Abstract: A polymeric separator for an organic electrolyte electrochemical system comprises an elastomeric polymer, optionally, a polymer which swells in the organic electrolyte and with which the elastomeric polymer forms an alloy and, optionally, an inorganic compound. The polymeric separator has a microporous structure characterized by a porosity in the range 30% to 95% and pores with an average diameter in the range 0.

Abstract: A polymeric separator for an organic electrolyte electrochemical system comprises an elastomeric polymer, optionally, a polymer which swells in the organic electrolyte and with which the elastomeric polymer forms an alloy and, optionally, an inorganic compound. The polymeric separator has a microporous structure characterized by a porosity in the range 30% to 95% and pores with an average diameter in the range 0.1 &mgr;m to 5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an organic electrolyte electrochemical cell comprising at least one electrochemical couple made up of two electrodes sandwiching a solid film of porous polymer containing said electrolyte, each electrode comprising a porous layer containing an electrochemically active material and a binder, the method comprising the following steps:

Abstract: A cell includes a separator comprising a felt type macroporous matrix the pores of which contain a PVDF type microporous polymer. The microporous polymer is placed in the macroporous matrix by impregnating the matrix with a solution containing the polymer. A method of preparing the cell includes the following steps: a bonding solution is produced containing a polymer, a solvent and a non-solvent; the macroporous matrix is impregnated with the solution; the impregnated macroporous matrix and the two electrodes are brought into contact to form an electrode assembly; and the assembly is dried to eliminate the solvent and the non-solvent.

Abstract: An electricity power supply circuit for an external appliance whose consumption varies over time. The circuit comprises an electrochemical cell, a supercapacitor serving as a source of electricity for said appliance, and a chopper voltage converter between the cell and the supercapacitor, the converter serving to charge the supercapacitor at constant current while monitoring the voltage across the terminals thereof. The circuit is applicable to cellular radiotelephones.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrode for an electric cell or supercapacitor containing a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte, the electrode comprising an electronically conducting porous first layer including at least one first face covered with a microporous second layer constituted by a polymeric material, the electrode being characterized in that said second layer is produced by coagulation of said polymer from a solution of said polymer impregnating said first face.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a supercapacitor electrode containing a metal oxide and carbon-containing material, the method including the following steps: starting from a salt of said metal dissolved in an aqueous solution of a strong base, the hydroxide of the metal is precipitated in the form of a gel by adding an alcohol; the precipitate of the hydroxide of the metal is washed and dried; active carbon is added to the precipitated hydroxide of the metal to consitute a first mixture; the first mixture is subject to heat treatment in order to transform the hydroxide into an oxide, and a mixture of metal oxide and of active carbon is obtained which constitutes the active material of the electrode; and a binder is added to the active material to form a paste which is put into the form of an electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of charging a carbon-anode lithium storage cell, which method comprises a first step in which a constant current is imposed and during which the voltage across said storage cell is allowed to increase until it reaches a reference value, and then a second step in which said reference voltage is imposed and said current decreases. The method of the invention is characterized in that, at each instant, said reference voltage is equal to the sum of the end-of-charge voltage of the cell plus the product of the current multiplied by the ohmic resistance of the cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for recognizing and managing electrochemical cells connected to an application, the system being characterized by the fact that it comprises an electronic memory associated with the cells, and circuitry for reading from the memory and writing in the memory, the read write circuitry being placed in the application, the electronic memory comprising a non-erasable first portion containing information enabling the cell to be identified, and a second portion which may be modified or erased, and which contains information about the operation and the state of the cell.

Abstract: A system for monitoring aging of a battery comprising a plurality of cells connected in series and able to be fully discharged comprises a discharger which discharges one of the previously charged cells at a time to an end of discharge value. The quantity of electricity supplied by each discharged cell during discharging is measured. The quantity of electricity supplied by at least one discharged cell is processed to detect excessive aging of the battery. Excessive aging of the battery results in a residual capacity which is less than a fraction of the nominal capacity of the battery.

Abstract: The state of charge of an electrochemical storage unit is measured by applying to the electrochemical storage unit (32), a voltage pulse which is less than its nominal voltage, so as to make the storage unit deliver a high discharge current for a short period of time. The level of the voltage pulse is chosen to cause a discharge current that varies monotonically and preferably approximately linearly as a function of the state of charge of the storage unit, so that the state of charge can be unambiguously estimated by measuring the discharge current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for measuring the state of charge of an electrochemical cell that includes a parasitic resistance. The circuit comprises:means for subjecting the electrochemical cell to a reference voltage less than its nominal voltage, so as to cause it to deliver a discharge current;means for measuring the discharge current and providing an indication of the state of charge of the electrochemical cell; andcorrection means for correcting the reference voltage as a function of the discharge current, the correction means providing a corrected reference voltage that compensates for the parasitic resistance.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrode for an electrochemical primary cell, the electrode comprising a first electron conducting compound and a second ion conducting compound which consists of a sulfur-containing polymer with a repeating unit which contains a polyether, and which can contain an ionizable salt, characterized in that the backbone of said polymer contains bonds which render it capable of reversible oxidation and reduction. Preferably, said repeating unit is a polyether of the following type, containing two sulfur-containing ternary amine terminal groups: ##STR1## where R is a polyether selected from polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and their statistical, alternating, block and graft polyether copolymers.

Abstract: A super-capacitor comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, both made of a p-doped electron conductive polymer, and an electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises an organic redox compound soluble in the electrolyte in an amount of at least 10.sup.-3 mole per liter. The redox potential of the redox compound lies in a non-capacitive region of the electron conductive polymer. The redox compound is reduced in a reversible manner at the negative electrode when the potential of the negative electrode is equal to or less than the redox potential of the redox compound, and the redox compound is oxidized in a reversible manner at the positive electrode when the potential of the positive electrode is equal to or more than the redox potential of the redox compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proton-conducting polymer solid electrolyte comprising a polyether which has two terminal primary amine functions and which is cross-linked by a curing agent having two epoxy functions, an acid being incorporated into said cross-linked polyether.

Abstract: The device for discharging electrochemical cells (20, 21) into a load (Rc) is of the type comprising switching means (25, 26), each cooperating with one of the electrochemical cells (20, 21), these switching means (25, 26) being controlled sequentially by a generator (23) providing N pulse trains (SC1, SC2) offset relative to one another, each electrochemical cell (20, 21) being connected to the load (Rc) for the duration of a pulse, through the switching means (25, 25) with which the cell cooperates. According to the invention, it is characterized in that the pulses of each train (SC1, SC2) have an interval of overlap with the pulses of another train (SC1, SC2), such that the load (Rc) is constantly supplied by at least one of the N electro-chemical cells (20, 21), the overlap interval being very much smaller than the duration of each of said pulses.

Abstract: An electrochemical secondary cell using lithium and a liquid organic electrolyte, the cell being of the cylindrical or prismatic type, wherein its separator comprises a microporous film of polyolefin next to the lithium anode and a film of cross-linked polymer that swells in the electrolyte and which applies pressure against the electrodes. The cross-linked polymer may be an ion conducting polymer including a polyether with two terminal amine functions.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrochemical energy storage devices containing a composition comprising an electrically conductive polymer based on polypyrrole, substituted or otherwise, and ionic groups which comprise an R-sulphate or R-sulphonate group, R denoting an alkyl or aryl radical.The invention also relates to the use of these devices as a supercapacitor or as a rechargeable generator.

Abstract: A cross-linked polymer solid electrolyte of a polyether having amine functions cross-linked by a curing compound including two epoxy functions, and thereby defining a three-dimensional lattice which complexes an ionizable salt of the formula M.sup.+ X.sup.-, where M.sup.+ is selected from Li.sup.+, Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, and NH.sup.4+, and X.sup.- is selected from ClO.sub.4.sup.-, CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup.-, SCN.sup.-, BF.sub.4.sup.-, I.sup.-, Br.sup.-, N.sub.3.sup.-, BH.sub.4.sup.-, CF.sub.3 CO.sub.3.sup.-, AsF.sub.6.sup.-, and PF.sub.6.sup.-, the proportion by weight of salt in the electrolyte lying in the range 5% to 40%.