Abstract: A plastic battery container for a recombinant sealed lead-acid battery having reduced end wall deflection, the end wall comprising a base portion from which extends a series of integrally molded ribs disposed at approximately +/−45° to the horizontal, substantially all intersection points of the ribs with the base portion having a rounded character to enhance processing characteristics.

Abstract: A fuel cell is of a simple structure for preventing A partial temperature difference from being developed in a fuel cell structural body, and maintaining an effective operative area and performance. The fuel cell 10 includes a plurality of fuel cells 20 each sandwiched between separators 40, and has circulatory passages 29a, 29b defined therein for circulating cooling water, which has been used to cool the fuel cells 20, along opposite outer sides of electric generation sections 28 of the fuel cells 20.

Abstract: Methods are presented for reclaiming active material used in formation of secondary electrochemical cells and similar electrodes. Active materials such as nickel-metal hydride are removed from cell electrodes together with the binders used to secure the active materials to the electrode substrates. Because the binders and other agents are recovered without loss or degradation, the active materials may be easily and simply reconstituted and reused to form new electrodes. The methods are particularly applicable to electrodes fabricated by deposition of active material on flexible conductive substrates. The reclamation methods include mechanical separation, such as bending and ultrasonic beating, to remove the active materials without adding other chemical agents. The removed active materials are ground and sized. Solvent is added to dissolve binders and form a reconstituted active material paste.

Abstract: An electrode and separator composite comprises a separator and an electrode embedded in a polymer matrix. Application of an electrode slurry to a polymer coated separator and subsequent drying in a solvent enriched atmosphere forms a secondary battery structure characterized by a seamless composite structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a battery explosion prevention safety device includes the steps of electroforming a first metal floor layer on a conductive substrate, coating the first metal layer with a photoresist layer, overlaying the photoresist layer with a photomask having windows that define the shape of a safety valve, irradiating the photoresist layer with ultraviolet light, developing the photoresist layer, and removing unexposed portions of the photoresist layer to expose the first metal layer at those portions, electroforming a second metal layer on the first metal layer, removing exposed portions of the photoresist layer, and separating the conductive substrate from the first metal layer. This method is used to fabricate a plurality of connected explosion prevention safety devices, which can then be readily detached one at a time when needed.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte obtained by blending (1) a polyether copolymer having a main chain, which is derived form ethylene oxide, and a side chain having two oligooxyethylene groups, (2) an electrolyte salt compound, and, if necessary, (3) a plasticizer which is any one of an aprotic organic solvent or a derivative or metal salt of a polyalkylene glycol having a number-average molecular weight of 200 to 5,000 or a metal salt of the derivative, is superior in ionic conductivity and also superior in processability, moldability and mechanical strength to a conventional solid electrolyte. A secondary battery is constructed by using the solid polymer electrolyte in combination with a lithium metal negative electrode and a lithium cobaltate positive electrode.

Abstract: An improved molding composition is provided for compression molding or injection molding a current collector plate for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The molding composition is comprised of a polymer resin combined with a low surface area, highly-conductive carbon and/or graphite powder filler. The low viscosity of the thermoplastic resin combined with the reduced filler particle surface area provide a moldable composition which can be fabricated into a current collector plate having improved current collecting capacity vis-a-vis comparable fluoropolymer molding compositions.

Abstract: A battery has an organic electrolyte, a negative electrode having at least one metal out of alkaline metal and alkaline metal alloy, and a positive electrode including a conductive core having at least one metal out of porous metal plate and metal mesh, wherein an active material covers the core. At least a part of one side of the core is exposed from the active material at a position confronting the negative electrode, and the width of narrowest part of the metal is greater than the thickness of the negative electrode. In this constitution, the discharge reaction is delayed in the exposed portion of the core of the positive electrode. By this delay in discharge reaction, the electric connection of the negative electrode is maintained up to the end of discharge. Hence, voltage drop at the end of discharge is suppressed. As a result, the battery having an excellent discharge capacity up to the end of the discharge is obtained.

Abstract: A cell unit for use in fuel cells of the type using an electrode portion having an anode formed of a plate or film on one surface of an electrolyte and a cathode formed of a plate or film on the other surface. An anode side plate of the invention has stepped portions to form recesses which accommodate the electrode and provide an anode side chamber facing the anode. A cathode side plate having a cathode side chamber facing the cathode is also accommodated in the recessed portions of the anode side plate. A fuel supply manifold and a fuel discharge manifold can extend through the stepped portions. Use of such cell units reduces the number of seal members required between fuel or oxidant manifolds when cell units are stacked to form a fuel cell stack. Such reduction in seal members simplifies fabrication of the units and renders the cell unit easier to maintain and repair.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming a semiconductor workpiece. One method of forming a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention includes: providing a semiconductor workpiece; forming a via within the semiconductor workpiece, the via including plural sidewalls joining a bottom surface at respective plural corners; first sputtering a process layer upon at least a portion of the bottom surface using ionized metal plasma physical vapor deposition; and following the sputtering of the process layer, second sputtering at least some of the process layer towards the corners within the via.

Abstract: The invention provides a battery holder consisting of one plate-like support member and another support member. A plurality of battery holes of a predetermined depth into which sealed portions of a positive or negative side of sealed-type batteries that are clamped at one side by the support member are to be respectively fitted are formed in one face of the support member, so that one row of the battery holes is a row for positive terminals and another row of the battery holes is a row for negative terminals. A terminal hole is formed in a bottom face of each of the battery holes. A groove is formed between adjacent paired positive-terminal and negative-terminal holes among the terminal holes disposed in the bottom faces of the battery holes of the rows. The paired positive-terminal and negative-terminal holes are communicated with each other through the groove. Vent holes are opened at appropriate places among the battery holes.

Abstract: A composite comprising a polysilamine having a repeating unit represented by the following formula [—N(R1)—A1—Si(R2)(R3)—B—] wherein R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; A1 is a lower alkylene group which may be substituted by a lower alkyl group, a group represented by the formula —A2—N(R4)—A3— or a group represented by the formula —A2—N(R4)—A3—N(R5)—A4—, wherein A2, A3 and A4 are the same or different and each is a lower alkylene group which may be substituted by a lower alkyl group; R4 and R5 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl groups; B is a lower alkylene group which may be substituted by a lower alkyl group; and n is an integer of not less than 2, and a strong acid is disclosed. This composite has proton conductivity and is thus suitably used as an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel electroactive energy storing polyacetylene-co-polysulfur (PAS) materials of general formula (C2Sx)n wherein x is greater than 1 to about 100, n is equal to or greater than 2, and the sulfur chain is bound to the polymer by both terminal sulfur atoms. This invention also relates to novel rechargeable electrochemical cells containing positive electrode materials comprised of said polyacetylene-co-polysulfur materials with improved storage capacity and cycle life at ambient and sub-ambient temperatures.

Abstract: In order to improve vibration resistance of a battery, the bottoms as well as the tops of the negative and positive plates are respectively series combined. The bottoms may be combined using straps made of electrically conductive or non-conductive materials, and to facilitate integration of the bottoms of the plates into the casing, foot slots may be provided at the bottom of the battery casing for insertion of plate connectors used to connect the plates to the straps.

Abstract: An electrolyte containing at least one of dihalodicarbonyl compounds, in which hydrogen atoms of a methylene group between the two carbonyl groups are substituted with halogen atoms, and an electric energy generator comprising the electrolyte, an active material for positive electrode and an active material for negative electrode. The electrolyte has high polarity, high resistance to oxidation and flame retardance, and thus possesses excellent characteristics as the electrolyte for electric energy generators.

Abstract: An electro-active compound particulate coated with a conducting polymer composition finds use in electrochemical cell electrodes.

Abstract: In electrochemical cells for medical devices having anodes assemblies, an anode assembly includes a folded lithium element having a first and second section. The first and second sections are for receiving a current collector therebetween. A method of forming an anode arrangement includes a step of folding a lithium element having the first and second sections with a current collector positioned therebetween. Thereafter, a pressing step is performed in an oversized die.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative electrode material having a great discharge capacity. A non-aqueous secondary battery essentially comprises positive and negative electrodes, the negative electrode material including a negative electrode material containing 30 to 90% by weight of silicon and 10 to 70% by weight of carbon for the non-aqueous secondary battery, wherein the negative electrode material is obtained by heating silicon or a compound thereof at 600 to 1,500° C. under a non-oxidative atmosphere in the coexsitence with an organic material carbon material.

Abstract: An alkali metal/solid cathode electrochemical cell, particularly a Li/SVO cell, having an anode-to-cathode (A/C) capacity ratio of about 0.68 to about 0.96, is described. This provides the cell with negligible, if any, cell swelling during discharge.

Abstract: A battery having an array of rectangular cells with cylindrical ends housed in a rectangular battery container and a battery having a single rectangular electrochemical cell with a cylindrical end. Each cell has a rectangular section substantially housing the active cell materials and a cylindrical end with a round cover/seal assembly assembled thereto.