Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with first (10) and second (11) electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte (15) disposed therebetween. The electrodes include a current collecting layer, a layer of electrode active material, and a layer of an electrically conductive, polymeric protection material disposed therebetween. The protective layer protects, for example, the current collecting layer from the deleterious effects of the acid or alkaline electrolyte active species found in most electrochemical cells. The protective layer is formed of an intermetallic compound dispersed through a layer of appropriately chosen polymeric material.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with first (10) and second (11) electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte (15) disposed therebetween. The solid polymer electrolyte is preferably fabricated by providing a linear powdered polymeric precursor material which is thereafter heated to temperatures sufficient to drive off moisture and in the presence of an electrolyte active species. The electrolyte active species is preferably an acidic electrolyte active species which has the effect of protonating the powdered polymeric precursor material. Electrochemical cells fabricated using these devices demonstrate performance characteristics far better than those available in the prior art.

Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor cell (140) is provided with first and second electrodes (146) (148), and a solid polymer electrolyte (154) is disposed therebetween. The electrodes may either be of the same or different materials and may be fabricated from ruthenium, iridium, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, hafnium, nickel, silver, zinc, and combinations thereof. The solid polymer electrolyte is in intimate contact with both electrodes, and is made from a polymeric support structure having dispersed therein an electrolyte active species. Also a method of fabricating a biopolar electrochemical charge storage device by assembling at least the first and second bipolar subassemblies together with the second layer of electrode active material for the first bipolar subassembly in direct contact with the first layer of electrode active material for the second bipolar subassembly without a current collector disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A method for making high power electrochemical capacitors provides for depositing an electrically conducting polymer (20) (22) onto a non-noble metal substrate (10) which has been prepared by coating with an adhesion enhancing material (16) (18). Using the method, high power, high energy devices may be fabricated by arranging a plurality of individual capacitor cells into a stacked, bipolar device.

Abstract: A hybrid electrode for a high power, high energy, electrical storage device contains both a high-energy electrode material (42) and a high-rate electrode material (44). The two materials are deposited on a current collector (40), and the electrode is used to make an energy storage device that exhibits both the high-rate capability of a capacitor and the high energy capability of a battery. The two materials can be co-deposited on the current collector in a variety of ways, either in superimposed layers, adjacent layers, intermixed with each other or one material coating the other to form a mixture that is then deposited on the current collector.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with a first and second electrode assemblies (10) (11), and an electrolyte (15) disposed therebetween. The electrodes may either be of the same or different materials and may be fabricated from ruthenium, iridium, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, nickel, silver, zinc, and combinations thereof. The electrode assemblies are fabricated by depositing a layer (16) of a conductive ink adhesive on a surface of a current collecting substrate (12). Thereafter, a layer of powdered active material (18) is impregnated onto the surface of the conductive ink layer.

Abstract: Electrodes for electrochemical capacitor are modified with a metal macrocyclic complex made up of phthalocyanine or porphyrin ligands bound to a transition metal to achieve improved conductivity, reversibility, and charge storage capacity. The electrode is formed from a metal base and coated with an oxide, nitride or carbide of a transition metal or with a conductive polymer. This coating is modified with the metal macrocyclic complex. Suitable metal macrocyclic complexes are iron phthalocyanine (FePc), iron meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-phenyl)porphyrin (FeTPP) or cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP).

Abstract: An electrolyte for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrolyte is an admixture of H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and a high temperature polymer such as poly(benzimidazole) in ratios between 2:1 and 50:1, Fumed silica is added to the electrolyte at levels between 0.2% and 8% by weight. An electrochemical cell is fabricated using the electrolyte, and exhibits improved adhesion between the electrolyte and the electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with first (10) and second (11) electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte (15) disposed therebetween. The solid polymer electrolyte is preferably fabricated by providing a linear powdered polymeric precursor material which is thereafter heated to temperatures sufficient to drive off moisture and in the presence of an electrolyte active species. The electrolyte active species is preferably an acidic electrolyte active species which has the effect of protonating the powdered polymeric precursor material. Electrochemical cells fabricated using these devices demonstrate performance characteristics far better than those available in the prior art.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with a first and second electrodes, and a solid polymer electrolyte disposed therebetween. The electrodes may either be of the same or different materials and may be fabricated from ruthenium, iridium, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, nickel, silver, zinc, and combinations thereof. The solid polymer electrolyte is in intimate contact with both the anode and the cathode, and is made from a polymeric support structure having dispersed therein an electrolyte active species. The polymer support structure is preferably a polybenzimidazole.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with first and second electrodes, and a solid polymer electrolyte disposed therebetween. The electrodes may either be of the same or different materials and may be fabricated from ruthenium, iridium, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, halfnium, nickel, silver, zinc, and combinations thereof. The solid polymer electrolyte is in intimate contact with both the anode and the cathode, and is made from a polymeric support structure having dispersed therein an electrolyte active species. The polymer support structure is preferably a multi-layered support structure in which at least a first layer is fabricated of a polybenzimidazole, and at least a second layer is fabricated of, for example, poly vinyl alcohol.

Abstract: An electrode for an energy storage device uses a protonated polymer that is imbedded with an electroactive metal and coated onto activated carbon. Protonated poly(4-vinylpyridine) is coated onto particles of activated carbon that have high surface area, and the coating is then imbedded with a metal that exhibits electroactive behavior. In one embodiment, ruthenium is plated onto the poly(4-vinylpyridine) to create the electrode. Optionally, a coating of an ionically conductive negatively charged polymer is applied over the ruthenium-imbedded coating. The improved electrode is used to make a capacitor.

Abstract: Method for making high power electrochemical capacitors (28) provides for depositing an electrically polymer (18) and (20) onto a substrate (12) which has been treated so as to form nitride layers (14) and (16) on exposed surfaces thereof. Such electrochemical capacitors provide for high power high energy devices without the short comings of excessive equivalent series resistance nor the expense of noble metal substrates as have been typically been used.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is made with two asymmetric electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte. The anode is made from materials such metal hydrides, metals, metal hydroxides or metal oxides. The cathode is made from metal hydrides, metals, metal hydroxides or metal oxides. A solid polymer electrolyte is in intimate contact with and situated between the anode and the cathode. The solid polymer electrolyte is made from a polymeric binder such as polyethylene oxide, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(2-vinylpyridine), poly(4-vinylpyridine) and polyethyleneimine. The polymeric binder has H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 or H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 dispersed within it.

Abstract: A method for making high power electrochemical charge storage devices, provides for depositing an electrically conducting polymer (16), (18), onto a non-noble metal substrate (10), which has been prepared by treatment with a surfactant. Using this method, high power, high energy electrochemical charge storage devices may be fabricated with highly reproducible low cost.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is fabricated by providing two symmetric electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte disposed therebetween. The symmetric electrodes, anode and cathode, are made from materials such as ruthenium, iridium, cobalt, zinc, bismuth, cadmium, silver, and oxides thereof. The solid polymer electrolyte is in intimate contact with both the anode and cathode, and is made from a polymeric support structure such as polyvinylalcohol, having dispersed therein a proton conducting electrolyte active species.

Abstract: An alkaline gel electrolyte for an electrochemical cell is based on a polymeric binder of polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate. Potassium hydroxide and/or sodium hydroxide is blended into the polymeric binder or matrix, and the resulting solution is used to cast a film that is useful as a gel electrolyte. The hydroxide in the solution is between about 1% to 25% by weight, and the polymer concentration is between about 0.5% to 10% by weight. The resulting gel electrolyte film contains between 10 to 90% water by weight. A nickel or iron porphine modifier may be added in an amount between about 1 to 1000 parts per million. The alkaline gel electrolyte is useful in combination with asymmetric inorganic electrodes to make electrochemical cells, and can also function as a separator. Improved power density and higher cycle life is achieved with the gel electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor device (10) fabricated of a plurality of stacked subassemblies (12, 14) and capped with end portions (16, 18). The device (10) includes a current conducting electrode (22) having a layer of a second electrode material disposed on each side thereof (40) (42). The device (10) further includes a proton conducting electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrolyte system for use in an electrochemical cell such as a battery or capacitor, and which includes an aqueous electrolyte and a modifier species. The modifier should be adapted to act as a surfactant, as well as reduce oxidation of the electrode materials in the electrochemical cell. The aqueous electrolyte may be, for example, KOH, and the modifier species may be a porphine or porphine derivatives.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage device is fabricated from two opposing asymmetric electrode assemblies (10) and (11) and a solid polymer electrolyte (15). A first electrode is fabricated from a conducting polymer such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, or polythiothene. The second electrode is fabricated from a metal, metal hydroxides, metal oxides and combinations thereof. The solid polymer electrolyte is in intimate contact with and situated between the first and second electrodes. The solid polymer electrolyte may be made from a polymeric binder or support structure such as polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, or other polymeric materials. Dispersed in the polymeric support structure may be either an acidic or basic material, such as KOH or H.sub.3 PO.sub.4.