Abstract: A solid electrolyte (10) of the present disclosure includes porous silica (11) having a plurality of pores (12) interconnected mutually and an electrolyte (13) coating inner surfaces of the plurality of pores (12). The electrolyte (13) includes 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide represented by EMI-TFSI and a lithium salt dissolved in the EMI-TFSI. A molar ratio of the EMI-TFSI to the porous silica (11) is larger than 1.5 and less than 2.0.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode. At least one of the anode, cathode and separator includes a copolymer functioning as a non-aqueous adhesive and/or solid-state electrolyte for the energy storage device. The copolymer is a copolymer or a derivative thereof, which is produced by polymerization of monomers containing conductive ion group and/or olefinic monomers in the presence of 2-propenenitrile. Therefore, the energy storage device which the copolymer is used therein has excellent charging and discharging performance to therefore effectively enhance the efficiency and extend the service life of the energy storage device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a starch-based battery system. The starch-based battery system uses a rheological and replaceable starch gluten electrolyte that generates colloidal starch gel adhesive contacted with and/or attached on electrodes to generate current for powering electronic devices. The starch-based battery system that includes control circuit and standard cap module replaces a conventional dry cell battery or is integrated with electronic devices to power, for example, flash-light, lighting ornaments or magnetic actuated motion products and toys. In other embodiments of the invention, the starch-based battery system is integrated into a device for attracting aquatic life forms in an aquatic environment, wherein the starch-based battery powers a light source and/or sound source and also the starch gluten electrolyte acts as bait for attracting aquatic life forms within the aquatic environment.

Abstract: There is provided a novel gelator containing a sugar derivative. A gelator including a compound of Formula (1) or Formula (2): wherein each of R1 and R3 is independently a linear or branched alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 20, a cyclic C3-20 alkyl group, or a linear or branched alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2 to 20, n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 4, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 10, or an aryl group optionally having a substituent, and R4 and R5 are each a hydroxy group.

Abstract: A composite material in the form of a continuous structure comprises an intrinsically conducting polymer (ICP) layer coated on a substrate, the composite material having a surface area of at least 0.1 m2/g, at least 1 m2/g, or at least 5 m2/g. Methods of manufacturing the composite material comprise coating the substrate with a layer of the intrinsically conducting polymer. Electrochemical or electrical devices comprise at least one component formed of the composite material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by a separator and a gel electrolyte. The method comprises the steps of assembling the electrodes and the separator, and injecting a liquid electrolyte composition between the electrodes, the liquid electrolyte composition comprising a polymer, an aprotic liquid solvent and a lithium salt, wherein the polymer in the liquid electrolyte composition has functional groups capable of polymerizing via cationic polymerization, and the cell is submitted to an electrochemical cycling comprising a charging step and a discharging step.

Abstract: A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×107 Pa and an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10?5 Scm?1. The electrolyte is made under dry conditions to achieve the noted characteristics. In another aspect, the electrolyte exhibits a conductivity drop when the temperature of electrolyte increases over a threshold temperature, thereby providing a shutoff mechanism for preventing thermal runaway in lithium battery cells.

Abstract: An electrode for a battery and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The electrode for a battery according to the present invention comprising silicon nanostructures integrally formed on a silicon thin film and having a period array can reduce the internal resistance, have better charge transport properties, and reduce the structural stress, thereby exhibiting high storage capacity, high efficiency charge/discharge characteristics, and long charge/discharge cycle characteristics. Moreover, the method for manufacturing the electrode for a battery according to the present invention can simply and easily form a nanopattern with nanostructures on a silicon thin film using laser interference lithography (LIL) and dry etching.

Abstract: Representative embodiments provide a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative liquid or gel separator comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”).

Abstract: An electrochemical energy cell has a galvanic cell including an anode electrode unit, a cathode electrode unit, an electrolyte body between the anode and cathode electrode units and contacting both the anode and cathode electrode units, and a separator layer including the electrolyte body and placed within the cell to contact both the anode and cathode electrode units to bring the anode and cathode electrode units in contact with the electrolyte body. The cathode electrode unit includes a cathode material including a powder mixture of a powder of hydrated ruthenium oxide and one or more additives. The anode electrode unit includes a structure formed of an oxidizable metal, and the separator layer includes a material that is porous to ions in liquid and is electrically non-conductive. A flexible electrochemical cell can be configured for a reduction-oxidation reaction to generate power at a surface of the electrode unit(s).

Abstract: To provide a technique for simply and easily producing a high-purity difluorophosphate and provide a production process of an electrolytic solution using the obtained difluorophosphate, an electrolytic solution and a secondary battery. A process for producing a difluorophosphate, comprising the following step (1) or (2): (1) reacting (A) at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxoacids, oxoacid anhydrides and oxyhalides of phosphorus with (B) a hexafluorophosphate in the presence of hydrogen fluoride, or (2) reacting at least one halide selected from the group consisting of alkali metal halides, alkaline earth metal halides, aluminum halides and onium halides with difluorophosphoric acid in the presence of a hexafluorophosphate. Also, a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing the obtained difluorophosphate, and a nonaqueous electrolytic secondary battery containing the nonaqueous electrolytic solution.

Abstract: An energy charge storage device, particularly from the group consisting of super capacitor, a hybrid electrochemica capacitor, a metal hydride battery and a fuel cell, comprising a first and second electrode and an electrolyte wherein the electrolyte comprises a printable polyelectrolyte e.g. polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSH). The present invention also refers to methods of obtaining such energy storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic/inorganic composite porous film comprising: (a) inorganic particles; and (b) a binder polymer coating layer formed partially or totally on surfaces of the inorganic particles, wherein the inorganic particles are interconnected among themselves and are fixed by the binder polymer, and interstitial volumes among the inorganic particles form a micropore structure. A method for manufacturing the same film and an electrochemical device including the same film are also disclosed. An electrochemical device comprising the organic/inorganic composite porous film shows improved safety and quality.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a negative pole layer and a positive pole layer one with the other or with an optional layer interposed therebetween. The pole layers and the optional layer therebetween are selected to self-form an interfacial separator layer between the pole layers upon such contacting.

Abstract: A non-aqueous solvent secondary battery with a high initial charge/discharge capacity and excellent charge/discharge characteristics at high temperature, having a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material capable of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material capable of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium and a non-aqueous solvent electrolyte containing (1) acrylic acid anhydride, and (2) an aromatic compound having at least one electron donating group, wherein the electron donating group comprises at least one member selected from any of the alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkylamino group and amine, provided that each of the alkyl group, alkoxy group and alkylamino group includes a halogen substituted group and a cycloaliphatic group.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new epoxypolysaccharide-producing bacterium, the exopolysaccharide isolated from this bacterium and the use of the exopolysaccharide.

Abstract: A lithium ion polymer secondary battery is a laminate of a positive-electrode sheet of a positive-electrode collector foil provided with an active material thereon, a negative-electrode sheet of a negative-electrode collector foil provided with another active material thereon, and a polymer electrolyte layer interposed between the positive-electrode sheet and the negative-electrode sheet. One of the positive-electrode sheet and the negative-electrode sheet is a strip and is fan-folded at least one time so that the positive-electrode sheet is provided on the surface of the active material on the sheet. The other one of the positive-electrode sheet and the negative-electrode sheet consists of a plurality of sheet segments having an area which is the same as the area of each flat portion of the fan-folded sheet. The sheet segments are interposed between the flat portions of the fan-folded sheet so that the polymer electrolyte layer is in contact with the surfaces of the active materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gel electrolyte cell including a non-aqueous electrolytic solution containing lithium-containing electrolyte salt solved in a non-aqueous solvent and made into a gel state by a matrix polymer, and the gel electrolyte contains vinylene carbonate or derivative thereof in the amount not less than 0.05 wt % and not greater than 5 wt %. This gel electrolyte exhibits an excellent chemical stability with the negative electrode, strength, and liquid-retention characteristic. This gel electrolyte enables to obtain a gel electrolyte cell satisfying the cell capacity, cycle characteristic, load characteristic, and low-temperature characteristic.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell using a polymer matrix material includes a polymerization product of one or more monomers selected from the group of water-soluble, ethylenically-unsaturated acids and acid derivatives, and a crosslinking agent. A quantity of water is used for polymerization, such that the polymer material is swelled to a defined volume upon curing. Optionally, a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer and/or a chemical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery with an electrolyte containing one or more alkai metal salts, one or more non-aqueous solvents and immobilized by a polymer selected from cellulose acetates, cellulose acetate butyrates, cellulose acetate propionates, polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylenes and polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetates, the polymer preferably being used in an amount of at most 15% by weight based on the weight of the salts, solvents and polymer of the electrolyte system, with the proviso that in the case of polyvinlidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylenes, the polymer is present in an amount of at most 12% by weight based on the weight of the salts, solvents and polymer of the electrolyte system. The immobilized electrolyte does not cause problems with respect to leakage from the cell compartment and the elctrolyte also high conductivity implying a capacity utilization more closely approaching the utilization observed for batteries using liquid electrolyte.