Abstract: A lithium ion battery having a plurality of cells connected in series, in parallel, or both internally within a sealed case. Each of the plurality of cells has a cathode in contact with a positive current collector and an anode in contact with a negative current collector. The battery also includes a single positive terminal in electrical contact with at least one positive current collector and a single negative terminal in electrical contact with at least one negative current collector. One or more cross-over connectors electrically connect adjacent positive and negative current collectors. Also provided is a lithium ion battery having externally connected cells, the battery also having a single negative terminal in electrical contact with at least one negative current collector and one or more cross-over connectors that electrically connect adjacent positive and negative current collectors of the cells.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery having a plurality of cells connected in series, in parallel, or both internally within a sealed case. Also provided is a lithium ion battery having externally connected cells.

Abstract: An organic electrolyte for use in a lithium secondary battery comprising a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent mixture is disclosed. The lithium salt can be LiClO.sub.4, LiPF.sub.6, LiBF.sub.4, LiCF.sub.3 SO.sub.3, LiAsF.sub.6, or other lithium salt, and the organic solvent mixture contains a carbonate and an acetate. The carbonate is ethylene carbonate, and the acetate can be either methyl acetate or ethyl acetate. The carbonate and the acetate are provided in a ratio of carbonate/acetate ranging from 80/20 to 20/80, or preferably from 40/60 to 60/40, and said lithium salt has a concentration of between 0.6 and 1.5M, or preferably at about 1M. The electrolyte exhibits excellent stability in a lithium secondary battery having a cathode which contains either LiCoO.sub.2 or LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, and can withstand charge/discharge voltages of at least as high as 5 V (vs. Li/Li.sup.+), with excellent service life.

Abstract: An improved lithium secondary battery using a novel layered titanium phosphate having the formula of TiO(OH)(H.sub.2 PO.sub.4), or LTP, as anode material, and LiCoO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2, or other appropriate material, as cathode. A stable operating voltage of 3-volt can be obtained from the resultant lithium secondary battery. The layered titanium phosphate is prepared by first reacting a tetramethylammonium hydroxide (N(CH.sub.3).sub.4 OH) solution containing orthophosphoric acid with titanium dioxide in a low temperature hydrothermal reaction to form a tetramethylammonium form of layered titanium phosphate, or NMe.sub.4 TP, which serves as the precursor of LTP. The precursor NMe.sub.4 TP is then placed in a concentrated hydrochloric acid at room temperature to obtain a high purity LTP via a cation exchange reaction. Each of the Li.sub.

Abstract: A superconducting tape is fabricated with a composition of Bi.sub.1.81 Pb.sub.0.43 Sr.sub.1.71 Ca.sub.2.14 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x. The powder of composition is filled into a silver tube and the silver tube is processed by rolling or pressing into a thin tape. The thin tape is heat treated and pressed for several times until the superconducting phase is formed to the tape and the thickness of the tape is equal to or less than 0.07 mm. The resulting tape is highly flexible such that it can be bent into an arc with a very small radius of curvature and nonetheless provide high critical current density.

Abstract: An oxalate route coprecipitation process for preparing a superconducting YBaCuO system precursor powder comprises preparing an aqueous solution of nitrates of yttrium, barium and copper, which is then mixed with an organic solution containing a dibasic oxalate ester, an organic base and acetone. An ultrasound vibration is applied to the mixture to coprecipitate oxalates of yttrium, barium and copper. The decomposition of the oxalate ester is enhanced to an optimum rate as the result of the homogeneous phase contributed by acetone which is miscible with both water and the oxalate ester. The ultrasound vibration segregates the precipitate particles thereby preventing the coagulation of the particles and assuring fine and uniform particle size.