Abstract: A negative active material and a lithium battery are provided. The negative active material includes a composite core, and a coating layer formed on at least part of the composite core. The composite core includes a carbonaceous base and a metal/metalloid nanostructure disposed on the carbonaceous base. The coating layer includes a metal oxide coating layer and an amorphous carbonaceous coating layer.

Abstract: A degassing system for a housing of an accumulator includes a labyrinth bolt having a bolt wall in which a plurality of channels are provided, which extend from the bolt interior toward outlets which are arranged in an axial section of the bolt wall. The degassing system also includes a labyrinth corso having a corso wall which, in the installed state, runs around the axial section of the bolt wall such that a gap is formed in the axial section between the bolt wall and the corso wall. The degassing system further includes a gas permeable membrane, which is arranged on an upper face of the labyrinth bolt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous membrane including cellulose fibers, wherein the surface area determined by congo red coloring of the re-dispersed cellulose fibers after the cellulose fibers of the porous membrane are re-dispersed in accordance with the re-dispersion method for normal paper specimens according to JIS P 8120 is from 100 to 300 m2/g. The porous membrane according to the present invention can provide a separator for electrochemical devices with superior properties, at a reasonable cost.

Abstract: Described herein are multi-functional composite materials containing energy storage assemblies that can be significantly resistant to tension/compression stress. The energy storage assemblies can contain at least one energy storage layer that contains an insulating layer having a plurality of openings arranged in a spaced apart manner, and a plurality of energy storage devices, each energy storage device being contained within one of the openings. The energy storage devices can be electrically connected to one another. The energy storage layer can contain a support material upon which electrical connections are formed. One or more energy storage layers can be disposed between two or more stress carrying layers to form an energy storage assembly that can have significant resistance to tension/compression stress. Energy storage devices suitable for use in the energy storage assemblies can include, for example, batteries, capacitors and/or supercapacitors.

Abstract: A control circuit controls power generation by a power cell in a presence of fuel and oxidant through electrical control. The control circuit may be extended to an array of power cells or array of banks of power cells to configure the cells or banks in series-row and column combinations to generate power in a selectable manner. The controller may include basic power maintenance and control of the array of power cells, and high level control modules may provide unique power generation control to cause the array to cold start, output time-varying waveforms, output multiple DC voltages from a single source of energy, regulate voltage or current, and so forth. Because the power cells may be configured in vast arrays, power cells may be connected to a group of other power cells in the array and driven with a time-varying voltage or pulse to self-clean catalyst of contaminants.

Abstract: A battery pack that includes a battery cell having a positive and negative electrode terminal extending from a side of the battery cell. The positive and negative electrode terminal each have a non-exposed surface and an exposed surface. The battery pack also includes a case that includes a first case and a second case. The first case includes a first terminal guide unit to accommodate the positive electrode terminal with the non-exposed surface of the positive electrode terminal facing the first terminal guide. The second case includes a second terminal guide unit that accommodates the negative electrode terminal. The non-exposed surface of the negative electrode terminal faces the second terminal guide. The first case and the second case are coupled together with the battery cell positioned between the first case and the second case.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises at least one reformer for generating a reformate gas and at least one fuel cell for generating an electric current. An increased lifespan for the anode is achieved when with said anode an anode state value is continuously determined which correlates to a current degree of loading with carbon of the anode of the at least one fuel cell and when depending on the anode state value an oxygen-carbon ratio is varied in the reformate gas which is fed to the anode of the respective fuel cell.

Abstract: A battery module including a plurality of rechargeable batteries each having terminals; and a connection member electrically connecting terminals of neighboring ones of the rechargeable batteries, wherein the connection member includes a terminal hole into which one of the terminals is inserted, and a mounting portion that protrudes inwardly at the terminal hole, and wherein each terminal includes a support portion contacting the mounting portion and supporting the mounting portion.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing a metal-doped transition metal hexacyanoferrate (TMHCF) battery electrode. The method prepares a first solution of AxFe(CN)6 and Fe(CN)6, where A cations may be alkali or alkaline-earth cations. The method adds the first solution to a second solution containing M-ions and M?-ions. M is a transition metal, and M? is a metal dopant. Subsequent to stirring, the mixture is precipitated to form AxMcM?dFez(CN)n.mH2O particles. The AxMcM?dFez(CN)n.mH2O particles have a framework and interstitial spaces in the framework, where M and M? occupy positions in the framework. Alternatively, the method prepares AaA?bMyFez(CN)n.mH2O particles. A and A? occupy interstitial spaces in the AaA?bMyFez(CN)n.mH2O particle framework. A metal-doped TMHCF electrode is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by general formula (1) below, the method at least including a step of preparing a solution by dissolving a lithium source, an element M source, a phosphorus source, and an element X source that serve as source materials in a solvent, the phosphorus source being added after at least the element M source is dissolved; a step of gelating the resulting solution; and a step of calcining the resulting gel: LixMyP1-zXzO4??(1) (where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Mn, Zr, Sn, Al, and Y; X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Al; and 0<x?2, 0.8?y?1.2, 0?z?1). According to the present invention, a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries that offers high safety and high cost efficiency and are capable of extending battery life can be provided.

Abstract: A compound having a high reduction resistance and being capable of sufficiently performing a function as an electronic conductive additive when added to a positive electrode active material as an electronic conductive additive is provided. In a method for producing a cobalt cerium compound including a step of depositing a hydroxide containing cobalt and cerium in an aqueous solution containing cobalt ions and cerium ions by changing the pH of the aqueous solution and thereafter performing a treatment of oxidizing the hydroxide, the ratio of the cerium ions contained in the aqueous solution containing the cobalt ions and the cerium ions is set to be more than 5% by atom and 70% by atom or less with respect to the sum of the cobalt ions and the cerium ions before the hydroxide is deposited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an anode active material comprising a core composed of a crystalline carbon-based material, and a composite coating layer comprising (a) mixing a precursor for a raw material of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon with silicon oxide enabling intercalation and deintercalation of ions, followed by purification, to prepare a mixture for coating, (b) mixing the mixture for coating with a crystalline carbon-based material to prepare a core-shell precursor comprising the raw material mixture for coating applied to the core composed of the crystalline carbon-based material, and (c) baking the core-shell precursor to carbonize the raw material of the one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon into the one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon.

Abstract: A power cell comprises a membrane with a first side and a second side. The membrane has a geometric structure encompassing a volume. The power cell also has a cover that is coupled to the membrane to separate the first flow path from the second flow path at the membrane. In the power cell, first and second catalyst is in gaseous communication with respective first flow path and second flow path and in ionic communication with respective first and second sides of the membrane. Furthermore, a first electrode is electrically coupled to the first catalyst on the first side of the membrane, and a second electrode is electrically coupled to the second catalyst on the second side of the membrane. In another embodiment, the power cell further includes a substrate on which the membrane is coupled.

Abstract: An electrochemical device including a housing and a stack of electrochemical cells in the housing. Each electrochemical cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, a separator located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and an electrolyte. The electrochemical device also includes a current collector located between adjacent electrochemical cells, an anode bus operatively connected to the anodes of the electrochemical cells in the stack and a cathode bus operatively connected to the cathodes of the electrochemical cells in the stack. The housing, the anode electrode, the cathode electrode, the separator, the anode bus and the cathode bus are non-metallic.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell apparatus which can continue stable performance, can generate an electric power for a long period, and has a long service life. The fuel cell apparatus comprises: a fuel cell body comprising a power generation unit which can generate an electric power through the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and a hydrogen generation member which can generate hydrogen through the reaction with water produced upon the generation of the electric power and can supply hydrogen generated to the power generation unit; and a reduction control unit which can control so as to reduce the hydrogen generation member that has been oxidized through the reaction with the produced water.

Abstract: A low melt or ultra low melt toner includes at least one amorphous polyester of an alkoxylated bisphenol based polyester, a crystalline polyester derived from the reaction of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or aromatic dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic diol, at least one colorant and at least one fluorescence agent. Methods of authentication of the toner, of authentication of documents formed from the toner, of embedding information in documents, and the like are also set forth.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a fuel cell stack having a fuel exhaust stream and a vessel downstream of the fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the fuel exhaust stream are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises displacing substantially all residual gas in the vessel by providing at least a portion of the fuel exhaust stream to the vessel, and isolating the vessel from the fuel cell stack after the fuel exhaust stream displaces substantially all residual gas in the vessel. At least one bleed down characteristic is determined as fuel exhaust within the vessel is released through an orifice, and an operating condition of the fuel cell stack is set or determined based on the at least one bleed down characteristic. In a specific embodiment, the hydrogen concentration in the fuel exhaust is determined based on the at least one bleed down characteristic.

Abstract: In a lithium ion secondary battery including a positive electrode, a separator, a negative electrode, and a package body, the negative electrode includes simple substance silicon as a negative electrode active material, and a negative electrode binder, and is doped with lithium, and the following formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.2?Ma/Mc?1.9??(1) 1.0<Ma/(Mc+MLi)<1.6??(2) wherein an amount of lithium inserted into the negative electrode until the negative electrode reaches a potential of 0.02 V with respect to metal lithium is Ma (a number of atoms), an amount of lithium released from the positive electrode until the positive electrode reaches a potential of 4.3 V with respect to metal lithium is Mc (a number of atoms), and an amount of lithium with which the negative electrode is doped is MLi (a number of atoms).

Abstract: To provide an EUV mask blank provided with a low reflective layer, which has excellent properties as an EUV mask blank. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light, an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light and a low reflective layer to an inspection light (wavelength: 190 to 260 nm) for a mask pattern, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the low reflective layer has a stacked structure having a first layer containing at least 95 at % in total of silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N), and a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) or a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta) and nitrogen (N), stacked in this order from the absorber layer side.

Abstract: A battery separator includes a porous base material and a heat-resistant layer. The porous base material includes a first surface, a second surface opposed to the first surface, and a hole. The hole is formed in the porous base material and causes the first surface and the second surface to communicate with each other. The heat-resistant layer is configured to cover at least the first surface and a surface of the hole. The heat-resistant layer is formed of an inorganic material and deposited by an atomic layer deposition method.