Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator which has a metal substrate and offers a high corrosion resistance and conductivity is provided. The separator has a metal layer on the surface of the substrate made of stainless steel, and a conductive layer on top of the metal layer. The conductive layer is made up of conductive particles which are fusion-bonded to each other and exhibit excellent conductivity. The separator also has a highly corrosion-resisting oxide layer which covers exposed parts of the metal layer, the parts where the metal layer is not covered with the conductive particles. This enables the fuel cell separator to assume high conductivity at an interface between the metal layer and the conductive particles, and high corrosion resistance at the exposed parts of the surface of the metal layer.

Abstract: Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell with long-term stability, small inside resistance and high power density which, at the same time, achieves to maintain excellent oxidation resistance, is capable of performing the process of fabricating the cell in the oxidation atmosphere at high temperatures at 1000° C. or more, and achieves reduction in the material cost. A porous metallic substrate is made of metal in which a coating containing aluminum is formed on the metal surface constituting the porous metallic substrate. Moreover, the porous metallic substrate is made of metal in which a coating, which contains aluminum and a high-conductive oxide generated by the phase reaction between elements contained in the metal constituting the substrate and elements contained in an oxidizer electrode, is formed on the metal surface constituting the porous metallic substrate.

Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell that includes a cell unit formed by arranging an anode and a cathode on a proton exchange membrane and that can stably generate electricity with excellent characteristics. To realize such a fuel cell, wettability of the proton exchange membrane and the electrode catalyst layer is made uniform. In a gas diffusion layer 24 sandwiched between a cathode catalyst layer 22 and a cathode side separator plate 60, water retentivity in a predetermined range from an inlet for an oxidizing gas (air) is adjusted so as to be higher in parts 24A that face oxidant channels 65 than in parts 24B that face ribs 66. This wettability adjustment in the gas diffusion layer 24 is accomplished by setting water repellent material content per unit area in the channel facing parts 24A smaller than in the rib facing parts 24B.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator which has a metal substrate and offers a high corrosion resistance and conductivity is provided. The separator has a metal layer on the surface of the substrate made of stainless steel, and a conductive layer on top of the metal layer. The conductive layer is made up of conductive particles which are fusion-bonded to each other and exhibit excellent conductivity. The separator also has a highly corrosion-resisting oxide layer which covers exposed parts of the metal layer, the parts where the metal layer is not covered with the conductive particles. This enables the fuel cell separator to assume high conductivity at an interface between the metal layer and the conductive particles, and high corrosion resistance at the exposed parts of the surface of the metal layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit having an electrolytic layer with a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer arranged in the stated order on each principal surface is provided. The electrolytic layer is composed of a porous sheet and an electrolytic gel impregnated therein. The electrolytic gel is gel particles made of a proton conductive material. At least one of the catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer has pores that are smaller than the electrolytic gel particles.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane having a cathode and a gas diffusion layer arranged in this order on one surface, and an anode and another gas diffusion layer arranged in this order on its other surface. Recently, various methods of retaining moisture produced near the cathode have been adopted to ensure proper humidification and ion conductivity within the membrane. However, under certain operating conditions, conventional fuel cells allow excessive amounts of moisture to evaporate and escape into the oxidizing gas, causing the membrane to dry up. This fuel cell was designed to solve such problems by including a first and second layer within the cathode-side gas diffusion layer. The first layer is in contact with the cathode, and the second layer, which is thicker than the first layer, is the layer along which oxidizing gas is distributed and through which oxidizing gas is passed.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell having a rolled-up electrode unit housed in a cell can and comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode each formed by coating a surface of a striplike current collector with an electrode material. According to a first embodiment, the current collector of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a plurality of current collector pieces 42 arranged along one direction and a PTC element 5 interconnecting each pair of adjacent current collector pieces 42. Alternatively with a second embodiment, at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a PTC element held between opposed faces of an uncoated portion of the current collector thereof and a base end portion of a current collector tab. The PTC element serves to prevent continuous occurrence of a current in excess of a predetermined value and realizes a high energy density.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell having a rolled-up electrode unit housed in a cell can and comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode each formed by coating a surface of a striplike current collector with an electrode material. According to a first embodiment, the current collector of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a plurality of current collector pieces 42 arranged along one direction and a PTC element 5 interconnecting each pair of adjacent current collector pieces 42. Alternatively with a second embodiment, at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a PTC element held between opposed faces of an uncoated portion of the current collector thereof and a base end portion of a current collector tab. The PTC element serves to prevent continuous occurrence of a current in excess of a predetermined value and realizes a high energy density.

Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell having a rolled-up electrode unit housed in a cell can and comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode each formed by coating a surface of a striplike current collector with an electrode material. According to a first embodiment, the current collector of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a plurality of current collector pieces 42 arranged along one direction and a PTC element 5 interconnecting each pair of adjacent current collector pieces 42. Alternatively with a second embodiment, at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a PTC element held between opposed faces of an uncoated portion of the current collector thereof and a base end portion of a current collector tab. The PTC element serves to prevent continuous occurrence of a current in excess of a predetermined value and realizes a high energy density.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lithium battery is provided. The battery includes electrodes formed of a layer of an active material, the active material being capable of occluding and discharging lithium electrochemically, provided on the surface of a current collector, electrode external terminals for providing electricity to the outside of the battery, and an electrode tab joined at an end thereof to a surface of said current collector and at another end thereof to an electrode external terminal. The electrode tab has a roughened surface at the end joined to the current collector, and the roughened surface is welded to the surface of said current collector. The roughened surface is produced by chemical etching, abrasion by an abrasive, abrasion by ultrasonic waves or by blasting with an abrasive.

Abstract: A lithium battery and method for manufacturing the lithium battery are provided. The battery includes electrodes formed of a layer of an active material, the active material being capable of occluding and discharging lithium electrochemically, provided on the surface of a current collector, electrode external terminals for providing electricity to the outside of the battery, and an electrode tab joined at an end thereof to a surface of said current collector and at another end thereof to an electrode external terminal. The electrode tab has a roughened surface at the end joined to the current collector, and the roughened surface is welded to the surface of said current collector. The roughened surface is produced by chemical etching, abrasion by an abrasive, abrasion by ultrasonic waves or by blasting with an abrasive.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a nonaqueous battery which includes a negative electrode containing lithium or a material capable of occluding and discharging lithium, a positive electrode containing an oxide of manganese or cobalt, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. In the method the nonaqueous electrolyte is treated with an oxide of the metal of the positive electrode before the nonaqueous electrolyte is assembled into the battery. The method provides a nonaqueous electrolyte battery having an improved self-discharge property.

Abstract: An non-sintered nickel electrode of alkaline batteries uses an active material powder which comprises composite particles comprising nickel hydroxide particles or solid solution particles consisting essentially of nickel hydroxide the surface of which is covered with a mixed crystal of cobalt hydroxide and the hydroxide of at least one metal (M) selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, indium and zinc. With this electrode, the cobalt hydroxide, which covers as a component of the mixed crystal the surface of the nickel hydroxide particles, minimally diffuses into them. Alkaline batteries using this electrode as positive electrode can therefore maintain, for a long period of time of charge-discharge cycles, the function of the cobalt hydroxide of increasing the conductivity of the electrode, thereby suppressing decrease in the discharge capacity in the course of charge-discharge cycles.

Abstract: An non-sintered nickel electrode of alkaline batteries uses an active material powder which comprises composite particles comprising nickel hydroxide particles or solid solution particles consisting essentially of nickel hydroxide the surface of which is covered with a mixed crystal of cobalt hydroxide and the hydroxide of at least one metal (M) selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, indium and zinc. With this electrode, the cobalt hydroxide, which covers as a component of the mixed crystal the surface of the nickel hydroxide particles, minimally diffuses into them. Alkaline batteries using this electrode as positive electrode can therefore maintain, for a long period of time of charge-discharge cycles, the function of the cobalt hydroxide of increasing the conductivity of the electrode, thereby suppressing decrease in the discharge capacity in the course of charge-discharge cycles.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode comprises a conductive substrate, a layer of hydrogen-absorbing alloy granules disposed on the conductive substrate and a binder for binding the granules together and to the conductive substrate. A part of the granules is exposed on a surface of the layer on the electrode. The layer may have a predetermined thickness and the granules may include large size granules having a maximum diameter larger than half the thickness of the layer but smaller than the thickness of the layer. The granules may include first granules having a first average diameter and second granules having a second average diameter smaller than the first average diameter; the first granules may be 5 wt % or more but less than 20 wt % of the total weight of the granules.