Abstract: Amorphous manganese dioxide cathodes for lithium batteries with lithium metal or other lithium-containing anodes, the cathode being synthesized by a sol-gel approach involving reduction of sodium permanganate with fumaric acid disodium salt carried out at room temperature to ensure an amorphous structure. The resulting amorphous manganese dioxide has a nanoporous structure and a high internal surface area of 350 m2/g. The amorphous manganese dioxide can electrochemically intercalate more than 1.6 moles of lithium per mole of manganese, and its theoretical capacity is 2 moles of lithium per mole of manganese. The host structure remains amorphous in the entire intercalation range and the intercalation process is reversible. Lithium battery cathodes comprising the amorphous manganese dioxide, a carbon powder and a binder provide a charge capacity in the level of 436 mAh/g and store energy at the level of 1056 mWh/g. Copper doped amorphous manganese oxides showed significant improvement in cycling performance.

Abstract: A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system in which a rechargeable hearing aid may be optically or inductively recharged by an optical or an inductive recharger. The optically rechargeable hearing aid may have a dual purpose optical fiber that may act as a light conduit for the recharging light, and that may also act as a draw string for the hearing aid. The rechargeable hearing aid may use a high energy nickel metal-hydride rechargeable battery or a high energy, high voltage lithium based rechargeable battery, in conjunction with a DC to DC voltage regulating circuit for converting the rechargeable battery's declining DC output voltage to the fixed DC input voltage needed by the hearing aid's audio related circuitry. The DC to DC voltage regulating circuit may also help to present a supply impedance that matches the input impedance of the audio related circuitry in the hearing aid.

Abstract: A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system in which a rechargeable hearing aid may be optically or inductively recharged by an optical or an inductive recharger. The optically rechargeable hearing aid may have a dual purpose optical fiber that may act as a light conduit for the recharging light, and that may also act as a draw string for the hearing aid. The rechargeable hearing aid may use a high energy nickel metal-hydride rechargeable battery or a high energy, high voltage lithium based rechargeable battery, in conjunction with a DC to DC voltage regulating circuit for converting the rechargeable battery's declining DC output voltage to the fixed DC input voltage needed by the hearing aid's audio related circuitry. The DC to DC voltage regulating circuit may also help to present a supply impedance that matches the input impedance of the audio related circuitry in the hearing aid.

Abstract: Nominal composition V.sub.2 O.sub.4.5 (OH) materials suitable for intercalations of greater than 2.4 Li per V.sub.2 O.sub.5 to yield theoretical energy density of greater than 970 Wh/Kg of cathode active material, the intercalation being completely reversible and synthesis of the materials from sol and gels, and devices incorporating these materials.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed medical device such as a cardioverter is disclosed, where the device contains an electrochemical capacitor having at least one electrode formed from a particularly efficacious electrode material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode material comprises electrically conductive carbon, a soluble salt, a non-aqueous liquid solvent and a gel-former. The electrode material of the present invention is especially well adapted for use in multi-layer capacitors in which very thin layers are desirable. The thin layers of the electrochemical capacitor of the present invention are characterized in having very low electrical resistance, and thus permit the capacitor to be discharged very rapidly.

Abstract: Nominal composition V.sub.2 O.sub.4.5 (OH) materials suitable for intercalations of greater than 2.4 Li per V.sub.2 O.sub.5 to yield theoretical energy density of greater than 970 Wh/Kg of cathode active material, the intercalation being completely reversible and synthesis of the materials from sol and gels, and devices incorporating these materials.

Abstract: An electrode material for an electrochemical capacitor and electrochemical capacitors utilizing the electrode material. The electrode material comprises electrically conductive carbon, a soluble salt, a non-aqueous liquid solvent, and a gel-former. Such a solid electrode material is especially well adapted for use in multi-layer capacitors in which such components can be made very thin, thereby providing a very low resistance for the device and permitting rapid discharge of the capacitor.

Abstract: An electrochemical device for production of electrical energy including a case, a primary Faradaic component in the case comprising an active metal anode and a cathode material, an electrochemical capacitor component in the case comprising first and second layers of conductive carbon separated by an electrolyte layer, and means for operatively combining the capacitor component and the primary Faradaic component to charge the capacitor component from the Faradaic component and to maintain the capacitor component in a charged state.

Abstract: An electrochemical device for production of electrical energy including a case, a primary Faradaic component in the case comprising an active metal anode and a cathode material, an electrochemical capacitor component in the case comprising first and second layers of conductive carbon separated by an electrolyte layer, and means for operatively combining the capacitor component and the primary Faradaic component to charge the capacitor component from the Faradaic component and to maintain the capacitor component in a charged state.

Abstract: Solid electrolytes including a lithium halide and a controlled amount of water provide materials having adequate ionic conductivity and low electronic conductivity so as to be useful in solid state electrochemical devices such as electric cells, timers, capacitors, coulometers and rechargeable batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the solid electrolyte further includes a third component such as a high surface area oxide, silica, alumina or mixtures thereof being preferred.