Abstract: A lithium-ion battery and a method for pre-lithiating a silicon-containing anode for use therein. The method includes providing a lithium-ion battery including a cathode having a lithium transition metal oxide, an anode, a separator, and an organic electrolyte. Where the end voltage during a battery charging cycle procedure U1 is between 4.35 V and 4.80 V. During subsequent battery charging cycles, the end voltage during discharging of the battery U2 does not drop below 3.01 V and where during subsequent battery charging cycles, the end voltage during charging of the lithium-ion battery U3 is lower than the end voltage during charging of the lithium-ion battery U1. The lithium-ion battery is charged by the cc/cv method and the end voltage during subsequent discharging of the lithium-ion battery U4 is lower than the end voltage during discharging of the lithium-ion battery U2 and does not drop below 3.01 V.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery and method for cycling lithium-ion batteries. The method includes providing a lithium-ion battery comprising a cathode, an anode, a separator and an electrolyte. The anode contains pre-lithiated silicon having a degree of pre-lithiation ?1 of from 5 to 50% and the anode material is only partially lithiated during full charging of the lithium-ion battery by the lithiation capacity of silicon being utilized to a degree of lithiation ?2 of from 5 to 50% by the partial lithiation of the anode material during full charging of the lithium ion battery. The total degree of lithiation ? of the silicon is from 10 to 75%, the total degree of lithiation ? is the sum of the degree of pre-lithiation ?1 and the degree of lithiation ?2, where the figures in % are based on the maximum lithiation capacity of silicon.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery and process for producing the same. The lithium ion batteries include a cathode, an anode, a separator, an electrolyte and a battery housing which receives these components. The cathode, the anode, the separator or any other reservoir located in the battery housing and differing from the electrolyte contains one or more organic or inorganic nitrates or one or more organic or inorganic nitrites and the anode contains silicon particles with a silicon content of ?90 wt. % in relation to the total weight of the silicon particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite core-shell particles wherein the core is a porous, carbon-based matrix which contains silicon particles enclosed in pores of the matrix; the pores containing the silicon particles have a diameter of ?60 nm as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the shell can be obtained by carbonizing one or more carbon precursors selected from among the group comprising tars, pitches, hard carbon, soft carbon and hydrocarbons having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, resulting in a non-porous shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymer-grafted silicon particles, wherein the silicon particles have an average particle size (d50) of 700 nm to 10 ?m and the polymers of the polymer-grafted silicon particles are attached to the silicon particles in a wash-stable manner in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to lithium ion batteries comprising a cathode, an anode containing silicon particles, a separator and an electrolyte, characterized in that the electrolyte contains one or more inorganic salts selected from among the group comprising alkali salts and ammonium salts of nitrate, nitrite, azide, phosphate, carbonate, borates and fluoride, and in that the anode material is only partially lithiated in the fully charged lithium ion battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to non-aggregated carbon-coated silicon particles having average particle diameters d50 of 1 to 15 ?m, which particles contain ?10 wt % carbon and ?90 wt % silicon, each based on the total weight of the carbon-coated silicon particles

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to an anode material or lithium ion batteries that is based on silicon particles, one or more binders, optionally graphite, optionally one or more additional electroconductive components, and optionally one or more additives, characterized in that the silicon particles are not aggregated and have a volume-weighted particle size distribution between the diameter percentiles d10?0.2 ?m and d90?20.0 ?mas well as a width d90?d10?15 ?m.

Abstract: Lithium ion batteries containing fine, non-aggregated silicon particles have high initial voltage and exhibit good charge retention over large numbers of charge/discharge cycles when used with an electrolyte containing one or more amines, under conditions that silicon contained in the anode is only partially lithiated such that the ratio of Li:Si is less than or equal to 2.2:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to silicon/graphite/carbon composites (Si/G/C-composites), containing graphite (G) and non-aggregated, nanoscale silicon particles (Si), wherein the silicon particles are embedded in a carbon matrix (C). The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of composite, electrode material for lithium ion batteries containing said type of composite and to a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymer-grafted silicon particles, wherein the silicon particles have an average particle size (d50) of 700 nm to 10 ?m and the polymers of the polymer-grafted silicon particles are attached to the silicon particles in a wash-stable manner in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to non-aggregated carbon-coated silicon particles having average particle diameters d50 of 1 to 15 ?m, which particles contain ?10 wt % carbon and ?90 wt % silicon, each based on the total weight of the carbon-coated silicon particles

Abstract: The invention relates to lithium ion batteries comprising a cathode, an anode containing silicon particles, a separator and an electrolyte, characterized in that the electrolyte contains one or more inorganic salts selected from among the group comprising alkali salts and ammonium salts of nitrate, nitrite, azide, phosphate, carbonate, borates and fluoride, and in that the anode material is only partially lithiated in the fully charged lithium ion battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode coating for a lithium-ion battery, containing copolymer C or the salt thereof, copolymer C being synthesized by polymerizing a combined total of more than 70 wt % of vinyl-functional cyclic carbonate and one or more monomers from the group comprising acrylic acid and the derivatives thereof, the percentage by weight of vinyl-functional cyclic carbonate in relation to the weight of all monomers used being 5-90%.

Abstract: A membrane for fuel cells, which is characterized by a homogeneous absorption and good retention of doping agents, and which guarantees a high mechanical stability at high temperatures when doped. Such membranes consist of at least one polymer, whose nitrogen atoms are chemically bonded to a central atom of a derivative of a polybasic inorganic oxo acid. The membranes are produced from polymer solutions that are devoid of water and oxo acid derivatives, by heating the solution that has been introduced into a membrane mold until a self-supporting membrane has been formed and then by thermally regulating the latter. Inventive fuel cells having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that comprises a membrane of the invention and phosphoric acid as the doping agent have, for example, an impedance of 0.5-1 ?cm2 at a measuring frequency of 1000 Hz and at an operating temperature of 160° C. and a gas flow for hydrogen of 170 mL/min and for air of 570 mL/min.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell, which has a planar polymer membrane. This membrane, in a tangentially inner area, is coated on both sides with electrode structure, and, in a tangentially outer area projecting at least on one side beyond the electrode structure coating, is connected to a sealing member. A marginal zone of the polymer membrane is embedded in the elastomer sealing member. The sealing member extends tangentially inward to a transition area that lies tangentially between the outer area and the inner area, where it overlaps the electrode structures on outer faces of the electrode structures, on both of the sides of the polymer membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved fuel cell system and a method of operating a fuel cell, which ensure that the fuel cell can be operated at high efficiency without irreversible damage. The fuel cell system according to the invention has at least one fuel cell with a fuel cell stack and with separator plates, which are equipped with inlets and outlets for a heat transfer medium, a thermostat, a heat transfer medium circuit, which has a transport device for the heat transfer medium and includes at least the fuel cell and the thermostat, at least one temperature sensor for the fuel cell and a monitoring and control unit for the temperature of the fuel cell. With the invention it is possible to operate the fuel cell in a range close to the preset optimum operating temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel-cell stack with an external media supply, comprising a plurality of stacked fuel-cell elements, each containing a proton-conductive polymer membrane, which is located between a flat anode electrode and a flat cathode electrode, each electrode being in contact with a separator plate containing canal structures for supplying a reaction gas, evacuating superfluous reaction gas and water that has been produced and/or for distributing a heat transfer medium. At least one collection/distribution container, which is connected to the canal structures of a plurality of separator plates, distributes the reaction gas or the heat transfer medium or collects superfluous reaction gas and water that has been produced or the heat transfer medium. The collection/distribution container is configured as a hood that covers a plurality of fuel-cell elements, the edge of said hood being sealed in relation to the covered elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insulating element for a fuel cell stack, which is composed of a thermally insulating plastic or plastic composite material. The insulating element is connected to the end plate and the bipolar end plate of the stack and achieves virtually uniform distribution of temperature and flow density along the fuel cell stack in the cell operating mode. As a result, the condensation of product water is prevented.

Abstract: Gas diffusion electrodes with improved proton conduction between an electrocatalyst located in a catalyst layer and an adjacent polymer electrolyte membrane, capable of being used at operating temperatures up to or above the boiling point of water, ensuring lasting high gas permeability. Also, a production method and corresponding fuel cells. At least one part of the particles of an electrically conductive carrier material in the catalyst layer is at least partially loaded with at least one porous, proton-conducting polymer which can be used up to or above the boiling point of water. Loading and development of the porous structure is carried out in a phase inversion method. The gas diffusion electrodes can be used in high temperature fuel cells working at temperatures up to or above the boiling temperature of water without a drop in performance in continuous operation.