Abstract: Thin cathodes are presented, For example, a cathode includes a substrate; and a layer of a nanostructured pyrite active material deposited on the substrate, wherein the layer of the nanostructured pyrite has a thickness in the range from about 1 to about 1000 microns. The cathodes find particular utility in thermal batteries.

Abstract: An asymmetric supercapacitor has a positive electrode having a current collector an active material selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, silver oxide, iron sulfide and mixtures thereof, a negative electrode having a carbonaceous active material carbon and optional current collector, an electrolyte, and a separator plate. In a preferred embodiment at least one of the electrodes has nanostructured/nanofibrous material and in a more preferred embodiment, both electrodes have nanostructured/nanfibrous material. The electrolyte can be liquid or solid although liquid electrolytes are preferred. The asymmetric supercapacitor has improved energy density by electrically coupling an electrode of high faradaic capacity such as one having manganese oxide (MnO2) with an electrode such as carbon that stores charge through charge separation at the electric double-layer. The asymmetric supercapacitor also improves power density by using high surface area nanostructured/nanofibrous electrode materials.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the state-of-health of a nickel-metal hydride battery connected to a load comprises: detecting at least one of a real and imaginary part of an impedance of the battery at each of a first set of selected frequencies, the first set of selected frequencies including at least one frequency, and determining the state-of-health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between each impedance and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: Thin electrodes produced by thermal spray techniques are presented, wherein the thermal spray feedstock comprises an active material and a protective barrier coating. In a particularly advantageous feature, the active material feedstock is a metal sulfide, metal selenide, or metal telluride which ordinarily decomposes at thermal spray temperatures or which transforms to a material unsuitable for use as an electrode at thermal spray temperatures. The electrodes find particular utility in thermal batteries.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of an electrode for an energy storage or conversion device comprises thermally spraying a feedstock mixture comprising an effective quantity of a source of a thermally protective salt and an active material or active material precursor onto a substrate to produce a film of the active material and salt. The film can have a thickness of about 1 to about 1000 microns. In a particularly advantageous feature, the active materials which ordinarily decompose or are unavailable at the high temperatures used during thermal spray processes, such as metal chalcogenides such as pyrite, CoS2, WS2, Ni(OH)2, MnO2, and the like may be thermally sprayed to form an electrode when the feedstock mixture employs an effective amount of a source of the thermally protective salt coating. The active material feedstock may comprise microstructured or nanostructured materials, which after thermal spray results in electrodes having microstructured or nanostructured active materials, respectively.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack connected to a load comprises detecting the real part of the impedance Z1 of the fuel cell stack at a selected frequency; detecting the voltage V1 of the fuel cell stack at open circuit; detecting the voltage V2 of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack; and determining the state of health of said fuel cell stack from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between said real part of the impedance of the fuel cell stack at the selected frequency, the voltage of the fuel cell stack at open circuit, and the voltage of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a lead acid battery of the type commonly used in portable external defibrillators comprises detecting an impedance characteristic of the battery at at least one selected frequency, counting the number of complete charge/discharge cycles that the battery undergoes, and determining the state of health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between the impedance characteristic and the cycle number of the lead acid battery and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of and varies with the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of an electrode, and the resulting article therefrom, comprising coating an active material feedstock with an additive material suitable for preventing thermal decomposition of said feedstock during thermal spray, thermal spraying the coated feedstock onto a substrate for an electrode, thereby forming a coating on the substrate, thereby providing an electrode.

Abstract: Thin electrodes produced by thermal spray techniques are presented, wherein the thermal spray feedstock comprises an active material and a protective barrier coating. In a particularly advantageous feature, the active material feedstock is a metal sulfide, metal selenide, or metal telluride which ordinarily decomposes at thermal spray temperatures or which transforms to a material unsuitable for use as an electrode at thermal spray temperatures. The electrodes find particular utility in thermal batteries.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the state-of-health of a nickel-metal hydride battery connected to a load comprises: detecting at least one of a real and imaginary part of an impedance of the battery at each of a first set of selected frequencies, the first set of selected frequencies including at least one frequency, and determining the state-of-health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between each impedance and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a lead acid battery of the type commonly used in portable external defibrillators comprises detecting an impedance characteristic of the battery at at least one selected frequency, counting the number of complete charge/discharge cycles that the battery undergoes, and determining the state of health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between the impedance characteristic and the cycle number of the lead acid battery and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of and varies with the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack connected to a load comprises detecting the real part of the impedance Z1 of the fuel cell stack at a selected frequency; detecting the voltage V1 of the fuel cell stack at open circuit; detecting the voltage V2 of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack; and determining the state of health of said fuel cell stack from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between said real part of the impedance of the fuel cell stack at the selected frequency, the voltage of the fuel cell stack at open circuit, and the voltage of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of an electrode (1), and the resulting article (1) therefrom, comprising coating an active material feedstock (3) with an additive material suitable for preventing thermal decomposition of said feedstock (3) during thermal spray, thermal spraying the coated feedstock (3) onto a substrate (2) for an electrode, thereby forming a coating on the substrate (2), thereby providing an electrode (1).

Abstract: A method for determining state of health (SOH) of an electrochemical device using fuzzy logic (i.e., an intelligent system) is presented. State of health of an electrochemical device is determined by an internal characteristic parameter (or external operating and environmental conditions) of the electrochemical device and a characteristic parameter of a load with an intelligent system. The electrochemical device comprises such devices as primary (“throwaway”) batteries, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, hybrid batteries containing a fuel cell electrode or electrochemical supercapacitors. The intelligent system is trained in the relationship between the characteristic parameters of the electrochemical device, the characteristic parameters of the load and the SOH of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of an electrode for an energy storage or conversion device comprises thermally spraying a feedstock mixture comprising an effective quantity of a source of a thermally protective salt and an active material or active material precursor onto a substrate to produce a film of the active material and salt. The film can have a thickness of about 1 to about 1000 microns.