Abstract: A plurality of positive electrode plates (1) and a plurality of negative electrode plates are alternately stacked with separators interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. Positive electrode leads (11) and negative electrode leads extending outward from the respective electrode plates are respectively stacked on and joined to a positive electrode current collector terminal and a negative electrode current collector terminal to form a stack type battery. An incision (35) is formed in the positive electrode lead (11) so that a current (C11) passing through the lead (11) is branched into a plurality (two) of paths (D1, D2) by the incision (35), and the maximum current density of one (D1) of the plurality of paths (D1, D2) is equal to or greater 1.5 times of the maximum current density of the other path (D2).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery module having a structure in which two or more plate-shaped secondary battery cells (‘battery cells’) are arranged in a lateral direction thereof, wherein the battery cells have electrode terminals arranged in the same direction, plate-shaped electrode terminal connecting members to electrically connect the battery cells to one another are electrically connected to oriented surfaces of the electrode terminals of the battery cells, each of the electrode terminal connecting members is provided at a top and/or bottom thereof with a coupling structure to interconnect electrode terminal connecting members, and at least one end of an insulating joint member coupled in the coupling structure is supported by a module case.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes a plurality of electrode assemblies disposed in a same direction, each electrode assembly of the plurality of electrode assemblies including a first electrode plate with a first electrode non-coating portion, a second electrode plate with a second electrode non-coating portion, and a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, a first collector plate contacting the first electrode non-coating portions of the plurality of electrode assemblies, the first collector plate electrically connecting the first electrode non-coating portions to each other in a parallel connection, and a case configured to contain the plurality of electrode assemblies and the first collector plate.

Abstract: A secondary battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery includes an electrode assembly having a diameter of L2, a can housing the electrode assembly and at least one fixing portion extending from an inner wall of the can toward an outer surface of the electrode assembly. In one embodiment, L1 is defined as the shortest distance between two portions of the inner wall of the can which are substantially directly opposing with respect to each other. Further, the distance of L2 subtracted from L1 may be in the range from about ?0.12 mm to about 0.10 mm.

Abstract: A secondary battery and a method of fabricating the same. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator interposed therebetween, a sealing tape surrounding a circumferential surface of the electrode assembly, a can housing the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly sealing the can. The sealing tape is formed of a heat-shrinkable material. The can is heated at a predetermined after the electrode assembly and the sealing tape are sealed in the can, to shrink the sealing tape.

Abstract: A battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte, and having a surface. A thermoplastic material covers the surface of the battery cell, the thermoplastic material comprising a nitrogen permeability or oxygen permeability that is less than 20 cm3*mm/(m2*day). A cap covers the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery storage structure for acoustic equipment having a housing and a battery-driven speaker disposed on the housing, the battery storage structure for storing a battery in the housing. A case storage section is disposed in the housing and has an open surface. A battery case has an open surface and is stored within the case storage section, wherein the open surface of the battery case is oriented in the same direction as the open surface of the case storage section. At least one connection section connects the battery case and the case storage section, wherein a predetermined gap is formed between an inner bottom surface of the case storage section and an outer bottom surface of the battery case, and between an inner side surface of the case storage section and an outer side surface of the battery case.

Abstract: By combining crimping fixing and laser welding, a collector attached to a substrate of an electrode assembly is fixed to a terminal. A negative electrode terminal 19A has a terminal portion formed on one side of a flange portion, and a cylindrical crimping member 19b on the other side. The cylindrical crimping member 19b is inserted through openings formed in a first insulating member, a sealing plate, a second insulating member, and a negative electrode collector 18a. The cylindrical crimping member 19b is crimped in a diameter-increasing direction, and is mechanically fixed in a countersunk hole 18c of the negative electrode collector 18a. A peripheral portion of a thin-walled portion 19d having a thickness smaller than those of other portions formed at the tip end portion of the cylindrical crimping member 19b is thoroughly adhered and welded by a high energy beam to the edge of the countersunk hole 18c.

Abstract: A battery cover member (10) of the present invention includes a metallic electrode terminal (40), a metallic cover member (30) having through holes (32), and an insulating resin member (50), in which the electrode terminals inserted into the through hole and the cover member are integrally bonded together by the insulating member, wherein at least a sealing area (70) of the electrode terminal that adheres to the insulating member is formed as a columnar shape or an elliptically columnar shape.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes a can having an interior space, an electrode assembly provided in the interior space of the can, and a cap assembly seated on an opening formed in the can to seal the can and electrically connected to the electrode assembly. The cap assembly includes a cap plate connected to the opening to seal the can; a tab plate mounted to one side of the cap plate and connected to the electrode assembly; an insulating plate interposed between the cap plate and the tab plate; an electrode pin passing through the cap plate, the tab plate, and the insulating plate to interconnect these elements; and an insulating gasket interposed between the cap plate and the electrode pin. Also, the electrode pin includes a head portion mounted to one side of the cap plate and formed in multiple stages in an area contacting the insulating gasket; and a column extending from the head portion and passing through the insulating gasket, the cap plate, the insulating plate, and the cap plate.

Abstract: A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; a can accommodating the electrode assembly and an open end; and a cap assembly to seal the open end of the can. A step difference is formed in an upper end of the can. A supporter settled in the step difference is formed in the cap assembly. A bottom protrusion inserted into the can is formed on a bottom surface of the supporter. Therefore, ignition and explosion are prevented by a short between the electrode plates in accordance with the deformation of the electrode assembly so that the stability of the secondary battery may be improved.

Abstract: Positive electrode active materials are formed with various metal oxide coatings. Excellent results have been obtained with the coatings on lithium rich metal oxide active materials. Surprisingly improved results are obtained with metal oxide coatings with lower amounts of coating material. High specific capacity results are obtained even at higher discharge rates.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte battery. The negative electrode of the battery includes a negative electrode active material which can absorb and release lithium ions at a negative electrode potential of 0.4 V (V.S. Li/Li+) or more. The battery satisfying the following equations (I) and (II): 1?Q2/Q1 ??(I) 0.5?C/A?0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell that has high voltage, high capacity and excellent high-temperature cycle characteristics at a low cost. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell according to the present invention is characterized by that: the positive electrode active material is LiNiaCobMncO2 (wherein, a+b+c=1, 0.3?a?0.6, 0.3?b?0.6, 0.1?c?0.4) containing 0.4 mass % or less of a water-soluble alkali; the non-aqueous electrolyte contains LiPF6 as a main electrolyte salt and 0.01 mass % or more and 0.5 mass % or less of LiBF4; and the non-aqueous electrolyte further contains 1.5 to 5 mass % of vinylene carbonate.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, having an active material layer containing a positive electrode active material and an inorganic particle layer provided on a surface of the active material layer. The inorganic particle contains inorganic particles, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and an aqueous binder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of porous structures comprising sulfur in electrochemical cells. Such materials may be useful, for example, in forming one or more electrodes in an electrochemical cell. For example, the systems and methods described herein may comprise the use of an electrode comprising a conductive porous support structure and a plurality of particles comprising sulfur (e.g., as an active species) substantially contained within the pores of the support structure. The inventors have unexpectedly discovered that, in some embodiments, the sizes of the pores within the porous support structure and/or the sizes of the particles within the pores can be tailored such that the contact between the electrolyte and the sulfur is enhanced, while the electrical conductivity and structural integrity of the electrode are maintained at sufficiently high levels to allow for effective operation of the cell.

Abstract: The characteristics of a power storage device are improved and the lifetime of the power storage device is prolonged. An electrode is manufactured through the following steps: a step of forming an electrode film; a step of forming a damage layer by ion doping on the electrode film; and a step of providing a damage region between the damage layer and a surface. Alkali ion insertion and extraction can be performed by dipping of an electrode, in which the damage layer and the damage region are formed, in a solution containing an alkali ion. A space in which the volume of the electrode is expanded can be secured by the formation of the damage layer and the damage region. Note that another lithium may be used instead of an alkali metal.

Abstract: A microporous lead-containing solid material is produced, which can serve as a carrier for desired materials into a reaction for various desired purposes. For example, if the microporous solid is impregnated with borax it tends to inhibit the growth of unduly large crystals of tetrabasic lead, which is useful in producing batteries having improved functional qualities.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a current collector including Al, and a positive electrode active material layer adhering to the current collector. The positive electrode active material layer includes a composite oxide containing Li and a transition metal element Me. The positive electrode active material layer has, at least on the current collector side, a region in which Al is diffused from the current collector.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material having a lithium-excess lithium-transition metal composite oxide particle represented by the chemical formula Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2. The lithium-excess lithium-transition metal composite oxide particle has an inner portion (1) having a layered structure and a surface adjacent portion (2) having a crystal structure gradually changing from a layered structure to a spinel structure from the inner portion (1) toward the outermost surface portion (3). The layered structure and the spinel structure have an identical ratio of the amount of Mn and the total amount of Ni and Co.

Abstract: The present invention provides a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, including an inner layer including a material being capable of doping and dedoping lithium, a carbon layer outside the inner layer, and an outer layer disposed on the carbon layer and including a material being capable of doping and dedoping lithium. The materials being capable of doping and dedoping lithium included in the inner layer and in the outer layer may be the same or different from each other.

Abstract: An object is to improve characteristics of a power storage device and achieve a long lifetime. In the case where a lithium nitride is used for a negative electrode active material of a power storage device, a plurality of lithium nitride layers with different lithium concentrations are stacked. For example, in the case where a first lithium nitride layer and a second lithium nitride layer are stacked over a current collector, lithium is contained in the first lithium nitride layer at a lower concentration than lithium contained in the second lithium nitride layer. In this case, a concentration of a transition metal of the first lithium nitride layer is higher than a concentration of the transition metal of the second lithium nitride layer. Note that another alkali metal may be used instead of lithium.

Abstract: A method for forming a lithium-ion type battery including the steps of forming, over an at least locally conductive substrate, an insulating layer having a through opening; successively and conformally depositing a stack comprising a cathode collector layer, a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer, this stack having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the insulating layer; forming, over the structure, an anode collector layer filling the space remaining in the opening; and planarizing the structure to expose the upper surface of the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a lithium-ion type battery, including the successive steps of: forming, in a substrate, a trench; successively and conformally depositing a stack including a cathode collector layer, a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer, this stack having a thickness smaller than the depth of the trench; forming, over the structure, an anode collector layer filling the space remaining in the trench; and planarizing the structure to expose the upper surface of the cathode collector layer.

Abstract: In a sealed battery, a metal current carrying block 24A having a protrusion 24b on each of the two opposing faces is placed between positive or negative electrode substrate exposed portions that are divided into two so as to bring the protrusion 24b on each of the two opposing faces into contact with the positive or negative electrode substrate exposed portions that are stacked, a pair of electrodes 31 and 32 for resistance welding are brought into contact with positive electrode collector members 16 or negative electrode collector members that are each placed on the outermost surfaces of the positive electrode substrate exposed portions 14 or negative electrode substrate exposed portions, and resistance welding is performed with pressure applied between the pair of electrodes 31 and 32 for resistance welding.

Abstract: A solid state electrolyte layer includes a sulfide solid state electrolyte material that is manufactured from a raw material composition containing Li2S and P2S5 and is substantially free of bridging sulfur, and a hydrophobic polymer for binding the sulfide solid state electrolyte material.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is prevented from decreasing the remaining capacity and returned capacity at the time of continuous charge at high voltages and high temperatures. The battery has positive and negative electrodes, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing ethylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate as a solvent. The positive electrode contains a positive-electrode active material with the fine particles of a rare earth element compound deposited on its surface in a dispersed state.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte includes an ionic electrolyte salt, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solvent that includes a mixture of siloxane or a silane or a mixture thereof, a sulfone, and a fluorinated ether or fluorinated ester or a mixture thereof, an ionic liquid, or a carbonate.

Abstract: It is possible to rapidly start a fuel cell and perform temperature increase operation and temperature decrease operation at start/stop without providing a separate purge gas supply system. The solid oxide type fuel cell includes a reformer (21) or the reformer (21) together with a water vapor generator (22), and a heating device (24) for heating at least the reformer (21) which are arranged in a housing (20). In the fuel cell operation method, upon start or stop of the operation, the reformer (21) generates a reductive gas containing hydrogen by a partial oxidization reforming reaction or auto-thermal reforming reaction and supplies the reductive gas to the fuel electrode side of the generation cell, thereby increasing or decreasing the temperature of the fuel cell while maintaining the fuel electrode atmosphere in a reduction condition.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a control system for regulating the power produced by the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack adapted to produce electrical power from a feed. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system includes a fuel processing assembly adapted to produce the feed for the fuel cell stack from one or more feedstocks. The control system regulates the power produced by the fuel cell system to prevent damage to, and/or failure of, the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for generating hydrogen for an on-board device comprising a system for regenerating the material consumed by the generation of hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device with a load following function for changing a fuel supply rate in response to a load defined as a required power determined by demand power.

Abstract: The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device with a load following function for changing a fuel supply rate in response to a load defined as a required power determined by demand power.

Abstract: The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device (1), having a fuel cell module (2) furnished with a plurality of fuel cell units (16); fuel supply means (38) for supplying fuel; generating oxidant gas supply means (45) for supplying oxidant gas for generation; combustion section placed at one end portion of the solid oxide fuel cell units for combusting fuel; and control means for controlling the fuel supply means and generating oxidant gas supply means, and executing the startup mode operation for raising the solid oxide fuel cell units to a predetermined temperature, as well as the generating mode operation for outputting electrical power; whereby during the startup mode operation, the control means generates a weak power smaller than the generation startup power, raising the temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell units by the heat of generation.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system that includes a reformer adapted to reform a feedstock, and a fuel cell that uses fuel gas contained in the reformed gas produced by this reformer to generate electricity, aims to improve generation efficiency in the fuel cell through a relatively simple feature. The fuel cell system includes a feedstock supplying section such as a pressurizing pump for supplying the feedstock to the reformer; a burner adapted to combust the fuel gas that was not consumed by electricity generation in the fuel cell, and heat the reformer; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the burner; and a control unit adapted to control on the basis of the sensed temperature the feed rate of the feedstock supplied from the feedstock supplying section to the reformer, so as to maintain the temperature of the reformer within a prescribed temperature range optimized for reforming the feedstock.

Abstract: For implementing a stop control which extracts a current from a fuel cell and consumes a cathode side oxygen at a system stop, the current extraction from the fuel cell is ended in a state that a certain quantity of oxygen smaller than when the current extraction is started remains on a cathode side of the fuel cell. With this, the hydrogen movement to the cathode side after the system stop can be effectively suppressed and thereby a cathode internal hydrogen concentration at the system start can be kept low, thus making it possible to properly process the cathode side hydrogen at the system start.

Abstract: A method for preventing a fuel cell voltage potential reversal including determining a relationship between the cell resistance and the current of a fuel cell stack at which a fuel cell voltage potential reversal will occur, operating the fuel cell stack according to a power demand requested, and determining the maximum cell resistance of the fuel cells in the stack. If the maximum cell resistance exceeds a threshold value for the current at which the fuel cell stack is being operated, the operation of the fuel cell stack is restricted to prevent the fuel cell voltage potential from reversing.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the maximum allowed stack current limit rate for a fuel cell stack that considers cell voltage. The method includes estimating a fuel cell stack voltage based on a fuel cell resistance value, stack variables and a current request signal. The fuel cell resistance value can be modeled based on stack temperature and stack relative humidity. The stack variables can include exchange current density and mass transfer coefficient. The method then uses the estimated fuel cell voltage and a look-up table based on estimated voltage to determine a current rate limit value for changing the current of the stack. The method then adds the current rate limit value and the current request signal to obtain the current set-point.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell is described. The method includes controlling the temperature of the anode plate and the temperature of the cathode plate to obtain a temperature difference of at least about 2° C. between the anode plate and the cathode plate. A fuel cell is also described.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system capable of ensuring responsiveness during acceleration even when a motor with a smaller torque as compared to the related art is used. A control apparatus reduces the revolution speeds of motors of an air compressor, a circulation pump and a cooling pump by a coasting operation, without performing a regenerative control, when a load required from a fuel cell (electrical power required by various motors and auxiliary apparatuses) is being reduced and a travel speed is equal to or higher than a set speed. With such a configuration, even when a driver later reaccelerates a vehicle by, for example, pressing down an accelerator, required acceleration force is smaller as compared to the related art, and thus a motor with a small torque can be employed.

Abstract: A ceramic baffle is configured to place a load on a stack of electrochemical cells and direct a reactant feed flow stream to the stack.

Abstract: A separator of a fuel cell includes a sandwiching section, first and second bridges connected to the sandwiching section, a fuel gas supply section connected to the first bridge and an oxygen-containing gas supply section connected to the second bridge. The sandwiching section sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly, and has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel separately. In the sandwiching section, a plurality of first projections are arranged in a zigzag pattern in a direction in which the first bridge extends, and the first projections at least protrude toward the fuel gas channel to contact an anode.

Abstract: A method to use a novel structured metal-ceramic composite powder to improve the surface electrical conductivity of corrosion resistant metal substrates by thermal spraying the structured powder onto a surface of a metallic substrate is disclosed. The structured powder has a metal core and is wholly or partially surrounded by an electrically conductive ceramic material such as a metal nitride material. The metal cores may have the ceramic material formed on them prior to a thermal spraying process performed in an inert atmosphere, or the thermal spraying may be performed in a reactive atmosphere such that the ceramic coating forms on the cores during the thermal spraying process and/or after deposition. The metal cores will bond conductive ceramic material onto the surface of the substrate through the thermal spray process.

Abstract: A fuel cell is equipped with a laminated body having a plurality of single cells and end plates clamping the single cells, and with an insulating body disposed at a lateral surface portion of the laminated body. The insulating body has a protrusion protruding to the laminated body side, and the laminated body is fastened with the protrusion clamped.

Abstract: A nano-patterned membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is provided, which includes an electrolyte membrane layer having a three-dimensional close-packed array of hexagonal-pyramids, a first porous electrode layer, disposed on a top surface of the electrolyte membrane layer that conforms to a top surface-shape of the three-dimensional close-packed array of hexagonal-pyramids, and a second porous electrode layer disposed on a bottom surface of said electrolyte membrane layer that conforms to a bottom surface-shape of the three-dimensional close-packed array of hexagonal-pyramids, where a freestanding nano-patterned MEA is provided.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, suppressing the stay of condensed water in a gas diffusion layer and improving gas diffusion performance. The bipolar plate supplies reaction gas to a power generating surface and has a channel for the reaction gas. The channel is formed with ribs which are made of a conductive material laminate. The ribs have a porous structure and water repellency. The water repellency of the ribs is set lower than that of an adjacent gas diffusion layer. Thus, the condensed water can be moved from the gas diffusion layer to the ribs in an area where the gas diffusion layer and the ribs are in contact with each other. Therefore, deterioration of the gas diffusion performance due to the stay of the condensed water in the gas diffusion layer can be prevented.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell that influences less system efficiency of the fuel cell and reduces the amount of emission of hazardous materials for a long period of time. The membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode including a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte; a cathode including a catalyst and a solid polymer electrolyte; a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; an anode gas diffusion layer; and a cathode gas diffusion layer, a set composed of the anode, the cathode and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane being interposed between the anode gas diffusion layer and the cathode gas diffusion layer, wherein the cathode gas diffusion layer contains an oxidation catalyst and a water-repellent resin.

Abstract: The membrane-electrode-assembly of the present invention has a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of catalyst layers opposed to each other to interpose the polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, and an anode gas diffusion layer and a cathode gas diffusion layer opposed to each other to interpose the polymer electrolyte membrane and the paired catalyst layers therebetween, wherein a porosity of the anode gas diffusion layer is 60% or less, a porosity of the cathode gas diffusion layer is larger than that of the anode gas diffusion layer, and the anode gas diffusion layer is made of a porous member mainly including conductive particles and a polymeric resin. In this manner, the power generating performance is further improved.

Abstract: A direct oxidation fuel cell including at least one cell, the cell being a stacked body including: a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; an anode-side separator having a fuel flow channel for supplying a liquid fuel to the anode; and a cathode-side separator having an oxidant flow channel for supplying an oxidant to the cathode, in which the anode-side separator includes a first region including an upstream half of the fuel flow channel and a second region including a downstream half of the fuel flow channel, the anode includes an anode catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane and an anode diffusion layer in contact with the anode-side separator, the anode catalyst layer includes an anode catalyst and a polymer electrolyte, the anode catalyst layer includes an upstream-side region facing the first region and a downstream-side region facing the second region, and the content of the polymer electrolyte

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is provided having a ceria-based bulk electrolyte layer, an interface layer, an anode and a cathode, where the ceria-based bulk electrolyte layer is disposed between the cathode and the interface layer, and the interface layer is disposed between the ceria-based bulk electrolyte layer and the anode. Use of the ceria-based bulk electrolyte layer and an interface layer between the bulk layer and the anode takes advantage of the properties of a Ceria-based electrolyte without reducing to Ce (III) when operating the SOFC at the prescribed temperatures. The ceria-based bulk electrolyte layer has a thickness in a range of 10 nm to 500 um, and the interface layer has a thickness in a range of 1 angstrom to 50 nm.