Abstract: An inkjet printable electrode composition, an electrode including the electrode composition, and a secondary battery including the electrode. The inkjet printable electrode composition includes oxide, a conducting agent, a wetting agent, a binder and an aqueous solvent, in which the viscosity of the binder is in a range of 2 to 20 cps in a 1 wt % aqueous solution of the binder. The inkjet printing electrode composition includes a binder having an appropriate viscosity to allow ink to be easily ejected when the ink is inkjet-printed, and thus, a uniform, thin, and planarized pattern may be formed onto a collector by inkjet printing, without clogging of a nozzle, and thus electrode and secondary battery may be formed at low costs.

Abstract: An electrode for a super-capacitor, a super-capacitor including the electrode, and a method of preparing the electrode in which the electrode includes a conductive substrate; metal nano structures formed on the conductive substrate; and a metal oxide coated on the metal nano structures. The electrode for the super-capacitor increases the capacitance of the super-capacitor.

Abstract: Methods of preparing capped metal nanocrystals are provided. One method includes reacting a metal nanocrystal precursor with a reducing agent in a solution having a platinum catalyst.

Abstract: An anode active material comprises metal core particles, metal nano wires formed on the metal core particles, pores between the metal core particles and the metal nano wires, and a carbon-based coating layer formed on a surface of the metal core particles and metal nano wires. In the anode active material according to the present invention, the metal core particles and metal nano wires are combined to form a single body, and a carbon-based coating layer is formed on the surface of the metal nano wires and metal core particles. Thus, volume changes in the pulverized metal core particles can be effectively buffered during charging and discharging, and the metal core particles are electrically connected through the metal nano wires. As a result, volume changes in the anode active material and degradation of the electrode can be prevented, thereby providing excellent initial charge/discharge efficiency and enhanced charge/discharge capacity.

Abstract: A battery and a battery pack including the battery. The battery includes: a frame; an electrode assembly disposed around the frame; a main body to house the electrode assembly; and electrode terminals extending from the electrode assembly in a first direction, through the main body. A cooling hole extends through opposing sides of the main body, in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant mutant microorganism having enhanced butanol producing capacity and a method for producing butanol using the same. In the microorganism, genes coding for enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of lactate, ethanol and/or acetate are deleted or attenuated and genes coding for enzymes involved in butanol biosynthesis are introduced and amplified.

Abstract: A lithium battery binder includes polyvinylidenefluoride(PVDF) having an IR absorption peak ratio of I? in a range from 0.35 to 1.00, wherein I? is equal to I820-850/I860-880 where I820-850 is a peak height resulting from a CH2 rocking band in ?-phase PVDF and I860-880 is a peak height resulting from backbones in ?- and ?-phase PVDF. The lithium battery containing the cathode and/or the anode which incorporates the binder improves the charge/discharge characteristics and the lifespan characteristics of a lithium battery.

Abstract: A method of preparing nanoparticles includes using low-temperature plasma and a pulsed second process gas. Nanoparticles having uniform sizes and nanoparticles having a core-shell structure may be formed. A lithium battery includes an electrode that includes the nanoparticles.

Abstract: A composite anode active material including: a metal capable of alloy formation with lithium; an intermetallic compound; and a solid solution, in which the solid solution is an alloy of the metal capable of alloy formation with lithium and the intermetallic compound, and the solid solution and the intermetallic compound have a same crystal structure.

Abstract: An inkjet printable electrode composition, an electrode including the electrode composition, and a secondary battery including the electrode. The inkjet printable electrode composition includes oxide, a conducting agent, a wetting agent, a binder and an aqueous solvent, in which the viscosity of the binder is in a range of 2 to 20 cps in a 1 wt % aqueous solution of the binder. The inkjet printing electrode composition includes a binder having an appropriate viscosity to allow ink to be easily ejected when the ink is inkjet-printed, and thus, a uniform, thin, and planarized pattern may be formed onto a collector by inkjet printing, without clogging of a nozzle, and thus electrode and secondary battery may be formed at low costs.

Abstract: The present invention is related to compositions and methods for producing a lithium battery with enhanced performance. In particular, the present invention is directed to increasing the solubility of a carboxymethyl cellulose-based binder in water. When the solubility of the carboxymethyl cellulose-based binder is improved, the electrode manufacturing process may be stabilized, and the dispersibility and adhesive force of the electrode may also be improved. As a result, a lithium battery with excellent characteristics may be manufactured. Additionally, the present invention is also directed to an environmentally-friendly manufacturing process for fabricating an anode whereby water is used as the slurry medium, and a lithium battery containing the anode.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrode comprises an electrode active material coated on a current collector. The surface of the electrode active material has a greater porosity than the portion nearest the current collector. The electrode includes an active material with controlled porosity, where the porosity of the inner portion is equal to or less than the porosity of the surface of the electrode after the electrode is roll-pressed. As a result, the impregnating characteristics of the electrolytic solution are improved and decreases in capacity upon charging and discharging at high rates are prevented. Therefore, excellent charge and discharge characteristics are obtained. In addition, cells including the inventive electrodes exhibit excellent charge and discharge characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutant microorganisms having improved productivity of branched-chain amino acids, and a method for producing branched-chain amino acids using the mutant microorganisms. More specifically, relates to mutant microorganisms having improved productivity of L-valine, which are produced by attenuating or deleting a gene encoding an enzyme involved in L-isoleucine biosynthesis, a gene encoding an enzyme involved in L-leucine, and a gene encoding an enzyme involved in D-pantothenic acid biosynthesis, and mutating a gene encoding an enzyme involved in L-valine biosynthesis, such that the expression thereof is increased, as well as a method for producing L-valine using the mutant microorganisms. The inventive mutant microorganisms produced by site-specific mutagenesis and metabolic pathway engineering can produce branched-chain amino acids, particularly L-valine, with high efficiency, and thus will be useful as industrial microorganisms for producing L-valine.

Abstract: Methods of preparing capped metal nanocrystals are provided. One method includes reacting a metal nanocrystal precursor with a reducing agent in a solution having a platinum catalyst.

Abstract: Negative active materials including metal nanocrystal composites comprising metal nanocrystals having an average particle diameter of about 20 nm or less and a carbon coating layer are provided. The negative active material includes metal nanocrystals coated by a carbon layer, which decreases the absolute value of the change in volume during charge/discharge and decreases the formation of cracks in the negative active material resulting from a difference in the volume change rate during charge/discharge between metal and carbon. Therefore, high charge/discharge capacities and improved capacity retention capabilities can be obtained.

Abstract: A polyurethane binder prepared by a polyurethane compound having double bonds and by crosslinking the polyurethane compounds. The polyurethane binder having double bonds can be dispersed in water with the dispersant including a reactive group such as a carboxyl group, and thus an organic solvent is not required to produce an electrode. The crosslinked polyurethane binder with a high crosslinking density provides an excellent elastic force and binding force, and thus the electrode and the lithium battery employing the polyurethane binder have improved recovery properties and charge/discharge properties.

Abstract: An anode active material and a lithium battery employing the same are provided. In one embodiment of the anode active material, a —(CH2CH2O)— repeating unit is bonded to the surface of metal particles that contain metals that can be alloyed with lithium. The repeating unit prevents reactions between the metal particles and the electrolyte solution. Also, due to its elasticity, the repeating unit absorbs part of the volume expansion of the metal particles. The repeating unit also prevents the metal particles from condensing, thereby enhancing dispersion properties. Accordingly, the inventive anode active material has high capacity and excellent capacity retention during repeated charging and discharging, thereby providing a lithium battery with a long cycle life.

Abstract: An anode active material comprises metal core particles, metal nano wires formed on the metal core particles, pores between the metal core particles and the metal nano wires, and a carbon-based coating layer formed on a surface of the metal core particles and metal nano wires. In the anode active material according to the present invention, the metal core particles and metal nano wires are combined to form a single body, and a carbon-based coating layer is formed on the surface of the metal nano wires and metal core particles. Thus, volume changes in the pulverized metal core particles can be effectively buffered during charging and discharging, and the metal core particles are electrically connected through the metal nano wires. As a result, volume changes in the anode active material and degradation of the electrode can be prevented, thereby providing excellent initial charge/discharge efficiency and enhanced charge/discharge capacity.

Abstract: An anode including: an anode active material; a first binder coating layer formed on the anode active material; a second binder coating layer formed on the first binder coating layer; and a collector, wherein the first binder coating layer has an elasticity higher than the second binder layer and the second binder coating layer is adapted to combine the anode active material with the collector. In the anode, the first binder coating layer that has the relatively high elasticity on the anode active material can tolerate a change in volume of the anode active material. Therefore, a lithium battery that uses the anode has improved cyclic properties and a relatively long lifespan.

Abstract: An organic electrolytic solution is provided which includes a lithium salt, an organic solvent including a first solvent having high permittivity and a second solvent having a low boiling point, and a phosphine oxide compound The phosphine oxide compound imparts flame resistance and good charge/discharge properties, thereby producing a lithium battery that is highly stable and reliable and that has good charge/discharge efficiency.