the protection circuit of the PCB, and an electrically insulative module case to cover the PCB and the safety element in a state in which the external input and output terminal extends outside. The PCM is loaded on an upper end case extension portion of the battery cell in a state in which the PCM is electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell.

Abstract: High efficiency electricity generation processes and systems with substantially zero CO2 emissions are provided. A closed looping between the unit that generates gaseous fuel (H2, CO, etc) and the fuel cell anode side is formed. In certain embodiments, the heat and exhaust oxygen containing gas from the fuel cell cathode side are also utilized for the gaseous fuel generation. The resulting power generation efficiencies are improved due to the minimized steam consumption for the gaseous fuel production in the fuel cell anode loop as well as the strategic mass and energy integration schemes.

Abstract: A system and method for stacking battery cells or related assembled components. Generally planar, rectangular (prismatic-shaped) battery cells are moved from an as-received generally vertical stacking orientation to a generally horizontal stacking orientation without the need for robotic pick-and-place equipment. The system includes numerous conveyor belts that work in cooperation with one another to deliver, rotate and stack the cells or their affiliated assemblies. The belts are outfitted with components to facilitate the cell transport and rotation. The coordinated movement between the belts and the components promote the orderly transport and rotation of the cells from a substantially vertical stacking orientation into a substantially horizontal stacking orientation.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having high rate capability, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods of producing high capacity and high rate capability batteries having relatively thick semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes an anode and a semi-solid cathode. The semi-solid cathode includes a suspension of an active material of about 35% to about 75% by volume of an active material and about 0.5% to about 8% by volume of a conductive material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. An ion-permeable membrane is disposed between the anode and the semi-solid cathode. The semi-solid cathode has a thickness of about 250 ?m to about 2,000 ?m, and the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least about 7 mAh/cm2 at a C-rate of C/4. In some embodiments, the semi-solid cathode slurry has a mixing index of at least about 0.9.

Abstract: A machine for deforming the wires of grids for making electric accumulators, which comprises two lower molds, and two upper molds which are positioned above the lower molds and which are operable to shift between a raised position, in which they are separated from the underlying lower molds, and a lowered position in which they are pressed against the lower molds to deform the wires of the grids on a grid strip. The upper molds comprise respective projecting molding areas and respective seats which are positioned between the molding areas of the relative upper mold, and each housing a corresponding piece-detacher element which, when the upper molds are in the raised position, is suitable to interfere with the grid remaining attached to the corresponding upper mold to separate the grid from such upper mold.

Abstract: An insulative nonwoven battery cover and method of construction thereof is provided. The cover includes a plurality of nonwoven sections bonded together to form a desired structural configuration. The nonwoven sections are mats of heat-settable textile fibers and green materials including natural fibers, recycled materials and/or waste stream materials. The mats are formed having a bonded seam of the melted heat-settable textile fibers such that the cover is provided with a circumferentially continuous wall.

Abstract: A reaction layer for a fuel cell, which is interposed between a solid electrolyte membrane and a diffusion layer in the fuel cell, the reaction layer including a first layer that is in contact with the solid electrolyte membrane, a second layer that is in contact with the diffusion layer; and an intermediate layer that is interposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer have a catalyst supported by an electrically conductive support, and the intermediate layer has no catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention concerns electrode catalysts used in fuel cells, such as proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The invention is related to the reduction of the noble metal content and the improvement of the catalytic efficiency by low level substitution of the noble metal to provide new and innovative catalyst compositions in fuel cell electrodes. The novel electrode catalysts of the invention comprise a noble metal selected from Pt, Pd and mixtures thereof alloyed with a further element selected from Sc, Y and La as well as any mixtures thereof, wherein said alloy is supported on a conductive support material.