Abstract: The described technology relates generally to a high capacity battery module. The battery module according to an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries configured to comprise electrode terminals externally protruded and identification units disposed on the peripheries of the electrode terminals, a bus bar configured to electrically connect the electrode terminals of the plurality of neighboring rechargeable batteries, and a protection member disposed between the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the bus bars.

Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery supports each having a face orthogonal to the stacking direction, and a side face, the battery supports each containing a plurality of cells and being made of an insulating material, a coupling part that is located between the face of one battery support and the face of another adjacent battery support, and contracts in the stacking direction upon stacking the battery supports to bring the faces of the battery supports into intimate contact, a group of cells including the battery supports stacked with the coupling part being placed between the battery supports, a base plate, and first and second regulating plates placed facing each other in a standing position on the base plate, the first and second regulating plates sandwiching the group of cells arranged between the first and second regulating plates and stacked with the coupling part being contracted.

Abstract: An electric storage battery including a jelly roll type electrode assembly having a mandrel. The mandrel includes a positive portion, negative portion and removable portion. The mandrel has two faces with grooves dimensioned to accommodate positive and negative feedthrough pins. Electrodes are welded to the mandrel using an ultrasonic weld to the face on which the electrodes are attached. An additional weld is made to at least one ultrasonic weld using a through-mandrel laser weld, incident on the opposite face from which the ultrasonic weld. The laser melts the mandrel such that molten mandrel material fills the area under the foil at the area of the ultrasonic weld, the surface area of the foil being significantly increased by knurls formed by ultrasonic welding. Electrodes are wrapped around the mandrel using the removable portion to wind the mandrel. The mandrel allows tighter wrapping of the jelly roll assembly increasing battery miniaturization.

Abstract: A secondary battery that can easily adjust power by disposing a plurality of jelly-rolls for the secondary battery in a case and connecting electrodes of the jelly-rolls in either electrical series or in electrical parallel, with corresponding welds. The secondary battery is constructed with a plurality of jelly-rolls each having a first electrode tab and a second electrode tab protruding from the jelly-roll, a case having an opening accommodating insertion of the jelly-rolls, and a cap plate sealing the opening of the case and bearing electrode terminals on a bottom side of the cap plate facing the jelly-rolls. The first electrode tabs protruding from the jelly-rolls are electrically connected to the electrode terminals and the second electrode tabs protruding from the jelly-rolls are electrically connected to the cap plate.

Abstract: An electrode is provided with a metal terminal extending from a battery module main body, a bolt which has an expanded section configuring a retaining section at a rear end portion and penetrates the metal terminal upward, and an insulating body which insulates the metal terminal and the battery module case one from the other. The insulating body is provided with a drop preventing section which abuts at least a lower surface of the expanded section of the bolt and prevents the bolt from dropping from the metal terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plate-shaped secondary battery configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in a battery case in a sealed state by thermal welding, wherein a protuberance is formed at an outer edge sealed portion of an electrode assembly receiving part of the battery case such that the protuberance protrudes upward and downward from the sealed portion, and the protuberance extends along the outer edge of the electrode assembly receiving part continuously in a curved line or in a straight line in a state in which the protuberance is adjacent to the electrode assembly receiving part.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first conductive substrate (e.g., a metal foil) having a first surface; a plurality of conductive stalks (e.g., carbon nano-tubes) extending from the first surface; an electrically insulating coating (e.g., sulfur) about the carbon stalks; a second conductive substrate (e.g., a lithium oxide foil); and an electrolyte (e.g., a polymer electrolyte) disposed between the first surface of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate. In various embodiments: the sulfur is disposed at a thickness of about 3 nanometers+/?1 nanometer; the stalks are at a density such that a gap between them as is between 2 and 200 diameters of an ion transported through the electrolyte; and there is a separator layer within the electrolyte having a porosity amenable to passage by such ions. Also detailed is a method for making the foil with the coated carbon nano-tubes.

Abstract: A bipolar secondary battery current collector is a bipolar secondary battery current collector having electrical conductivity. The current collector has an expansion section that expands in a thickness direction of the current collector at a temperature equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature.

Abstract: Selenium or selenium-containing compounds may be used as electroactive materials in electrodes or electrochemical devices. The selenium or selenium-containing compound is mixed with a carbon material.

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: A cathode active material having a composition represented by the following formula (1) LiMn1?xMxP1?ySiyO4??(1) wherein M is at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sn, Y and Al; x is within a range of 0<x?0.5; and y is within a range of 0<y?0.5.

Abstract: A composite of silicon and tin is prepared as a negative electrode composition with increased lithium insertion capacity and durability for use with a metal current collector in cells of a lithium-ion battery or a lithium-sulfur battery. This negative electrode material is formed such that the silicon is present as a distinct amorphous phase in a matrix phase of crystalline tin. While the tin phase provides electron conductivity, both phases accommodate the insertion and extraction of lithium in the operation of the cell and both phases interact in minimizing mechanical damage to the material as the cell experiences repeated charge and discharge cycles. In general, roughly equal atomic proportions of the tin and silicon are used in forming the phase separated composite electrode material.

Abstract: A negative active material, a method of preparing the negative active material and a lithium ion battery comprising the negative active material are provided. The negative active material may comprise: a core (1) composed of a carbon material; and a plurality of composite materials (2) attached to a surface of the core (1), each of which may comprise a first material (21) and a second material (22) coated on the first material (21), in which the first material (21) may be at least one selected from the elements that may form an alloy with lithium, and the second material (22) may be at least one selected from the group consisting of transition metal oxides, transition metal nitrides and transition metal sulfides.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material, a method of preparing the negative electrode active material and a lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode active material are disclosed. A negative electrode active material includes a lithium titanate, wherein a portion of lithium of the lithium titanate is substituted by at least one selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba, a mixture thereof and an alloy thereof, and thus a lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode active material may improve high-rate discharge characteristics.

Abstract: Highly dispersed lithium titanate crystal structures having a thickness of few atomic layers level and the two-dimensional surface in a plate form are supported on carbon nanofiber (CNF). The lithium titanate crystal structure precursors and CNF that supports these are prepared by a mechanochemical reaction that applies sheer stress and centrifugal force to a reactant in a rotating reactor. The mass ratio between the lithium titanate crystal structure and carbon nanofiber is preferably between 75:25 and 85:15. The carbon nanofiber preferably has an external diameter of 10-30 nm and an external specific surface area of 150-350 cm2/g. This composite is mixed with a binder and then molded to obtain an electrode, and this electrode is employed for an electrochemical element.

Abstract: A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method of manufacturing the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the negative active material. The negative active material includes carbon particles having interplanar spacing (d002) ranging from about 0.34 nm to about 0.50 nm at a 002 plane, measured by X-ray diffraction using CuK?, and nitrogen on the surface of the carbon particles.

Abstract: A cathode includes a carbon material having a surface, the surface having a first thin layer of an inert material and a first catalyst overlaying the first thin layer, the first catalyst including metal or metal oxide nanoparticles, wherein the cathode is configured for use as the cathode of a lithium-air battery.

Abstract: A lithium battery electrode body includes: a collector electrode; and an electrode mixture layer in which a plurality of first particles including electrode active material and a plurality of second particles including solid electrolyte are mixed, wherein the electrode mixture layer is provided on one of sides of the collector electrode, and an average particle size of the plurality of second particles is smaller than an average particle size of the plurality of first particles.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material including mesoporous silica having mesopores filled with a metal and a lithium battery including the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anode for a secondary battery, comprising: a wire-type current collector; a metal-based anode active material layer formed on the surface of the wire-type current collector, and comprising a metallic active material; and a graphite-based anode composite layer formed on the surface of the metal-based anode active material layer, and comprising a mixture of a graphite-based active material, a conductive material and a first polymer binder. The anode of the present invention has the metal-based anode active material layer together with the graphite-based anode composite layer acting as a buffer, thereby preventing the metallic active material from being isolated or released even if excessive volume expansion occurs during charging and discharging processes. Also, the graphite-based anode composite layer has good affinity with an organic electrolyte solution to compensate the defect of the metallic active material having low affinity with an organic electrolyte solution.

Abstract: The lithium secondary battery of the present invention is a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt, wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte includes, as a solvent, an ionic liquid containing a bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anion as an anion component; and the separator is a nonwoven fabric comprising at least one member selected from an organic fiber and a glass fiber and has a porosity of 70% or more.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein an open circuit voltage in a completely charged state per pair of a positive electrode and a negative electrode is from 4.25 to 6.

Abstract: Functional electrolyte solvents include compounds having at least one aromatic ring with 2, 3, 4 or 5 substituents, at least one of which is a substituted or unsubstituted methoxy group, at least one of which is a tert-butyl group and at least one of which is a substituted or unsubstituted polyether or poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) group bonded through oxygen to the aromatic ring, are provided.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive. The additive includes a gamma butyrolactone compound substituted with at least one F atom at the ?-position.

Abstract: There is provided a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte liquid and a separator, that is subjected to a constant-current constant-voltage charge with a stop voltage of more than 4.25V before its use. The lithium secondary battery uses the nonaqueous electrolyte liquid having contained 0.1 to 5 mass % of a phosphonoacetate compound represented by the following general formula (1), and having contained 0.1 to 5 mass % of 1,3-dioxane. In General Formula (1), each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently hydrocarbon groups having a carbon number of 1 to 12 with or without substituent of a halogen atom, and n is 0 to 6 integers.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack assembly is disclosed comprising a member made of an elastic and electrically conductive material placed between a bus bar and a starter plate. The elastic, electrically conducting member covers at least a peripheral region along a perimeter of a recess housing the bus bar to distribute compression forces over an interface area between the bus bar and an insulator end plate, thereby reducing shear stresses in the starter plate when the stack is compressed. An elastic pad also may be arranged in the recess and between the insulator end plate and the bus bar.

Abstract: A battery has a cathode and an anode, between which a solid electrolyte is disposed. The battery has a process gas feed on the cathode side. The battery is characterized in that an electrically conductive supporting body is disposed on the cathode surface. At least one chamber connected to the anode has a porous, oxidizable material and a redox pair that is gaseous at an operating temperature of the battery.

Abstract: Process for operating a high temperature fuel cell stack by the steps of: connecting the fuel cell stack in parallel to a power supply unit at a predefined temperature and/or voltage of the fuel cell stack, applying a voltage from the power supply unit of between 700 to 1500 mV per fuel cell across the fuel cell stack irrespective of the electro-motive force of the fuel cell stack, heating up the fuel cell stack from the predefined temperature to operation temperature while maintaining the voltage per fuel cell the power supply unit, maintaining the fuel cell stack at or above a predetermined operation temperature and/or above a predetermined voltage until the fuel cell stack is to be put into operation, supplying fuel to the fuel cell stack, and disconnecting the power supply unit followed by connecting a power-requiring load to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: This invention provides a redox fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane; means for supplying a fuel to the anode region of the cell; means for supplying an oxidant to the cathode region of the cell; means for providing an electrical circuit between the anode and the cathode; a non-volatile catholyte solution flowing fluid communication with the cathode, the catholyte solution comprising a polyoxometallate redox couple being at least partially reduced at the cathode in operation of the cell, and at least partially re-generated by reaction with the oxidant after such reduction at the cathode, the catholyte solution comprising at least about 0.075M of the said polyoxometallate.

Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus including: a first desulfurizer; a second desulfurizer; a reformer to generate a hydrogen-containing reformed gas from a raw material gas from which sulfur has been removed by at least one of the first desulfurizer and the second desulfurizer; and a recycle passage through which a part of the reformed gas generated by the reformer is mixed into the raw material gas to be supplied to the second desulfurizer. After installation or maintenance of the hydrogen generation apparatus, the raw material gas is supplied to the reformer through the first desulfurizer until a catalyst in the second desulfurizer is activated by a mixed gas of the reformed gas supplied through the recycle passage and the raw material gas, and after the catalyst in the second desulfurizer is activated, the raw material gas is supplied to the reformer through the second desulfurizer.

Abstract: Methods for starting a fuel cell system are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing hydrogen to an inlet of an anode of the fuel cell pressurizing the anode to a pressure; determining whether a blocked cell condition exists; if a blocked cell condition exists, if no blocked cell condition exists, initiating a normal start sequence, alternately reducing the pressure of the anode and increasing the pressure of the anode until an exit condition exists, the exit condition selected from a voltage of the fuel cell being stable, or a temperature of the fuel cell being greater than about 0° C., or both, and when the exit condition exists, initiating the normal start sequence.

Abstract: An offset control arrangement is disclosed for controlling voltage values in a fuel cell system including an anode side, a cathode side and an electrolyte between the anode side and the cathode side. The fuel cell system can include at least one fuel cell array of at least two fuel cells, and at least one load for performing load function. The offset control arrangement can include voltage monitoring for monitoring an input voltage of the load, a control processor for processing the monitoring information, and at least one offsetting source in serial connection to the at least one fuel cell array, with a power level of the offsetting source being substantially low compared to the power level of the fuel cell array, and the offsetting source being arranged to perform at least unidirectional shifting of fuel cell array output voltage.

Abstract: An arrangement for improved operability of a high temperature fuel cell device at higher fuel cell voltage values than nominal voltage values, each fuel cell in the fuel cell device including an anode side, a cathode side, and an electrolyte between the anode side and the cathode side, and the arrangement includes means for determining temperature information of the fuel cells and main power converter for loading fuels cells at least up to their rated power level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system having high-temperature fuel cells, for example SOFCs. A reformer connected upstream of the high-temperature fuel cells at the anode side, a start burner for the preheating of the cathodes of the high-temperature fuel cells, an afterburner and an operating heat exchanger are present at the system in accordance with the invention. Oxidizing agent can be supplied to the high-temperature fuel cell cathodes through the operating heat exchanger. In addition, it can be heated with the exhaust gas of the high-temperature fuel cells. Exhaust gas conducted through the operating heat exchanger can flow in an exhaust gas line together with environmental air and can then be conducted away into the environment as cooled exhaust gas.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a plurality of stacked cells each having an ionic conductive electrolyte membrane, an anode placed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode placed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, and a conductive separator on which a first refrigerant channel for flow of a refrigerant is formed in center part thereof. The separator comprises penetration holes constituting a manifold which extend in a direction of stacking of the plurality of cells and through which the refrigerant flows and second refrigerant channels for communication between the penetration holes and the first refrigerant channel. A plurality of protrusions that protrude into the penetration holes from parts of wall surfaces of the penetration holes that are located peripherally in connection parts between the penetration holes and the second refrigerant channels.

Abstract: This disclosure related to polymer electrolyte member fuel cells and components thereof.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack is disclosed. The SOFC may include an oxidizing agent flow path fluidly connecting a first oxidizing agent chamber and a second oxidizing agent chamber. The first oxidizing agent chamber may include an oxidizing agent supply pipe through which an oxidizing agent is flowed from an outside thereof. The second oxidizing agent chamber may perform a reduction reaction on the oxidizing agent received from the first oxidizing agent chamber. In operation, a fluid flows between the first and second oxidizing agent chambers, and may be provided to an outside of the second oxidizing agent chamber. Further, the structure of the flow path may allow heat to be conducted from the second oxidizing agent chamber.

Abstract: A gasket for a manifold seal for a fuel cell system includes a first layer of fibrous ceramic material having a first compressibility, a second layer of fibrous ceramic material having a second compressibility and a third layer of fibrous ceramic material having third compressibility. The third layer of fibrous ceramic material is positioned between and engaged with the first layer of fibrous ceramic material and the second layer of fibrous ceramic material. The third compressibility is less than the first compressibility and less than the second compressibility.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided in which a plurality of single cells each including a membrane electrode assembly are stacked in a stacking direction. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of electrical insulation members each connected to an outer peripheral portion of a corresponding one of the membrane electrode assemblies. The fuel cell stack further includes a first displacement absorbing member disposed between each insulation member and an adjacent insulation member.

Abstract: In a carbon black (CB)/PTFE composite porous sheet that can be used as a gas diffusion layer in an electrochemical device in applications involving electro chemical reaction such as a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, electrolysis, gas sensor and the like, wrinkle or breakage may be produced due to its flexibility. A method is provided which makes it possible to easily handle this sheet that is difficult to handle, without giving rise to wrinkle or breakage. The present invention relates to a method for laminating the composite sheet on MEA, comprising the steps of: providing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA); providing a composite sheet comprising functional powder and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); providing a release film; superimposing the composite sheet on the release film and pressing them at normal temperature; superimposing the composite sheet having the release film pressed at normal temperature thereto on MEA and hot-pressing them; and separating the release film from the composite sheet.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator pair has first and second separators having front and back surfaces, a corrugated plate portion shaped in a wave form at the central portion, and a flat plate portion formed in the peripheral portion and surrounding the corrugated plate portion, wherein the corrugated plate portion of the front surface constitutes a reaction gas channel and the corrugated plate portion of the back surface constitutes a coolant channel. The back surfaces of the first and second separators are facing each other. The flat plate portions of the first and second separators are arranged on top of each other so as to be in contact with each other. The flat plate portion of the second separator protrudes toward the outside beyond the flat plate portion of the first separator.

Abstract: Provided are a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells, and a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell including the same. More specifically, provided is a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells including a hydrocarbon-based cation exchange resin having hydrogen ion conductivity and fibrous nanoparticles having a hydrophilic group. By using the fibrous nanoparticles having a hydrophilic group in conjunction with the hydrocarbon-based cation exchange resin having hydrogen ion conductivity, it is possible to obtain a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells that exhibits improved gas barrier properties and long-term resistance, without causing deterioration in performance of fuel cells, and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: Proton exchange membrane compositions having high proton conductivity are provided. The proton exchange membrane composition includes a hyper-branched polymer, wherein the hyper-branched polymer has a DB (degree of branching) of more than 0.5. A polymer with high ion conductivity is distributed uniformly over the hyper-branched polymer, wherein the hyper-branched polymer has a weight ratio equal to or more than 5 wt %, based on the solid content of the proton exchange membrane composition.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte composition of a sulfonated block copolymer (A) having a hydrophilic segment with a sulfonic acid group and a hydrophobic segment with no sulfonic acid group, each segment having an aromatic ring is its main chain, and an aromatic polymer (B) having no sulfonic acid group with a structural unit that is identical to the structural unit contained in the hydrophobic segment of the sulfonated block copolymer is provided. The ion-exchange capacity of the composition can be in a range of 0.5 mmol/g to 2.9 mmol/g. Electrolyte membranes, membrane/electrolyte assemblies, and electrolyte fuel cells utilizing the polymer electrolyte composition are also provide.

Abstract: On each of upper and lower surfaces of a flat-plate-like support substrate having a longitudinal direction and having fuel gas flow channels formed therein, a plurality of power-generating elements A connected electrically in series are disposed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. On each of the upper and lower surfaces of the support substrate, a plurality of recesses are formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. Each of the recesses is a rectangular-parallelepiped-like depression defined by four side walls arranged in a circumferentially closed manner and a bottom wall. That is, in the support substrate, frames are formed to surround the respective recesses. Fuel electrodes of the power-generating elements A are embedded in the respective recesses.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell. The solid oxide fuel cell includes a unit cell, which includes a first electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer that are sequentially laminated from an inner region to an outer region of the unit cell; and an interconnector electrically connected to the first electrode layer, exposed to outside of the unit cell, and electrically insulated from the second electrode. The solid oxide fuel cell further includes a first porous current collector on an outer surface of the second electrode layer; a first adhesive layer interposed between the first porous current collector and the second electrode layer; a second porous current collector on an outer surface of the interconnector; and a second adhesive layer interposed between the second porous current collector and the interconnector.

Abstract: A partly oxidized substrate is disclosed. According to one aspect, the substrate is formed by subjecting a substrate made of a porous metal or metal alloy including particles of at least one metal or metal alloy bound by sintering. The substrate includes a first main surface and a second main surface. The porosity of the substrate gradually changes from the first main surface to the second main surface. The substrate is partially oxidized by an oxidizing gas such as oxygen and/or air. A method for preparing the substrate and high temperature electrolyzer (THE) cell including the substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a fuel cell component includes the steps of providing a mask having a plurality of radiation transparent apertures, a radiation-sensitive material having a sensitivity to the plurality of radiation beams, and a flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is disposed on the flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is then exposed to the plurality of radiation beams through the radiation transparent apertures in the mask to form a diffusion medium layer with a micro-truss structure.

Abstract: A photomask used for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a substrate; and one or more layers disposed over the substrate, the one or more layers defining a full field area and a reduced field area with a primary pattern being formed in the reduced field area, wherein the full field area is defined by a width of at least 90 mm and a length of at least 100 mm, and the reduced field area is defined by a width within the range of approximately 20-80 mm and a length within the range of approximately 20-80 mm.

Abstract: A photomask used for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a substrate; and one or more layers disposed over the substrate, the one or more layers defining a full field area and a reduced field area with a primary pattern being formed in the reduced field area, wherein the full field area is defined by a width of at least 90 mm and a length of at least 100 mm, and the reduced field area is defined by a width within the range of approximately 20-80 mm and a length within the range of approximately 20-80 mm, a center point of the primary patterned area being spaced a predetermined distance from a center point of the photomask so that the primary patterned area avoids photomask defects.