Abstract: Liquid-free lithium-air cells are provided which incorporate a solid electrolyte having enhanced ionic transport and catalytic activity. The solid electrolyte is positioned between a lithium anode and an oxygen cathode, and comprises a glass-ceramic and/or a polymer-ceramic electrolyte including a dielectric additive.

Abstract: A lithium-air cell is provided which incorporates a cathode comprised of a lithium aluminum germanium phosphate (LAGP) glass-ceramic material for facilitating an oxygen reduction reaction. The lithium-air cell further includes a lithium anode and a solid electrolyte which may be in the form of a membrane comprising LAGP glass-ceramic and/or polymer ceramic materials.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state.

Abstract: An apparatus, e.g., a boost converter, includes a first switch configured to be coupled to an inductor and to support a charging current in the inductor from a power source and at least two serially-coupled second switches coupled in parallel with the first switch and configured to selectively route current from the inductor to at least two serially-connected capacitors. The apparatus may further include a control circuit configured to operate the first switch and the plurality of second switches.

Abstract: Control hubs and solar power systems are disclosed. One example photovoltaic (PV) system includes a plurality of PV modules and a control hub coupled to the plurality of PV modules. The control hub includes a plurality of interface modules and a processing device coupled to the interface modules. Each of the interface modules includes a power converter coupled to a different one of the plurality of PV modules. The processing device is configured to control each of the power converters to control the PV module associated with the power converter.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a buck-boost circuit is contemplated which is bi-directional. That is, the buck-boost circuit be configured to produce a load voltage for a load responsive to a source voltage from a voltage source, and the buck-boost circuit may also be configured to produce a charging voltage for the voltage source responsive to a second voltage source connected to the load. In an embodiment, the buck-boost circuit may be operating in boost mode when providing the load voltage and may be operating in buck mode when providing the charging voltage.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state.

Abstract: A lithium-air cell is provided which incorporates a cathode comprised of a lithium aluminum germanium phosphate (LAGP) glass-ceramic material for facilitating an oxygen reduction reaction. The lithium-air cell further includes a lithium anode and a solid electrolyte which may be in the form of a membrane comprising LAGP glass-ceramic and/or polymer ceramic materials.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a buck-boost circuit is contemplated which is bi-directional. That is, the buck-boost circuit be configured to produce a load voltage for a load responsive to a source voltage from a voltage source, and the buck-boost circuit may also be configured to produce a charging voltage for the voltage source responsive to a second voltage source connected to the load. In an embodiment, the buck-boost circuit may be operating in boost mode when providing the load voltage and may be operating in buck mode when providing the charging voltage.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state.

Abstract: A solid composite electrolyte membrane for use in a lithium battery is provided which exhibits a conductivity ranging from about 10?4 S cm?1 to about 10?3 S cm?1 at ambient temperature. The membrane is formed by providing a glass or glass-ceramic powder formed from a mixture of lithium carbonate, alumina, titanium dioxide, and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. The powder is mixed with a conditioning agent and at least one solvent, followed by the addition of a binder and one or more plasticizers. The resulting slurry is cast into a tape which is then subjected to a binder burn-off and sintering process to form the membrane. The resulting membrane may be a glass-ceramic composite having a porosity ranging from 0 to 50%, or the membrane may be further infiltrated with a polymer to form a water-impermeable polymeric-ceramic composite membrane.

Abstract: Liquid-free lithium-air cells are provided which incorporate a solid electrolyte having enhanced ionic transport and catalytic activity. The solid electrolyte is positioned between a lithium anode and an oxygen cathode, and comprises a glass-ceramic and/or a polymer-ceramic electrolyte including a dielectric additive.

Abstract: A ceramic-ceramic nanocomposite electrolyte having enhanced conductivity is provided. The nancomposite electrolyte is formed from chemically stabilized zirconia such as yttria stabilized zirconia or scandia stabilized zirconia and a heterogeneous ceramic dopant material such as Al2O3, TiO2, MgO, BN, or Si3N4. The nanocomposite electrolyte is formed by doping the chemically stabilized zirconia with the ceramic dopant material and pressing and sintering the composite. The resulting electrolyte has a bulk conductivity of from about 0.10 to about 0.50 S/cm at about 600° C. to about 900° C. and may be incorporated into a solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: A solid composite electrolyte membrane for use in a lithium battery is provided which exhibits a conductivity ranging from about 10?4 S cm?1 to about 10?3 S cm?1 at ambient temperature. The membrane is formed by providing a glass or glass-ceramic powder formed from a mixture of lithium carbonate, alumina, titanium dioxide, and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. The powder is mixed with a conditioning agent and at least one solvent, followed by the addition of a binder and one or more plasticizers. The resulting slurry is cast into a tape which is then subjected to a binder burn-off and sintering process to form the membrane. The resulting membrane may be a glass-ceramic composite having a porosity ranging from 0 to 50%, or the membrane may be further infiltrated with a polymer to form a water-impermeable polymeric-ceramic composite membrane.

Abstract: A colloidal electrolyte for an electrochemical device. The colloidal electrolyte includes a liquid electrolyte selected from liquid organic electrolytes, or liquid inorganic electrolytes free of sulfuric acid; and a ceramic particle phase dispersed in the liquid electrolyte, wherein the colloidal electrolyte has increased conductivity in the electrochemical device compared to the conductivity of the liquid electrolyte alone. The colloidal electrolytes will suppress flammability and flowability.

Abstract: A ceramic-ceramic nanocomposite electrolyte having enhanced conductivity is provided. The nancomposite electrolyte is formed from chemically stabilized zirconia such as yttria stabilized zirconia or scandia stabilized zirconia and a heterogeneous ceramic dopant material such as Al2O3, TiO2, MgO, BN, or Si3N4 The nanocomposite electrolyte is formed by doping the chemically stabilized zirconia with the ceramic dopant material and pressing and sintering the composite. The resulting electrolyte has a bulk conductivity of from about 0.10 to about 0.50 S/cm at about 600° C. to about 900° C. and may be incorporated into a solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing conductivity of polymer-ceramic composite electrolytes are provided which include forming a polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte film by a melt casting technique and uniaxially stretching the film from about 5 to 15% in length. The polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte is also preferably annealed after stretching such that it has a room temperature conductivity of from 10−4 S cm−1 to 10−3 S cm−1. The polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte formed by the methods of the present invention may be used in lithium rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: Resistors for use in electrical circuits are formed of an alloy comprising from about 50 to about 95 mol percent aluminum, from about 5 to about 50 mol percent titanium and up to about 15 mol percent of at least one additional metal or a combination of two or more additional metals.