Abstract: Non-aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries are often equipped with internal electrical disconnect devices to protect against overcharge abuse. At the abnormally high voltages of overcharge, these devices can be activated by gasses generated as a result of the electrochemical polymerization of suitable monomer additives incorporated in the electrolyte. Aromatic compounds such as biphenyl are particularly suitable aromatic additives for LiCoO.sub.2 based lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: A multi-plate wound cell assembly constructed similar to a conventional jellyroll electrode assembly except that each electrode comprises a series of plates spaced along a continuous current collector, and the plates are flat-folded rather than wound into a cylinder, is described. The length of the current collector between adjacent plates of the anode and cathode electrodes increases as the folding progresses to allow for the increase as the electrode assembly is flat-folded.

Abstract: A sealed alkaline storage battery with a long cycle life is disclosed, in which an inadequate adjustment between some of the electrode plates in a cell and the difference in the deterioration resulting from the difference in the heat dissipating abilities of the plates in the cell has been obviated. The storage battery comprises an electrode group configured by piling up a plurality of positive electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes alternately with separators interposed therebetween, wherein the capacities of the respective negative electrodes are larger than those of the adjacent positive electrodes, except for the negative electrodes positioned at both ends of the electrode group. The capacities of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes in the central part of the electrode group are larger than those of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes located closer to both ends of the electrode group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high performance composite hydroxide active material which facilitates charging at high temperatures. It comprises a solid solution nickel hydroxide material having additive elements incorporated therein. The additive elements comprise at least one element selected from group A consisting of Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Y, La, Ce, Al, and Pb, and at least one element selected from group B consisting of Mn and Co.

Abstract: A method of fabricating electrochemical cells wherein precursors thereof can be stored for extended periods of time following extraction of plasticizer therefrom to form porous structures in the polymeric layer and the polymer binder materials of the anode and cathode is provided. Electrochemical cells are produced when the precursors are activated by the addition of an electrolyte solvent and salt.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack having metal interconnects with fuel and oxidant distribution cavities formed by bonding together three stainless steel sheets.

Abstract: A non-aqueous secondary battery having a long life-time and a high capacity density is provided by increasing the discharging capacity of the negative electrode and extending the life-time of the negative electrode. The nonaqueous secondary battery has a positive electrode and a negative electrode reversibly absorbing and discharging an alkaline metal and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the negative electrode is made of an inter-metallic compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of 4A group elements, P and Sb, the inter-metallic compound has any one of CaF.sub.2 type, ZnS type and AlLiSi type crystal structures, and the CaF.sub.2 type structure is any one an inverse-fluorite structure and a fluorite structure having a lattice constant larger than 6.36 .ANG..

Abstract: A layer-built sealed alkaline storage battery includes plural rectangular cell units 11. Those cell units 11 are arranged in a row and united together with a pair of end plates 1 and 2 arranged at the opposite sides of the assembly of the cells by belt-like clamp bands 37, 38 each extending cross from one of the end plates 1 through the cell units 11 to the other of the end plates 2 and being fixed at the end thereof on the end plates 1, 2. Each end plate 1 or 2 is of one-piece structure having 1) a generally rectangular panel portion or portions 26 and 2) a peripheral wall frame 26 and 3) reinforcement ribs 23a to 23c, so that the assembly of the cell can be united so as to be prevented from deformation due to expansion and vibration of the cells.

Abstract: A lithium/silver vanadium oxide cell is disclosed that includes an improved electrolyte composition having the solvents propylene carbonate and 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and an additional third solvent that reduces the solubility of the composition of the silver vanadium cathode material. Preferably, the third solvent is a dialkyl carbonate such as dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate or ethylmethyl carbonate. The improved electrolyte composition reduces the build up of resistance in the cell during cell discharge, and can affect the cell's performance in implantable cardiac defibrillator applications.

Abstract: A novel method of preparing a spinel Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.4+Y intercalation compound with low lattice distortion and a highly ordered and homogeneous structure for 4 V secondary lithium and lithium ion cells is provided. The method of preparing the spinel Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.4+Y intercalation compound comprises providing a spinel Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.4 intercalation compound having a lithium to manganese mole ratio of between about 1.02:2 and 1.1:2 and firing the spinel at different temperature ranges with corresponding gas flow rates to form the spinel Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.4+Y intercalation compounds. The spinel Li.sub.1+X Mn.sub.2-X O.sub.4+Y intercalation compounds have a mean X value of between about 0.01 and 0.05, a mean Y value of between about -0.02 and 0.04 and a full width at half maximum of the x-ray diffraction peaks at a diffraction angle 2.theta. of planes (400) and (440) using CuK.alpha..sub.1 rays of between about 0.08.degree. and 0.13.degree.. The spinel Li.sub.

Abstract: A safety device for use in a secondary battery having a battery case formed with a hole open to outside of the battery case, and a generating unit airtightly housed in the battery case. The safety device includes a disk spring mounted on the battery case to close the hole and having one side thereof convexed toward the inside of the battery case. A switch is provided on the backside of the disk spring. It is adapted to change over under a stress applied from the disk spring when the disk spring bends backward so that the other side thereof is convexed toward the outside of the battery case. The switch is provided in a current flow path of the secondary battery.

Abstract: This invention pertains to passivation-free solid-state rechargeable batteries composed of Li.sub.4 Ti.sub.5 O.sub.12 anode, a solid polymer electrolyte and a high voltage cathode. The solid polymer electrolyte comprises a polymer host, such as polyacrylonitrile, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl sulfone), and poly(vinylidene fluoride), plasticized by a solution of a Li salt in an organic solvent. The high voltage cathode includes LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiCoO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2 and LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 and their derivatives.

Abstract: A thermally integrated reformer (10) is located inside the stack furnace (12) housing stacks (14) of solid oxide fuel cells (16). The energy to support the endothermic reformation reaction converting hydrocarbon and water feedstock into hydrogen and carbon monoxide fuel is supplied by heat recovered from the oxidation process in the stack (14) of fuel cells (16). The source of hydrocarbons is desulfurized natural gas. Heat transfers to reformers (10) which may be incrementally shielded packed beds (30, 60) of the reactors (18, 19) of the reformer (10) by radiation from the stacks (14), furnace wall (38), or both and by forced convection from the exhausting airflow exiting the stack furnace (12). Temperature gradients in the reformer (10) may be controlled by selective (or incremented) radiation shielding (20) and by counterflow heat exchange to prevent excessive premature cracking in the reformer.

Abstract: A battery apparatus which includes a battery housing having a plurality of battery cell receptacles, each of the battery cell receptacles having an inwardly tapered opening. A plurality of battery cells are respectively inserted in the battery cell receptacles, and electrodes of each battery cell are connected via wires or bus bars to electrodes of another battery cell. A collar is secured to and surrounds each of the plurality of battery cells, the collar being located at a central portion of the battery cells. A portion of the collar is inwardly tapered, with the inward taper of the battery cell receptacle matching the inward taper of the collar. Retaining tabs secure each battery cell and its respective collar to the battery housing. An adhesive material is applied to a surface of the central portion of each battery cell, with the adhesive material bonding to an inner surface of the respective collar. An electrically insulating material is also embedded in the adhesive material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring the performance of H.sub.2 --O.sub.2 PEM fuel cells. Outputs from a cell/stack voltage monitor and a cathode exhaust gas H.sub.2 sensor are corrected for stack operating conditions, and then compared to predetermined levels of acceptability. If certain unacceptable conditions coexist, an operator is alerted and/or corrective measures are automatically undertaken.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a novel stick-on peel-off fastener, comprising one or more conductive sticky elements, sandwiched between one or more terminals of a first object such as an electrical device and one or more terminals of a second object such as battery, can keep the battery affixed to the electrical device while the battery supplies power to the electrical device. One embodiment of a conductive sticky element includes a layer of conductive adhesive, such as a polymer resin that has a number of microscopic silver filings. Another embodiment of a conductive sticky element includes a number of hooks, such as those in Velcro.TM. elements. Yet another embodiment of a conductive sticky element includes a magnet that when used with another magnet, prevents improper coupling of the two objects due to magnetic repulsion.

Abstract: A continuous process for making lead-acid grids and plates for a family of cells and batteries requiring grids with a particular plate width and varying plate heights comprises expanding and slitting a continuous strip to provide the desired width and a grid having at least one side frame bar and an interconnected expanded mesh, pasting the expanded mesh with active material, determining the grid height desired and then cutting the expanded mesh strip transversely of the direction of travel to provide plates of the desired height while forming a plate lug from one side frame bar.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid-circulating battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a permeable membrane interposed between the positive and negative electrodes to hold the same in separated relation to each other and to partition the same into a positive chamber and a negative chamber, two porous liquid-permeable carbon electrodes disposed respectively in the positive and negative electrolytic solutions being circulated respectively into the positive and negative chambers such that an oxidation-reduction reaction occurs and causes charging and discharging, wherein the permeable membrane is an ion-exchange me membrane including as an ion exchanger layer a polymeric pellicle which results from crosslinking of a halogenated alkylated product of an aromatic polysulfone type polymer with use of a polyamine and which has an ion exchange capacity of 0.3 to 8.0 milliequivalent/gram of dry resin and a thickness 0.1 to 120 .mu.

Abstract: A miniature fuel cell system uses porous plastic membranes as substrates of fuel cells. A cost effective pore-free electrode or inter electrolyte foil that is permeable only to hydrogen as an ion. The new electrode makes direct alcohol fuel cells efficient. It blocks the poisoning alcohol diffusion through the electrolyte. Compound electrodes are formed by vacuum deposition methods and slurries. That leads to printed circuit designs of small fuel cells systems integrated with rechargeable batteries and electrical power electronics to power applications that are currently powered by batteries. By directly utilizing alcohol fuels the new fuel cells have higher energy per unit mass and higher energy per unit volume. They are more convenient for the energy user, environmentally less harmful and less expensive than conventional batteries.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell which is at least partially charged and which comprises a first electrode having an active material in particle form consisting essentially of at least partially lithiated graphite. The lithiated graphite particles are prepared by chemically or electrochemically inserting lithium ions into the particles prior to assembly of the cell. A second electrode which is a counter electrode to the first electrode has an active material consisting essentially of vanadium oxide.