Abstract: A method for pre-treating a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell is disclosed. According to the method of the invention, the MEA is subjected to multiple wet/dry cycles prior to assembly of the MEA into the fuel cell stack. The pre-treatment wet/dry cycles of the present invention eliminate or reduce the irreversible dimensional changes which occur in the polymer electrolyte membrane in the MEA throughout the wet/dry cycles of fuel cell operation. This reduces stress applied to the MEA throughout wet/dry cycles which occur during operation of the fuel cell. Consequently, the formation and propagation of pinholes in the membrane is reduced, increasing the lifetime of the MEA.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a purge system for a fuel cell stack is provided. The system comprises a blower, a differential pressure sensor and a purge valve. The blower delivers a recirculated gas back to the stack at varying electrical power levels and blower speeds. The differential pressure sensor senses pressure of the recirculated gas across the blower. The purge valve purges the recirculated gas based on at least one of a blower power level, a blower speed, and the pressure of the recirculated gas.

Abstract: A secondary battery including a case having a lengthwise direction and including a space therein, an electrode assembly disposed in the space in the case, the electrode assembly including a rolled laminate of a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and a separator interposed therebetween and having non-coating portions at ends thereof, a pair of current collectors, each current collector being electrically connected to one of the non-coating portions of the electrode assembly, each current collector including a current collector plate having an end portion, each end portion extending along the lengthwise direction of the case such that the end portions of the current collector plates of the pair of current collectors are spaced apart from each other in a central region in the lengthwise direction of the case, and a cap plate coupled to a top of the case to seal the case, the cap plate having a vent disposed therein at a position corresponding to the end portions of the current collector plates.

Abstract: A battery comprises a plurality of individual cells whose poles are electrically interconnected with each other in series and/or in parallel and form a cell assembly. A sealing element is arranged at least in one edge region between the poles of adjacent individual cells.

Abstract: A device for generating hydrogen for power system based on hydrolysis aluminum assisted water split has a housing, a unit for containing aluminum in the housing, a unit for periodically bringing the aluminum and the electrolyte in contact for production of hydrogen, and a unit for the withdrawing the hydrogen to a power source.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing configured to house a motor. The housing defines a body axis and has a hand grip for a user, wherein the hand grip is positioned between a first end and a second end of the housing. The power tool further includes a tool element positioned at the first end of the housing and a battery connection port adapted to receive a battery pack. The battery connection port defines a removal axis for the battery pack and includes a first portion located at one end of the removal axis and a second portion located at an other end of the removal axis opposite the first portion. The second portion is positioned closer to the tool end than the first portion.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery is provided having a cap plate, an insulation plate, and a terminal plate, each shaped to prevent the terminal plate from rotating when assembling a cap assembly. The cap plate has an anti-rotation groove formed on a lower surface thereof and the insulation plate has an insulation plate protrusion formed on an upper surface thereof. When the anti-rotation groove is coupled to the insulation plate protrusion, the terminal plate may be prevented from rotating.

Abstract: Anodes for fuel cells, membrane-electrode assemblies for fuel cells including the anodes, and fuel cell systems including the membrane-electrode assemblies are provided. The anode includes a catalyst layer including a platinum-based metal catalyst and a carbon monoxide oxidizing catalyst on a catalyst support, and an electrode substrate. The catalyst support may be selected from ThO2, CeO2, Ce2O3, MnxOy (where x ranges from 1 to 2 and y ranges from 1 to 3), Co3O4, ZrO2, TiO2, and combinations thereof. The anode for a fuel cell includes a carbon monoxide oxidizing catalyst, which increases carbon monoxide oxidation, thereby providing high activity.

Abstract: A battery unit module and a battery module package including the battery unit module are disclosed. The battery unit module includes: a secondary battery; a unit case accommodating the secondary battery; and an electrode terminal electrically coupled to the secondary battery, the electrode terminal including a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, and exposed outside of the unit case, wherein the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal have cross-sections that are asymmetrical with respect to each other, and wherein a securing means is formed on at least one of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal.

Abstract: A safety device for a sealed cell (1) comprising alternating positive and negative electrodes respectively connected to positive and negative current output terminals (6, 7) placed in a container (2) having an end (3) that is closed by a wall. The wall of the closed end presents thinning (13) adapted to be torn by excess pressure inside the container, and the thinning is adapted, on being torn, to interrupt electrical conduction between the electrodes of one polarity and the corresponding current output terminal. The device of the invention is simple in design, is capable of operating at low pressures, and over a wide range of pressures, and acts as a circuit interrupter without decreasing the current density that flows in the electrical circuit.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device, lithium super-battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a porous separator disposed between the two electrodes, and a lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with the two electrodes, wherein the positive electrode comprises a plurality of chemically functionalized nano graphene platelets (f-NGP) or exfoliated graphite having a functional group that reversibly reacts with a lithium atom or ion. In a preferred embodiment, a lithium super-battery having a f-NGP positive electrode and Li4Ti5O12 negative electrode exhibits a gravimetric energy ˜5 times higher than conventional supercapacitors and a power density ˜10 times higher than conventional lithium-ion batteries. This device has the best properties of both the lithium ion battery and the supercapacitor.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer characterized by comprising composite particles comprising electrode catalyst particles supported on electrically conductive particles, a perfluorocarbonsulfonic acid resin (component A) and a polyazole compound (component B), the content of the composite particles being 20 to 95% by weight, the total weight of component A and component B being 5 to 80% by weight, the weight ratio between component A and component B (A/B) being 1 to 999.

Abstract: A circuit connection control system of a fuel cell includes a point connection portion to which an anode current collecting portion and a cathode current collecting portion of each unit cell are electrically connected, a voltage measuring unit that measures an output voltage of each unit cell, a switching unit connecting the anode current collecting portions and the cathode current collecting portions of the plurality of unit cells at the point connection portion; and a DC-DC converter that converts a voltage generated from the fuel cell to a predetermined voltage. A method of operating the circuit connection control system includes measuring an output voltage of each unit cell; detecting a first unit cell showing an output voltage lower than a predetermined first voltage; and connecting the first unit cell in parallel to a second unit cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell system capable of accurately controlling the pressure of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell, the fuel cell system comprising: a fuel gas supply line (SL) which supplies the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply source (11) to the fuel cell (10); pressure-regulating means (RG) provided on the fuel gas supply line (SL) and for regulating the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas supply source (11); and a circulation route (R) which returns the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell (10) to the fuel gas supply line (SL), wherein the circulation route (R) is connected to the fuel gas supply line (SL) such that the fuel gas is returned thereto in the upstream of the pressure-regulating means (RG).

Abstract: A hydrophobic composite bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a substrate having a composite material including carbon and a surface layer on the substrate. The surface layer includes silicon and oxygen, and a hydrocarbon moiety attached to at least one of the silicon or oxygen.

Abstract: Electrolyte suitable for use in a lithium ion cell or battery. According to one embodiment, the electrolyte includes a fluorinated lithium ion salt and a solvent system that solvates lithium ions and that yields a high dielectric constant, a low viscosity and a high flashpoint. In one embodiment, the solvent system includes a mixture of an aprotic lithium ion solvating solvent and an aprotic fluorinated solvent.

Abstract: Composite compounds of tin and lithium, silicon and lithium, or tin, silicon, and lithium having tin and silicon nano-dispersed in a lithium-containing matrix may be used as electrode materials and particularly anode materials for use with rechargeable batteries. Methods of making the composite compounds include the oxidation of alloys, the reaction of stabilized lithium metal powder with tin and silicon oxides, and the reaction of inorganic salts of lithium with tin and silicon containing compounds.

Abstract: In a sealed battery, a metal current carrying block 24A having a protrusion 24b on each of the two opposing faces is placed between positive or negative electrode substrate exposed portions that are divided into two so as to bring the protrusion 24b on each of the two opposing faces into contact with the positive or negative electrode substrate exposed portions that are stacked, a pair of electrodes 31 and 32 for resistance welding are brought into contact with positive electrode collector members 16 or negative electrode collector members that are each placed on the outermost surfaces of the positive electrode substrate exposed portions 14 or negative electrode substrate exposed portions, and resistance welding is performed with pressure applied between the pair of electrodes 31 and 32 for resistance welding.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprises a porous anode electrode, a dense non-porous electrolyte and a porous cathode electrode. The anode electrode comprises a first member and a plurality of parallel plate members extending from the first member. The cathode electrode comprises a second member and a plurality of parallel plate members extending from the second member. The plate members of the cathode electrode inter-digitate with the plate members of the anode electrode and the electrolyte fills the spaces between the first and second members and the parallel plate members of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode.

Abstract: The invention is a novel solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack comprising individual bi-electrode supported fuel cells in which an electrolyte layer is supported between porous electrodes. The porous electrodes may be made from graded pore ceramic tape that has been created by the freeze cast method followed by freeze-drying. Each piece of graded pore tape later becomes a graded pore electrode scaffold that, subsequent to sintering, is made into either an anode or a cathode. The electrode scaffold comprising the anode includes a layer of liquid metal. The pores of the electrode scaffolds gradually increase in diameter as the layer extends away from the electrolyte layer. As a result of this diameter increase, any forces that would tend to pull the liquid metal away from the electrolyte are reduced while maintaining a diffusion path for the fuel. Advantageously, the fuel cell of the invention may utilize a hydrocarbon fuel without pre-processing to remove sulfur.