Abstract: A negative electrode active material is provided for a lithium ion secondary battery having high initial charging/discharging efficiency. The negative electrode active material containing silicon and silicon oxide has two phases with different compositions therein. One of the two phases has a lower silicon element concentration than the other phase, and is a fibrous phase forming a network structure in a cross section of primary particle of the negative electrode active material. Use of the negative electrode active material enables a sufficient increase in initial charging/discharging efficiency.

Abstract: A binder composition for a negative electrode of a secondary battery, including a particulate binder, and a water-soluble polymer containing an acidic functional group, wherein the water-soluble polymer has an ion conductivity of 1×10?5 to 1×10?3 S/cm; and a swelling degree of the water-soluble polymer to a liquid with a solubility parameter of 8 to 13 (cal/cm3)1/2 is 1.0 to 2.0 times a swelling degree of the particulate binder measured under the same conditions; and use thereof.

Abstract: A composition for use in forming a fuel cell matrix includes a support material, an electrolyte material, and an additive material that includes a plurality of flakes having an average length in a range of 5 to 40 micrometers and an average thickness of less than 1 micrometer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a non-aqueous electrolyte for a rechargeable sodium (Na)-based battery comprise a sodium salt and a nonaqueous solvent, the electrolyte having a sodium salt concentration ?2.5 M or a solvent-sodium salt mole ratio ?4:1. Na-based rechargeable batteries including the electrolyte exhibit both high cycling stability and high coulombic efficiency (CE). Some embodiments of the disclosed batteries attain a CE?80% within 10-30 charge-discharge cycles and maintain a CE?80% for at least 100 charge-discharge cycles. In certain embodiments, the battery is an anode-free battery in the as-assembled initial state.

Abstract: Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which exhibits excellent energy density and excellent input/output density (and especially output density in low SOC regions). This invention discloses a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layers formed on the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode active material layer has two regions that are demarcated in a surface direction of the positive electrode current collector, which are a first region 14a containing mainly a positive active material of lithium iron phosphate, and a second region 14b containing mainly a positive active material of a lithium-transition metal composite oxide.

Abstract: A secondary battery having a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte is provided. The cathode includes a cathode active material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of sulfur S and phosphorus P in a portion near the particle surface of a lithium composite oxide. A content of the kind in the portion is larger than that in the particle of the lithium composite oxide.

Abstract: A battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics is provided. The battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode includes an anode active material layer containing an anode active material having silicon as an element, and a coating layer that coats the anode active material layer, and contains an oxide of a 3d transition metal element at least one selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inner case of a battery module assembly in which four battery modules, each having a plurality of cylindrical secondary battery cells (hereinafter, also referred to as ‘cells’), are electrically connected in series. The inner case includes a side frame making contact with two facing sides among sides of the battery module assembly, an upper frame making contact with an upper surface of the battery module assembly, and an electrode post electrically connected to an electrode of the battery module assembly and located at a top of the upper frame. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inner case of a stable and economic battery module including a plurality of secondary battery cells.

Abstract: A vehicular lead storage battery according to the present invention includes a battery container provided with at least one cell chamber; and a cover plate 1 for covering an upper opening of the battery container. A guide path 8 for discharging gases within a cell chamber to the outside is formed in the cover plate 1. The guide path 8 includes a first guide portion 9B for horizontally guiding gases from the cell chamber; a second guide portion 9C connected to the first guide portion 9B to downwardly guide the gases from the first guide portion 9B; and a third guide portion 10A connected to the second guide portion 9C to horizontally guide the gases from the second guide portion 9C and discharge the gases from an exhaust vent 4K formed in the cover plate 1 to the outside. A corner portion 9K is formed by the first guide portion 9B and the second guide portion 9C, and a corner portion 10K is formed by the second guide portion 9C and the third guide portion 10A.

Abstract: A cap assembly includes a current interrupt portion; a cap-up electrically connected with the current interrupt portion; and a gasket fixing the current interrupt portion and the cap-up, wherein the current interrupt portion comprises a vent portion comprising a safety vent configured to fracture when a predetermined pressure is applied thereon, and a cap-down comprising at least one hole configured to allow gas to flow in a direction toward the cap-up; and wherein an overall area of the at least one hole is about 0.12% to about 1.61% of a cross-sectional area of the gasket based on an outer diameter of the gasket.

Abstract: A water-activated permanganate electrochemical cell includes at least one anode, a solid cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode, an electrolyte between the at least one anode and the cathode, and a housing configured to hold the at least one anode, the cathode, and the electrolyte. The electrolyte includes water and permanganate configured to be reduced within the cell in at least a two-step reduction process.

Abstract: A fuel cell matrix for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a support material and an additive material formed into a porous body, and an electrolyte material disposed in pores of the porous body, wherein the additive material is in a shape of a flake and has an average thickness of less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A battery pack provides a high voltage output. The battery pack includes a battery housing, and a battery cell assembly arranged inside the battery housing. The battery cell assembly comprises a trapezoid portion having a plurality of battery cells arranged in parallel, wherein the trapezoid portions defines a trapezoid formed by the connection of the reference points of the cross sections of the battery cells successively.

Abstract: A solid-state three-dimensional battery assembly includes a solid bicontinuous monolithic carbon anode, a solid electrolyte layer, and a solid cathode. The solid monolithic carbon anode has an ordered three-dimensionally continuous network nanostructure, a length of at least 100 nm, and an average thickness of 3 to 90 nm. The ordered three-dimensionally continuous network nanostructure of the anode defines a plurality of pores having an average diameter of 5 to 100 nm. The solid electrolyte layer is disposed directly on the anode, has an average thickness of 3 to 90 nm, and fills a portion of the pores defined by the ordered three-dimensionally continuous network nanostructure of the anode. The solid cathode is disposed directly on the electrolyte layer, has an average thickness of 3 to 90 nm, and also fills a portion of the pores defined by the ordered three-dimensionally continuous network nanostructure of the anode. Related devices and methods are also provided.

Abstract: An electrode having a first set of stripes of sulfur-containing materials forming electroactive regions and a second set of stripes of a material forming non-electroactive regions interdigitated with the first set of stripes.

Abstract: A cooling structure of an electricity storage device includes a storage cell case, a plurality of storage cells, a plurality of cooling passages, an intake duct, an exhaust duct, a cooling air suction device, and a flow path resistance. The plurality of storage cells are accommodated in the storage cell case. The plurality of cooling passages are provided between the storage cells. The intake duct is connected to an upstream side of the storage cell case. The exhaust duct is connected to a downstream side of the storage cell case. The cooling air suction device is connected to the exhaust duct and configured to draw cooling air from the intake duct. The flow path resistance is provided between the plurality of cooling passages and the cooling air suction device to limit a flow of the cooling air from the intake duct to the cooling air suction device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly wherein a fuel cell electrode layer is formed on a material and is transferred to a fuel cell electrolyte membrane. The method includes the steps of: forming a fuel cell electrode layer on a first substrate layer; cutting from the fuel cell electrode layer side using cutting means so as to reach a second substrate layer, and forming a cut of a predetermined shape in the fuel cell electrode layer and the first substrate layer; and a removal step for peeling off an outer side portion of the predetermined shape from the second substrate layer.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst with high catalytic activity that is alternative to a noble metal catalyst, through a heat treatment at a relatively low temperature. A process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst includes a step (I) of obtaining a catalyst precursor, including a step (Ia) of mixing at least a metal compound (1), a nitrogen-containing organic compound (2), and a fluorine-containing compound (3), and a step (II) of heat-treating the catalyst precursor at a temperature of 500 to 1300° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst, a portion or the entirety of the metal compound (1) being a compound containing an atom of a metal element M1 selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, niobium and zirconium, and at least one of the compounds (1), (2) and (3) containing an oxygen atom.

Abstract: Selectively annealing one or more materials of a composite cathode occurs through selection of composite cathode material composition, particle shape and size of composite cathode material, microwave waveform, microwave duration, and environment. Electron conductor material and ion conducting material may be annealed in a staged process to substantially reduce cross contamination of resulting electron and ion conducting pathways while increasing the number or electron and ion conducting pathways in a composite cathode.

Abstract: A method for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst, including a step (I) of bringing an aqueous solution of a transition metal compound (1) into contact with ammonia and/or ammonia water to generate a precipitate (A) containing an atom of the transition metal, a step (II) of mixing at least the precipitate (A), an organic compound (B), and a liquid medium (C) to obtain a catalyst precursor liquid, and a step (IV) of subjecting the solid in the catalyst precursor liquid to heat treatment at a temperature of 500 to 1200° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst; a portion or the entirety of the transition metal compound (1) being a compound containing a transition metal element of group 4 or group 5 of the periodic table; and the organic compound (B) being at least one selected from sugars and the like.