Abstract: A heat-resistant separator composed of a non-woven fabric of high-melting resin, 1 to 20 &mgr;m in average fiber diameter, 5 to 300 g/m2 in basis weight, 1 to 200 cc/cm2/sec in air permeability, and 0.01 to 1.0 mm in thickness, or a laminated heat-resistant separator composed of a laminate having a melt-blown, non-woven fabric layer of high-melting resin, 1 to 20 &mgr;m in average fiber diameter, 5 to 300 g/m2 in basis weight, 1 to 200 cc/cm2/sec in air permeability, and 0.01 to 1.0 mm in thickness is more resistant to heat, and hence safer, and is suitable for batteries and electrical double-layer capacitors serviceable at high temperature.

Abstract: The high rate discharge performance and cyclability are improved. A battery having a hich capacity density and excellent cyclability and safety performance can be produced. A composite active material provided with a polymer on the surface of a carbon-based active material in an amount of from 0.01% to 5% by weight is used. Further, a composite active material provided with a polymer on the surface of a carbon-based active material in an amount of from 0.04 to 4% by weight is used. In particular, the former composite active material is used as a positive active material while the latter composite active material is used as a negative active material to obtain a non-aqueous electrolyte battery.

Abstract: A composite comprising: A) at least one separator layer Aa which comprises a mixture Ia, comprising a mix IIa consisting of: (a) from 1 to 95% by weight of a solid III having a primary particle size of from 5 nm to 20 &mgr;m; and (b) from 5 to 99% by weight of a polymeric composition IV; B) at least one cathode layer B which comprises an electron-conducting, electrochemically active compound which is able to release lithium ions on charging, and C) at least one anode layer C which comprises an electron-conducting, electrochemical compound which is able to take up lithium ions on charging.

Abstract: There are provided a porous film comprising a polymer composition comprising (a) a polymer having C═C double bond and an aliphatic ring having 5 to 10 carbon atoms in a main chain thereof; and (b) another resin; a porous film, wherein all or a part of C═C double bond in the (a) polymer is disappeared; and a porous film, wherein the (a) polymer and the (b) resin are cross-linked therebetween. The porous film has appropriate porosity, air permeability and puncture strength, and is especially excellent in latent heat resistance or heat resistance. Further, there are provided a process for producing the porous film; a separator for a battery comprising the porous film; and a battery comprising the separator.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery is resistant to the reflow temperature during reflow soldering. The non-aqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery has a positive electrode having an active material comprised of an oxide of molybdenum, a negative electrode comprised of lithium and SiO, an electrolytic solution comprised of a material containing a supporting salt and resistant to the reflow temperature during reflow soldering of the non-aqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery, and a gasket comprised of a compound selected from the group consisting of LCP, PEEK, PEN, and tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer resin.

Abstract: A separator for a valve-regulated lead acid battery consists mainly of fine glass fibers. The separator includes inorganic powder in an amount of 5 to 30% by weight and natural pulp in an amount of 3 to 20% by weight, and has a density of not less than 0.165 g/cm3. The separator sufficiently suppresses the occurrence of electrical short circuits between the positive and negative electrode plates.

Abstract: An electrode active material forming composition, a separator forming composition and a manufacturing method of a lithium secondary battery using the compositions are provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lithium ion secondary battery comprising preparing a positive electrode (3) where a positive electrode active material (7) is joined with a positive electrode collector (6), a negative electrode (5) where a negative electrode active material (9) is joined with a negative electrode collector (10), and a separator (4) for retaining the electrolytes including lithium ions, being arranged between the positive electrode (3) and the negative electrode (5), the process of supplying adhesive solution applied on the separator with a second solvent different from a first solvent after applying the adhesive resin solution, where adhesive resin (11) is dissolved in the above first solvent, to the separator (4), and the process of forming an electrode laminate by sticking the positive electrode (3) and the negative electrode (5) to the separator (4).

Abstract: Battery separators made of a wettable, uniform mat of melt blown fibers. The melt blown fibers are thermally bonded to one another. These fibers are made of a thermoplastic material. The fibers have a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 13 microns (&mgr;) and lengths greater than 12 millimeters (mm). The mat has a basis weight ranging from 6 to 160 grams per square meter (g/m2), a thickness of less than 75 microns (&mgr;), and an average pore size of 0.3 to 50 microns (&mgr;).

Abstract: A carbonaceous composite material molded from a carbonaceous composite compound composed mainly of graphite, a thermosetting resin, and a fibrous base material, wherein molding is carried out in such a way that said fibrous base material is oriented in said carbonaceous composite material; a process for producing said carbonaceous composite material; a fuel cell separator having said carbonaceous composite material as a component; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The carbonaceous composite material can be produced by injection molding, transfer molding or extrusion molding without difficulties encountered in the past. It has high strength, with a minimum amount of warpage. It contributes to productivity.

Abstract: A method for producing a battery separator is disclosed. The method comprises applying a coating of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer to the fibers of a non-woven sheet and polymerizing the monomer in situ on the fiber surfaces. The non-woven sheet is from 50 to 3000 microns thick, and is composed of polyolefin fibers having an average fiber diameter from 0.5 to 5 microns and a surface area from 0.2 to 30 square meters per gram.

Abstract: A battery unit and a lithium secondary battery employing the same are provided. The battery unit includes a positive electrode plate having a positive current collector and a positive active material layer formed on at least one plane of the positive current collector, a positive electrode lead electrically connected with the positive current collector, a negative electrode plate having a negative current collector and a negative active material layer formed on at least one plane of the negative current collector, a negative electrode lead electrically connected with the negative current collector, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, having a width greater than that of each electrode plate, and having different widths of protruding portions which stick out on either side of the electrode plate.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprises a negative electrode capable of intercalating/deintercalating lithium ion, a positive electrode made of a lithium-containing metal oxide as an active positive material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a polyvinylidene fluoride resin is disposed between said negative electrode and positive electrode so that the battery voltage doesn't rise beyond a predetermined value even when said battery is overcharged.

Abstract: A composite comprises at least one layer which includes a composite comprising (a) from 1 to 99% by weight of a solid (I) with a primary particle size of from 5 nm to 100 &mgr;m or a mixture made from at least two solids, (b) from 99 to 1% by weight of a polymeric binder (II) which includes: (IIa) from 1 to 100% by weight of a polymer or copolymer (IIa) which has, along the chain, terminally and/or laterally, reactive groups (RG) which are capable of crosslinking reactions when exposed to heat and/or UV radiation, and (IIb) from 0 to 99% by weight of at least one polymer or copolymer (IIb) which is free from reactive groups RG, where the at least one layer has been applied to at least one second layer comprising at least one conventional separator.

Abstract: Use of vinylidenfluoride (VDF) copolymers for preparing electrolyte polymers, wherein the VDF copolymers have the following polymeric structure (I): (CH2—CF2)m—(CXY—C(ORf)Z)n—(CF2—CF(CF3))p) wherein: Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; X, Y, and Z equal to or different from each other are selected from F, Cl or H; m,n and p are integers, n or p can be 0 but not simultaneously; said VDF copolymers being obtainable by emulsion polymerization at 75-120° C., preferably 95°-120° C., in the presence of organic initiators.

Abstract: An inexpensive composite electrolyte for use in electrochemical fuel cells includes (i) an inorganic cation exchange material, (i) a silica-based binder; and (ii) a polymer-based binder. The cation exchange material includes aluminosilicate clays. The composite electrolyte can be fabricated with a tape casting apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provide a separator for an electrochemical device which comprises a wet nonwoven fabric comprising one or more kinds of fibrillated organic fibers which are at least partially fibrillated into a fiber diameter of 1 &mgr;m or less, and one or more kinds of. unfibrillated organic fibers having a fineness of 0.5 dtex or less, which exhibits excellent heat resistance, electrolyte holding properties, internal short-circuit preventing property, and winding property, which results in a lowered internal resistance and prolonged life of an electrochemical device, and a method for producing the same and an electrochemical device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention provides a separator in lead acid battery, composed of fiber material and polymers; the polymers provide functions of increasing the mechanical strength for separators, avoiding shortage between positive and negative electrodes, and decreasing the thickness of separators. The invention also provides a manufacturing method of battery separators, whereby polymers are used to coat or absorb to porous separators through means of spraying, immersing, brushing, adhering or other similar means, thus acquiring thinner battery separators with increased mechanical strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous secondary battery and a separator to be used therein. The separator comprises a polyolefin membrane containing one or more conjugated polyene compounds provided on the surface thereof. The nonaqueous secondary battery having this arrangement performs improved cycle life characteristics and shelf characteristics at high temperatures.

Abstract: Described is a rechargeable lithium ion battery comprised of (a) a negative electrode and (b) a positive electrode both comprised of a current collector and applied to each a mixture of chlorinated polymer blend and lithium intercalation materials and (c) a separator/ polymer electrolyte comprised of chlorinated polymer blend and filler.

Abstract: A novel microporous membrane comprising a hot-melt adhesive and an engineering plastics, the methods of preparing such microporous membrane and the uses of the microporous membrane in, e.g., batteries, super capacitors, fuel cells, sensors, electrochromic devices or the like.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery (200) has at least two carbon foam electrodes (54, 56). Each of the electrodes (54, 56) is fitted with a plate (60, 62 respectively) formed from an electrically conductive material. The plate (60, 62) has an underside which is formed so as to be attached to one end of the carbon foam electrode (54, 56). The plate (60, 62) may be fixed to the electrode by crimping or a similar deforming process or may be fitted thereto by an electrically conductive adhesive.

Abstract: A freestanding battery separator includes a microporous polymer web with passageways that provide overall fluid permeability. The polymer web preferably contains UHMWPE and a gel-forming polymer material. The structure of or the pattern formed by the gel-forming polymer material and wettability of the UHMWPE polymer web result in a reduction of the time required to achieve uniform electrolyte distribution throughout the lithium-ion battery. In a first embodiment, the gel-forming polymer material is a coating on the UHMWPE web surface. In a second embodiment, the gel-forming polymer material is incorporated into the UHMWPE web while retaining overall fluid permeability. Both embodiments produce hybrid gel electrolyte systems in which gel and liquid electrolyte co-exist.

Abstract: A battery separator is provided which is hardly broken by tension during the manufacture of batteries, is hardly punctured with a plate flash, and is hardly torn off with a plate edge, thereby hardly causing a short circuit. Accordingly, the separator can facilitate the stable manufacture of the batteries. The battery separator is equipped with a fiber sheet containing a polypropylene fiber having a tensile strength of not less than 10 g/d (denier) and a Young's modulus of not less than 800 kg/mm2, said separator having a resistance of not less than 585 gf to puncture by edge, or is equipped with a fiber sheet containing not less than 10 mass % of a polypropylene fiber having a tensile strength of not less than 10 g/d (denier) and a Young's modulus of not less than 800 kg/mm2.

Abstract: The nonaqueous secondary battery according to the invention uses a separator 10 which is a composite resin film with a reinforcing material layer 11 integrally filled with polyvinylidene fluoride resin 12 or a separator 20 which is a composite resin film with a polyvinylidene fluoride resin layer 21 and a reinforcing material layer 22 stacked thereon. In this way, when the reinforcing material layer 11 is integrally filled with the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) resin 12, or the reinforcing material layer 22 is stacked on the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) resin layer 21, even if the polyvinylidene fluoride resin swells, its swelling is limited by the reinforcing material layer 11, 21 in the directions of width and length so that the separator 10 or 20 does not wrinkle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a battery separator. The battery separator comprises a microporous film having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is bonded to the second portion. The bond has a strength greater than 5 g/in. The film has a thickness less than 1.7 mils, a Gurley of less than 50 sec/10 cc, and a puncture strength of greater than 400 g/mil.

Abstract: A separator for an alkaline storage battery includes a plurality of polyolefin resins. The polyolefin resins include a first polyolefin resin that is sulfonated, and a second polyolefin resin that is sulfonated. The degree of sulfonation of the first polyolefin resin is different from that of the second polyolefin resin. Thus, a novel separator having high liquid retention properties and high air permeability, and an alkaline storage battery using the same can be obtained.

Abstract: A microporous film which is excellent in permeability and mechanical strength and has breakage resistance at high temperatures; a separator for a nonaqueous-electrolyte battery which comprises the microporous film; and a nonaqueous-electrolyte battery employing the separator. The microporous film has a gel content of from 20 to 90% as determined through 3-hour immersion in boiling xylene.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an electric double-layer capacitor with an excellent property of preventing a short circuit between the electrodes, a better ionic permeability and a high strength is provided, said process comprising using, as a separator, a fiber sheet containing a fiber having fibrils and a fine polyester fiber having a fineness of not more than 0.45 dtex (decitex) and drying the separator at a specific temperature.

Abstract: This invention discloses a separator for a lithium secondary battery, method for producing thereof, and a lithium ion secondary battery using the thereof. The separator comprises a porous film including a polyolefin resin; and a coating solution coated on the porous film and containing a nonflammable compound and an adhesive resin for fixing the nonflammable compound. The lithium ion secondary battery manufactured by this invention provide an improved safety and better electrochemical performance such as charge/discharge characteristics and cycle life.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are disclosed comprising substantially unbonded fibers and vinyl monomers which are capable of reacting with an acid or a base to form a salt directly or indirectly by a reaction involving exposure to ultraviolet radiation while impregnated with a solution of the vinyl monomer copolymerized to the surface of the fibers. Laminates of these non-woven fabrics as well as electrochemical devices employing them as a separator, and methods of treating such non-woven fabrics are also disclosed.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment is to a battery separator for a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. The separator includes a wettable, resilient nonwoven web having two spunbond layers sandwiching a melt blown layer. The web has a puncture strength of greater than 6 newtons, a tensile strength of greater than 200 newtons/meter, and an average pore size of less than 20 microns.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device with at least two electrodes and an electrolyte, a carrier material for the electrolyte being disposed between the electrodes, and the carrier material including a porous material in whose inner pore structure a perfluoropolyether and/or fluorinated substance is present.

Abstract: A novel microporous membrane comprising a hot-melt adhesive and an engineering plastics, the methods of preparing such microporous membrane and the uses of the microporous membrane in, e.g., batteries, super capacitors, fuel cells, sensors, electrochromic devices or the like.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrode for an electric double layer capacitor, which includes extruding a mixture including a carbonaceous material, a polytetrafluoroethylene and a processing aid by paste extrusion, and rolling the obtained extruded product by rolling rolls to form it into a sheet shape.

Abstract: A battery element of a lead acid battery including a negative plate, a positive plate and a separator having a metal inhibiting additive that reduces the detrimental effects of at least one impurity on the negative plate.

Abstract: An electrochemical separator is formed insitu on an electrode surface within an electrochemical cell, preferably an alkaline cell cathode surface. The alkaline cell comprises a zinc anode, a and potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The cathode may comprise a cathode comprising manganese dioxide. The separator may be formed by coating an electrode surface preferably with a low molecular weight copolymer of polyvinyalcohol and polyvinylacetate. The film can be coagulated to form a permeable separator uniformly conforming to and covering the electrode surface irrespective of the shape and contour of the electrode. A separate protector disk can be inserted onto the top surface of the cathode to protect the cathode from shorting in the event that imperfections in the separator surface develop. The protector disk can have a protruding lip which surrounds and protects the inside corner edge of the cathode.

Abstract: A bipolar or unipolar separator plate for an electrochemical fuel cell is formed of an insulating slab of plastic material such as a polymer matrix having a plurality of electrically conductive elements embedded therein for conducting electricity from an adjacent electrode of the cell to an electrical conductor on the opposite side of the slab for deriving electricity from the cell. The conducting elements are preferably formed of aligned carbon fiber composite cylinders and the insulating slab is formed of a plastic such as epoxy, polyamide, polystyrene, polyphenylene oxide or polyphenylene sulfide molded around the conductive elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a separator for non-aqueous electrolyte batteries which neither breaks nor slips off at the time of fabrication of battery, gives excellent battery fabricability, causes no internal short-circuit caused by contact between electrodes even if the electrodes are externally short-circuited, can inhibit ignition of battery and produces high energy density and excellent cycle life, and further provides a non-aqueous electrolyte battery using the separator and a method for manufacturing the separator.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are disclosed comprising substantially unbonded fibers and vinyl monomers which are capable of reacting with an acid or a base to form a salt directly or indirectly by a reaction involving exposure to ultraviolet radiation while impregnated with a solution of the vinyl monomer copolymerized to the surface of the fibers. Laminates of these non-woven fabrics as well as electrochemical devices employing them as a separator, and methods of treating such non-woven fabrics are also disclosed.

Abstract: A valve-regulated lead-acid cell utilizes an absorptive glass mat separator having a glass fiber surface which is modified by treatment with at least one particular polymer, as by treatment with a polymer emulsion to coat at least part of the glass fiber surface and then sintering to dry the coating, the polymers including polyolefins, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylchlorides, polyacrylonitriles, polyesters, amphiphilic block and graft copolymers, hydrophilic and amphiphilic nitrogen-containing polymers and polyorgano-silica compounds such as polysilanes and polysiloxanes.

Abstract: A recombinant battery element of a lead acid battery including a negative plate, a positive plate and a separator having an additive associated with the separator that improves the overall efficiency of the lead acid battery.

Abstract: A binderless glass fiber mat suitable for use as a separator for valve regulated (“recombinant”) lead acid (“VRLA”) batteries is disclosed. The separator is produced by a dry process by collecting the fibers from fiberizing apparatus, without subjecting them to a wet paper making or other post forming process, and selecting portions of the collected fibers which are sufficiently uniform in thickness and grammage for use as battery separators. The fibers can be entwined to produce a superior separator material. Additives can be introduced during the collection process to enhance the properties of the separator. A battery comprises at least one stack of alternating positive and negative plates, with the separator between adjacent plates. Separators according to the invention are significantly more resilient and have longer fibers than otherwise identical separators made from different samples of the same glass fibers, but by a conventional wet paper making process.

Abstract: A method of making carbon foam is described which involves pyrolizing a mixture containing at least one pyrolizable substance and at least one unpyrolizable material and then removing the unpyrolizable material to obtain the carbon foam. Carbon foam made by this process is also described. Incorporating the carbon foam in a variety of end use applications including electrodes, thermal insulation material, polymers, and the like is also described.

Abstract: A nonwoven battery separator which comprises a nonwoven, the nonwoven formed from a plurality of fibers and at least one high solubility parameter polymer, which polymer forms an encapsulation sheath around the fibers. The encapsulation sheath optionally has pores of about one micron or less and the separator is characterized in that it has a surface pore size of at least five microns.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the use of lignin in thermoplastics (such as: ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)). In the first aspect of the invention, lignins are added to a lead acid battery separator comprising a microporous membrane including an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, a filler, and a processing oil. In the second aspect of the invention, lignins are used as a processing aid in thermoplastics.

Abstract: A separator capable of inhibiting the self-discharge of a battery.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a separator for a battery having a zinc electrode. The first embodiment of the separator comprises a microporous membrane and a coating on at least one surface of the membrane. The coating comprises a mixture of cellulose acetate and a surfactant. The surfactant has an active ingredient selected from the group of organic ethers. The second embodiment of the separator consists essentially of a microporous membrane having an effective average pore size of less than 0.045 microns, having a thickness less than 1.5 mils, having an electrical resistance of less or equal to 30 milliohms-inch2, and being adapted for wetting by an aqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: A lead acid battery has a positive plate containing antimony, a negative plate; and a separator containing an organic compound capable of capturing metal ions. The organic compound is preferably lignin.