2884results about "Primary cells" patented technology

A composite solid electrolyte include a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Methods of making the composites is also disclosed. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte. The protective architecture prevents the active metal of the anode from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the architecture, which may include aqueous, air and organic liquid electrolytes and/or electrochemically active materials.

The present invention relates to nanostructured materials (including nanowires) for use in batteries. Exemplary materials include carbon-comprising, Si-based nanostructures, nanostructured materials disposed on carbon-based substrates, and nanostructures comprising nanoscale scaffolds. The present invention also provides methods of preparing battery electrodes, and batteries, using the nanostructured materials.

A lithium ion battery electrode includes silicon nanowires used for insertion of lithium ions and including a conductivity enhancement, the nanowires growth-rooted to the conductive substrate.

A battery module of the present invention is adaptable to be utilized in various configurations including and not limited to an overlapping battery cell packaging configuration and a vertical stack battery cell packaging configuration used in an automotive vehicle. The battery module has a plurality of battery heatsink assemblies with the cells disposed therebetween. A plurality of rods extend through the each heatsink assemblies to secure the heatsink assemblies and the cell with one another to form the battery module.

Nanocomposite materials comprising a metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene material. The nanocomposite materials exhibit a specific capacity of at least twice that of the metal oxide material without the graphene at a charge/discharge rate greater than about 10C.

A process for the production of coated silicon/carbon particles comprising: providing a carbon residue forming material; providing silicon particles; coating said silicon particles with said carbon residue forming material to form coated silicon particles; providing particles of a carbonaceous material; coating said particles of carbonaceous material with said carbon residue forming material to form coated carbonaceous particles; embedding said coated silicon particles onto said coated carbonaceous particles to form silicon/carbon composite particles; coating said silicon/carbon composite particles with said carbon residue forming material to form coated silicon/carbon composite particles; and stabilizing the coated composite particles by subjecting said coated composite particles to an oxidation reaction. The coated composite particles will have a substantially smooth coating. The particles may be coated with multiple layers of carbon residue forming material/

Electrodes, such as anodes and cathodes, can include a host material that is prelithiated or undergoes lithiation upon electrolyte introduction into a battery. Lithiation of the host material can occur by the agitation of lithium metal and a host material, the agitation of a lithium metal powder and a host material at a temperature greater than room temperature, the application of pressure to a lithium metal and host material mixture, contact of the host material with molten lithium metal, the lamination of lithium foil or lithium mesh onto an electrode containing the host material, or by lamination of lithium metal or mesh onto an electrode at elevated temperatures.

In an electrode structure for a lithium secondary battery including: a main active material layer formed from a metal powder selected from silicon, tin and an alloy thereof that can store and discharge and capable of lithium by electrochemical reaction, and a binder of an organic polymer; and a current collector, wherein the main active material layer is formed at least by a powder of a support material for supporting the electron conduction of the main active material layer in addition to the metal powder and the powder of the support material are particles having a spherical, pseudo-spherical or pillar shape with an average particle size of 0.3 to 1.35 times the thickness of the main active material layer. The support material is one or more materials selected from a group consisting of graphite, oxides of transition metals and metals that do not electrochemically form alloy with lithium. Organic polymer compounded with a conductive polymer is used for the binder. There are provided an electrode structure for a lithium secondary battery having a high capacity and a long lifetime, and a lithium secondary battery using the electrode structure and having a high capacity, a high energy density and a long lifetime.

Electrochemical cells including anode compositions that may enhance charge-discharge cycling efficiency and uniformity are presented. In some embodiments, alloys are incorporated into one or more components of an electrochemical cell, which may enhance the performance of the cell. For example, an alloy may be incorporated into an electroactive component of the cell (e.g., electrodes) and may advantageously increase the efficiency of cell performance. Some electrochemical cells (e.g., rechargeable batteries) may undergo a charge/discharge cycle involving deposition of metal (e.g., lithium metal) on the surface of the anode upon charging and reaction of the metal on the anode surface, wherein the metal diffuses from the anode surface, upon discharging. In some cases, the efficiency and uniformity of such processes may affect cell performance. The use of materials such as alloys in an electroactive component of the cell have been found to increase the efficiency of such processes and to increase the cycling lifetime of the cell. For example, the use of alloys may reduce the formation of dendrites on the anode surface and/or limit surface development.

An electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) has as a basis material a high-permittivity composition-modified barium titanate ceramic powder. This powder is double coated with the first coating being aluminum oxide and the second coating calcium magnesium aluminosilicate glass. The components of the EESU are manufactured with the use of classical ceramic fabrication techniques which include screen printing alternating multilayers of nickel electrodes and high-permittivitiy composition-modified barium titanate powder, sintering to a closed-pore porous body, followed by hot-isostatic pressing to a void-free body. The components are configured into a multilayer array with the use of a solder-bump technique as the enabling technology so as to provide a parallel configuration of components that has the capability to store electrical energy in the range of 52 kW·h. The total weight of an EESU with this range of electrical energy storage is about 336 pounds.

A method for preparing an electrode material for a lithium battery, characterized in that a noncrystalline silicon thin film that serves as an active material is deposited on a substrate.

A multi-port reconfigurable battery has at least one bank of statically joined series connected battery cells, each including a positive and negative pole connected through switches to respective output connections on at least one port. Processor controlled switches reconfigure the cells to provide power for electrical loads on one or more ports and simultaneously provide charging on one or more other ports. An alternative configuration divides groups of series connected cells into separate battery banks that permit other configurations. Ports are configurable to share one electrically common connection with other ports providing a simplified configuration (multi-tap reconfigurable battery). Applications include selectable motor speed control and battery regeneration schemes matched to motor output, and single or multiphase AC power output at selectable frequencies for use as an Uninterruptible Power Supply. The battery is also described as a power source for a forced-air induction system (e.g. electric supercharger) for a combustion engine.

Disclosed is an organic/inorganic composite porous separator comprising: (a) a polyolefin-based separator substrate; and (b) an active layer formed by coating at least one region selected from the group consisting of a surface of the substrate and a part of pores present in the substrate with a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer, wherein the inorganic particles in the active layer are interconnected among themselves and are fixed by the binder polymer, and interstitial volumes among the inorganic particles form a pore structure. A method for manufacturing the same separator and an electrochemical device including the same separator are also disclosed. An electrochemical device comprising the organic/inorganic composite porous separator shows improved thermal and electrochemical safety and quality, simultaneously.

A unitary humidity exchange cell (HUX) is dislosed that includes at least one composite membrane, disposed between at least one first chamber for flow of the first fluid therethrough and at least one second chamber for flow of the second fluid therethrough. The composite membrane include an at least partially sulfonated humidity-conducting polymer comprising residues derived from at least one arylvinyl monomer; and a reinforcing substrate bonded thereto. The product finds utility in a variety of physical and chemical processes and products whereby moisture or other highly polar liquid or gas transfer, exchange removal or delivery is important. A notable application is the Membrane Energy Recovery Ventilator (MERV) in which both heat, ions and moisture is transferred between two air streams, one intake and one exhaust, from an air-conditioned building.

Electrodes for use in electrochemical devices are disclosed. More particularly coated electrode particles for use in solid electrochemical cells and materials and systems for improving electronic conductivity and repulsive force characteristics of an electrode network are disclosed. An article containing a plurality of distinct first particles that form an electrode network in which the distinct first particles are coated with a system of electrically conductive material is also disclosed. In some embodiments, the coating layer also includes a low refractive index material. In some embodiments, the coating layer of the electroactive material includes a plurality of second particles.

Photovoltaic materials and methods of photovoltaic cell fabrication provide a photovoltaic cell in the form of a fiber. These fibers may be formed into a flexible fabric or textile.

A photovoltaic module apparatus includes PV cells arranged in a planar array, the PV cells being electrically connected in at least one string having positive and negative terminals. Positive and negative conductors are connected to the positive and negative terminals respectively and front and back encapsulating sheets are disposed on the front and back sides of the array to form a sub-laminate. Each of the positive and negative conductors has a respective portion extending from the positive and negative terminals, between the front and back encapsulating sheets. Front and back protectors are disposed on the front and back encapsulating sheets to form a laminate. First and second terminating portions of the positive and negative conductors extend outwardly from the outer perimeter edge of the laminate. A frame including a frame member having a holder may be provided about at least one portion of the outer perimeter edge of the laminate.

A highly energy efficient automobile that provides payload, safety and performance capacities similar to a comparable vehicle of a given vehicle class. The current invention is ideal for short to medium range urban and suburban driving. The current invention incorporates components in a unique and novel way, in which these components combine to form a system that produces an automobile that reduces overall air pollution while encouraging the commercialization of alternative energy sources. The current invention features an lightweight, low rolling resistance, digitally controlled and direct-drive electric propulsion system. A lightweight spaceframe with a suspension system provides a structure for mounting a low-aerodynamic-drag body system and other components. An intelligent power and thermal management system coupled with a removable auxiliary power module supplies the electrical energy required. While the preferred embodiment is substantially a passenger vehicle, the current invention may be scaled to other land vehicles.

The invention is directed to a solid ion conductor which has a garnet-like crystal structure and has the stoichiometric composition L_7+xA_xG_3−xZr₂O₁₂, wherein

• • L is in each case independently a monovalent cation,
  • A is in each case independently a divalent cation,
  • G is in each case independently a trivalent cation,
  • 0≦x≦3 and
  • O can be partly or completely replaced by divalent or trivalent anion.

The disclosure describes nano-lithium-ion batteries having a cathode, an anode including lithium titanium oxide nanoparticles, a separator including silicon dioxide nanoparticles and an electrolyte. In a preferred embodiment, the cathode is composed of 70-95 wt % lithium cobalt oxide, 1-6 wt % of a conductive carbon, and a synthetic resin including at least one thermoplastic; the anode is composed of 75-90 wt % lithium titanium oxide nanoparticles, 1-5 wt % of a conductive carbon, and a synthetic resin including at least one thermoplastic; and the separator is composed of silicon dioxide nanoparticles and a synthetic resin comprising at least one thermoplastic. The disclosure also describes methods of manufacturing the nano-lithium-ion batteries.