Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode of an electrochemical cell. The amorphous carbon is fabricated in a one heating step process from multi-functional organic monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode (30) of an electrochemical cell (10). The carbon is fabricated in a heating process from a plurality multifunctional organic monomers selected from first and second groups of monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode (30) of an electrochemical cell (10). The carbon is fabricated in a heating process from a plurality multifunctional organic monomers selected from first and second groups of monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode (30) of an electrochemical cell (10). The carbon is fabricated in a heating process from a plurality multifunctional organic monomers selected from first and second groups of monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode of an electrochemical cell. The amorphous carbon is fabricated in a one heating step process from multi-functional organic monomers. The material is then reheated in the presence of a lithium salt such as LiNO.sub.3, Li.sub.3 PO.sub.4 or LiOH. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: A secondary lithium electrochemical charge storage device, such as a battery (10) is taught. The battery (10) includes a first composite electrode (20), and electrolyte layer (40), and a second composite electrode (30). The composite electrodes include at least an active material, and a polymer or polymer blend for lending ionic conductivity and mechanical strength. The electrolyte may also include a polymer as well as an electrolyte active material. The polymer from which the composite electrode is fabricated may be the same as or different than the polymer from which the electrolyte layer is fabricated.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode of an electrochemical cell. The amorphous carbon is fabricated in a one heating step process from multi-functional organic monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: An electrochemical charge storage device (10) includes first and second electrodes (16) (22) with first and second current collectors (18) (24) respectively attached, an electrolyte (20) disposed between the electrodes and first and second metal foils (14) (26) to separate the electrodes (16) (22) from a packaging material. The packaging material consists of multilayered first and second polymeric packaging films (12) (28) which enclose the other components of the device (10), and are sealed to each other.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode of an electrochemical cell. The amorphous carbon is fabricated in a one heating step process from multi-functional organic monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor (10) stores an electrical charge from an external source (40). The capacitor has a positive electrode (30) and a negative electrode, each electrode being a metal oxide. A solid, protonically-conducting electrolyte (25 ) is disposed between the positive and negative electrodes and is in contact with each electrode. The electrochemical capacitor stores the electrical charge by changing the oxidation state of the metal oxide, oxidizing the metal at the positive electrode and reducing the metal at the negative electrode. The solid electrolyte is pseudoboehmite, tetramethyl ammonium hydrate, or Li.sub.5 AlO.sub.4. The electrodes are transition metals capable of forming multiple oxides, but not capable of forming metal hydrides.

Abstract: A method (200) of charging a multiple voltage battery is disclosed. The multiple voltage battery is characterized by a preselected operating voltage and a charge profile curve having at least two occurrences of the slope thereof being substantially zero. The number of occurrences of the slope of the charge profile curve being substantially zero corresponds to the number of voltage levels the cell is adapted to operate in. The method recognizes the signature charging profile of the multiple voltage level battery and is thus capable of terminating battery charge at the level corresponding to the preselected operating voltage.

Abstract: An improved metal hydride hydrogen storage alloy electrochemical cell (10) includes a positive electrode (20) and a negative electrode (30) having disposed therebetween, a polymer electrolyte (40). The polymer electrolyte (40) comprises a polymer support structure fabricated of, for example, polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate, and having dispersed therein an electrolyte active species such as, for example, KOH. The improved electrolyte for a metal hydride hydrogen storage alloy cell provides a battery cell free from electrolyte leakage, and having ionic conductivities which allow for an efficient use of the metal hydride electrodes.

Abstract: An improved metal hydride hydrogen storage alloy electrode (20) for use in an electrochemical cell (10). The improved electrode (20) includes a hydrogen storage alloy material (22) having a layer of a passivation material (25) disposed thereon.

Abstract: A thin film multi-layered electrolyte for a rechargeable electrochemical cell, and a rechargeable electrochemical cell including said electrolyte. The multi-layered electrolyte consists of a primary electrolyte material having at least one secondary electrolyte material disposed on one surface thereof. The secondary electrolyte material should be selected so as to have a potential stability window sufficient to prevent decomposition of the primary electrolyte, while preventing chemical reactions leading to the formation of ionically non-conducting materials on the surface of the electrodes of the electrochemical cell. A rechargeable electrochemical cell is made by disposing the multi-layered electrolyte material between a positive and negative electrode.

Abstract: Briefly, according to the invention, there is provided an energy storage device (5) with three electrodes. A first electrolyte (15)is situated between the first (10) and second (20) electrodes so that it is contact with each of the electrodes, forming a battery cell (80). A second electrolyte (25) is placed between the second (20) and third (30) electrodes so that it is also in contact with each electrode, forming an electrochemical capacitor (70). The battery and capacitor each share a common electrode (20). After charging, the energy storage device can be linked to an electrical device to power it by discharging the battery portion to provide a substantially constant voltage, and discharging the capacitor portion to provide a substantially constant current when the device requires higher levels of current than the battery portion is capable of providing.

Abstract: An electrode has a substrate and a finely divided active material on the substrate. The active material is ANi.sub.x-y-z Co.sub.y Sn.sub.z, wherein A is a mischmetal or La.sub.1-w M.sub.w, M is Ce, Nd, or Zr, w is from about 0.05 to about 1.0, x is from about 4.5 to about 5.5, y is from 0 to about 3.0, and z is from about 0.05 to about 0.5. An electrochemical storage cell utilizes such an electrode as the anode. The storage cell further has a cathode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery (208) is charged using a charger (202). The charge current provided by charger (202) is a stepped-down pulse where the battery charge current rate change is determined by the rise time of the battery voltage. The charge pulse sequence is repeated after the polarization recovery period is completed. The polarization recovery time of the previous period will determine if the stepped-down pulse has to be modified.

Abstract: A thin film multi-layered electrolyte for a rechargeable electrochemical cell, and a rechargeable electrochemical cell including said electrolyte. The multi-layered electrolyte consists of a primary electrolyte material having at least one secondary electrolyte material disposed on one surface thereof. The secondary electrolyte material should be selected so as to have a potential stability window sufficient to prevent decomposition of the primary electrolyte, while preventing chemical reactions leading to the formation of ionically non-conducting materials on the surface of the electrodes of the electrochemical cell. A rechargeable electrochemical cell is made by disposing the multi-layered electrolyte material between a positive and negative electrode.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery cell (10) has an integral vibrating means. The cell has a positive electrode (14), a negative electrode (16), and an electrolyte (18) disposed between the two electrodes. The electrolyte contains a piezoelectric material (20) that vibrates when subjected to an alternating electric field. In one embodiment, at least one of the electrodes contains a piezoelectric material that functions as a vibrating means when subjected to an alternating electric field. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric material that functions as a vibrating means when subjected to an alternating electric field is attached as part of a current collector (22) to at least one of the electrodes. The piezoelectric material performs an additional function of being an electronic insulator for the purpose of stacking the cells.

Abstract: The negative electrode of an electrochemical cell with lithium as the electroactive species includes a metal silicide. This metal silicide can be an alloy (that is, a multimetallic silicide) that reacts with lithium and acts as a reversible lithium reservoir during cell operation. Electrochemical cells in accordance with the invention have excellent kinetics and higher theoretical specific energy that the Li-Si binary alloys presently used in some thermal batteries. Magnesium silicide, calcium silicide and molybdenum silicide are particularly preferred materials for these negative electrodes due to their thermodynamic properties.