Zinc Component Patents (Class 429/229)
  • Publication number: 20120321953
    Abstract: A nano graphene-enabled vanadium oxide composite composition for use as a lithium battery cathode active material, wherein the composite composition is formed of one or a plurality of graphene, graphene oxide, or graphene fluoride sheets or platelets and a plurality of nano-particles, nano-rods, nano-wires, nano-sheets, and/or nano-belts of a vanadium oxide with a size smaller than 100 nm (preferably smaller than 20 nm, further preferably smaller than 10 nm, and most preferably smaller than 5 nm), and wherein the graphene, graphene oxide, or graphene fluoride (having a thickness <20 nm, preferably <10 nm, further preferably <5 nm, and being most preferably of single-layer or less than 5 layers) is in an amount of from 0.01% to 50% (preferably <10%) by weight based on the total weight of graphene, graphene oxide or graphene fluoride and the vanadium oxide combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Guorong Chen, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang, Zhenning Yu
  • Publication number: 20120315543
    Abstract: A coin-type lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material including a silicon alloy material, a conductive agent including a carbon material, and a binder. The silicon alloy material includes a phase A including a lithium-silicon alloy and a phase B including an intermetallic compound of a transition metal element and silicon. In the lithium-silicon alloy, a ratio of lithium atoms relative to silicon atoms is 2.75 to 3.65 in a 100% state-of-charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Toshie Wata, Tadayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8329343
    Abstract: An electrode includes: an electrode collector and an electrode active material layer, wherein a film containing a salt represented by the following formula (I) is provided on the electrode active material layer: R1AnMx ??(I) wherein R1 represents an n-valent organic group containing a sulfur atom; n represents an integer of from 1 to 4; A represents an anion; M represents a metal ion; and x represents an integer of 1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Toru Odani, Masayuki Ihara, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 8318340
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells including a casing or cup for direct electrical contact with a negative electrode or counter electrode and serving as the current collector for the electrode. The casing includes a substrate having a plated coating of an alloy including copper, tin and zinc, the coating having a composition gradient between the substrate and the external surface of the coating wherein the copper content is greater adjacent the substrate than at the external surface of the coating and the tin content is greater at the external surface of the coating than adjacent the substrate. Methods for forming a coated casing and an electrochemical cell including a coated casing are disclosed, preferably including providing an electrode casing with a coating utilizing variable current density plating that reduces discoloration of a surface exposed to the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason L. Stimits
  • Patent number: 8318350
    Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell is provided which efficiently utilizes active materials within the cell to achieve enhanced cost efficiency. The electrochemical cell includes a container defining a sealed volume and an anode and cathode disposed in the sealed volume of the container. The cathode includes manganese dioxide and the anode includes zinc. A ratio of zinc weight to anode volume is less than 1.8. An alkaline electrolyte is disposed in the container in contact with the anode and cathode, and water is disposed within the container. A weight ratio of water to manganese dioxide is greater than 0.28, and a weight ratio of water to zinc is greater than 0.65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120282521
    Abstract: An electrode active material, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electrode and a lithium battery adopting the same. The electrode active material includes a core capable of occluding and emitting lithium; and a surface treatment layer formed on at least a portion of a surface of the core, wherein the surface treatment layer includes a lithium-free oxide having a spinel structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-chang CHOI, Jin-hwan Park
  • Publication number: 20120282530
    Abstract: An energy storage device includes a first electrode comprising a first material and a second electrode comprising a second material, at least a portion of the first and second materials forming an interpenetrating network when dispersed in an electrolyte, the electrolyte, the first material and the second material are selected so that the first and second materials exert a repelling force on each other when combined. An electrochemical device, includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector; a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector; and an ionically conductive medium in ionic contact with said first and second electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the first and second electrodes form an interpenetrating network and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises an electrode structure providing two or more pathways to its current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yet-Ming Chiang, William Douglas Moorehead
  • Publication number: 20120282523
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery has (a) an anode; (b) a cathode having a cathode composition of the formula Li[M4yM51-2yMny]O2, wherein 0.083<y<0.5 with the proviso that M4 and M5 do not include chromium, and wherein M4 is Co and M5 includes the combination of Li and Ni; and (c) an electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Zhonghua Lu, Jeffrey R. Dahn
  • Patent number: 8304110
    Abstract: A composition includes a cathodic material comprising a support structure. The support structure includes copper and zinc, and has less than 1 weight percent of aluminum, tin, or aluminum and tin. An energy storage device includes a cathodic material having a support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Vallance, David Bogdan, Hari Nadathur Seshadri, Karthick Vilapakkam Gourishankar, Guruprasad Sundararajan, Charles Dominic Iacovangelo
  • Patent number: 8298707
    Abstract: A positive active material including a compound expressed by a general formula LimMxM?yM?zO2 (here, M designates at least one kind of element selected from Co, Ni and Mn, M? designates at least one kind of element selected from Al, Cr, V, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sn, Ti, Mg, Sr, B, Ga, In, Si and Ge, and M? designates at least one kind of element selected from Mg, Ca, B and Ga. Further, x is designated by an expression of 0.9?x<1, y is indicated by an expression of 0.001?y?0.5, z is indicated by an expression of 0?z?0.5, and m is indicated by an expression of 0.5?m) and lithium manganese oxide expressed by a general formula LisMn2-tMatO4 (here, the value of s is expressed by 0.9?s, the value of t is located within a range expressed by 0.01?t?0.5, and Ma indicates one or a plurality of elements between Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sn, Cr, V, Ti, Mg, Ca, Sr, B, Ga, In, Si and Ge) are included, so that both a large capacity and the suppression of the rise of temperature of a battery upon overcharging operation are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Tanaka, Yosuke Hosoya, Yoshikatsu Yamamoto, Kiyohiko Suzuki, Keizo Koga
  • Patent number: 8283069
    Abstract: A zinc-alkaline battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The negative electrode contains a zinc alloy powder including 20 to 50 wt % of a micropowder with a particle size of 75 ?m or less. In a constant resistance discharge, a time period for the negative electrode potential to rise is shorter than a time period for the positive electrode potential to fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Kato, Yuji Mototani
  • Patent number: 8283068
    Abstract: An alkaline dry battery of this invention includes: a cylindrical positive electrode mixture having a hollow and including at least one of manganese dioxide powder and nickel oxyhydroxide powder; a gelled negative electrode including zinc alloy powder; a separator interposed between the positive electrode mixture and the gelled negative electrode; a negative electrode current collector inserted into the gelled negative electrode; and a negative electrode terminal plate electrically connected to the negative electrode current collector. The gelled negative electrode is filled in the hollow of the positive electrode mixture with the separator interposed therebetween. The height L1 of the gelled negative electrode filled therein and the length L2 of the portion of the negative electrode current collector inserted in the gelled negative electrode satisfy the relation (1): 0.72?L2/L1?0.86.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Sumihiro, Seiji Wada, Michiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8277978
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cylindrical zinc-air cell and fabricating method thereof. The zinc-air cell comprises a film including an air anode membrane and a separator, the film being formed in a substantially cylindrical bent shape; and a junction element adapted to receive both ends of the film therein. The junction element is at least partly deformed to pressurize the both ends of the film so as to be joined to the film. By doing so, leakage of the zinc gel can be easily prevented in the fabrication of the cylindrical zinc-air cell, thereby extending the application area of the zinc-air cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: E.M.W. Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung Hoon Ryou
  • Patent number: 8273478
    Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery includes an electrolyte including an additive such as an ethylene carbonate-based compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a silicon-included compound, and a negative electrode including a negative active material including an active element selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Ga, Cd, Al, Pb, Zn, Bi, In, Mg, and Ge. In Chemical formula 1, X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen, and a C1 through C5 fluoroalkyl, provided that at least one of X and Y is selected from the group consisting of a halogen and a C1 through C5 fluoroalkyl. The rechargeable lithium battery has a suppressed volume expansion characteristic due to a high-capacity negative active material, and has excellent reliability and cycle-life characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Sung Kim, Na-Rae Park, Su-Hee Han, Jin-Hyunk Lim
  • Patent number: 8268480
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy generation system can include a sealed vessel that contains inside (i) at least one electrochemical cell, which has two electrodes and a reaction zone between them; (ii) a liquefied halogen reactant, such as a liquefied molecular chlorine; (iii) at least one metal halide electrolyte; and (iv) a flow circuit that can be used for delivering the halogen reactant and the electrolyte to the at least one cell. The sealed vessel can maintain an inside pressure above a liquefication pressure for the halogen reactant. Also disclosed are methods of using and methods of making for electrochemical energy generation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Patent number: 8257866
    Abstract: Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Amprius, Inc.
    Inventors: Ghyrn E. Loveness, William S. DelHagen, Rainer Fasching, Song Han, Zuqin Liu
  • Publication number: 20120219859
    Abstract: A compound of formula Ab?MgaMbXy or Ab?MgaMb(XOz)y for use as electrode material in a magnesium battery is disclosed, wherein A, M, X, b?, a, b, y, and z are defined herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: PELLION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. DOE, Timothy K. MUELLER, Gerbrand CEDER, Jeremy BARKER, Kristin A. PERSSON
  • Publication number: 20120219858
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to inhibit occurrence of structural collapse caused by volumetric change of primary particles of negative electrode active material and to improve adhesion between negative electrode active material and electrically conductive agent and between negative electrode mix layer and collector, whereby improvement of life is attained in negative electrode for non-aqueous secondary battery and non-aqueous secondary battery. In the negative electrode for non-aqueous secondary battery of the present invention, the negative electrode active material comprises silicon and/or tin, and at least one element selected from elements which do not react with lithium and has pores in both of the inner core portion and the outer peripheral portion of primary particles and a material which cures by a heat treatment is used as a binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Takashi NAKABAYASHI, Shin TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20120214072
    Abstract: The present invention concerns electrode materials capable of redox reactions by electron and alkali-ion exchange with an electrolyte. The applications are in the field of primary (batteries) or secondary electrochemical generators, supercapacitors and light modulating systems of the electrochromic type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicants: ACEP Inc., Universite De Montreal, CNRS
    Inventors: Nathalie Ravet, Simon Besner, Martin Simoneau, Alain Vallee, Michel Armand, Jean-Francois Magnan
  • Patent number: 8236445
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy generation system can include a sealed vessel that contains inside (i) at least one electrochemical cell, which has two electrodes and a reaction zone between them; (ii) a liquefied halogen reactant, such as a liquefied molecular chlorine; (iii) at least one metal halide electrolyte; and (iv) a flow circuit that can be used for delivering the halogen reactant and the electrolyte to the at least one cell. The sealed vessel can maintain an inside pressure above a liquefication pressure for the halogen reactant. Also disclosed are methods of using and methods of making for electrochemical energy generation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20120196185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a positive electrode active substance for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which comprises particles comprising a polyanionic compound and carbon, and a lipophilic treatment agent with which the respective particles are coated, wherein the positive electrode active substance has an average particle diameter of 1 to 50 ?m. The positive electrode active substance preferably has an oil absorption of not more than 20 mL/100 g. The positive electrode active substance according to the present invention exhibits a good compatibility with a resin and is excellent in packing property and dispersibility in the resin, and therefore can provide an electrode sheet in which the positive electrode active substance is filled with a high packing density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Kono, Kenji Ogisu, Toshiyuki Hakata, Yuji Mishima, Katsuji Iwami, Masayuki Yokota, Minoru Yamasaki, Akihisa Kajiyama, Hideaki Sadamura
  • Publication number: 20120177993
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries and durable anode materials and anodes for use in nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. The present invention also relates to methods for producing these anode materials. In the present invention, a metal-semiconductor alloy layer is formed on an anode material by contacting a portion of the anode material with a displacement solution. The displacement solution contains ions of the metal to be deposited and a dissolution component for dissolving a part of the semiconductor in the anode material. When the anode material is contacted with the displacement solution, the dissolution component dissolves a part of the semiconductor in the anode material thereby providing electrons to reduce the metal ions and deposit the metal on the anode material. After deposition, the anode material and metal are annealed to form a uniform metal-semiconductor alloy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: ENOVIX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Murali RAMASUBRAMANIAN, Robert SPOTNITZ
  • Publication number: 20120177974
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery according to the present invention is a non-aqueous electrolyte battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein aluminum silicate or a derivative thereof is contained in a location that can come into contact with the non-aqueous electrolyte in the battery. In the non-aqueous electrolyte battery, it is preferable that at least one of the separator, the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the non-aqueous electrolyte contains aluminum silicate or a derivative thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAKAJIMA, Hideaki Katayama, Yuki Takei
  • Publication number: 20120164561
    Abstract: Nanoparticles comprising zinc, methods of manufacturing nanoparticles comprising zinc, and applications of nanoparticles comprising zinc, such as electrically conducting formulations, reagents for fine chemical synthesis, pigments and catalysts are provided, and more particularly, a coating, comprising a nanomaterial composition comprising zinc and at least one metal other than zinc, wherein the at least one metal comprises an element that (a) has an oxidation state higher than an oxidation state of zinc and that (b) dopes zinc in the nanomaterial composition, and wherein the coating has an electrical conductivity greater than 0.0001 mhos·cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Tapesh Yadav
  • Patent number: 8202651
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell with a blended zinc powder is disclosed. The blended zinc powder includes selected portions of a first zinc powder and a second zinc powder. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second powders are divided into groups based on ranges in their particle size distribution. Particle characteristics such as roughness and elongation are used to selected groups of both powders that are combined to produce the blended zinc powder. The blended zinc powders enable battery manufacturers to maximize the cell's run time while minimizing the cost of the zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Danan Fan
  • Patent number: 8202641
    Abstract: A flow battery electrode assembly with a first impermeable, substantially metal electrode, a second permeable, substantially metal electrode and at least one electrically conductive spacer. The electrically conductive spacer connects the first impermeable, substantially metal electrode and the second permeable, substantially metal electrode such that the first impermeable, substantially metal electrode and the second permeable, substantially metal electrode are spaced apart from each other by an electrolyte flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Winter, Brad Kell, Jonathan Hall, Gerardo Jose la O', Thomas Stepien
  • Publication number: 20120141874
    Abstract: Disclosed is a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same, and the positive active material includes a carbon material having a structure with “n” polycyclic nano sheets, wherein “n” is an integer of 1 to 30 with hexagonal rings having six carbon atoms condensed and substantially aligned in a plane, the polycyclic nano sheets are laminated in a vertical direction to the plane; and a lithium-containing olivine-based compound attached to the surface of the carbon material is formed with a carbon-coating layer on its surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woon-Suk Jang, Chae-Woong Cho, Bum-Jin Chang, Ki-Jun Kim, Kwi-Seok Choi
  • Publication number: 20120135290
    Abstract: Disclosed is an olivine-based positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery using the same, wherein the olivine-based positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery is represented the following Formula 1. LixMyM?zXO4-wBw??[Chemical Formula 1] Chemical Formula 1 has the same definitions as in the specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Eol Park, Sun-Hwa Kwon, Ji-Hyun Kim, Ki-Hyun Kim, Yong-Chan You, Yoon-Chang Kim
  • Publication number: 20120135309
    Abstract: Disclosed is an positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes an olivine-type composite oxide; and a metal or an alloy thereof adhered to a surface of the olivine-type composite oxide, wherein the metal or the alloy is selected from the group consisting of germanium (Ge), zinc (Zn), gallium (Ga), and a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-Hyun KIM
  • Patent number: 8182946
    Abstract: An improved Ni—Zn cell with a negative electrode substrate plated with tin or tin and zinc during manufacturing has a reduced gassing rate. The copper or brass substrate is electrolytic cleaned, activated, electroplated with a matte surface to a defined thickness range, pasted with zinc oxide electrochemically active material, and baked. The defined plating thickness range of 40-80 ?In maximizes formation of an intermetallic compound Cu3Sn that helps to suppress the copper diffusion from under plating layer to the surface and eliminates formation of an intermetallic compound Cu6Sn5 during baking to provide adequate corrosion resistance during battery operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Powergenix Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Feng, Jeffrey Phillips, Samaresh Mohanta, Jeff Barton, Zeiad M. Muntasser
  • Patent number: 8178238
    Abstract: A positive-electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery has an average composition expressed by the following formula (1): LixCo1-y-zMyCezOb-aXa ??(1) wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron B, magnesium Mg, aluminum Al, silicon Si, phosphorous P, sulfur S, titanium Ti, chromium Cr, manganese Mn, iron Fe, cobalt Co, nickel Ni, copper Cu, zinc Zn, gallium Ga, yttrium Y, zirconium Zr, molybdenum Mo, silver Ag, tungsten W, indium In, tin Sn, lead Pb, and antimony Sb, X represents a halogen element, and x, y, z, a, and b satisfy 0.2<x?1.2, 0?y?0.1, 0.5<z?5.0, 1.8?b?2.2, and 0?a?1.0, respectively, and the concentration of cerium Ce is higher in the vicinity of the surface than in the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Soma, Masayuki Ihara, Kenichi Kawase, Atsumichi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8168329
    Abstract: A composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction is described. The composition may comprise a material represented by a general formula MyXO4 or AxMyXO4, where each of A (where present), M, and X independently represents at least one element, O represents oxygen, and each of x (where present) and y represent a number, and an oxide of at least one of various elements, wherein the material and the oxide are cocrystailine, and/or wherein a volume of a crystalline structural unit of the composition may be different than a volume of a crystalline structural unit of the material alone. An electrode comprising such a composition is also described, as is an electrochemical cell comprising such an electrode. A process of preparing a composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Lithium Electrochemistry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ben-Jie Liaw, Wen-Ren Liu, Sheng-Shih Chang
  • Patent number: 8168321
    Abstract: An alkaline battery can include a housing, a cathode within the housing, an anode, a separator between the anode and the cathode, and an alkaline electrolyte contacting the anode and the cathode. The cathode defines an anode cavity and the anode is deposited within the anode cavity. The cathode has a top surface adjacent to the anode cavity. The battery can include a protective layer deposited on the top surface of the cathode and/or a gel plug deposited over the anode. The protective layer can include a PVA layer coated over the top surface of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Alexander B. Shelekhin, Daniel W. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 8168328
    Abstract: Disclosed are a silicon thin film anode for a lithium secondary battery having enhanced cycle characteristics and capacity and a preparation method thereof. A preparation method for a silicon thin film anode for a lithium secondary battery, comprises: preparing a collector including a metal; forming an anode active material layer including a silicon on the collector; forming one or more interface stabilizing layer, by annealing the collector and the anode active material layer under one of an inert atmosphere, a reduced atmosphere, and a vacuum atmosphere to react a metallic component of at least one of the collector and the anode active material layer with a silicon component of the anode active material layer at an interface therebetween; and forming a carbon coating layer on the anode active material layer by performing an annealing process in a hydrocarbon atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hyung-Sun Kim, Byung-Won Cho, Kyung-Yoon Chung, Joong-Kee Lee, Taeg-Kwan Kang, Young-Hwan Jung
  • Publication number: 20120082898
    Abstract: A method for producing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, the negative electrode active material containing a carbon material and particles of at least one metal selected from zinc and aluminum. The method includes a step of preparing an aqueous negative electrode mixture slurry that contains the metal particles, the carbon material, and a polysaccharide polymer as a thickener and that has pH adjusted in the range of 6.0 to 9.0; and a step of forming a negative electrode by applying the negative electrode mixture slurry to a negative electrode current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Masahisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20120082896
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. A mixture containing a zinc-containing alloy represented by MZnx (wherein M is at least one metal that is not electrochemically alloyed with lithium) and a carbon material is used as the negative electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Takahashi, Masahisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20120077087
    Abstract: The present invention relates to negative-electrode active material for rechargeable lithium battery comprising: a core comprising material capable of doping and dedoping lithium; and, a carbon layer formed on the surface of the core, wherein the carbon layer has a three dimensional porous structure comprising nanopores regularly ordered on the carbon layer with a pore wall of specific thickness placed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicants: UNIST ACADEMY-INDUSTRY RESEARCH CORPORATION, LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jaephil Cho, Jae-Bum Choo, Byung-Hee Han, Hyun-Jung Kim, Ki-Tae Kim, Je-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8142540
    Abstract: The invention concerns alloyed zinc powders for alkaline batteries and a method to manufacture such powders The powders are characterized by the presence of particles pierced with at least one hole. This appears to benefit the high drain discharge capacity while preserving the process ability of the powder, and the shelf life and the gassing behavior of the batteries The invented powders can be manufactured using centrifugal atomization in a cooled, oxygen-depleted atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Christophe Henninot, Yvan Strauven
  • Publication number: 20120070741
    Abstract: Provided are battery electrode structures that maintain high mass loadings (i.e., large amounts per unit area) of high capacity active materials in the electrodes without deteriorating their cycling performance. These mass loading levels correspond to capacities per electrode unit area that are suitable for commercial electrodes even though the active materials are kept thin and generally below their fracture limits. A battery electrode structure may include multiple template layers. An initial template layer may include nanostructures attached to a substrate and have a controlled density. This initial layer may be formed using a controlled thickness source material layer provided, for example, on a substantially inert substrate. Additional one or more template layers are then formed over the initial layer resulting in a multilayer template structure with specific characteristics, such as a surface area, thickness, and porosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: AMPRIUS, INC.
    Inventors: Zuqin Liu, Song Han, Ghyrn E. Loveness
  • Publication number: 20120070725
    Abstract: Lithium ion battery positive electrode material are described that comprise an active composition comprising lithium metal oxide coated with an inorganic coating composition wherein the coating composition comprises a metal chloride, metal bromide, metal iodide, or combinations thereof. Desirable performance is observed for these coated materials. In particular, the non-fluoride metal halide coatings are useful for stabilizing lithium rich metal oxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Subramanian Venkatachalam, Deepak Kumaar Kandasamy Karthikeyan, Herman A. Lopez
  • Publication number: 20120052376
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells having a cathode, a zinc anode including a mixture of zinc fibers and zinc powder, and electrolyte are provided. The zinc fiber and zinc powder may have selected physical and compositional attributes. Methods of preparing such electrochemical cells are also provided. Such electrochemical cells may provide improved discharging performance under power-demanding conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TECK METALS LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoge Gregory Zhang, Audrey Marylin Boutin
  • Publication number: 20120045700
    Abstract: Triethylboron is a useful precursor for depositing films in an atomic layer deposition process. This precursor is useful for depositing boron containing films. Boron containing films are excellent lubricating coatings for zinc powders, improving their flow properties and simplifying powder handling. This makes the coated zinc powders especially useful for battery applications in which a zinc powder is used as an anode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: David M. King, Dean S. Dinair
  • Publication number: 20120045696
    Abstract: A negative electrode of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a current collector and a mixture comprising a negative electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder on the current collector. The negative electrode active material has the overall composition: MaSibPcBd; in which: 0<a<1, 0<b<1, 0<c<1, 0<d<1, and a+b+c+d=1; and M is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Tc, Cu, Zn, Pd, Ag, Cd, Au, Mn, Co, Ni, Sn, and Re, and mixtures thereof. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte between the positive and negative electrodes. A method for preparing the negative electrode comprises the steps of preparing a mixture comprising a negative electrode active material, a conductive material, a binder, and a solvent; coating the mixture on a current collector; and drying the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: P. Subramanya Herle
  • Patent number: 8119278
    Abstract: A flat, flexible electrochemical cell is provided. The within invention describes various aspects of the flat, flexible electrochemical cell. A printed anode is provided that obviates the need for a discrete anode current collector, thereby reducing the size of the battery. An advantageous electrolyte is provided that enables the use of a metallic cathode current collector, thereby improving the performance of the battery. Printable gelled electrolytes and separators are provided, enabling the construction of both co-facial and co-planar batteries. Cell contacts are provided that reduce the potential for electrolyte creepage in the flat, flexible electrochemical cells of the within invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Bailey, Abdelkader Hilmi, Mark A. Schubert, Jing Zhang, Guanghong Zheng
  • Patent number: 8114541
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy generation system can include a sealed vessel that contains inside (i) at least one electrochemical cell, which has two electrodes and a reaction zone between them; (ii) a liquefied halogen reactant, such as a liquefied molecular chlorine; (iii) at least one metal halide electrolyte; and (iv) a flow circuit that can be used for delivering the halogen reactant and the electrolyte to the at least one cell. The sealed vessel can maintain an inside pressure above a liquefication pressure for the halogen reactant. Also disclosed are methods of using and methods of making for electrochemical energy generation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rick Winter
  • Publication number: 20120034524
    Abstract: A battery anode comprised of metallic nanowire arrays is disclosed. In one embodiment the lithium battery uses Silicon nanowires or another element that alloy with Lithium or another element to produce high capacity lithium battery anodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ILLUMINEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Caracciolo, Youssef M. Habib
  • Patent number: 8110301
    Abstract: An article is provided. The article may include an electrochemical cell. The cell may include a molten electrolyte, and at least one molten electrode. The cell may include a structure for separating an anode from a cathode, while enabling ionic communication between the anode and cathode. An energy storage device comprising the article is also provided. Methods related to the article and the energy storage device may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Dominic Iacovangelo, David Charles Bogdan, Jr., Richard Louis Hart, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Steven Alfred Tysoe, Michael Alan Vallance, Guillermo Daniel Zappi
  • Publication number: 20120028113
    Abstract: An anode composite material includes an anode active material particle having a surface and a continuous aluminum phosphate layer. The continuous aluminum phosphate layer is coated on the surface of the anode active material particle. The present disclosure also relates to a lithium ion battery that includes the cathode composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: XIAN-KUN HUANG, XIANG-MING HE, CHANG-YIN JIANG, DAN WANG, JIAN GAO, JIAN-JUN LI
  • Patent number: 8097364
    Abstract: An electroactive material for charge transport. The material is formed of a plurality of nanocomponents including nanoparticles, in turn formed of conductive carbon-based clusters bound together by a conductive carbon-based cluster binder including nanoclusters and nanocluster binders, all having high densities of mobile charge carriers (electrons, electronic acceptors, ionic species). A terminal is electrically coupled to the nanoparticles for charge transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Integrated Resource Recovery, Inc
    Inventor: Thomas A. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8092939
    Abstract: A virtually lead additive-free but highly reliable and practical anode zinc can for a battery with improved process-ability and corrosion resistance. A manganese dry battery comprising such a zinc can. A manufacturing method for making the zinc can and a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Toshiba Consumer Electronics Holdings Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Kobayashi, Mutsuhiro Maeda