Abstract: The instant application relates to an X-ray sensitive battery separator for a secondary lithium battery and a method for detecting the position of a separator in a secondary lithium battery. The X-ray sensitive battery separator includes a microporous membrane having an X-ray detectable element therein, thereon, or added thereto. The X-ray detectable element constitutes less than 20% by weight of the microporous membrane or separator. The method for detecting the position of a separator in a battery, cell, stack, jellyroll, can, or the like includes the following steps: (1) providing a battery, cell, stack, jellyroll, or the like including an X-ray sensitive battery separator; (2) subjecting the battery, cell, stack, jellyroll, or the like to X-ray radiation; and (3) thereby detecting the position of said separator in said battery, cell, stack, jellyroll, or the like.

Abstract: A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

Abstract: A multi-layer microporous battery separator which comprises: a high molecular weight polypropylene layer having a melt flow index of ?1.2 measured at layer; a polyethylene layer; and a high molecular weight polypropylene layer having a melt flow index of ?1.2 measured at layer. The resulting microporous battery separator which is formed by a dry stretch process produces the microporous battery separator which has a porosity of ?37% while maintaining a gurley from 13-25 seconds and a thickness of ?25 microns.

Abstract: The instant application relates to an X-ray sensitive battery separator for a secondary lithium battery and a method for detecting the position of a separator in a secondary lithium battery. The X-ray sensitive battery separator includes a microporous membrane having an X-ray detectable element. The X-ray detectable element constitutes less than 0.1% by weight of the microporous membrane. The method for detecting the position of a separator in a battery includes the following steps: (1) providing a battery including an X-ray sensitive battery separator; (2) subjecting the battery to X-ray radiation; and (3) thereby detecting the position of said separator in said battery.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell has a proton conducting membrane (PCM), a catalyst in contact with the PCM, a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst, and a conducting plate in contact with the gas diffusion membrane. The gas diffusion layer comprises a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane may be a microporous membrane, a laminate of a microporous membrane, and a skinned microporous membrane.

Abstract: The instant application relates to an X-ray sensitive battery separator for a secondary lithium battery and a method for detecting the position of a separator in a secondary lithium battery. The X-ray sensitive battery separator includes a microporous membrane having an X-ray detectable element. The X-ray detectable element constitutes less than 0.1% by weight of the microporous membrane. The method for detecting the position of a separator in a battery includes the following steps: (1) providing a battery including an X-ray sensitive battery separator; (2) subjecting the battery to X-ray radiation; and (3) thereby detecting the position of said separator in said battery.

Abstract: A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

Abstract: A battery management system comprises a control circuit and an adapter. The control circuit can be used to generate a control signal according to a status of each cell of a plurality of cells in a battery pack. The adapter receives the control signal and charges the battery pack. An output power of the adapter is adjusted according to the control signal.

Abstract: A multi-layer microporous battery separator which comprises: a high molecular weight polypropylene layer having a melt flow index of ?1.2 measured at layer; a polyethylene layer; and a high molecular weight polypropylene layer having a melt flow index of ?1.2 measured at layer. The resulting microporous battery separator which is formed by a dry stretch process produces the microporous battery separator which has a porosity of ?37% while maintaining a gurley from 13-25 seconds and a thickness of ?25 microns.

Abstract: A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery comprises: a negative electrode adapted to give up electrons during discharge, a positive electrode adapted to gain electrons during discharge, a microporous separator sandwiched between said positive electrode and said negative electrode, an organic electrolyte being contained within said separator and being in electrochemical communication with said positive electrode and said negative electrode, and an oxidative barrier interposed between said separator and said positive electrode, and thereby preventing oxidation of said separator.

Abstract: A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

Abstract: A battery separator comprising: a microporous polyolefin film having from 0.1% to 50% by weight of a block copolymer including a polyetheresteramide monomer. In this battery separator the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polymethylpentene, mixtures thereof, and copolymers thereof. Preferably the polyolefin is polyethylene, mixtures of polyethylene and copolymers of polyethylene, or polypropylene, mixtures of polypropylene and copolymers of polypropylene and has less than or equal to 5% by weight of the block copolymer. In the battery separator of the invention, the microporous film generally has a thickness of no greater than 200 microns, a porosity in the range of 10 to 90%, and a pore size in the range of 0.005 micron to 1.5 micron.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell has a proton conducting membrane (PCM), a catalyst in contact with the PCM, a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst, and a conducting plate in contact with the gas diffusion membrane. The gas diffusion layer comprises a microporous membrane. The microporous membrane may be a microporous membrane, a laminate of a microporous membrane, and a skinned microporous membrane.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell has a proton conducting membrane (PCM), a catalyst in contact with the PCM, a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst, and a conducting plate in contact with the gas diffusion membrane. The gas diffusion layer comprises a microporous membrane.

Abstract: The invention is a method for preventing short circuiting in a lithium ion battery. The battery has an anode made of intercalation compound, a cathode made of an intercalation compound, and a separator having a thickness of 25 microns or less sandwiched between the anode and the cathode. The method includes the steps of rounding or beveling the edge portion of the cathode, so that during charging when the anode and cathode expand and squeeze the separator, the rounded or beveled edge portion of the cathode cannot cut the separator.

Abstract: A battery separator for a lithium-ion secondary battery is a microporbus membrane with an adjuvant. The microporous membrane is made of a thermoplastic, and has a thickness of 25 ?m or less. The adjuvant, in an effective amount, is mixed into the membrane or coated thereon. The adjuvant is a material adapted to reduce or eliminate energy concentrations around the separator. The energy concentration is sufficient to initiate a reaction of the components of the lithium ion secondary battery.

Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery comprises: a negative electrode adapted to give up electrons during discharge, a positive electrode adapted to gain electrons during discharge, a microporous separator sandwiched between said positive electrode and said negative electrode, an organic electrolyte being contained within said separator and being in electrochemical communication with said positive electrode and said negative electrode, and an oxidative barrier interposed between said separator and said positive electrode, and thereby preventing oxidation of said separator.

Abstract: A battery separator for a lithium-ion secondary battery is a microporous membrane with an adjuvant. The microporous membrane is made of a thermoplastic. The adjuvant, in an effective amount, is mixed into the separator or coated thereon. The adjuvant is a material adapted to reduce or eliminate energy concentrations around the separator. The energy concentration is sufficient to initiate a reaction of the components of the lithium ion secondary battery.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a secondary lithium battery. The battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator sandwiched between the electrodes, an electrolyte impregnating the separator and being in a fluid communication with the electrodes, and a metal package adapted for containing the electrodes, the separator, and the electrolyte. One of the electrodes is in thermal contact with the package.