Abstract: There is provided a battery accommodating structure in electronic equipment such as a portable computer or the like, which structure is suitable for a general-purpose large-capacity battery and can implement miniaturization of the device and enhancement of resistance to drop impact. In the battery accommodating structure, a first engagement portion (15) which is engaged with a first hook portion (14) formed on the inner surface of one end portion of a battery cover (3) is formed on the outer wall of a housing (4) just below an opening portion of a battery accommodating room (31), and a second engagement portion (13) which is engaged with a second hook portion (12) formed on the end face plate of the other end portion of the battery cover (3) is formed on the wall surface of the housing (4) which constitutes one inner end of the battery accommodating room (31).

Abstract: Electrolyte systems for lithium batteries of increased safety comprise at least one lithium-containing conducting salt and at least one electrolyte fluid and, according to the invention, are defined by at least one partially fluorinated carbamate of general formula (I) ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another or identical or different, linear C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, branched C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 directly or via one or more additional nitrogen and/or oxygen atoms are linked to form a ring having from 3 to 7 ring members, and the additional nitrogen atoms present in the ring being substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alkyl and the ring carbon atoms optionally carrying C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alkyl, with the option of one or more hydrogen atoms in the radicals R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 being replaced by fluorine atoms, R.sup.

Abstract: A volume efficient, layered manifold assembly is disclosed for an array of one or more internally manifolded fuel cell stacks. The assembly comprises a stack of substantially planar layers in which each pair of adjacent layers defines a fluid distribution chamber or plenum. Appropriate passages connect each chamber to the internal manifolds of the fuel cell stacks and to various external fluid ports for supply or exhaust of fuel, oxidant, or coolant streams. Passages for at least one fluid penetrate the layers defining the distribution chamber for another fluid. Valving can be incorporated directly in the manifold assembly and used to periodically reverse the direction of fluid flow through internal manifolds of the fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: Disclosed are safe, easy to manufacture prismatic cells having scored regions strategically located on portions of the prismatic cell can or cell header. When they are located on the cell can, the scored regions are provided on the side of the can, rather than on the bottom of the can as in other designs. The scored region may be located on a corner of one side of the side of the cell can. Scored regions so located tend to release excess pressure over a relatively narrow and easier to control pressure range. Similar benefits can be obtained by placing the scored region on a "dished" header of a prismatic cell. Such dished header designs have a vertical lip around the perimeter of a substantially flat horizontal portion. The scoring may be provided near one of the ends of the header's substantially flat portion.

Abstract: To provide a water-repelling agent for batteries which comprises an aqueous dispersion or organosol containing fine particles having an average particle size of from 0.05 to 1 .mu.m and made of a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer and/or a non-fibril-forming tetrafluoroethylene polymer, is obtained without use of a powder of a fluorine-containing resin as it is, can enhance chemical resistance, heat resistance and water repellency particularly more effectively without being fibrillated even if mixed with electrode materials and is excellent in workability, and to provide a battery which is produced by using the water-repelling agent for batteries and is excellent in cycle life and internal pressure characteristics.

Abstract: A collector terminal for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, especially a large-size battery, is provided which is free from breakage when its exterior terminal is fastened with a nut with an excessive torque, superior in electrical conductivity, and high in reliability. The section of the collector terminal forming an exterior terminal and the section where lead plates taken out from the electrode group consist of different types of metals, which are integrated by solid-phase bonding or by vacuum brazing. Among the solid-phase bonding methods, diffusion bonding, explosion pressure welding, and friction bonding are effective.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a positive active material for nickel electrodes of alkaline storage batteries which consists of particles of hydroxide containing mainly nickel and covered with a layer of a hydroxide phase based on nickel and yttrium is disclosed. The proportion of the hydroxide phase is in the range 0.15% to 3% by weight of yttrium expressed as yttrium hydroxide relative to the total weight of particles.

Abstract: A high temperature fuel cell stack is composed of high temperature fuel cells having interconnecting conducting plates for leading off current produced in the high temperature fuel cell. At least one of the plates is formed of an alloy based on Fe with a Cr content of between 17 and 30% by weight and has an average coefficient of thermal expansion of between 13 and 14.times.10.sup.-6 /K in a temperature range from room temperature to 900.degree. C. Two electrodes are disposed between the plates and supplied with a working medium by the plates. One of the electrodes has a thickness of at least 100 .mu.m and the other a thickness of about 30 .mu.m. An electrolyte is disposed between the two electrodes, contains stabilized ZrO.sub.2 and has a thickness of between 5 and 30 .mu.m. The electrodes and the electrolyte have a coefficient of thermal expansion matched to that of the at least one plate. The material costs for the plates are reduced by a factor of 10 to 20 in comparison with prior art plates.

Abstract: A process for making a composite ion exchange membrane including fabricating a layered membrane precursor including a microporous support of highly fluorinated nonionic polymer adhered to a layer of highly fluorinated sulfonyl halide polymer, hydrolyzing the layered membrane precursor to convert the highly fluorinated sulfonyl halide polymer to highly fluorinated sulfonate polymer, impregnating the microporous support with a dispersion of highly fluorinated sulfonate polymer or precursor thereof in a polar liquid medium after hydrolyzing, removing the polar liquid medium, and heating to coalesce the highly fluorinated sulfonated polymer in the support.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nonaqueous-electrolytic solution secondary battery that comprises a negative-electrode material, a positive-electrode material, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing a lithium salt, wherein the battery contains an organoboron compound. This nonaqueous-electrolytic solution secondary battery has high capacity and good charge and discharge cycle characteristics.

Abstract: There is provided a method of fabricating an electrode used for a prismatic cell, including the steps of (a) winding an electrode sheet around a core, the electrode sheet comprising a positive electrode in the form of a sheet, a negative electrode in the form of a sheet, and an insulating sheet sandwiched between the positive and negative electrodes, (b) pulling out the core to thereby form a wound electrode sheet deposition, (c) heating the wound electrode sheet deposition at a temperature equal to or lower than a melting temperature of the insulating sheet for 30 minutes or smaller, and (d) compressing the wound electrode sheet deposition with a uniaxial pressure to thereby flatten the wound electrode sheet deposition. In accordance with the above-mentioned method, it is possible to increase a cell capacity per a unit volume in a prismatic cell, because the electrode sheet can be wound further half turn or a plurality of times.

Abstract: A battery terminal cover is provided for a battery in an automotive vehicle. The battery terminal cover includes a base portion operatively connected to a terminal lead and a retention portion disposed within the base portion to allow the battery terminal cover to be engaged after the terminal lead is fastened to the terminal of the battery to retain the base portion in a closed position over the terminal.

Abstract: A System and method is disclosed for preventing dendrite formation in a fuel cell, battery or metal recovery system. Typical metal/air fuel cell stacks comprise a plurality of cells electrically coupled together in a serial fashion. Electrolyte is typically pumped through the cells on a continuous basis using an input and output manifold device having a number of channels equal to the number of cells comprising the stack. This parallel connection causes the formation of metallic dendrites in the channels, which can short circuit the fuel cell stack or battery or metal-recovery apparatus. The system and method provides one or more dendrite elimination zones to prevent the formation of dendrites. The dendrite elimination zones are constructed within each cell or within each manifold to prevent the electrochemical reaction associated with dendrites from taking place.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lead-acid battery cell construction including a container; a plurality of positive plates positioned in the container; and a plurality of negative plates arranged in alternating order with the positive plates. A plurality of separators are provided with the plate separators being wrapped around the positive or the negative plates such that the vertical side walls of the wrapped plates are covered with at least a single layer of separator material.

Abstract: The energy density of active materials for a positive electrode comprising an oxide containing Ni as a main metallic element is enhanced, and, moreover, a method for manufacturing them is provided. The oxide includes Ni as a main metallic element and contains at least Mn in the state of solid solution or eutectic mixture, wherein the average valence of Mn is 3.3 valences or more, the tap density is 1.7 g/cc or more, the half width of a peak at around 2.theta.=37-40.degree. of X-ray diffraction using CuK.alpha. ray is 1.2 deg or less, the ratio B/A of integrated intensity B of a peak at around 2.theta.=18-21.degree. to integrated intensity A of a peak at around 2.theta.=37-40.degree. is 1.25 or less, and the volume of pores having a pore radius of 40 .ANG. or less is 60% or more of the total pore volume. The oxide is obtained by growing in the state of keeping the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aqueous solution in the reaction vessel and then oxidizing the oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to corrosion proofing of current-carrying components of molten carbonate fuel cells. In particular, the invention relates to a current-carrying component for a molten carbonate fuel cell, particularly an anode current collector or bipolar plate, with a substrate made of stainless steel and with a corrosion proofing coating provided on the substrate to protect the component from the anode gas atmosphere and the molten electrolyte of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cathode, which can be used in molten carbonate fuel cells (hereinafter, referred to as an "MCFC"), and a process for preparing the same. In such a cathode, NiO, which is inexpensive and has relatively good electrochemical performance, has been mainly used. However, NiO has a relatively large solubility in electrolytes of an MCFC which causes the cells to be short circuited, thereby shortening the life of the cells. However, according to the present invention, a cathode having a longer life than common cathodes for MCFC can be prepared by adding alkaline earth metal oxides, which are basic substances, to NiO, the main material of the cathodes, or impregnating an Ni plate with a solution of the alkaline earth metal oxides, to reduce the solubility of the NiO while maintaining its performance as the cathode.

Abstract: A lithium secundary battery cathode composition comprising a cathode active material, a conductive substance and a binder, wherein the binder comprises a fluororesin and a polyolefin resin, and the amount of the fluororesin in the composition is 1 to 10% by weight and the amount of the polyolefin resin in the composition is 0.1 to 2% by weight.The cathode using the cathode composition of the present invention has an excellent binding property with a current collector, and the lithium secondary battery of the present invention has a high energy density and improved safety against an external heating, and the industrial value is very high.

Abstract: Amorphous carbon comprising a dispersion comprising a catalytically effective load of catalyst, preferably an electrocatalytically effective load of a noble metal electrocatalyst, and membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell electrodes incorporating same.

Abstract: An alkali metal secondary electrochemical cell, and preferably a lithium ion cell, activated with a quaternary solvent system, is described. The solvent system comprises a quaternary mixture of dialkyl carbonates and cyclic carbonates, and preferably dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate. Lithium ion cells activated with this electrolyte have good room temperature cycling characteristics and excellent low temperature discharge behavior.