Hydrogen Storage Material Is Active Material Patents (Class 429/218.2)
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Patent number: 6673483Abstract: An aqueous alkaline electrolyte Ni-MH sealed secondary storage cell includes a bundle of electrodes placed in a container and made up of a plurality of negative and positive electrodes. The space separating the negative electrode from the positive electrode contains a separator. The separator is permeable to gases and a recombination device is placed between two adjacent negative electrodes and has a wetting angle of at least 45°, an average pore section of at least 103 &mgr;m2, and a thickness from 0.2 mm to 5 mm.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: AlcatelInventors: Christian Jordy, Thierry Berlureau, Jean-Louis Liska
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Publication number: 20040002004Abstract: An active composition for fabricating positive electrodes, comprising a nickel hydroxide material, and a misch metal alloy. A nickel positive electrode and an electrochemical cell using this active composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar
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Patent number: 6660431Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage alloy electrode composed of a hydrogen storage alloy having a CaCu5 region and a Ce2Ni7 region in the crystal structure and satisfies the relational formula: p:q=1:(4+a), where p is the sum of the mole fraction of an element occupying the Ca site of the CaCu5 region and the mole fraction of an element occupying the Ce site of the Ce2Ni7 region, q is the sum of the mole fraction of an element occupying the Cu site of the CaCu5 region and the mole fraction of an element occupying the Ni site of the Ce2Ni7 region, and −0.2≦a≦0.4. Accordingly, although the hydrogen storage alloy electrode contains a little or no Co, it is possible to obtain an electrode having little deterioration due to pulverization of the alloy and a high capacity.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sou Kuranaka, Akihiro Maeda, Yoshio Moriwaki
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Patent number: 6656640Abstract: The invention provides an electrode comprising a porous three-dimensional conductive support containing an electrochemically active material, said support having at least a first edge connected to a connection piece and at least a second edge substantially parallel to said first edge, and means for preventing said active material disposed along said second edge from moving. Said means is selected from: a piece having a U-shaped fold placed stride said second edge; a surface covering; and treatment to modify the texture of said support. The electrode is used as a positive electrode in a second electrochemical cell of the nickel metal hydride type.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2000Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: AlcatelInventors: Olivier Amiel, Inés Belkhir, Jean-Pierre Freluche, Nathalie Pineau, Christian Dupuy, Stéphane Babin
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Patent number: 6649303Abstract: An alkaline storage battery including a group of spiral electrodes composed of positive and negative electrode plates spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween and contained in a metallic cell casing used as an external terminal, wherein the group of spiral electrodes is formed at its central portion with a space defined by a winding core during the winding process of the electrode plates and is provided with a first current-collector welded to an upper end of one of the electrode plates and a second current-collector welded to a lower end of the other electrode plate, wherein the second current-collector is welded to an internal surface of the bottom of the cell casing without being welded to an end portion of the other plate located at the outermost periphery of the group of spiral electrodes, and wherein the other electrode plate at the outermost periphery of the group of spiral electrodes is pressed into contact with an internal peripheral wall of the cell casing.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2000Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Kasuga, Tadashi Ise, Nobuyasu Ishimaru
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Publication number: 20030205300Abstract: Hydrogen storage alloy has: (1) a main composition expressed by the formula of Mm—(Ni—Al—Co—Mn); (2) a ratio of the number of atoms expressed by the formula of (Ni—Al—Co—Mn) is 5.5<(Ni+Al+Co+Mn)≦9, and 3.5≦Ni, when Mm is set at 1 in a ratio of the number of atoms; and (3) an internal structure having a hydrogen storage alloy phase expressed by the general formula of AB5, and a second phase existing in the hydrogen storage alloy phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventor: Kenji Nakamura
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Publication number: 20030203283Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a spirally wound electrode group including: (a) a positive electrode including an active material layer containing nickel hydroxide and a positive electrode core material; (b) a negative electrode including an active material layer containing a hydrogen storage alloy and a negative electrode core material; and (c) a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, wherein the separator includes a hydrophilicity-imparted non-woven fabric including polyolefin or polyamide and has a thickness of 0.04 to 0.09 mm, and the percentage occupied by the cross section “SS” of the separator in the transverse cross section “S” of the electrode group is not greater than 25%.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2003Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Tsuji, Haruya Nakai, Yoshiyuki Muraoka
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Publication number: 20030203273Abstract: A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes electrode assemblies having a frame overmolded around the electrode to maintain a flow rates and low pressure throughout the fuel cell. The fuel cell is also designed to maintain mechanical support within the fuel cell while the electrodes expand and contract in response to the absorption of oxygen and hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Inventors: Rajeev Puttaiah, Zdravko Menjak, Latchezara M. Gradinarova, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash Dhar, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
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Publication number: 20030194611Abstract: A negative electrode plate includes a conductive support and a first, a second and a third layer laminated on a surface of the support in this order from the support side. The first layer contains a hydrogen storage alloy powder and a first powder essentially made of a carbonaceous material. The second layer contains a hydrogen storage alloy powder, the first powder and a second powder having conductivity. The third layer contains the second powder as a main component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Soryu Nakayama, Soichi Shibata, Takashi Okawa
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Patent number: 6632568Abstract: A alkali storage cell includes a non-sintered type nickel electrode which includes a highly efficient nickel hydroxide active material and which causes no capacity decrease during an over-discharge operation. The nickel electrode contains an active material composed of nickel hydroxide, a solid solution of at least one of zinc, cadmium, magnesium, and calcium which are added to the nickel hydroxide, and cobalt compound layers which are formed over the surfaces of particles of the nickel hydroxide. The cobalt compound layers have an oxidation number of larger than 2 and a disordered crystal structure. Such an active material can be manufactured by mixing nickel hydroxide powder containing a solid solution of at least one of zinc, cadmium, magnesium, and calcium with either metallic cobalt or a cobalt compound, and subjecting the mixture to heat treatment in the presence of oxygen and alkali.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1997Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Inventors: Akifumi Yamawaki, Shinsuke Nakahori, Takeo Hamamatsu, Yoshitaka Baba
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Patent number: 6632567Abstract: The nickel-metal hydride storage battery of this invention includes a nonsintered nickel electrode using, as a positive electrode active material, nickel hydroxide including, as a solid-solution element, at least one element Q selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Y, Yb and Co; and a pasted hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode using, as a negative electrode active material, a hydrogen-absorbing alloy represented by a composition formula, TiaVbNicMd, in which a+b+c=100; 15≦a≦45; 35≦b≦75; 5≦c≦25; 0<d≦7; and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ta, W, La, Ce, Y, Mm, Co, Fe, Cu, Si, Al, B, Zr and Hf, and the ratio in capacity between the nonsintered nickel electrode and the pasted hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode is 1:1.1 through 1:1.8. As a result, the invention provides a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having large battery capacity and a long cycle life.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Nishimura, Mutsumi Yano, Hiroshi Nakamura, Kazuki Hamasaki, Mitsunori Tokuda, Yasuhiko Itoh
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Publication number: 20030175590Abstract: Hydrogen storage alloy has: (1) a main composition expressed by the formula of Mm-(Ni—Al—Co—Mn); (2) a ratio of the number of atoms expressed by the formula of (Ni—Al—Co—Mn) is 5.5<(Ni+Al+Co+Mn)≦9, and 3.5≦Ni, when Mm is set at 1 in a ratio of the number of atoms; and (3) an internal structure having a hydrogen storage alloy phase expressed by the general formula of AB5, and a second phase existing in the hydrogen storage alloy phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2003Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventor: Kenji Nakamura
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Patent number: 6620539Abstract: Fuel cell cathodes and instant startup fuel cells employing the cathode. The cathodes operate through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such cathodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the cathode at all times.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash Dhar
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Patent number: 6620549Abstract: An alkaline storage battery, a positive electrode material for the alkaline storage battery, and a method of preparation for the positive electrode material are disclosed. The positive electrode material is made up of nickel hydroxide particles that have cobalt oxyhydroxide on their surface. The particles may be prepared by a process in which &agr;-cobalt hydroxide adhered to the surface of the nickel hydroxide particles is oxidized to cobalt oxyhydroxide. The battery has a superior rate of utilization of active material, cycle life, and discharge characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tetsuo Nanno, Kazuhiro Ota, Hiromu Matsuda
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Patent number: 6620548Abstract: A sealed type alkaline storage battery in which the entire surface of a positive electrode plate is opposed to a negative electrode plate through a separator, wherein a discharge capacity ratio of the negative electrode plate to the positive electrode plate is determined to be more than or equal to 1.9, an area ratio of the negative electrode plate to the positive electrode plate is determined to be less than or equal to 1.4, and the thickness of the positive electrode plate is determined to be less than or equal to 0.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2000Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kousuke Satoguchi, Masao Takee
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Publication number: 20030170164Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material obtained by storing hydrogen in a carbonaceous material heated at more than 230° C. under a pressure reducing atmosphere, a battery and a fuel cell using this hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material. The carbonaceous material is heated at more than 230° C. under the pressure reducing atmosphere so that its surface can be efficiently cleaned and an area where the surface of the carbonaceous material comes into contact with hydrogen atoms or hydrogen molecules is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2003Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventors: Hisashi Kajiura, Masashi Shiraishi, Eisuke Negishi, Masafumi Ata
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Patent number: 6617072Abstract: An active composition for an electrode of an electrochemical device. The active composition comprises an active electrode material, a carbon material, and a binder where the binder comprises an elastomeric polymer. Preferably, the active electrode material is nickel hydroxide, the carbon material is graphite and the elastomeric polymer is styrene-butadiene.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Srinivasan Venkatesan, Binay Prasad, Kenneth Laming, Boyko Aladjov
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Patent number: 6613471Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy active material for the anode of Ovonic instant startup/regenerative fuel cells. The active material includes a hydrogen storage alloy material with a water reactive chemical hydride additive, which, upon utilization of the active material in an anode of an alkaline electrolyte fuel cell, gives the anode added benefits, not attainable by using hydrogen storage alloy material alone. These added benefits include 1) precharge of the hydrogen storage material with hydrogen; 2) higher porosity/increased surface area/reduced electrode polarization at high currents; 3) simplified, faster activation of the hydrogen storage alloy; and 4) optionally, enhanced corrosion protection for the hydrogen storage alloy.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Thomas Hopper, Kevin Fok, Subhash Dhar
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Patent number: 6610445Abstract: In the description, a hydrogen storage alloy electrode comprising a hydrogen storage alloy and a conductive metal and completely free of organic binder is disclosed, wherein at least two layers of an active material holding layer and a conductive metal layer essentially are integrated into an electrode sheet having a conductive network communicating throughout the electrode. The electrode can be used in a nickel-metal hydride storage battery, for example, particularly exhibits high efficiency charge/discharge characteristics while satisfying general characteristics as a battery, and has a relatively low cost and facilitates recycling.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Moriwaki, Sou Kuranaka, Mizuo Iwasaki, Yasuhiko Yamasaki, Akihiro Maeda
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Publication number: 20030152834Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemically active material comprising a hydridable alloy whose surface is covered in a protective layer constituted mainly by a nickel hydroxide. The layer is preferably constituted by at least 80% by weight of nickel hydroxide and includes up to 20% by weight of at least one other metal which may be taken from Mn, Al, Co, Cr, Fe, and Cu. Also preferably, the layer represents 1% to 4% by weight of the hydridable alloy.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2003Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: ALCATELInventors: Patrick Bernard, Lionel Goubault, Laure Le Guenne
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Patent number: 6605387Abstract: An alkaline storage battery of the present invention has a negative electrode comprising an AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy containing at least nickel as B element. The hydrogen storage alloy contains 1.5 to 5.0% by weight of a magnetic substance comprising metallic nickel. The above-mentioned alkaline storage battery can effect high output from the initial stage of charging and discharging cycles.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2000Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshifumi Ueda, Nobuyasu Morishita, Noriyuki Fujioka, Munehisa Ikoma
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Patent number: 6605375Abstract: A method of activating a hydrogen storage alloy electrode. The method comprises the step of applying current cycles to the electrode where each current cycle includes a forward pulse effective to at least partially charge the electrode and a reverse pulse effective to at least partially discharge the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar, Thomas Hopper, Kevin Fok
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Publication number: 20030148180Abstract: A modified Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy which has at least one of the following characteristics: 1) an increased charge/discharge rate capability over that the base Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; 2) a formation cycling requirement which is reduced to one tenth that of the base Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; or 3) an oxide surface layer having a higher electrochemical hydrogen storage catalytic activity than the base Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2001Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Kwo Young, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Benjamin Reichman, John Koch, William Mays
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Patent number: 6602639Abstract: A process for producing a hydrogen storage electrode, which comprises the steps of forming a molten metal having a composition of a hydrogen storage alloy, solidifying the molten metal at a rapid cooling speed to form a solidified hydrogen storage alloy, and heat treating the solidified hydrogen storage alloy in a range from 1000 to 1200° C. for 30 minutes-120 hours to precipitate a second phase, wherein the hydrogen storage alloy after the heat treating step comprises (1) a main composition expressed by the formula Mm—(Ni—Al—Co—Mn), (2) a ratio of the number of atoms expressed by the formula of (Ni—Al—Co—Mn) is exhibited as 5.5<(Ni+Al+Co+Mn)≦9, and 3.5≦Ni, when Mm is set at 1 in the ratio of the number of atoms, and (3) an internal structure having a hydrogen storage alloy phase expressed by the general formula of AB5, and the second phase forming an electrically conducting network in the hydrogen storage alloy phase.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1999Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Nakamura
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Publication number: 20030143457Abstract: An air-hydrogen battery with high energy density and satisfactory cycle characteristics is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Hiroshi Kashino, Yasuo Arishima, Shinsuke Shibata, Gun Seki, Ryo Nagai
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Publication number: 20030138701Abstract: There is provided a battery separator comprising synthetic resin fibers, wherein hydrophilization treatment, preferably plasma treatment is applied, and a contact angle to pure water indicates a value of 0 to 100 degrees; an alkali secondary battery in which a electrode group having the separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode is sealed in a battery case together with an alkali electrolyte, in particular, a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery whose positive electrode is a nickel electrode and whose negative electrode is a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode, wherein active substances of said nickel electrode comprising powders consisting essentially of nickel hydroxides and higher-order cobalt hydroxides formed a surface of a part or whole thereof are employed, thereby providing its superiority in both of self-discharge properties and charge and discharge cycle life performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 1999Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: MASAHIKO TSUKIASHI, HIROHITO TERAOKA, KATSUYUKI HATA, MICHIKO TAJIMA
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Publication number: 20030138691Abstract: The bipolar electrochemical battery of the invention comprises:Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2003Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Martin G. Klein, Paula Ralston, Robert Plivelich
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Publication number: 20030134197Abstract: The hydrogen storage alloy electrode comprises: a conductive core material; and an active material layer which contains a hydrogen storage alloy powder and is carried on said core material, and the alloy powder has any shape selected from the group consisting of spherical shapes, substantially spherical shapes and oval shapes. The core material comprises: a conductive sheet; and fibrous or columnar sintered nickel pieces bonded to the surface of the conductive sheet. Alternatively, the active material layer comprises: an active material layer A which contains a hydrogen storage alloy powder A with a mean particle size “a” and is carried on said core material; and an active material layer B which contains a hydrogen storage alloy powder B with a mean particle size “b” and is carried on said active material layer A (wherein a<b).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2003Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: Kazutaka Ikeda, Susumu Kikuyama, Akiko Miyahara, Kohji Yuasa
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Patent number: 6593024Abstract: A hydrogen storage battery with improved cycle life and a method for making the same. The battery has a negative electrode with an electrochemically active negative material and a negative electrode capacity and a positive electrode electrochemically coupled with the negative electrode, the positive electrode having a positive electrode capacity and an electrochemically active positive material with a precharge. Also described herein is a positive electrode material for a hydrogen storage battery and a method for making the same. The positive electrode material includes a preoxidized positive active material which is partially non-oxidized. The preoxidized material may be used to provide a precharge to the positive electrode.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Kwo Young, Cristian Fierro
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Patent number: 6593031Abstract: A nickel metal-hydride cell having a paste type nickel positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide and a cobalt conducting aid selected from the group consisting of metal cobalt and cobalt compounds, a negative electrode which comprises a hydrogen absorbing alloy having a composition of the formula: MmNi5−x+yMx in which Mm is a rare earth element, M is a metal element, 0<x<2, and −0.2<y<0.6, a separator interposed between two electrodes, and an alkaline electrolytic solution, where a ratio of C—H to C—Co(II) is 1.3 or less, wherein C—H is a quantity of electricity of a discharge reserve formed in the negative electrode, and C—Co(II) is a quantity of electricity necessary for reducing cobalt oxide in the positive electrode to cobalt(II) oxide.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.Inventors: Masuhiro Onishi, Hiroshi Fukunaga, Masato Isogai, Ryo Nagai
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Publication number: 20030129491Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride storage battery which includes a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy and an alkaline electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode contains a hydroxide and/or an oxide of an element selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanoid and bismuth, and the negative electrode contains a hydroxide and/or an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of scandium, yttrium and lanthanoid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Yoshifumi Magari, Tadayoshi Tanaka, Hiroyuki Akita, Katsuhiko Shinyama, Atsuhiro Funahashi, Toshiyuki Nohma
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Publication number: 20030129459Abstract: A very low emission hybrid electric vehicle incorporating an integrated propulsion system which includes a fuel cell, a metal hydride hydrogen storage unit, an electric motor, high specific power, high energy density nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and preferably a regenerative braking system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Robert C. Stempel
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Patent number: 6589686Abstract: A method of activating a metal hydride electrode of an alkaline fuel cell. The method comprises the step of applying current cycles to the anode where each current cycle includes a forward current effective to at least partially charge the electrode and a reverse current effective to at least partially discharge the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar, Thomas Hopper, Kevin Fok
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Publication number: 20030124425Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy and an alkaline electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode contains a hydroxide and/or an oxide of an element selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanoid and bismuth, and the negative electrode contains germanium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Inventors: Hiroyuki Akita, Tadayoshi Tanaka, Yoshifumi Magari, Katsuhiko Shinyama, Atsuhiro Funahashi, Toshiyuki Nohma
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Patent number: 6586124Abstract: An apparatus and method for temperature regulation of a fuel cell using differential heat capacity of the fuel storage media is disclosed. The method of regulating the temperature involves measuring the temperature of one or more fuel cells, comparing the temperature against target values, selecting a control method from a set of available control methods based on the result of comparison and using that control method to initiate and control a regulation cycle, and actuating a flow control means using the selected control method to alter the flow of fuel between one or more fuel storage containers, each containing fuel storage media which exhibit different enthalpies of formation and dissociation. The regulation process starts with measuring temperature (110) of a fuel cell system (100). The measured temperature is then compared (120) to a predetermined set of ideal target values designed to provide peak fuel cell performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Motorola INCInventors: Ronald J. Kelley, Steven D. Pratt, Sivakumar Muthuswamy, Robert W. Pennisi
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Publication number: 20030116235Abstract: A method of producing a hydrogen storage alloy, for use in alkaline storage batteries, includes two steps. A first step involves preparing alloy particles having a CaCu5-type crystal structure and the compositional formula MmNixCoyMnzM1−z, wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu), 3.0≦x≦5.2, 0≦y≦1.2, 0.1≦z≦0.9, and 4.4≦x+y+z≦5.4. A second step involves immersing the alloy particles in an acid treating solution containing a cobalt compound and a copper compound, each in the amount of 0.1 to 5.0% by weight based on the weight of the alloy particles, and an organic additive to remove oxide films from and to reductively deposit cobalt and copper on a surface of each alloy particle to form a surface region surrounding a bulk region and having a graded composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Teruhiko Imoto, Masutaka Ouchi, Yohei Hirota, Kikuko Kato, Nobuyuki Higashiyama, Mamoru Kimoto, Shin Fujitani, Koji Nishio
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Publication number: 20030113252Abstract: Alkali metal-carbon compounds may be formed by mixing an alkali metal with carbon. Such alkali metal-carbon compounds absorb hydrogen at lower temperatures and may be useful as hydrogen storage materials in various applications, such as in hydrogen fuel cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: National University of SingaporeInventors: Ping Chen, Zhitao Xiong, Jizhong Luo, Jianyi Lin
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Patent number: 6579645Abstract: In a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode employed as a negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery, a covering layer containing at least one of metal elected from nickel and cobalt, and carbon particles is formed on a surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode or hydrogen absorbing alloy particles used in the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadayoshi Tanaka, Yasuyuki Harada, Katsuhiko Shinyama, Yoshinori Matsuura, Reizo Maeda, Toshiyuki Nohma, Ikuo Yonezu
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Publication number: 20030108475Abstract: A hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material is obtained by heating a carbonaceous material before hydrogen is stored under the pressure of hydrogen lower than 50 atmospheric pressure. A hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material is obtained by hydrogen storage in the hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material under the pressure of hydrogen lower than 50 atmospheric pressure. This hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material is used for a battery or a fuel cell. The hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material is heated before the hydrogen is stored under the pressure of hydrogen lower than 50 atmospheric pressure, so that the hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material whose hydrogen storage capacity is extremely improved is produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Eisuke Negishi, Masafumi Ata, Masashi Shiraishi, Hisashi Kajiura
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Patent number: 6576350Abstract: A hydride battery electrode is coated with palladium or a palladium alloy to improve hydride storage properties and recycle characteristics. A hydrogen purification membrane including a metallic substrate likewise has improved properties upon coating with palladium and a surface species of an alkali metal, alkaline earth element or alkaline earth cation. Novel metal hydrogen purification membranes include vanadium alloyed with at least 1 to 20 atomic percent nickel and/or 1 to 20 atomic percent cobalt and/or 1 to 20 atomic percent palladium.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Inventor: Robert E. Buxbaum
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Patent number: 6576367Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy, for use in alkaline storage batteries, having a CaCu5-type crystal structure and represented by the compositional formula MmNixCoyMnzMl-z (wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu); x is a nickel (Ni) stoichiometry and satisfies 3.0≦x≦5.2; y is a cobalt (Co) stoichiometry and satisfies 0≦y≦1.2; z is a manganese (Mn) stoichiometry and satisfies 0.1≦z≦0.9; and the sum of x, y and z satisfies 4.4≦x+y+z≦5.4). The hydrogen storage alloy includes a bulk region having a CaCu5-type crystal structure and a substantially uniform composition and a surface region surrounding said bulk region and having a graded composition. When the sum in percentage of numbers of cobalt (Co) atoms and copper (Cu) atoms present in the surface region is given by a and that in the bulk region by b, the relationship a/b≧1.3 is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2000Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Teruhiko Imoto, Masutaka Ouchi, Yohei Hirota, Kikuko Kato, Nobuyuki Higashiyama, Mamoru Kimoto, Shin Fujitani, Koji Nishio
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Publication number: 20030104280Abstract: An active composition for an electrode of an electrochemical device. The active composition comprises an active electrode material, a carbon material, and a binder where the binder comprises an elastomeric polymer. Preferably, the active electrode material is nickel hydroxide, the carbon material is graphite and the elastomeric polymer is styrene-butadiene.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2001Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: Srinivasan Venkatesan, Binay Prasad, Kenneth Laming, Boyko Aladjov
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Patent number: 6569567Abstract: A method of activating a hydrogen storage alloy or a hydrogen storage alloy electrode. The method includes the step of contacting the hydrogen storage alloy or hydrogen storage alloy electrode with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide where the concentration of the alkali metal hydroxide is at least about 40 weight percent. The method produces a hydrogen storage alloy and hydrogen storage alloy electrode with increased surface area.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Reichman, William Mays, Michael A. Fetcenko
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Publication number: 20030096164Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen absorbing alloy containing as a principal phase at least one phase selected from the group consisting of a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal structure and a first phase having a crystal structure of a hexagonal system excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type structure, wherein a content of a phase having a crystal structure of AB2 type is not higher than 10% by volume including 0% by volume and the hydrogen absorbing alloy has a composition represented by general formula (1) given below:Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Isao Sakai, Tatsuoki Kohno, Shirou Takeno, Takamichi Inaba, Hideki Yoshida, Masaaki Yamamoto, Hirotaka Hayashida, Shusuke Inada, Hiroshi Kitayama, Motoya Kanda, Fumiyuki Kawashima, Takao Sawa
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Publication number: 20030096166Abstract: The invention provides a nickel-hydrogen storage battery which shows no deterioration of high rate discharge performance even after prolonged storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Teruhiko Imoto, Masaru Kihara, Tatsuya Aizawa, Motoo Tadokoro, Yoshitaka Baba
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Patent number: 6566008Abstract: A sealed alkaline storage battery using, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide including Mn as a solid-solution element and having a &ggr; ratio of 65 through 100%; a sealed alkaline storage battery using, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide including as an additive or coated with a rare earth element and/or a rare earth compound in a ratio measured based on the rare earth element of 0.05 through 5 wt %; and a sealed alkaline storage battery including, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide having a half-width of a peak in a lattice plane (003) in an X-ray diffraction pattern of 0.8° or more. The pressure within the battery is not largely increased for a long period of charge-discharge cycles, and hence, the electrolyte hardly leaks.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mutsumi Yano, Syuichi Suzuki, Mitsunori Tokuda, Mitsuzou Nogami, Mamoru Kimoto, Shin Fujitani, Koji Nishio
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Patent number: 6558842Abstract: A nickel hydroxide positive active material for an alkaline battery contains nickel hydroxide powder having a nickel valence of greater than 2; and a cobalt compound having a cobalt valence of greater than 2, which is formed on the surface of said nickel hydroxide powder. For example, the surface of nickel oxyhydroxide powder is covered by cobalt oxyhydroxide layer. This positive active material is used as a starting material to produce an electrode by retaining it in a three-dimensional porous material.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignees: Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd., GS-Melcotec Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukitaka Seyama, Hideki Sasaki, Toshio Murata
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Publication number: 20030068560Abstract: Disclosed is an alkaline storage battery comprising: a positive electrode comprising nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte layer comprises a water absorbent polymer and an aqueous alkaline solution. The water absorbent polymer is obtained by saponification of a copolymer comprising 100 parts by weight of monomer (A) and 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of monomer (B). The monomer (A) has at least one group capable of being converted to a carboxyl group by saponification and has one polymerizable double bond, and the monomer (B) has two or more polymerizable double bonds.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichi Izumi, Tetsuo Nanno, Hiroyuki Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20030054228Abstract: A hydrogen storage battery with improved cycle life and a method for making the same. The battery has a negative electrode with an electrochemically active negative material and a negative electrode capacity and a positive electrode electrochemically coupled with the negative electrode, the positive electrode having a positive electrode capacity and an electrochemically active positive material with a precharge.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Kwo Young, Cristian Fierro
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Publication number: 20030049537Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional battery for supplying power to an electrical circuit, and the related method of making the same. Use of the multifunctional battery permits structural integrity and versatility, while maximizing power output of the cells and minimizing the overall weight of the structure. The multifunctional battery includes an open cell interconnected structure comprised of a plurality of open cells so as to provide a structural electrode. The structural electrode is configured to be a load bearing member. The battery also includes interstitial electrodes that are counter electrodes to the structural electrode. The interstitial electrodes are at least partially received within a predetermined number of the cells of the interconnected structure. Additionally, a separator portion is disposed between the structural electrode and interstitial electrodes to serve as an electrical insulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Haydn N G Wadley, Douglas T Queheillalt, Anthony G Evans, Ann Marie Sastry