Abstract: A non-aqueous electrochemical cell is disclosed having a heat-resistant coating on at least one of a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator, if provided. The heat-resistant coating may consume heat in the cell to stabilize the cell, act as an electrical insulator to prevent the cell from short circuiting, and increase the mechanical strength and compression resistance of the coated component. In certain embodiments, the heat-resistant coating serves as a solid state electrolyte to produce a solid state electrochemical cell.

Abstract: The battery has an electrolyte activating one or more anodes and one or more cathodes. At least one of the one or more cathodes includes or consists of one or more first active materials selected from the group consisting of: fluorinated carbon (CFx),CuCl2, and LiCuCl2; and includes or consists of one or more second active materials selected from the group consisting of lithium vanadium oxide, such as Li1+yV3O8, where y is greater than zero and/or less than 0.3, TiS2, polypyrrole, MoO2, MoS2, MnO2, V2O5, V6O13, H2V3O8, and metal vanadium oxides represented by MyH1?yV3O8 where 0<y?1 and M represents Na, Mg, Ba, K, Co, and Ca and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The battery includes a cathode and an anode. The anode has a first medium that includes a first active material. The anode also has a second medium including a concentration gradient of a second active material. The battery also includes an electrolytic solution in contact with the cathode and the anode. In some instances, the first medium is positioned so as to protect at least a portion of the second medium from the electrolytic solution. The first medium can also be selected so as to dissipate during discharge of the battery. The first medium can be configured to dissipate enough that one or more of the protected regions of the second medium become exposed to the electrolytic solution during the discharge of the battery.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium cell is disclosed. The method can include providing a lithium cell having an operating voltage range, where the lithium cell includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte in contact with, and between, the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The negative electrode can include lithium titanate and the electrolyte can include an additive. The method can also include reducing the additive to form a coating on a surface of the negative electrode in contact with the electrolyte. The reducing step can include overcharging the lithium cell to a voltage greater than an upper limit of the operating voltage range and dropping a voltage of the negative electrode to 0.2-1V vs. lithium.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electric storage battery and method of making it, comprising a jellyroll electrode assembly in which electrodes are wound around a pin, and having one or more spacers at or near the inner ends of the electrodes to aid in winding the jellyroll. Also disclosed is an electric storage battery, and method of making it, comprising a jellyroll electrode assembly in which electrodes are wound around a pin, and having a plastic slotted tube closely fitted around the pin and covering the junction of the pin to an electrode substrate or interface material coupled to the electrode substrate. The spacers and plastic slotted tube may be used separately or together.

Abstract: An electrode system includes one or more separator materials formed into a bag having at least two seams. The seams are positioned so as to define the perimeter of a pocket configured to receive an electrode within the bag. At least one gap is formed between seams adjacent to one another along the perimeter of the pocket. Additionally, at least one of the seams includes a spacer positioned between portions of the one or more separator materials joined by the at least one seam.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium cell is disclosed. The method can include providing a lithium cell having an operating voltage range, where the lithium cell includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte in contact with, and between, the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The negative electrode can include lithium titanate and the electrolyte can include an additive. The method can also include reducing the additive to form a coating on a surface of the negative electrode in contact with the electrolyte. The reducing step can include overcharging the lithium cell to a voltage greater than an upper limit of the operating voltage range and dropping a voltage of the negative electrode to 0.2-1V vs. lithium.

Abstract: An active material suitable for use in lithium cells comprises lithium titanate having a surface and a material disposed on the surface is provided. The material is non-reactive with an electrolyte within a range of potential vs. lithium of from 0 V to 4 V. A variety of lithium cells including lithium titanate are also provided. The lithium titanate is typically of the general formula: Li4Ti5O12-x, wherein x is greater than 0. Further, a cell module is provided. The cell module comprises a plurality of lithium cells each having a soft outer packaging and assembled in an environment where water content in the environment is controlled.

Abstract: The battery has an electrolyte that includes an organoborate additive and one or more salts in a solvent. The organoborate additive can be present in a concentration less than 0.2 M or less than 0.05 M. A molar ratio of the organoborate additive:one or more salts is in a range of 4:1 to 400:1. In some instances, the solvent includes one or more organic solvents.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a battery comprises a lithium organoborate salt in a lactone and a low viscosity solvent. The lithium organoborate salt may comprise LiBOB, or a mono[bidentate]borate salt. The lactone may comprise gamma butyrolactone. The low viscosity solvent may comprise a nitrile, an ether, a linear carbonate, or a linear ester. The electrolyte is suitable for use in lithium ion batteries having graphite negative electrodes. Batteries using this electrolyte have high conductivity, low polarization, and high discharge capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved type of fluorinated carbon (CFx) for use in electrical storage devices such as batteries and capacitors. The CFx is coated with a conductive material such as gold or carbon using vapor deposition. The resulting material exhibits better conductivity with concomitant lower impedance, higher electrical stability, and improved potential throughout the useful life of the device, as compared to uncoated CFx. The improved conductivity reduces the amount of nonactive material (e.g., carbon black) that needs to be added, thus improving the volumetric energy density. In addition, cells made with the subject CFx exhibit more constant voltages and higher overall voltage (2.0 volts with a lithium metal anode) throughout their useful life. Chemical or physical vapor deposition techniques to deposit a variety of metals or carbon may be used to create the improved CFx. The coated CFx may be used in primary or secondary batteries, as well as capacitors and hybrid devices.

Abstract: An electric storage battery and method of manufacture thereof characterized by a feed through pin (12) which is internally directly physically and electrically connected to an inner end of a positive electrode substrate (32). A C-shaped mandrel (48) extends around the pin and substrate end enabling the pin/mandrel to be used during the manufacturing process as an arbor to facilitate winding layers of a spiral jellyroll electrode assembly. The pin additionally extends from the battery case (101) and in the final product constitutes one of the battery terminals (14) with the battery case comprising the other terminal. The electrolyte is injected through the open end of the case after the end cap is welded to the negative electrode but before sealing the end cap to the case. The electrolyte is preferably injected through the C-shaped mandrel to facilitate and speed filling.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells. Each cell includes a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes. First and second insulators extend over the first and second electrodes. An envelope or shell extends over the first and second insulators thereby encapsulating the first and second insulators. A lithium energy control electronics device (the LEC) is disposed, i.e. integrated inside the shell of each cell of the battery assembly. Each cell of the battery assembly is electronically and operatively communicated with one another through the respective LEC disposed inside each cell.

Abstract: An active material suitable for use in lithium cells comprises lithium titanate having a surface and a material disposed on the surface is provided. The material is non-reactive with an electrolyte within a range of potential vs. lithium of from 0 V to 4 V. A variety of lithium cells including lithium titanate are also provided. The lithium titanate is typically of the general formula: Li4Ti5O12-x, wherein x is greater than 0. Further, a cell module is provided. The cell module comprises a plurality of lithium cells each having a soft outer packaging and assembled in an environment where water content in the environment is controlled.

Abstract: An electric storage battery and method of manufacture thereof. Active material (78) is removed from both sides of the outer end (88) of the negative electrode (70) in a jellyroll (84) to allow room for adhesive tape (96) to secure the jellyroll.

Abstract: A lithium cell (cell) suitable for use in a battery pack comprises a housing, first and second electrodes of opposite charge disposed and spaced from each other in the housing. The first electrode comprises a first active component and the second electrode comprises a second active component different from the first active component. The cell further comprises first and second current collectors disposed and spaced from each other in the housing. The first and second current collectors are in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes, respectively. The cell further comprises a separator disposed in the housing between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary electrolytic battery comprising an electricity-generating element formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode plate, a separating material and a negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution with which the separating material, if it is a separator, is impregnated. The electricity-generating element is sealed in a battery case formed by a resin-laminated sheet comprising a metal layer as a barrier layer. Only a pair of lead terminals are drawn to the exterior of the battery case. The resin sheet comprises an oriented resin layer laminated on both surfaces of the metal layer. The inner heat-fused layers are opposed and heat-fused to each other. A molten and solidified resin mass is formed protruding from the inner end of the welded portion toward the inner space of the battery by 0.1 mm or more. Alternatively, the welded portion is formed thinner at the outer end thereof than at the inner end thereof.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery configured to yield a high energy density output by minimizing head space, i.e., wasted interior volume, within the battery case and/or by reducing electrical energy losses internal to the battery.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary electrolytic battery comprising an electricity-generating element formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode plate, a separating material and a negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution with which the separating material, if it is a separator, is impregnated. The electricity-generating element is sealed in a battery case formed by a resin-laminated sheet comprising a metal layer as a barrier layer. Only a pair of lead terminals are drawn to the exterior of the battery case. The resin sheet comprises an oriented resin layer laminated on both surfaces of the metal layer. The inner heat-fused layers are opposed and heat-fused to each other. A molten and solidified resin mass is formed protruding from the inner end of the welded portion toward the inner space of the battery by 0.1 mm or more. Alternatively, the welded portion is formed thinner at the outer end thereof than at the inner end thereof.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a battery comprises a lithium organoborate salt in a lactone and a low viscosity solvent. The lithium organoborate salt may comprise LiBOB. The lactone may comprise gamma butyrolactone. The low viscosity solvent may comprise a nitrile, an ether, a linear carbonate, or a linear ester. The electrolyte is suitable for use in lithium ion batteries having graphite negative electrodes. Batteries using this electrolyte have high conductivity, low polarization, and high discharge capacity.