Abstract: An improved proton exchange membrane fuel cell system is provided for the economical and efficient production of electricity. The fuel cell system provides a plurality of fuel cell stacks that substantially surround a reformer assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current collector for a battery which comprises a lead or lead alloy substrate and a thin cladding of tin, batteries utilizing such a current collector and methods for manufacturing such batteries. Preferably the tin cladding is composed of substantially pure tin and the concentration of the tin cladding relative to the weight of the current collector (i.e., the combined weight of the substrate and cladding) is less than 4% by weight. The tin cladding forms a noncontinuous layer over the outer surface of the substrate such that there are interspersed regions of lead and tin at the current collector surface. Batteries utilizing such current collectors exhibit marked improvement in performance compared to similar cells composed of tin alloys. In particular, batteries using current collectors of the present design offer superior cycle life and shelf life performance.

Abstract: Flexible ceramic sheets with enhanced strain tolerance for electrochemical applications such as solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes incorporate a surface indentation pattern providing a strain tolerance of not less than 0.5% in any direction in the sheet plane, being made from flexible green ceramic sheet comprising a ceramic powder and a thermoplastic organic binder by heating and reshaping the green sheet to form a multi-directional surface corrugation pattern therein, followed by firing to sinter the ceramic powder to a flexible ceramic sheet having a multi-directional surface corrugation pattern.

Abstract: A method enables preparation of a stock or starting material having improved catalytic properties. These materials will be useful in the formation of articles adapted for use in electrochemical fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a compact, low-pressure-drop, high efficiency water-separator for separating liquid water from water-laden streams of the system. A cyclonic separator includes a sump for collecting the water, a drain for removing the water from the sump and directing it to a reservoir, a shutoff valve associated with the drain for controlling flow through from the drain, and a water level switch that controls the opening/closing of the valve. The switch triggers closing of the valve before the sump is emptied to provide a water seal that prevents escape of gas through the drain.

Abstract: A method for treating a surface of an object using a hydrogen bearing compound. The method includes a step of generating a plasma from a Gas-C in a plasma source, where the Gas-C includes at least a gas-A and a gas-B. Gas-A is selected from a compound including at least a nitrogen bearing compound (e.g., N2) or an other gas, e.g., gas of in elements in group 18 classified in the atomic periodic table. Gas-B has at least a H2O bearing compound or is preferably H2O. The method also includes a step of injecting a Gas-D downstream of the plasma source of said Gas C, and setting an object downstream of the Gas-D injection and downstream of the plasma source. The object has a surface to be processed. The method also includes a step of processing the surface of said object by a mixture species generated from the Gas-C in the plasma and the Gas-D. The H2O bearing compound in Gas-C includes a H2O bearing compound that is lower in concentration than a Gas-A concentration.

Abstract: Capacitances in an impedance-matching box for an RF coil, in a plasma deposition system for depositing a film of sputtered target material on a substrate, can be varied during the deposition process so that the RF coil and substrate heating, and the film deposition, are more uniform due to “time-averaging” of the RF voltage distributions along the RF coil.

Abstract: A battery with an active material layer 6 having an active material 8, an electronically conductive material 9 contacted to the active material 8, and an electrolytic layer 3 jointed with the active material layer 6, wherein the electronically conductive material 9 comprises an electrically conductive filler and a resin having a predetermined thermal melting temperature T1, and has a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) such that resistance of the electrically conductive material increases with temperature, and wherein the active material layer 6 and the electrolytic layer 3 are laminated and are jointed together by heating the resin to a predetermined thermal treatment temperature T2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current collector for a battery which comprises a lead or lead alloy substrate and a thin cladding of tin, batteries utilizing such a current collector and methods for manufacturing such batteries. Preferably the tin cladding is composed of substantially pure tin and the concentration of the tin cladding relative to the weight of the current collector (i.e., the combined weight of the substrate and cladding) is less than 4% by weight. The tin cladding forms a noncontinuous layer over the outer surface of the substrate such that there are interspersed regions of lead and tin at the current collector surface. Batteries utilizing such current collectors exhibit marked improvement in performance compared to similar cells composed of tin alloys. In particular, batteries using current collectors of the present design offer superior cycle life and shelf life performance.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte battery with improved utilization rate of electrodes and improved cycle characteristics, the solid electrolyte battery incorporating a positive electrode; a solid electrolyte layer formed on the positive electrode, the solid electrolyte layer having a multi-layer structure with a plurality of layers; and a negative electrode formed on the solid electrolyte layer, wherein a first solid electrolyte layer in the plurality of layers, the first solid electrolyte layer being the closest layer in the plurality of layers to the positive electrode, and the first solid electrolyte layer including a polymer having a glass transition point of −60° C. or lower when measured by using a differential scanning calorimeter and a number average molecular weight of 100,000 or larger, and at least one of the plurality of layers other than the first solid electrolyte layer being formed by crosslinking a polymer solid electrolyte having a functional group that can be crosslinked.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a lithium battery having a stack of a negative electrode, a separator, and a positive electrode. A pattern of holes is produced in the negative electrode as well as in the positive electrode. Subsequently, a polymeric material is applied on the stack, so that the polymeric material penetrates the holes by which the negative electrode, the positive electrode and the separator are coupled and pressed together. By subjecting the polymeric material to a treatment with high-energy radiation the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer are improved.

Abstract: An ultra-thin electrochemical multi-cell energy storage device is provided within a single lightweight flexible casing. The energy storage device utilizes perforated isolating frames to form its internal structure. By adhering multi-layer current collectors to the perforated isolating frames, filling the openings formed therein with electrode material and stacking the current collectors with an electrolyte between the electrodes the assembly generated places the multiple cells in a plurality of stacks and all of the cells may be in series, parallel or some combination thereof by virtue of the assembly's construction. The external current collectors have good lateral conductivity due to their composite structure and provide for pressure insensitive interfacial contacts. The energy storage device advantageously exhibits low resistance, low ESR, and a high voltage/capacity while preferably remaining less than one millimeter thick.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode, which contains at least one organic sulfide compound selected from the group consisting of a thiolato compound and a thiol compound, and at least one selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a lithium sulfide represented by Formula (1): (LixS)n, where 0<x≦2 and n>0, a method of manufacturing the positive electrode, and a lithium battery using the positive electrode. Compared with the prior art lithium battery, the lithium battery using the positive electrode of the present invention has a greater capacity and a higher voltage. The positive electrode of the present invention effectively suppresses escape of the positive electrode active material from the positive electrode during charge and discharge operations and thus actualizes a secondary battery of high energy density having a less decrease in service capacity.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a sealed battery and a manufacturing method of a sealed battery that suppresses cracking incident to welding using an energy beam, such as a laser beam, when a material such as an aluminum alloy is used for the external casing and the cover plate, with keeping the productivity as high as possible. In order to realize the object, a rib is formed on the cover plate, and the thickness of the external casing at the rim is made small, and the rib and the rim of the external casing are welded together in manufacturing the sealed battery. Then, the closure cap and the external casing are welded together using a laser the energy distribution of which has a flat part in manufacturing the sealed battery to realize the object. In addition, the closure cap and the external casing are welded together while the molten part is gradually cooled in manufacturing the sealed battery to realize the object.

Abstract: A gas injection method for treating an electrochemical fuel cell stack assembly, the fuel cell stack assembly being repeatedly injected with an oxidizing gas at critical locations along the fuel cell stack assembly so that the fuel supply and the oxidizing gas will chemically react to reduce at least one harmful contaminant within the fuel supply. The preferred gas injection method treats a fuel cell stack assembly to reduce the debilitating effects of extraneous carbon monoxide within the fuel supply and thus preserves the efficient operation of the fuel cell stack assembly.

Abstract: A metal nitride is added as the conductivity-imparting component to a positive electrode for alkaline storage battery, which contains the active material comprising nickel hydroxide as the main component to provide alkaline storage batteries having the good cycle characteristics.

Abstract: The finding produces a container for batteries comprising an open, prism-shaped case, with its inside having a series of vertical baffles suited to creating chambers for the cells of said battery and having a watertight cover coupled to it, which holds the battery terminals, where at least the case of said container is made by moulding propylene-bonded mica in granular powder, said addition of powder being in the region of 5-50% by weight.

Abstract: An electrode having a positive-electrode material. The positive electrode material is a tin oxide doped with F, Cl, Br, I, S, Se, Te, B, N or P anions.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium battery in which the cathode comprises an electroactive sulfur-containing material and the electrolyte comprises a lithium salt, a non-aqueous solvent, and one or more capacity-enhancing reactive components. Suitable reactive components include electron transfer mediators of the formula: wherein: R4 is the same or different at each occurrence and is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or substituted derivatives thereof; E is the same or different at each occurrence and is selected from the group consisting of O, NR5, and S; where R5 is alkyl, aryl, or substituted derivatives thereof; a is an integer from 0 to 1; and r is an integer from 2 to 5. Also are provided methods for making the lithium battery.

Abstract: A process for operating a PEM fuel cell installation includes providing at least one PEM fuel cell module having an inlet valve for hydrogen H2 and an inlet valve for oxygen O2. In order to switch off the PEM fuel cell module, the oxygen O2 inlet valve is closed in a first step, and the hydrogen H2 inlet valve is closed in a second step when a predetermined oxygen O2 partial pressure at a cathode part of the PEM fuel cell module is reached. Reliable operation of the PEM fuel cell installation is guaranteed by this measure.