Abstract: A method for extracting ions from an active material for use in a battery electrode includes mixing the active material and an activating compound to form a mixture. The mixture is annealed such that an amount of ions is extracted from the active material, an amount of oxygen is liberated from the active material, and an activated active material is formed. Embodiments of the invention include the activated active material, the electrode, and the primary and secondary batteries formed from such activated active materials.

Abstract: Fuel cells for selectively reacting a feedstock material with or without generating electricity, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A fuel cell system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first electrode positioned in a first region, a second electrode positioned in a second region, an electrolyte between the first and second regions, and an electrical circuit connected between the first and second electrodes. The system can further include a material collector in the first region to collect a non-gaseous reaction product from a non-electricity-generating reaction of the feedstock material in the first region. A controller receives an input corresponding to an instruction to control the rate of reaction product production and/or electrical current production. In response, the controller can partially or completely interrupt electron flow along the electrical circuit and/or change a rate at which reactants other than the feedstock material are supplied to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A sealed battery with an electrode assembly and electrolyte enclosed in a battery case is provided, where a connection member can be attached to the battery case without requiring large space while avoiding increasing the length of the lead wire. The sealed battery includes: a battery case enclosing an electrode assembly and electrolyte, for serving as a terminal of one polarity of the electrode assembly; an external terminal provided on the battery case in such a way that it is electrically insulated from the battery case, for serving as a terminal of another polarity of the electrode assembly; and a sealant member for sealing a fill port for the electrolyte provided side by side with the external terminal on the battery case. A connection member to which a lead wire is to be connected is provided on the battery case to cover at least part of the sealant member.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a cathode plate and an anode plate are arranged with a separator being interposed therebetween, a case in which the electrode assembly is received, a cap assembly capable of sealing an open end of the case, a gasket interposed between the case and the cap assembly, and a leakage prevention portion formed at one surface of the gasket and/or one surface of the cap assembly, which is oriented toward the electrode assembly and contacted with the gasket.

Abstract: A battery pack is described. In one aspect it can securely connect a connecting tab extending from a protective circuit board and a sensing tab drawn out from a sensing terminal of each battery cell using a connection hook extending from a case. According to some embodiments, the battery pack may include a plurality of battery cells connected in series with respect to at least one sensing terminal arranged from a first large current terminal to a second large current terminal, a sensing terminal circuit including a sensing tab having a first throughhole formed inward and drawn out from the sensing terminal. a protective circuit module including a connecting tab having a second throughhole corresponding to the first throughhole formed inward and overlapping and electrically connected to the sensing tab. and a battery case for receiving the plurality of battery cells, the sensing terminal circuit and the protective circuit module.

Abstract: A direct fuel cell comprises a cathode comprising electroactive catalyst material; and an anode assembly comprising an anode having a porous layer and electroactive catalyst material in the porous layer. The electrode characteristics of the anode assembly are selected so that fuel supplied to the anode is reacted within the anode so that cross-over from the anode to the cathode does not have more than a 10% negative effect on voltage or a 25 mV voltage loss when at peak power and steady state conditions. The anode and cathode each have a first major surface facing each other in non-electrical contact and without a microporous separator or ion exchange membrane therebetween.

Abstract: Provided is a carbon catalyst for a cathode of a direct fuel cell, which selectively promotes an oxygen reduction reaction even when crossover of a fuel compound occurs. The carbon catalyst for a cathode of a direct fuel cell exhibits an oxygen-reducing catalytic activity in an electrolytic solution containing a fuel compound for the direct fuel cell, and exhibits substantially no catalytic activity to oxidize the fuel compound in the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a storage device, a fuel cell, a power circuit, a controller, and a memory. The memory stores a favorable combination range in which the combination of a water distribution condition of the fuel cell and the state of charge of the storage device is suitable for the required power of the vehicle, and the controller includes a water distribution condition estimating and acquiring unit that acquires the water distribution condition of the fuel cell, a state-of-charge acquiring unit that acquires the state of charge of the storage device, a combination status determining unit that determines whether the combination of the acquired water distribution condition and the acquired state of charge is within the favorable combination range, and a combination status improving unit that improves the water distribution condition of the fuel cell when the combination is not within the favorable combination range.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a combined power source with power cells configured electrically independently. A switch arbitrarily changes connection paths of the power cells by selectively connecting terminals of the power cells through switching elements. A detector detects differences in electrical potentials between power cell terminals. An output detector detects a power consumption in a load and/or an output power of the power source. ON-OFF states of the switching elements are controlled by a control signal generated based on voltage signals representing detected differences in electrical potentials, power consumption, and output power. A connection status of each power cell is controlled so as to halt outputting of the power cell having the lowest output voltage if it is detected that a detected power value is equal to or lower than an output power preset based on a power generating capacity of the power source.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte for fuel cells, which is mainly composed of a copolycondensate of a polyimide having an alkoxysilyl group at an end and an alkoxysilane having an ion-conducting group. Also disclosed are an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells, a binder for fuel cells and a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells, each using the electrolyte, and a fuel cell using such a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells. The electrolyte enables to obtain an electrolyte membrane, a binder and a membrane electrode assembly, each having high ion conductivity, high strength, high toughness, low swelling and low fuel permeability suitable for fuel cells. By using such an electrolyte, there can be obtained a low-cost fuel cell having high output power and high durability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a lithium-ion secondary battery with excellent high-temperature storage characteristics. The method for producing the lithium-ion secondary battery provided by the present invention includes a step of assembling a lithium-ion secondary battery using positive and negative electrodes, and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing in an organic solvent a lithium salt as a supporting salt, at least one type of substance selected from carboxylic acid anhydrides and dicarboxylic acids as additive A, and at least one type of substance selected from vinylene carbonate, vinylethylene carbonate, ethylene sulfite, and fluoroethylene carbonate as additive B; a step of carrying out initial charging of the assembled battery to a predetermined voltage; and a step of carrying out an aging treatment by keeping the battery at a temperature of 35° C. or higher for 6 hours or longer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electrochemical surface area retention of fuel cell catalyst using hydrogen crossover are disclosed. One fuel cell system embodiment comprises a fuel cell including an anode having a fuel gas supply and a cathode having an air supply and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a high voltage condition in the fuel cell and increase hydrogen partial pressure in the cathode when the high voltage condition is detected.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell in which the reformer is compact but is capable of supplying an appropriate quantity of fuel. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell (1) for generating electricity using fuel reformed by a reformer (20) and air, including a fuel supply means (38), a reformed air supply means (44), a water supply means (28) for supplying water to the reformer, a fuel supply quantity detection sensor (132) for detecting the quantity of fuel actually supplied, a fuel cell module (2), and a control means (110) for controlling each supply means so that the target quantities of fuel, reforming air, and water are fed into the reformer; the control means controls the fuel supply means to match the target fuel supply quantity, and controls the fuel supply means so that tracking performance of fuel supply quantity relative to target fuel supply quantity is higher when reforming air is being supplied to the reformer than when it is not being supplied.

Abstract: A plating protocol is employed to control plating of metal onto a wafer comprising a conductive seed layer. Initially, the protocol employs cathodic protection as the wafer is immersed in the plating solution. In certain embodiments, the current density of the wafer is constant during immersion. In a specific example, potentiostatic control is employed to produce a current density in the range of about 1.5 to 20 mA/cm2. The immersion step is followed by a high current pulse step. During bottom up fill inside the features of the wafer, a constant current or a current with a micropulse may be used. This protocol may protect the seed from corrosion while enhancing nucleation during the initial stages of plating.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided for a mobile communication device, comprising a casing defining a cavity that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device and one or more rechargeable power cells housed within the thickness of the casing. An internal interface engages a corresponding interface on the mobile communication device to provide power from the one or more rechargeable cells to the mobile communication device. An external interface is electrically coupled to the internal interface in order to transmit signals from the mobile communication device to an external device and may further serve to recharge the one or more rechargeable power cells. The battery pack may also serve as an extendible platform by providing additional integrated communication interfaces and/or processors that can be utilized by the mobile communication device to extend its communication and/or processing capabilities.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a fuel distribution includes: adjusting a distribution of a fuel supply amount to a membrane electrode assembly so that a temperature distribution in the membrane electrode assembly becomes substantially uniform by a membrane provided in a fuel supply side of the membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell. A membrane adjusts a fuel distribution, which is provided in a fuel supply side of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell. The membrane is provided with openings so that a temperature distribution in the membrane electrode assembly becomes substantially uniform.

Abstract: The fuel cell system includes a storage portion, a fuel cell, a fuel supply portion, a hydrogen circulation system and a boil-off gas supply portion. The storage portion stores liquid hydrogen. The fuel cell uses hydrogen gas as fuel gas. The fuel supply portion provides hydrogen gas to an anode of the fuel cell. The hydrogen gas is generated caused by a vaporization of liquid hydrogen stored in the storage portion. The hydrogen circulation system includes the anode of the fuel cell. The boil-off gas supply portion provides boil-off gas generated in the storage portion to the hydrogen circulation system.

Abstract: A crosslinked object of a polybenzoxazine-based compound formed of a polymerized resultant of a first monofunctional benzoxazine-based monomer or a second multifunctional benzoxazine-based monomer with a crosslinkable compound, an electrolyte membrane including the crosslinked object, a method of preparing the electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell employing the electrolyte membrane including the crosslinked object.

Abstract: The process and system of the invention converts solid and liquid carbonaceous feedstock into electricity, steam, fuels, and carbon dioxide with minimal air emissions. Oxygen is partially consumed in a fuel cell then exhausted to a combustor of a Twin-Fluid Bed Steam Gasifier Unit (TFBSGU) where it is consumed in burning carbon contained in ash. After particulates are separated, the flue gas is expanded then cooled to recover power before returning to atmosphere or a bio-reactor. Synfuel leaving the TFBGSU is cooled in a heat recovery unit, producing steam and hot water. Carbon monoxide in this stream reacts with steam producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The stream is then cooled and compressed. The compressed gas passes through an acid gas removal system removing carbon dioxide and sulfur bearing compounds. Steam is added to the clean gas to prevent coking and the stream enters the anode space of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of secondary batteries fixed in a frame to be enclosed by an outer frame. The battery pack includes at least first and second battery cells having an electrode terminal and a frame surrounding a periphery of the first and second battery cells. The frame has at least one opening corresponding to the electrode terminal of the first and second battery cells.