Abstract: A method for improving the electrical conductivity of a substrate of metal, metal alloy or metal oxide comprising directing a high energy beam of doping ions from Group VIII onto a substrate. This causes an intermixing of the doping ions with the native oxide of the substrate metal or metal alloy. The native oxide layer is changed from being electrically insulating to electrically conductive. The high-energy beam is an ion beam from a high-energy ion source. The thusly-treated substrate is useable in the manufacture of electrodes for devices such as capacitors and batteries.

Abstract: A method for improving the electrical conductivity of a substrate of metal, metal alloy or metal oxide comprising depositing a small or minor amount of metal or metals from Group VIIIA metals (Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt) or from Group IA metals (Cu, Ag, Au) on a substrate of metal, metal alloys and/or metal oxide from Group IVA metals (Ti, Zr, Hf), Group VA metals (V, Nb, Ta), Group VIA metals (Cr, Mo, W) and Al, Mn, Ni and Cu. The native oxide layer of the substrate is changed from electrically insulating to electrically conductive. The step of depositing is carried out by a low temperature arc vapor deposition process. The deposition may be performed on either treated or untreated substrate. The substrate with native oxide layer made electrically conductive is useable in the manufacture of electrodes for devices such as capacitors and batteries.

Abstract: Structures for serially connecting at least two capacitors together are described. Serially connecting capacitors together provides device manufactures, such as those selling implantable medical devices, with broad flexibility in terms of both how many capacitors are incorporated in the device and what configuration the capacitor assembly will assume.

Abstract: An oxygen plasma process for treating a dielectric oxide layer, particularly an anodic oxide, subsequent to its incorporation into an electrolytic capacitor is described. The present treatment reduces DC leakage and improves shelf life stability of the resulting capacitor in comparison to anodic oxides treated in a conventional manner. This is important for critical applications such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators where capacitor charging time and charge/discharge energy efficiency are critical.

Abstract: A sintering method for valve metal powders, such as tantalum, niobium, aluminum, titanium, and their alloys, is described. The valve metal powders are pressed into a pellet and sintered at a relatively high temperature, but for a relatively short time. The anodized valve metal structure is then useful as an anode in an electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: An enclosure for an electrical energy storage device such as a wet tantalum electrolytic capacitor or an electrochemical cell such as a lithium/silver vanadium oxide cell is described. The enclosure comprises two metallic casing components or portions. The first is a drawn member having a planar face wall supporting a surrounding sidewall and is shaped to nest the anode, cathode and intermediate separator components. The surrounding sidewall has an annular flange at its outer periphery. A mating cover is a stamped planar piece of similar material whose periphery fits inside the annular flange or rim as a complementary piece.

Abstract: A polymeric cradle molded about the periphery of an anode pellet in an electrolytic capacitor is described. The polymeric cradle contacts between a welding strap surrounding the butt seam between mating “clam shell” casing portions and the anode pellet sidewall. This prevents the anode pellet from moving along both an x- and y-axes. Having the cathode active material contacting the opposed major casing sidewalls being in a closely spaced relationship with the anode pellet through an intermediate separator prevents movement along the z-axis. The resulting capacitor is particularly well suited for use in high shock and vibration conditions.

Abstract: A capacitor working electrolyte containing water and a silicate additive is described. The silicate additive does not alter the electrolyte properties and/or cause any separation of the electrolyte composition. Instead, it stabilizes capacitor long-term performance.

Abstract: Structures for serially connecting at least two capacitors together are described. Serially connecting capacitors together provides device manufactures, such as those selling implantable medical devices, with broad flexibility in terms of both how many capacitors are incorporated in the device and what configuration the capacitor assembly will assume.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for electrolytic capacitors is described. The electrolyte composition comprises at least a solute comprising ammonium acetate, the salt of a weak inorganic acid, or the ammonium salt of a carboxylic acid having less than 10 carbon atoms; an additive; and water.

Abstract: Methods for testing the hermeticity of casings for power sources intended to power implantable medical device by sensing the presence of vapors escaping from an electrolyte contained therein are described. More broadly, the present leak detection methods are applicable to any sealed enclosure having a first part sealed to a second part with a liquid contained therein. The liquid need not occupy the entire volume of the enclosure, but must contain at least one component having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of more than about 0.1 mm Hg. This component can assist in the functioning of the device such as an electrolyte, or be added for the sole purpose of leak detection.

Abstract: Deposition of a metal-containing reagent solution or suspension onto a conductive substrate by various pad-printing techniques is described. This results in a pseudocapacitive oxide coating, nitride coating, carbon nitride coating, or carbide coating having an acceptable surface area for incorporation into an electrolytic capacitor, such a s one have a tantalum anode.

Abstract: A method for improving the electrical conductivity of a substrate of metal, metal alloy or metal oxide comprising depositing a small or minor amount of metal or metals from Group VIIIA metals (Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt) or from Group IA metals (Cu, Ag, Au) on a substrate of metal, metal alloys and/or metal oxide from Group IVA metals (Ti, Zr, Hf), Group VA metals (V, Nb, Ta), Group VIA metals (Cr, Mo, W) and Al, Mn, Ni and Cu and then directing a high energy beam onto the substrate to cause an intermixing of the deposited material with the native oxide of the substrate metal or metal alloy. The native oxide layer is changed from electrically insulating to electrically conductive. The step of depositing can be carried out, for example, by ion beam assisted deposition, electron beam deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, plasma assisted, low pressure plasma and plasma spray deposition and the like.

Abstract: A method for improving the electrical conductivity of a substrate of metal, metal alloy or metal oxide comprising depositing a small or minor amount of metal or metals from Group VIIIA metals (Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt) or from Group IA metals (Cu, Ag, Au) on a substrate of metal, metal alloys and/or metal oxide from Group IVA metals (Ti, Zr, Hf), Group VA metals (V, Nb, Ta), Group VIA metals (Cr, Mo, W) and Al, Mn, Ni and Cu and then directing a high energy beam onto the substrate to cause an intermixing of the deposited material with the native oxide of the substrate metal or metal alloy. The native oxide layer is changed from electrically insulating to electrically conductive. The step of depositing can be carried out, for example, by ion beam assisted deposition, electron beam deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, plasma assisted, low pressure plasma and plasma spray deposition and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a water based electrolyte used in a hybrid-type capacitor. The hybrid-type capacitor has an electrolytic anode and an electrochemical cathode. The difference resides in the electrolyte for this type of capacitor. The electrolyte has water, a water soluble inorganic and/or organic acid and/or salt, and a water soluble nitro-aromatic compound. Such a hybrid capacitor (1) improves energy density by significantly reducing volume of the separator and cathod material often used in conventional electrolytic capacitors and (2) has an electrochemical cathode that undergoes an electrochemical reduction without generating gassing. For example, ruthenium oxide, RuO2, is reduced to ruthenium hydroxide, Ru(OH)2, when passing a cathodic current. However, the present invention discovered that without the present electrolyte, the RuO2 cathode does generate gassing if it is sufficiently depleted.

Abstract: A twin plate cathode structure (53) for use in an alkali metal/solid and alkali metal/oxyhalide cell assembly includes a plurality of cathode plates (54a, 54b) operatively associated with an anode (31), the twin plate cathode structure comprising at least two cathode bodies (56a, 56b) each including cathode active material portions, an electrode including two cathode current collector portions (58a, 58b) operatively associated with corresponding ones of the cathode bodies, and an intermediate conductor means (60) joining the two collector portions for making electrical connection to the cathode structure. A plurality of twin plate cathode structures are grouped or arranged to provide a cathode cell assembly in which there is provided means (eg. a lead bar) operatively connected to each of the intermediate conductor means (60) for making electrical connection to the cathode structure in the assembly.