Abstract: A method of preparing an electrode for a lithium based secondary cell including the steps of mixing an active material, a conductive agent, a binder and a plasticizer selected from soybean oil or dibutyl phthalate and applying the active material composition to a current collector is provided.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrolytic cell and an associated process, wherein the electrode includes a current collecting substrate, an electrode active material having at least one component including inclusions no greater than one micron within a carbon particle. The carbon particle has a dibutyl phthalate (DBP) absorption rate preferably within a range of approximately 52 ml/100 g to approximately 400 ml/100 g.

Abstract: A protective device for a repeatedly rechargeable electrochemical battery (10) with a battery housing (12), the protective device having at least one switching element (86) which can be activated by a detector element (62) and which is designed or adjusted to prevent recharging and/or discharging of the battery (10) in an impermissible operating state thereof. The protective device has a hermetically sealed protective housing (54) which holds the battery housing (12). An impermissible operating state of the battery (10) causes a change in shape (deflection) to be impressed on the detector element (62). Preferably, the at least one switching element (86) is made as a make contact which electrically short circuits a recharging circuit supplied by a charging device when a predetermined expansion in the volume of the battery housing (12) and/or gas escape therefrom occurs. The protective device is part of an implantable device, such as a hearing aid.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing an electrolyte for use in a redox cell, in particular for stabilizing an electrolyte for use in an all-vanadium redox cell, a stabilized electrolyte, in particular an all-vanadium stabilized electrolyte, a redox cell, in particular an all-vanadium redox cell, comprising the stabilized electrolyte, a redox battery, in particular an all-vanadium redox battery, comprising the stabilized electrolyte, a process for recharging a discharged or partially discharged redox battery, in particular an all-vanadium redox battery, comprising the stabilized electrolyte, and a process for the production of electricity from a charged redox battery, and in particular a charged all-vanadium redox battery, comprising the stabilized electrolyte are disclosed. Also disclosed are a redox battery/fuel cell and a process for the production of electricity from a redox battery/fuel cell.

Abstract: There are provided modified and rounded graphite particles derived from scaly natural graphite particles by modification so as to bring their form close to a spherical form and satisfying all the following requirements (a) to (c): (a) that the degree of circularity should be not less than 0.86; (b) that, upon microscopic observation, the broken-out section should show a cabbage-like appearance with graphite slices taking various directions; and (c) that, upon X ray diffraction, the peak intensity ratio (Ih.sub.110 /Ih.sub.002) between the 002 face (parallel to graphite layers) and 110 face (perpendicular to graphite layers), which serves as an index of the randomness of orientation, should be not less than 0.0050. They retain good qualities of the raw material scaly natural graphite particles and are additionally unique in structure and characteristics. A method of producing such modified particles is also provided.

Abstract: A bipolar battery includes a plurality of anodes and cathodes alternately stacked and isolated by separators with a through hole being formed at a center portion of each, and with a plurality of insertion holes being formed at peripheral portions of each, an anode connection member and cathode connection member inserted into the insertion holes of the anodes and cathodes, an anode insulation member formed at the bottom of the anode connection member, a cathode insulation member formed on the top of the cathode connection member, an anode contact member facilitating electrical connection of the anodes and an anode connection member, a cathode contact member facilitating electrical connection of the cathodes and a cathode connection member, an outer support member supporting the stacked anodes and cathodes, an electrolyte injection member inserted into the through holes of the anodes, cathodes, and separators for enabling injection of an electrolyte into the stacked anodes and cathodes, and a collector being sh

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode having on a conductive support a layer which contains as a main component a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder capable of absorbing and releasing hydrogen electrochemically and is covered with a fluorine-containing water repellent layer on the surface side; with the fluorine-containing water repellent layer being a layer formed by coating and curing a water repellent agent comprising (A) a straight-chain perfluorinated compound having at least two secondary amino groups per molecule and a divalent perfluoroalkylene or perfluoropolyether structure in the main chain and (B) a fluorine-containing epoxy compound having at least three epoxy groups per molecule.

Abstract: Thermocells, also known as thermogalvanic electrochemical cells having one or more hot half-cells, electrolyte salt supplying reservoirs, porous inserts in the electrolyte conduits produce improved power output performance are disclosed.

Abstract: A latching system for a battery housing for a portable electronic device comprises a housing with an orifice, a button projecting through the orifice in the housing; with a cam on the end of the button in the interior of the housing, and a springy metal sheet attached to the interior of the housing, wherein the springy metal sheet has an orifice. The movement of the button causes the cam on the end of the button to deflect the springy metal sheet, causing an orifice on the springy metal sheet to engage or disengage a projection on the electronic device to which the battery housing is attached.

Abstract: The invention provides a new electrode active material and cells and batteries which utilize such active material. The active material is represented by the nominal general formula Li.sub.a M'.sub.(2-b) M".sub.b Si.sub.c P.sub.(3-c) O.sub.12, 0.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.2, 0<c<3. M' and M" are each elements selected from the group consisting of metal and metalloid elements. The value of the variable a depends upon the selection of M' and M" and on the relative proportions designated as b and c.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes a cathode which can be dischargeably charged with lithium ions, an anode made of lithium metal, a lithium alloy or any other anode material which can be releasably doped with lithium ions, an electrolyte which allows migration of lithium ions between both electrodes, and an endothermic substance which undergoes an endothermic reaction upon a temperature rise of the battery for preventing excessive heat generation. Typically, the endothermic substance is a metal carbonate such as magnesium carbonate, cobalt (II) carbonate, silver carbonate, cadmium carbonate or sodium hydrogencarbonate.

Abstract: A safety device for a storage battery includes a charge-discharge lead one end of which is connected to a positive electrode side of the storage battery and the other end of which is connected to a positive terminal of the storage battery; a pressure-sensing device which deforms in response to the increase of the pressure in the storage battery; and a cutting device for cutting the charge-discharge lead. The cutting device is pressed by the deformation of the pressure-sensing device to cut the charge-discharge lead.

Abstract: A method of making vanadium oxide formulations is presented. In one method of preparing lithium vanadium oxide for use as an electrode material, the method involves: admixing a particulate form of a lithium compound and a particulate form of a vanadium compound; jet milling the particulate admixture of the lithium and vanadium compounds; and heating the jet milled particulate admixture at a temperature below the melting temperature of the admixture to form lithium vanadium oxide.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrogen absorbing electrode, in which a rare earth element having a basicity weaker than that of La is mixed to a hydrogen absorbing alloy or contained in it for serving as a component element. The invention relates to a nickel electrode, in which a rare earth element is mixed to a nickel hydroxide or contained in it as a solid solution. The invention further relates to an alkaline storage battery, in which a rare earth element is coated on a surface of a nickel electrode or a surface of a separator.

Abstract: An improved fuel cell electrode, as well as fuel cells and membrane electrode assemblies that include such an electrode, in which the electrode includes a backing layer having a sintered layer thereon, and a non-sintered free-catalyst layer. The invention also features a method of forming the electrode by sintering a backing material with a catalyst material and then applying a free-catalyst layer.

Abstract: Printed electrochemical cells including both power cells and display cells are arranged in a partially assembled condition to extend shelf life of the cells. The partially assembled condition is also used as a switching mechanism for controlling activation of some of the cells. The active components of the cells include two electrodes and an electrolyte layer that is maintained out of contact with at least one of the electrodes for interrupting an ionically conductive pathway between the electrodes. The electrolyte is preferably an electrolytic adhesive that is protected by a release layer until the cells are needed for service.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte cell equipped with an anode made of a carbonaceous material capable of intercalating and deintercalating light metal ions and imparted with high capacity characteristics and favorable cyclic properties, wherein the carbonaceous material is obtained by irradiating, in a gaseous atmosphere, an electron beam accelerated in high vacuum. The anode made of a carbonaceous material is subjected to electron beam irradiation at a dose ranging from 300 kGy to 1000 kGy.

Abstract: A polyelectrolytic battery wherein a porous film having a polyelectrolyte impregnated into its cavities is interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the porous film having a porosity of not less than 80% and the polyelectrolyte impregnated therein at a ratio of 20 to 90% by volume of the cavities thereof. Another polyelectrolytic battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a carbon material, and a polyelectrolytic film interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, the positive and negative electrodes each containing a polyelectrolyte composed of a high polymer having a polystyrene main chain and a side chain of polyethlene oxide and a lithium salt.

Abstract: A band-like punching metal is made to be put on a positive electrode formed from band-like nickel fiber felt having a positive electrode active material carried therein. The positive electrode and a negative electrode are wound through a separator to thereby form an electricity generating element. In this occasion, the upper edge portion of the punching metal is projected from the upper end side of the electricity generating element so that an upper collector plate is welded to the upper edge portion of the punching metal.

Abstract: A plasma process reactor is disclosed that allows for greater control in varying the functional temperature range for enhancing semiconductor processing and reactor cleaning. The temperature is controlled by splitting the process gas flow from a single gas manifold that injects the process gas behind the gas distribution plate into two streams where the first stream goes behind the gas distribution plate and the second stream is injected directly into the chamber. By decreasing the fraction of flow that is injected behind the gas distribution plate, the temperature of the gas distribution plate can be increased. The increasing of the temperature of the gas distribution plate results in higher O.sub.2 plasma removal rates of deposited material from the gas distribution plate. Additionally, the higher plasma temperature aids other processes that only operate at elevated temperatures not possible in a fixed temperature reactor.