Abstract: The assembly or design of the energy conductors (103, 104, 502) of a storage element (101, 305, 501) for electric energy has specific assembly or design elements (201, 202, 203, 204, 301, 302, 303, 404, 405, 406, 407, 412, 413), which counteract a polarity reversal of the storage element or storage elements upon assembly of such storage elements with other similar storage elements to form a storage block, or upon connection of a storage block to an energy consumer or energy supplier equipped with corresponding contact or retaining elements.

Abstract: A storage device for electric energy according to an aspect of the invention comprises a plurality of flat storage cells, wherein a plurality of storage cells are stacked in a stacking direction into a cell block and are held together by a tensioning device between two pressure plates, and wherein the storage cells are connected to each other within the cell block in parallel and/or in series. Each storage cell is held in the edge region thereof between two frame elements. According to another aspect, each storage cell comprises current conductors in the edge region and electric contacting between current conductors of successive storage cells is carried out via the tensioning device by way of a non-positive fit.

Abstract: An output conductor (102, 103, 202, 203, 303, 402) of an electrochemical cell (101, 201), or a contact element (406, 402) for making contact with it has, at least in places, a surface structure which increases the pressure which the output conductor and contact element exert on one another when the output conductor is connected with a force fit to a contact element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a battery arrangement (101, 201, . . . ), comprising at least one first electrochemical cell (102, 202,) and at least one second electrochemical cell (102, 202), wherein each electrochemical cell comprises a shell (103, 203), characterized in that a shell part (104, 105, 112; 204, 205, 212;) of the shell (103, 203,) of the first electrochemical cell (102, 202), is adhesively bonded to a shell part (104, 105, 112; 204, 205, 212;) of the shell (103, 203,) of the second electrochemical cell (102, 202).

Abstract: The task at hand is achieved by a method for operating a battery having at least one galvanic cell. The at least one galvanic cell is subjected at least temporally to an examination, particularly at a predetermined operating state of the battery or the galvanic cell.

Abstract: The electric energy storage cell according to the invention is provided with: an active part, which is designed and adapted to store electric energy supplied externally and to release stored electric energy to the exterior; a casing consisting of a film material, which surrounds the active part in a gas- and liquid-tight manner; and at least two current collectors that are connected to the active part and are designed and adapted to supply electric current externally to the active part and to release electric current from the active part to the exterior. According to the invention, the part that is surrounded by the casing follows the contours of a prismatic structure with a substantially parallelepipedal form, said structure extending to a substantially lesser extent in a first spatial direction than in the other two remaining spatial directions and substantially defining two opposing, parallel flat faces and four narrow faces that connect the two flat faces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a galvanic cell according to the invention with a substantially prismatic or cylindrical structure, said cell having a first electrode stack. A first current conductor is connected to a first electrode stack. In addition, the galvanic cell has sheathing that at least partially surrounds a first electrode stack. Part of a first current conductor extends from said sheathing. The galvanic cell also has a second electrode stack and a second current conductor. The sheathing has at least one first deep drawn part and one second deep drawn part. One of the deep drawn parts has a higher thermal conductivity than the other deep drawn parts. The deep drawn parts of the sheathing are provided to at least partially surround at least one electrode stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a galvanic cell according to the invention with a substantially prismatic or cylindrical structure and an electrode stack. In addition the galvanic cell has at least one current conductor that is connected to the electrode stack and sheathing that at least partially surrounds the electrode stack. Part of a current conductor extends from said sheathing. The sheathing has at least one first deep drawn part and one second deep drawn part. One deep drawn part has a higher thermal conductivity than the other deep drawn parts. The deep drawn parts of the sheathing are provided to at least partially surround the electrode stack.

Abstract: An accumulator comprises at least one galvanic cell and a receiving device for supporting the galvanic cell(s) of the accumulator. The receiving device comprises at least one protecting wall for receiving energy by means of elastic and/or plastic deformation. The protecting wall encases the at least one galvanic cell at least partially and has a thickness which is at least partially less than about 1/10 of the characteristic edge length of the at least one galvanic cell.

Abstract: A current collector (1) according to the invention has at least one substantially plate-like and preferably thin-walled core region (2). This core region contains at least one electrically conductive third material. The current collector also has a first surface region (3) comprising at least one first material. The current collector also has a second surface region (4) comprising at least one second material. In this case, the electrical conductivity of the first surface region is lower than that of the second surface region. Furthermore, this first surface region is bounded and/or spatially separated from this second surface region.

Abstract: An accumulator comprises at least one galvanic cell and a receiving device for supporting the galvanic cell(s) of the accumulator. The receiving device comprises at least one protecting wall for receiving energy by means of elastic and/or plastic deformation. The protecting wall encases the at least one galvanic cell at least partially and has a thickness which is at least partially less than about 1/10 of the characteristic edge length of the at least one galvanic cell. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Packaging device (10, 10?, 10?) for packaging at least one object (12, 12?, 12?), that is essentially flat, in particular a valuable technical object, such as a lithium-ion cell, comprising: a bottom plate (14) having at least one first side rim (42), which is linear in regard to at least a part thereof, and at least one first cover plate (20) having at least one first side rim (46) which is linear in regard to at least one part thereof, which is hingeably linked to the first side rim (42) of the bottom plate (14) such that the cover plate (20) can be hinged between a closed position in which the cover plate at least partially covers the bottom plate, and an open position in which the cover plate is not opposite to the bottom plate, characterized in that the bottom plate (14) or the at least one cover plate (20) comprises on one side a cushioning layer (16, respectively 22), wherein the cushioned side faces the object (12, 12?, 12?) when said object is in the packaging and the at least one cover plate (20) i

Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing a gas diffusion electrode which has a catalyst layer having a smooth surface, wherein the smooth surface of the catalyst layer is produced by bringing the catalyst layer in the moist state into contact with a transfer film and removing this transfer film after drying. In variant A, the catalyst layer is firstly produced on a transfer film and then transferred in the moist state to the gas diffusion layer. In variant B, the catalyst layer is applied to the gas diffusion layer, and a transfer film is then placed on top. In both cases, the structure produced in this way is subsequently dried. Before further processing, the transfer film is removed to give a gas diffusion electrode having a smooth catalyst surface which has a maximum profile peak height (Rp) of less than 25 microns. The electrodes are used for producing membrane-electrode assemblies for membrane fuel cells or other electrochemical devices.

Abstract: A process for manufacture of integrated membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs), which comprise an ionomer membrane, at least one gas diffusion layer (GDL), at least one catalyst layer deposited on the GDL and/or the ionomer membrane, and at least one protective film material is disclosed. The components are assembled together by a lamination process comprising the steps of heating the components to a temperature in the range of 20 to 250° C. and laminating the materials by applying a laminating force in the range of 50 to 1300 N with a pair of rolls. The claimed lamination process is simple and inexpensive and is used for manufacture of advanced, integrated MEAs for electrochemical devices such as PEM fuel cells and DMFC.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a five-layer membrane-electrode unit comprising an ionomer membrane, a first catalyst layer, a second catalyst layer, a first gas diffusion layer and a second gas diffusion layer. In the process of the invention, at least one gas diffusion layer is provided with a suitable perforation grid before or after coating with the catalyst. The excess gas diffusion material is removed as pressed screen after lamination of the gas diffusion layer onto the membrane, exposing the uncoated membrane areas. The process is suitable for the continuous production of five-layer membrane-electrode units of type 1 (in which the membrane forms a rim projecting beyond the two gas diffusion layers) and of type 3 (in which gas diffusion layers and membrane have a step-like, semicoextensive design). Two process variants in which dried and undried (i.e. solvent-containing) catalyst layers are laminated onto the membrane are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous process for producing catalyst-coated polymeric electrolyte membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells. The process of the invention uses an ionomer membrane having a polymeric backing film on the back side. After the first coating step, the membrane is dried, during which the residual solvent may be almost completely removed. After this, the polymeric backing film is removed and the back side of the membrane is coated in a second step. The front and back sides of the membrane can be coated by various methods, such as screen printing or stencil printing. Two gas distribution layers are applied to the two sides of the catalyst-coated membrane to produce a 5-layer membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assemblies are used in polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cells and in direct methanol fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacture of a catalyst-coated polymer electrolyte membrane (CCM) for electrochemical devices. The process is characterized in that a polymer electrolyte membrane is used which is supported on its backside to a first supporting foil. After coating of the front side, a second supporting foil is applied to the front side, the first supporting foil is removed and subsequently the second catalyst layer is applied to the back side. In this process, the membrane is in contact with at least one supporting foil during all processing steps. Smooth, wrinkle-free catalyst-coated membranes are obtained in a continuous process with high production speed. The 3-layer catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) are used in electrochemical devices, such as PEM fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), sensors or electrolyzers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous process for producing catalyst-coated polymeric electrolyte membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells. The process of the invention uses an ionomer membrane having a polymeric backing film on the back side. After the first coating step, the membrane is dried, during which the residual solvent may be almost completely removed. After this, the polymeric backing film is removed and the back side of the membrane is coated in a second step. The front and back sides of the membrane can be coated by various methods, such as screen printing or stencil printing. Two gas distribution layers are applied to the two sides of the catalyst-coated membrane to produce a 5-layer membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assemblies are used in polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cells and in direct methanol fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of electrochemical cells and fuel cells, and more specifically to polymer-electrolyte-membrane (PEM) fuel cells. It provides a process for the manufacture of catalyst-coated substrates for membrane fuel cells. The catalyst-coated substrates (e.g. catalyst-coated membranes (“CCMs”), catalyst-coated backings (“CCBs”) and catalyst-coated tapes) are manufactured in a new process comprising the coating of the substrate with a water-based catalyst ink in a compartment maintaining controlled humidity and temperature. After deposition of the ink, the substrate is subjected to a leveling process at controlled humidity and temperature conditions. Very smooth and uniform catalyst layers are obtained and the production process is improved. The catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs), catalyst-coated backings (CCBs) and catalyst-coated tapes manufactured according to this process are used in the production of three-layer and five-layer MEAs.