Grid Or Holder For Active Material Patents (Class 429/233)
  • Patent number: 7462425
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a case, a nonaqueous electrolyte provided in the case, a positive electrode provided in the case, and a negative electrode provided in the case, the negative electrode comprising a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode layer that is carried on the negative electrode current collector and contains negative electrode active material particles, and the negative electrode current collector comprising an aluminum foil having an average crystal grain size of 50 ?m or less or an aluminum alloy foil having an average crystal grain size of 50 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norio Takami, Hiroki Inagaki, Yoshinao Tatebayashi
  • Publication number: 20080248396
    Abstract: An electrode, for a rechargeable lithium battery, including a current collector; an active material layer disposed on the current collector; and a coating layer disposed on the active material layer. The coating layer includes a lithium ion conductive polymer and an inorganic material represented by Formula 1: MwHxPyOz, wherein M is an element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline-earth metal, a Group 13 element, a Group 14 element, a transition element, a rare earth element, and a combination thereof; and 1?w?4, 0?x?4, 1?y?7, and 2?z?30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Euy-Young Jung, Duck-Chul Hwang, Yong-Chul Park, Jeom-Soo Kim, Jong-Hwa Lee, Jae-Yul Ryu, So-Hyun Hur
  • Patent number: 7432016
    Abstract: An alloy material containing an intermetallic compound of metal that is alloyed with Li and metal that is not alloyed with Li, capable of repeatedly absorbing and desorbing Li, is formed on a collector made of a material that is not alloyed with Li, as a plurality of convex portions partitioned with gaps disposed thereamong, and an area the convex portions occupy on the collector is assumed to be 60 to 95% of the area of the collector. Because of this, an electrode containing an intermetallic compound capable of repeatedly absorbing and desorbing Li can be provided, which can configure a non-aqueous secondary battery having a higher charging/discharging efficiency, a larger discharging capacity, and more excellent high rate characteristics and cycle characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromu Sugiyama, Kiyomi Ishizawa, Atsushi Ueda, Shigeo Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7432018
    Abstract: A cylindrical alkaline storage battery suitable to increase its capacity and arranged to prevent a short circuit and internal resistance increase, including an electrode group held in an outer can and formed by rolling up together a negative electrode having a negative-electrode core body and a hydrogen-absorbing alloy layer supported thereon, a positive electrode, and a separator. The negative electrode includes a main part forming inside part of the electrode group, a thin part smaller than the main part in the thickness of the hydrogen-absorbing alloy layer and the amount of a hydrogen-absorbing alloy contained in unit volume of that layer, and a boundary part formed between the main and thin parts and having a hydrogen-absorbing alloy layer thickness varying along the length of the negative-electrode core body. The positive electrode outer end and the negative electrode boundary part are at different positions circumferentially of the electrode group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7427455
    Abstract: There are provided an anode for a lithium metal polymer secondary battery comprising an anodic current collector having a surface on which a plurality of recesses having a predetermined shape are formed and a method of preparing the same. The plurality of recesses are formed on a surface of the anodic current collector using a physical method or a chemical method. In a lithium metal polymer secondary battery employing the anode, oxidation/reduction of lithium and the formation of dendrite occur only in the recesses formed by surface patterning of the anodic current collector. Thus, expanding and shrinking of a battery due to a change in the thickness of the lithium anode can be prevented and cycling stability and the lifespan of a battery can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young Gi Lee, Yong Sik Hong, Yong Joon Park, Kwang Sun Ryu
  • Patent number: 7419745
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming an electrode structure useful in energy storage devices, which method involves the spray deposition of a mixture of carbon and a binder on a current collector. In addition, the present invention relates to energy storage devices including an electrode structure produced using a spray deposition method to deposit a mixture of carbon and a binder on a current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventors: Sanjay Chaturvedi, William Joseph Grieco, Eric Gustave Lundquist
  • Patent number: 7419512
    Abstract: An electrode includes a composite mixture layer formed by applying a composite mixture having one of a cathode active material or an anode active material on one of main surfaces of a plurality of current collectors formed in substantially rectangular shapes; and a non-applied part to which the composite mixture is not applied at both end parts in the longitudinal direction. One current collector is connected to the other adjacent current collector at one end side in the longitudinal direction through a connecting part to which the composite mixture is not applied and which is provided continuously to the non-applied parts. In the electrode constructed as described above, a plurality of current collectors can be laminated to obtain a multi-layer structure and an electric current can be collected from a lead welded to only one end part of the current collector. Thus, the electrode of a new form having an excellent productivity and a high capacity can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinari Sasaki, Koji Shimotoku, Hidehisa Murase
  • Patent number: 7413829
    Abstract: In a lithium secondary battery comprising positive and negative electrodes each comprising at least an active material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, a binder and a current collector, and an electrolytic solution, the active material in the positive and/or negative electrode has been made conductive by coating its surface with a conductive agent and a binder, and affixed to the surface of the collector by a dry process. The lithium secondary battery is given a higher energy density and a higher output density and will find a wider range of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Iijima, Jun-ichi Satoh, Satoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7410727
    Abstract: A graphite particle obtained by assembling or binding together a plurality of flat-shaped particles so that the planes of orientation are not parallel to one another, or a graphite particle in which aspect ratio is 5 or less or specific surface area is 8 m2/g or less or the size of crystallite in the direction of c-axis of the crystal is 500 ? or more and the size of crystallite in the direction of plane is 1,000 ? or less as measured by X ray broad angle diffraction, or a graphite particle in which pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 102 to 106 ? is 0.4 to 2.0 cc/g per weight of graphite particle or pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 1×102 to 2×104 ? is 0.08 to 0.4 cc/g per weight of graphite particle is suitable for production of negative electrode of lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery obtained therefrom is excellent in rapid charge-discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Ishii, Tatsuya Nishida, Atsushi Fujita, Kazuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 7407727
    Abstract: An electrode according to the invention can provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an ability to release a volume expansion at the time of charge and discharge as well as the time of a cycle. The electrode comprises a current collector made of a material which is not alloyed with Li, and a dot pattern 2 of a metallic material able to be alloyed with Li formed on the current collector. At the time of charge, since the volume expansion of each dot 3 is carried out so as to bury adjoining crevices 4 between the dots, a stress generated is released, thereby degradation of an electrode being avoided. Each dot may also be made into porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromu Sugiyama, Hideyuki Morimoto, Atsushi Ueda, Shigeo Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7405020
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for use of carbonized charcoal powder as an electrode is provided. Charcoal is provided as a powder, carbonized, and placed in a container (16) by which compressive pressure is applied to the carbonized-charcoal powder via one or more sides of the container (16). As a result of the compressive pressure the packed-bed (11) of carbonized-charcoal powder manifests a resistivity of less than about 1 ohm-cm and is suitable for use as an electrode in a fuel cell, battery or electrolyzer. The apparatus is adapted with electrical contacts (8, 9, 10) to conduct electric flow to or from the electrode and adapted for communication of an electrolyte with the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7399553
    Abstract: A graphite particle obtained by assembling or binding together a plurality of flat-shaped particles so that the planes of orientation are not parallel to one another, or a graphite particle in which aspect ratio is 5 or less or specific surface area is 8 m2/g or less or the size of crystallite in the direction of c-axis of the crystal is 500 ? or more and the size of crystallite in the direction of plane is 1,000 ? or less as measured by X ray broad angle diffraction, or a graphite particle in which pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 102 to 106 ? is 0.4 to 2.0 cc/q per weight of graphite particle or pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 1×102 to 2×104 ? is 0.08 to 0.4 cc/g per weight of graphite particle is suitable for production of negative electrode of lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery obtained therefrom is excellent in rapid charge-discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Ishii, Tatsuya Nishida, Atsushi Fujita, Kazuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 7384707
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has an electrode and an electrolyte layer. The electrode includes a collector having a lot of fine pores on its surface, and a membrane layer made of an electrode active material provided along the surface shape of the fine pores of the collector. By this structure, the battery can manifest an excellent performance even in charging and discharging at high speed without using a binder and conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mori Nagayama, Kouichi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7381499
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery whose electrolyte can be selected from a wider range of materials can be obtained. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution. At least one of the positive and negative electrodes has a collector which includes a compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements, group III elements, group IV Elements, and group V elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kumiko Kanai, Masahisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7378191
    Abstract: A graphite particle obtained by assembling or binding together a plurality of flat-shaped particles so that the planes of orientation are not parallel to one another, or a graphite particle in which aspect ratio is 5 or less or specific surface area is 8 m2/g or less or the size of crystallite in the direction of c-axis of the crystal is 500 ? or more and the size of crystallite in the direction of plane is 1,000 ? or less as measured by X ray broad angle diffraction, or a graphite particle in which pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 102 to 106 ? is 0.4 to 2.0 cc/g per weight of graphite particle or pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 1×102 to 2×104 ? is 0.08 to 0.4 cc/a per weight of graphite particle is suitable for production of negative electrode of lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery obtained therefrom is excellent in rapid charge-discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Ishii, Tatsuya Nishida, Atsushi Fujita, Kazuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 7348102
    Abstract: A battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a molten salt electrolyte, and an electron collector, associated with the first electrode, the electron collector comprising an electrically conducting film. The battery further includes a protection layer separating the electron collector and the first electrode, the protection layer comprising a carbon-containing material. The electron collector may be an electrically conducting material such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, nickel, other metal (such as alloys), conducting polymer, and the like. In one example, the protection layer is a graphite layer. In other examples, the protection layer may be a fullerene film, carbon nanotube film, or other carbon-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Centre National de la Recherche, University de Montreal
    Inventors: Wen Li, Junzo Ukai, Hiroaki Awano, Yutaka Oyama, Masaki Matsui, Gerald Perron, Michael B. Armand
  • Publication number: 20080050654
    Abstract: Batteries, as well as related components and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Maya Stevanovic
  • Patent number: 7335448
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes: (a) a positive electrode plate comprising an active material part and a current collector carrying the active material part, the active material part comprising a positive electrode active material capable of absorbing or desorbing a lithium ion during charge and discharge; (b) a negative electrode plate comprising an active material part and a current collector carrying the active material part, the active material part comprising a negative electrode active material capable of absorbing or desorbing a lithium ion during charge and discharge; (c) a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrode plates; (d) an electrolyte; and (e) a battery case accommodating the positive and negative electrode plates, the separator, and the electrolyte. The positive and negative electrode plates are wound with the separator interposed therebetween, thereby to form an electrode plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kaito, Futoshi Tanigawa, Naoto Arai
  • Patent number: 7335440
    Abstract: An anode subassembly for use in an implantable electrochemical cell includes a solid anode current collector and an alkali metal anode pressed onto the solid anode current collector such that the solid anode current collector is located on the outer side of the outermost winding of a coiled electrode assembly formed when the anode subassembly is wound with a cathode subassembly. The anode subassembly may further include a spacer formed from a microporous, non-conductive material pressed onto the alkali metal anode on the opposite side from the solid anode current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. Aamodt, Karl E. Hokanson, Sonja K. Somdahl, Craig L. Schmidt, Joseph J. Viavattine
  • Patent number: 7332245
    Abstract: An electrode according to the present invention employs the metal plate having the specified structure as the electrode substrate. The metal plate 51 has a plurality of protuberances 54 that are alternately protruded on both front and back sides thereof. Each of the protuberances 54 is formed in a pyramid shape in which an area of upper bottom 52 (a protruded part) thereof is smaller than that of a lower bottom 53. The upper bottom 52 in each of the protuberances 54 is formed with an aperture 56 having blanking burr 55 blinked in a substantially pyramid shape along a direction from the upper bottom 52 to the lower bottom 53 so that an opening 52a of the upper bottom part is formed in a polygon shape. Further, the size of each portions is set in accordance with c>s?0.1 mm2 and 0.2?h/d?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kishimi, Hiroshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7320846
    Abstract: A bipolar battery includes a bipolar electrode and an electrolyte layer. The bipolar electrode includes a current collector, a positive electrode layer formed on one surface of the current collector, and a negative electrode layer formed on the other surface of the current collector. The bipolar electrode is sequentially laminated to provide connection in series via the electrolyte layer to form a stack structure. The positive electrode layer, the negative electrode layer and the electrolyte layer are potted with a resin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Watanabe, Kenji Hosaka, Kouichi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7318983
    Abstract: The invention provides a battery achieving excellent battery characteristics by using, as an anode active material, any of metal elements and metalloid elements each of which can form an alloy with a lithium, alloys of these elements, and compounds of these elements. Mesh projections as a frame structure are formed on the surface on the side facing an anode active material layer, of an anode collector. By the mesh projections, expansion and contraction in the plane direction of the anode active material layer is suppressed. Thus, pulverization, peeling, and the like of the anode active material layer caused by expansion and contraction thereof are prevented and the cycle characteristics are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Momoe Adachi, Yukio Miyaki, Hiroshi Imoto
  • Patent number: 7318982
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for coating electroactive particles. Coating materials include a conductive component and a low refractive index component. Coatings are provided in which the conductive and low refractive index components are linked and/or do not form phases having lengthscales greater than about 0.25 ?m. Coatings are provided in which the components are contained in sequential layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoni S. Gozdz, Andrew L. Loxley, Anthony E. Pullen
  • Patent number: 7316862
    Abstract: A lithium-containing complex oxide represented by General Formula: Li1+x+?Ni(1?x?y+?)/2Mn(1?x?y??)/2MyO2 (where 0?x?0.15, ?0.05?x+??0.2, 0?y?0.4; ?0.1???0.1 (when 0?y?0.2) or ?0.24???0.24 (when 0.2<y?0.4); and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Al, Ge, Zr and Sn) is provided. The lithium-containing complex oxide contains secondary particles formed of flocculated primary particles. The primary particles have a mean particle diameter of 0.3 to 3 ?m, and the secondary particles have a mean particle diameter of 5 to 20 ?m. By using this lithium-containing complex oxide as a positive active material, a non-aqueous secondary battery having a high capacity, excellent cycle durability and excellent storage characteristics at a high temperature is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Uchitomi, Atsushi Ueda, Shigeo Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7314685
    Abstract: A titanium substrate having a thickened outer oxidation layer provided thereon by a treatment process performed either in an air atmosphere at elevated temperatures or through electrolytic oxidation (anodization), is discribed. The thusly conditioned titanium substrate serving as a cathode current collector for an electrode incorporated into an electrochemical cell exhibits improved electrical performance in comparison to the prior art techniques, i.e., electrically conducted carbon coated titanium screen and use of highly corrosion resistant materials, upon subsequent elevated temperature exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: W. Richard Brown, Christine A. Frysz, Sally Ann Smesko, Esther S. Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7309548
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode or the negative electrode is an electrode obtained by depositing a thin film of active material capable of lithium storage and release on a current collector, the thin film is divided into columns by gaps formed therein in a manner to extend in its thickness direction and the columnar portions are adhered at their bottoms to the current collector, and the nonaqueous electrolyte contains at least one selected from phosphate ester, phosphite ester, borate ester and carboxylic ester having a fluoroalkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Taeko Ota, Ryuji Ohshita, Maruo Kamino
  • Patent number: 7297443
    Abstract: An anode subassembly is provided for use in an implantable electrochemical cell wherein the anode subassembly includes an anode current collector designed to eliminate perforation edges in the final, outermost turn of a coiled electrode assembly. The anode current collector may be of a reduced size, discontinuous, or formed from alternating perforated and solid areas. The anode subassembly may further include reinforcing elements to support a thin anode layer in the outermost coil of a coiled, anode-limited cell. Reinforcing elements may take the form of a spacer, extensions extending from a reduced-size anode current collector, or strips of alkali metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. Aamodt, Karl E. Hokanson, Sonja K. Somdahl, Craig L. Schmidt, Joseph J. Viavattine
  • Patent number: 7297446
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery which is obtained by sintering under a non-oxidizing atmosphere, in the form of a layer on a surface of a metal foil current collector, an anode mix containing a binder and particles of active material containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy; the negative electrode being characterized in that the metal foil current corrector has projections and recesses on its surface, the projection is shaped to have a recurved side face portion that curves more outwardly as it extends closer to a distal end of the projection, and the binder penetrates into spaces defined by the recurved side face portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukui, Mariko Torimae, Yasuyuki Kusumoto, Hisaki Tarui
  • Patent number: 7291186
    Abstract: A solid porous zinc electrode for use in alkaline-zinc batteries, zinc-air batteries and fuel cells is provided which comprises specific zinc filaments, fibers, threads or strands compressed into a physically-stable wooly mass to form the electrode with a controlled geometrical shape and porosity distribution. Differential densification incorporates ribs, borders, grids or tabs for good structural integrity, mechanical strength, electrochemical behavior, and electrical conductivity. Pressing in a mold or rolling of a compressed sheet can also provide an anode with a large anode/cathode interface area and a complex geometry. The filaments of controlled dimension and composition are preferably made by spin forming from molten zinc alloys. Such anodes are not susceptible to breakage, have a long storage life and can be used in high rate discharge applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Teck Cominco Metals Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiaoge Gregory Zhang
  • Patent number: 7288342
    Abstract: A graphite particle obtained by assembling or binding together a plurality of flat-shaped particles so that the planes of orientation are not parallel to one another, or a graphite particle in which aspect ratio is 5 or less or specific surface area is 8 m2/g or less or the size of crystallite in the direction of c-axis of the crystal is 500 ? or more and the size of crystallite in the direction of plane is 1,000 ? or less as measured by X ray broad angle diffraction, or a graphite particle in which pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 102 to 106 ? is 0.4 to 2.0 cc/g per weight of graphite particle or pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 1×102 to 2×104 ? is 0.08 to 0.4 cc/g per weight of graphite particle is suitable for production of negative electrode of lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery obtained therefrom is excellent in rapid charge-discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Ishii, Tatsuya Nishida, Atsushi Fujita, Kazuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 7282298
    Abstract: An electrochemical device for providing an electric energy by converting an electron transfer involved in an oxidation-reduction reaction into an electric energy comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the positive and negative electrodes comprises a compound having a structure represented by the general formula (1):
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuu Inatomi, Mikinari Shimada, Nobuhiko Hojo
  • Patent number: 7279250
    Abstract: A primary lithium battery can include a current collector that includes aluminum, a cap that includes aluminum, or both. The aluminum battery components can have high mechanical strength and low electrical resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Fred J. Berkowitz, Nikolai N. Issaev, Michael Pozin
  • Publication number: 20070231698
    Abstract: A current collector includes a first principal plane and a second principal plane. In the current collector, the roughness of the first principal plane and second principal plane being mutually different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Kenichi Kawase, Isamu Konishiike, Tomoo Takada, Masayuki Iwama, Nozomu Morita, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20070224503
    Abstract: A secondary battery is provided. The secondary battery includes a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer provided on a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer provided on a negative electrode current collector, and an electrolyte, in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked and rolled up while placing a separator in between. A sum (A+B) of a total thickness “A” of the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode active material layer, and a total thickness “B” of the negative electrode current collector and the negative electrode active material layer ranges from 161 ?m to 220 ?m. A ratio (A/B) of the total thickness “A” to the total thickness “B” ranges from 0.65 to 1.9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Karin Tsuda, Shinsaku Ugawa, Akira Ichihashi, Kazuo Honda
  • Patent number: 7270686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fuel cell, comprising a step of forming a plurality of holes (10) in at least two substrates (9); each hole is in the seat of an individual fuel cell, the said holes having a particular geometry, such as a shape of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid shape. The various individual cells are then electrically connected by networks of electrical connections (11, 12) and are supplied via a reactant distribution network, the assembly formed by a substrate (9), the cells and the networks constituting a base module (9?). Finally, at least two base modules (9?) are assembled, the individual cells of each base module being positioned facing the individual cells of the adjacent base module(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean Arroyo, Didier Bloch, Jean-Yves Laurent, Didier Marsacq
  • Patent number: 7258950
    Abstract: An electrode having a current collector and, formed thereon, a thin film comprising an active material, characterized in that a thin alloy film (such as Sn—Co) comprising a metal which can form an alloy with lithium (such as Sn) and a metal which can not form an alloy with lithium (such as Co) is formed on a current collector such as a copper foil. It is preferred that the above metal which can form an alloy with lithium and the above metal which can not form an alloy with lithium can not form an intermetallic compound with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Tamura, Shiori Nakamizo, Daizo Jito, Ryuji Ohshita, Masahisa Fujimoto, Shin Fujitani, Maruo Kamino
  • Patent number: 7255964
    Abstract: An electrode plate unit capable of suppressing the internal short circuit caused by flashing that is formed on the end portion of a positive electrode plate and a battery using the same. The electrode plate unit includes a group of electrode plates in which a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates are laminated alternately via separators, a positive electrode collector plate connected to one side face of the group of electrode plates for connection to the positive electrode plate, and a negative electrode collector plate connected to another side face of the group of electrode plates for connection to the negative electrode plate, wherein the edge portion of the positive electrode plate is protruded from the edge portion of the negative electrode plate on the entire side face excluding the side face to which the negative electrode collector plate of the group of electrode plates is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Fukuda, Naoto Arai, Noriyuki Fujioka, Shinji Hamada
  • Publication number: 20070178382
    Abstract: Disclosed are an anode material for a secondary battery, a secondary battery using the same, a manufacturing method of the anode material for a secondary battery and a secondary battery using the same. The present invention provides an anode material for a secondary battery including an anode active material; and a coating material with which a surface of the anode active material is coated using a mixture of a conductive material and a pitch which is a low-crystallinity carbonaceous material, wherein the conductive material in the coating material is included in a content of 0.2% by weight or more of the anode active material and the low-crystallinity carbonaceous material. According to the present invention, the secondary battery having an excellent electrical property may be provided by preventing a charging/discharging efficiency and a charging/discharging capacity of the battery from being deteriorated, and simultaneously improving conductivity of the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Jong-Sung Kim, Ho-Gun Kim, Dong-Hun Shin, Chul Youm, Jeong-Hun Oh
  • Publication number: 20070172736
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery including: a positive electrode including a strip-shaped positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer carried on each surface of the positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode including a strip-shaped negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer carried on each surface of the negative electrode current collector; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein an exposed portion carrying no active material layer is formed on a substantially center portion in a longitudinal direction of at least one of the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector, a current collecting lead is connected to the exposed portion, and a first heat resistant layer is formed such that the first heat resistant faces at least part of the current collecting lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Masato Fujikawa, Kaoru Inoue, Mikinari Shimada
  • Publication number: 20070172735
    Abstract: A battery has a cathode layer deposited on a first current collector layer, an anode layer, and a solid-state electrolyte layer between the cathode layer and the anode layer. The cathode layer has a first projection and the anode layer has a second projection. The solid-state electrolyte layer has a first recess complementary to the first projection and a second recess complementary to the second projection. The battery also has a second current collector layer deposited over the anode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 7247409
    Abstract: 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). Alternatively, the active material layer further contains a crushed alloy powder having on the surface thereof at least one selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Ikeda, Susumu Kikuyama, Akiko Miyahara, Kohji Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20070166613
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a sheet-like current collector and an active material layer being carried thereon and including silicon atom. The active material layer includes a plurality of columnar particles, and in each columnar particle, at least a portion forming the columnar particle is grown to tilt with respect to the direction normal to the current collector. In the thickness direction of the active material layer, porosity Pc of the current collector side lower half of the active material layer and porosity Ps of the surface side upper half of the active material layer satisfy Pc<Ps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kogetsu, Masaya Ugaji
  • Patent number: 7241533
    Abstract: An electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery characterized in that thin films of active material capable of lithium storage and release, i.e., microcrystalline or amorphous silicone thin films are deposited on opposite faces of a plate-form current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ikeda, Masahisa Fujimoto, Shin Fujitani, Kenji Asaoka, Shigeki Matsuta, Yoichi Domoto, Ryuji Ohshita, Masaki Shima, Hiromasa Yagi, Hisaki Tarui, Hiroshi Kurokawa, Yoshio Kato, Hiroshi Nakajima, Toshikazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7235330
    Abstract: An electrode for a lithium battery having a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, e.g., a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, provided on a current collector, the electrode being characterized in that the current collector has a surface roughness Ra of 0.01 ?m or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Fujimoto, Shin Fujitani, Masaki Shima, Hiromasa Yagi, Hisaki Tarui, Hiroshi Kurokawa, Shigeki Matsuta, Yoichi Domoto, Yoshio Kato, Hiroshi Nakajima, Hiroaki Ikeda, Kenji Asaoka, Ryuji Ohshita
  • Patent number: 7226700
    Abstract: Provided is a battery capable of improving cycle characteristics without increasing the thickness of an anode current collector. An anode active material layer including at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Sn and compounds thereof is formed on an anode current collector having a projection on a substrate through a vapor deposition method, a liquid-phase deposition method or a sintering method, and the anode current collector and the anode active material layer are alloyed with each other in at least a portion of an interface therebetween. By a function of the projection, the anode current collector can be prevented from being cracked into small pieces due to expansion and shrinkage of the anode active material layer. Further, a stress on the anode active material layer due to the expansion and the shrinkage can be spread out so that cracks produced in the anode active material layer can be scattered in various directions to reduce the size of the cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Takada, Kenichi Kawase, Yukio Miyaki
  • Patent number: 7227235
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a battery comprises an electrode having at least one nanostructured surface. The nanostructured surface is disposed in a way such that an electrolyte fluid of the battery is prevented from contacting the electrode, thus preventing discharge of the battery when the battery is not in use. When a voltage is passed over the nanostructured surface, the electrolyte fluid is caused to penetrate the nanostructured surface and to contact the electrode, thus activating the battery. In one illustrative embodiment, the battery is an integrated part of an electronics package. In another embodiment, the battery is manufactured as a separate device and is then brought into contact with the electronics package. In yet another embodiment, the electronics package and an attached battery are disposed in a projectile that is used as a military targeting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Timofei Nikita Kroupenkine, Joseph Ashley Taylor, Donald Weiss
  • Patent number: 7198867
    Abstract: An electrolytic apparatus for using catalyst-coated hollow microspheres to produce gases, store them, and to make them available for later use. The apparatus uses catalyst-coated hollow microspheres in reversible electrochemical processes and reactions, such as those used in conjunction with water dissociation, fuel cells, and rechargeable batteries. The apparatus can be used to manufacture and store hydrogen and or oxygen and to make them available for subsequent use as raw materials for use in electrochemical and chemical reactions or as a fuel and or oxidizer for a combustion engine. The apparatus can be used as a hydrogen-oxygen hermetically seal secondary battery. The apparatus can be used as a hydrogen storage portion of certain types of secondary batteries. Hydrogen and oxygen can be stored within hollow microspheres at moderate temperature and pressure, eliminating the need for expensive storage and handling equipment, and increasing the mobility of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Diffusion Science, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Sanders
  • Patent number: 7195844
    Abstract: In a lithium secondary battery comprising positive and negative electrodes each comprising at least an active material capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, a binder and a current collector, and an electrolytic solution, the active material in the positive and/or negative electrode has been made conductive by coating its surface with a conductive agent and a binder, and affixed to the surface of the collector by a dry process. The lithium secondary battery is given a higher energy density and a higher output density and will find a wider range of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Iijima, Jun-ichi Satoh, Satoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7192673
    Abstract: An electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery which includes a thin film composed of active material that expands and shrinks as it stores and releases lithium, e.g., a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, deposited on a current collector, characterized in that said current collector exhibits a tensile strength (=tensile strength (N/mm2) per sectional area of the current collector material×thickness (mm) of the current collector) of not less than 3.82 N/mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ikeda, Masahisa Fujimoto, Shin Fujitani, Masaki Shima, Hiromasa Yagi, Hisaki Tarui, Hiroshi Kurokawa, Kenji Asaoka, Shigeki Matsuta, Yoichi Domoto, Ryuji Ohshita, Yoshio Kato, Hiroshi Nakajima, Yasuyuki Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 7179562
    Abstract: An electrode assembly and construction method therefor for use in small high performance batteries suitable for implantable medical device applications. The electrode assembly comprises a stack of precisely aligned planar elements including alternately arranged positive and negative planar electrodes having a planar separator interposed between adjacent electrodes. Each electrode is preferably formed of a thin metal substrate carrying active material on front and rear faces. The peripheral edge of each electrode defines an active area and a tab extending therefrom. The front and rear faces of the active area each carries a layer of active material. The faces of the tab area are preferably bare. The positive electrode tabs are located at a first position along the peripheral edge whereas the negative tabs are located at a second position spaced from said first position. Each tab carries a clip to form a reinforcing strip adjacent each tab face. Alignment holes are formed in the clips and tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Quallion LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Zolotnik, Alex Z. Pàl, Jose A. Ulloa, Vladimir Gusev, Joseph Wong