Abstract: In an electrochemical fuel cell, a sufficient quantity of catalyst, effective for promoting the reaction of reactant supplied to an electrode, is disposed within the volume of the electrode so that a reactant introduced at a first major surface of the electrode is substantially completely reacted upon contacting the second major surface. Crossover of reactant from one electrode to the other electrode through the electrolyte in an electrochemical fuel cell is thereby reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive active material of for a rechargeable lithium battery and a method of preparing the same. The positive active material is represented by formula 1: LixMn2-a-bCraMbO4+z  [formula 1] where x≧2; 0.25<a<2; 0<b≦0.3; z≧0; M is an alkali earth metal, a transition metal or a mixture thereof. The method includes the steps of dissolving a chromium salt, a manganese salt, and a metal salt(s) in a solvent to produce a solution; performing a first heat-treatment step on the obtained solution at 400 to 500° C. to produce a chromium manganese metal oxide; mixing the chromium manganese metal oxide with a lithium salt; and performing a second heat-treatment step at 600 to 800° C.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cells system wherein a reacted gas that has been passed through a cell stack is enabled to be contacted with an unreacted gas to be passed through the cell stack, thereby carrying out a temperature/humidity exchange for the purpose of preventing the drying of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The temperature of the unreacted gas is made lower than the temperature of the reacted gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium secondary battery having great capacity density per volume and weight. The lithium secondary battery contains a positive electrode having Li—Bi alloy or Li—Sb alloy as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a cyclic carbonate including ethylene carbonate, at least two linear carbonate selected from diethyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate or dimethyl carbonate, propyl acetate; and a lithium salt.

Abstract: Microscopic batteries, integratable or integrated with microelectromechanical systems or other microscopic circuits, including a MEMS microcircuit, and methods of microfabrication of such microscopic batteries are disclosed, among which comprise closed system microscopic batteries for internal storage of electricity using interval reactants only, which comprise microscopic electrodes, electrolyte and reservoir for the electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrochemical cell having plate electrodes housed inside mating “clam shell” casing components. When mated together, the casing components are form-fitting with respect to the internal battery structure so as to reduce the overall size of the electrochemical package. A one piece header containing both a glass-to-metal seal opening for a terminal lead and an electrolyte fill opening is used in conjunction with the clam shell casing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium secondary cell includes preparing an anode precursor and a cathode precursor by coating current collectors with electrode compositions, each not containing a plasticizer, preparing a separator precursor by coating both sides of a porous polymer film which is not gelled by an electrolytic solution with slurry containing an ion conductive polymer and the plasticizer, laminating the anode and cathode precursors and the separator precursor to prepare a cell precursor, and activating the cell precursor by injecting the electrolytic solution into the cell precursor. In the method of manufacturing method of the lithium secondary cell, the lithium secondary cell can be manufactured without a process of extracting a plasticizer using an organic solvent. Thus, environmental contamination due to plasticizer extraction can be prevented, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of batteries.

Abstract: Ion conducting solid electrolytes are constructed from nanoscale precursor material. Nanocrystalline powders are pressed into disc structures and sintered to the appropriate degree of densification. Metallic material is mixed with 0 to 65 vol % nanostructured electrolyte powders to form a cermet mix and then coated on each side of the disc and fitted with electrical leads. The electrical conductivity of a Ag/YSZ/Ag cell so assembled exhibited about an order of magnitude enhancement in oxygen ion conductivity. As an oxygen-sensing element in a standard O2/Ag/YSZ/Ag/N2 set up, the nanocrystalline YSZ element exhibited commercially significant oxygen ion conductivity at low temperatures. The invention can be utilized to prepare nanostructured ion conducting solid electrolytes for a wide range of applications, including sensors, oxygen pumps, fuel cells, batteries, electrosynthesis reactors and catalytic membranes.

Abstract: Vapor processor having an aspirator for collecting condensate pooled in the sump region and reintroducing it into a vapor stream being processed.

Abstract: An annular pack for a cylindrical member for use in a wellbore includes a housing adapted to be mounted about an exterior circumference of the cylindrical member. The housing has mutually engagable annular segments. At least one of the annular segments defines a chamber for housing an electrical device.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen and electrical energy, with zero emission of pollutants, from ethanol which is produced from biomass, which is characterized by the partial oxidation/reforming of ethanol with water for hydrogen production which is subsequently fed to a fuel cell for production of electrical energy, more specifically where an aqueous solution of ethanol originating from fermentation of biomass is separated by distillation or any other technique so as to obtain approximately 40-70% by weight of ethanol, preferably 50-60%, this mixture, mixed with a suitable quantity of air in such a way so as the ratio of moles oxygen per mole ethanol to be between zero and 0.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery of the present invention has a negative electrode comprising an AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy containing at least nickel as B element. The hydrogen storage alloy contains 1.5 to 5.0% by weight of a magnetic substance comprising metallic nickel. The above-mentioned alkaline storage battery can effect high output from the initial stage of charging and discharging cycles.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery having stable charging/discharging characteristics over a wide temperature range is provided. A nickel sintered base member is filled with a predetermined amount of nickel hydroxide according to a chemical impregnating method to produce a nickel positive electrode 1. At least one compound selected from a Ca compound, an Sr compound, an Sc compound, a Y compound, and a lanthanoid compound is added to the nickel positive electrode 1. An alkaline electrolytic solution for this storage battery contains at least one of KOH, NaOH, RbOH, and CsOH as an electrolyte, and has an alkaline concentration of 10 mol/l or higher.

Abstract: A battery pack 13 (FIG. 2) comprises an elongated cylindrical, metal casing 35, a plurality of cells 41, 43 in casing 35 and three coaxial pack terminals 46, 54, 61. For enhanced convenience, pack terminals 46, 54, 61 are electrically connectable in a cordless device 11 regardless of the angular orientation of the pack 13 about casing axis 33. To reduce cost and increase durability, pack 13 has no welded connections and will permit high current discharge rates. Cells 41, 43 are electrically connected but are mechanically disconnected. A spring 73 engages cell 41 and biases cells 41, 43 tightly together in compression to form good, low resistance electrical contact between cells 41, 43, casing base cap 45 and top 53. To provide a pack with two output voltages, the third pack terminal 61 has a polarity (relative to first pack terminal 46) the same as second pack terminal 54 and is electrically connected to the cell can terminal 43b of forward cell 43, thereby electrically by-passing cell 43.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing subassemblies for an electrochemical cell or a stack of electrochemical cells, particularly a stack of fuel cells for the direct generation of electricity. The method includes bonding together two or more electrochemical cell components, such as plates, frames, flow fields, shims, gaskets, membranes and the like, to form subassemblies used to make an electrochemical cell stack. The bonding can be accomplished using either polymeric bonds (i.e., adhesives) where polymer and/or metal components are involved or metallurgical bonds (i.e., solder) where metal components are involved. The bonding provides tightly sealed cells and lower electronic contact resistances between components.

Abstract: A fuel cell system in which methanol is supplied in liquid form to the fuel cells (so-called Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) system) with a container containing a supply of methanol, a conduit line designed to supply liquid methanol leading from the container to the fuel cells, another conduit line running from the fuel cells back to the container, a nozzle present in the other line and a pressure-boosting pump present in the conduit system, characterized by the fact that the pump is arranged in the conduit line leading from the container to the fuel cells, and a cooler is preferably arranged in the conduit line leading from the container to the fuel cells. In this way, one succeeds in supplying the fuel cells with a liquid fuel which is undersaturated with CO2 and therefore can absorb CO2 forming in the fuel cells so that as little gaseous CO2 as possible is contained in the fuel cell system, thus increasing the power of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a lithium secondary battery. A polymer mixture including a) polyvinylidene fluoride-based polymer and b) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile and polymethyl methacrylate is mixed with a solvent in which a lithium salt is dissolved. The mixing ratio of the polymer mixture and the solvent is about 1:3-10. Thus obtained first mixture is heated to obtain a polymer electrolyte composition. And this polymer electrolyte composition is coated onto a first electrode which is one of an anode and a cathode, and then dried to obtain a polymer electrolyte layer. Then, a second electrode which is a remaining one of the anode and cathode is attached onto the polymer electrolyte layer. The polymer electrolyte has a good mechanical strength and the lithium secondary battery has a stable charge/discharge characteristic.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing having first and second shell portions. The first shell portion includes a first base wall and a plurality of upstanding first side walls extending from the first base wall. The first base wall and the first side walls define a first cavity. The second shell portion is foldably connected to the first shell portion. The second shell portion includes a second base wall and a plurality of upstanding second side walls extending from the second base wall. The second base wall and the second side walls define a second cavity. The first shell portion and the second shell portion are formed of a polymeric material. At least one battery is disposed in the first and second cavities. At least one wire is operatively connected to the battery.

Abstract: A cylindrical type alkaline storage battery includes a metallic case, a sealing plate for the metallic case, and a spiral-shaped group of electrodes. The group of electrodes includes a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and a separator. The sealing plate includes a cap-shaped terminal plate, which includes a cap part and a flange, and a disc-shaped filter on the underside of the flange. The disc shaped filter has a gas venting hole in its center. A safety valve is included between the flange and the filter. A space between the metallic case and the rims of the flange and of the filter is sealed with a gasket.