2078 results about "Aqueous electrolyte" patented technology

Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.

A non-aqueous electrolyte battery separator comprising a heat-resistant nitrogen-containing aromatic polymer and a ceramic powder.

A rheology modifying copolymer composition containing a cross-linked copolymer of unsaturated carboxylic acid, a hydrophobic monomer, a hydrophobic chain transfer agent, a cross linking agent, and, optionally, a steric stabilizer, provides increased viscosity in aqueous electrolyte-containing environments.

A secondary hybrid aqueous energy storage device includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations, a separator, and a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, wherein an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device.

An improved gas-diffusion cathode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising an electrically conductive cathode member having a first side communicable with an aqueous electrolyte and a second side communicable with a gaseous medium; and a water-impermeable membrane adjacent said cathode member second side to reduce passage of liquid water between said cathode member and said gaseous medium and having a membrane first side and a membrane second side wherein said membrane first side faces said cathode member and wherein said water-impermeable membrane comprises one or more portions defining one or more openable and closeable apertures the improvement wherein said apertures are associated with one or more integrally-formed resiliently flexible flaps on said membrane first side to effect said opening and closing. The batteries have reduced unwanted water vapour ingress and egress characteristics in its no-load mode.

The invention provides for a fully electrically rechargeable metal-air battery systems and methods of achieving such systems. A rechargeable metal air battery cell may comprise a metal electrode an air electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte separating the metal electrode and the air electrode. In some embodiments, the metal electrode may directly contact the electrolyte and no separator or porous membrane need be provided between the air electrode and the electrolyte. Rechargeable metal air battery cells may be electrically connected to one another through a centrode connection between a metal electrode of a first battery cell and an air electrode of a second battery cell. Air tunnels may be provided between individual metal air battery cells. In some embodiments, an electrolyte flow management system may be provided.

The present invention discloses an electrolyzer for electrolyzing water into a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The electrolyzer is adapted to deliver this gaseous mixture to the fuel system of an internal combustion engine. The electrolyzer of the present invention comprises one or more supplemental electrode at least partially immersed in an aqueous electrolyte solution interposed between two principle electrodes. The gaseous mixture is generated by applying an electrical potential between the two principal electrodes. The electrolyzer further includes a gas reservoir region for collecting the generated gaseous mixture. The present invention further discloses a method of utilizing the electrolyzer in conjunction with the fuel system of an internal combustion engine to improve the efficiency of said internal combustion engine.

Asymmetric supercapacitors comprise: a positive electrode comprising a current collector and a first active material selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, silver oxide, iron sulfide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium iron phosphate, and a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; a negative electrode comprising a carbonaceous active material; an aqueous electrolyte solution selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions of hydroxides of alkali metals, aqueous solutions of carbonates of alkali metals, aqueous solutions of chlorides of alkali metals, aqueous solutions of sulfates of alkali metals, aqueous solutions of nitrates of alkali metals, and a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing aqueous solutions; and a separator plate. Alternatively, the electrolyte can be a non-aqueous ionic conducting electrolyte or a solid electrolyte.

A functionally improved battery is disclosed. The battery includes a flexible thin layer open liquid state electrochemical cell (10) and an electronic chip device (60) integrally formed on or within the electrochemical cell (10). The cell (10) includes a first layer of insoluble negative pole (14), a second layer of insoluble positive pole (16) and a third layer of aqueous electrolyte (12). The third layer (12) is disposed between the first (14) and second (16) layers. The third layer (12) includes a diliquescent material for keeping the cell wet, an electroactive soluble material for ionic conductivity and a watersoluble polymer for viscosity. The viscosity adheres the first (14) and second (16) layer to the third layer (12). The chip (60) serves to improve the functionality of the battery.

The disclosure relates to asymmetric supercapacitors containing: a positive electrode comprising a current collector and a first active material selected from a layered double hydroxide of formula [M²⁺_1−xM_x³⁺(OH)₂]Aⁿ⁻_x/n·mH₂O where M²⁺ is at least one divalent metal, M³⁺ is at least one trivalent metal and A is an anion of charge n−, where x is greater than zero and less than 1, n is 1, 2, 3 or 4 and m is 0 to 10; LiCoO₂; LiCo_xNi_yO₂ where x and y are greater than zero and less than 1; LiCo_xNi_yM_n(1−x−y)O₂ where x and y are greater than zero and less than 1; CoS_x where x is from 1 to 1.5; MoS; Zn; activated carbon and graphite; a negative electrode containing a material selected from a carbonaceous active material, MoO₃ and Li_1xMoO_6−x/2; an aqueous electrolyte solution or a non-aqueous ionic conducting electrolyte solution containing a salt and a salt and a non-aqueous solution; and a separator plate. Alternatively, the electrolyte can be a solid electrolyte.

A positive active material is provided which can give a battery having a high energy density and excellent high-rate discharge performance and inhibited from decreasing in battery, performance even in the case of high-temperature charge. Also provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte battery employing the positive active material. The positive active material contains a composite oxide which is constituted of at least lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and oxygen (O) and is represented by the following chemical composition formula: Li_aMn_bNi_cCo_dO_e (wherein 0<a≦1.3, |b−c|≦0.05, 0.6≦d<1, 1.7≦e≦2.3, and b+c+d=1). The non-aqueous electrolyte battery has a positive electrode containing the positive active material, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte.

A redox cell rebalance system is provided. In some embodiments, the rebalance system includes electrochemical cell and a photochemical cell. In some embodiments, the photochemical cell contains a source of ultraviolet radiation for producing HCl from H₂ and Cl₂ generated by the system. The HCl product may be collected or circulated back through the system for the rebalancing of electrolytes. A rebalance cell for use in a rebalance system is also provided. In some embodiments, the rebalance cell is the combination of an electrochemical cell and a photochemical cell. In some embodiments, a source of ultraviolet radiation is housed in the cathode compartment of the rebalance cell. In some embodiments, the source of ultraviolet radiation is used to effect the formation of HCl from H₂ and Cl₂ present in the rebalance cell. The HCl is dissolved in aqueous electrolytes contained in the rebalance cell, which can subsequently be circulated through a rebalance system for the rebalancing of redox cells.

A method of formation and charge of a negative polarizable electrode of an electric double layer capacitor. The method can be used for manufacturing of high capacitance capacitors utilizing the energy of the electric double layer. The methods achieve hydrogen evolution on carbonaceous materials using very negative potentials. The methods provide an EDL capacitor, employing an aqueous electrolyte, with improved specific energy. The methods may also ensure the hermeticity of the capacitor. The methods include pretreating the electric double layer capacitor by keeping the negative polarizable electrode at a desired minimum potential prior to use. Desirably, the minimum potential ranges from about -0.25 to about -1.2 V vs. a reference hydrogen electrode.

The invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte for high-voltage lithium ion batteries, which is prepared from the following raw materials in percentage by weight: 70-85% of carbonate, 3-20% of functional additive and 11-17% of lithium hexafluorophosphate. The carbonate is one or mixture of more of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methylethyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate and methyl butyl carbonate; and the functional additive is one or mixture of more of 0.5-10% of negative pole film-forming additive, 0.5-10% of high-temperature additive, 0.5-10% of positive pole film-forming additive, 0.5-10% of high-voltage additive and 0.001-2% of stability additive. The invention solves the problem of adaptation of the lithium ion battery electrolyte to the 4.35V high-voltage battery positive/negative pole, and provides an electrolyte for high-voltage batteries, which has the advantages of high cycle life, low inflation rate and favorable high-temperature properties.

Disclosed is an electrolyte for batteries, comprising: (a) an electrolyte salt; (b) an organic solvent; (c) a first compound having an oxidation initiation voltage (vs. Li/Li⁺) higher than the operating voltage of a cathode; and (d) a second reversible compound having an oxidation initiation voltage higher than the operating voltage of the cathode, but lower than the oxidation initiation voltage of the first compound. Also disclosed is a lithium secondary battery comprising said electrolyte. In the lithium secondary battery, two compounds having different safety improvement actions at a voltage higher than the operating voltage of the cathode are used in combination as electrolyte components. Thus, the safety of the secondary battery in an overcharged state can be ensured, and at the same time, the deterioration of the battery can be prevented from occurring when it is repeatedly cycled, continuously charged and stored at high temperature for a long time.

The present invention provides an additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a phosphazene derivative represented by the following formula (1): (PNR2)n formula (1) wherein R represents a fluorine-containing substituent or fluorine, at least one of all R's is a fluorine-containing substituent, and n represents 3 to 14. More particularly, the present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell and a non-aqueous electrolyte electric double layer capacitor comprising the additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte which exhibit good low temperature characteristics, good resistance to deterioration, and good incombustibility, and accordingly are significantly high in safety.

A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte having a lithium salt dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent characterized in that said non-aqueous solvent contains a vinylethylene carbonate compound represented by the general formula (I) in an amount of from 0.01 to 20% by weight is subject to minimized decomposition of the electrolyte and can provide a high capacity as well as exhibits excellent storage properties and cycle life performance.

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

The invention provides for a fully electrically rechargeable metal anode battery systems and methods of achieving such systems. An electrically rechargeable metal anode cell may comprise a metal electrode, an air contacting electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte separating the metal electrode and the air contacting electrode. In some embodiments, the metal electrode may directly contact the liquid electrolyte and no separator or porous membrane is needed between the air contacting electrode and the electrolyte. Rechargeable metal anode cells may be electrically connected to one another through a centrode connection where a metal electrode of one cell and an air contacting electrode of a second cell are electrically connected. Air tunnels or pathways may be provided between individual metal anode cells arranged in a stack. In some embodiments, an electrolyte flow management system may also be provided to maintain liquid electrolyte at constant levels during charge and discharge cycles.

A method of forming a colored film includes a step of forming a substrate for electrodeposition by laminating at least a transparent conductive film and a thin transparent photosemiconductor film having a photovoltaic function in this order on the surface of a support having an electronic circuit materialthereon, and a step of irradiating with a light at least a thin photosemiconductor film of the substrate for electrodeposition while bringing the same into contact with an aqueous electrolyte containing an electrodeposition material containing a colorant, thereby selectively generating a photoelectromotive force to an irradiated area of the thin photosemiconductor film and electrochemically depositing the electrodeposition material to form a colored electrodeposition film; an electronic driving device containing the colored film and a liquid crystal display device having the electronic driving device, the method capable of forming the colored film of high quality and excellent surface smoothness being formed directly on a substrate having thin film transistor and capable of providing a high quality electronic driving device and a liquid crystal display device at low cost.

A photo-electrolytic catalyst system which comprises two materials: (a) a semiconductor material with a non-zero energy gap Eg which, in response to an incident radiation having an energy greater than Eg, generates electron-hole pairs as charge carriers; and (b) a facilitating material in electronic contact with the semiconductor material to facilitate separation of the radiation-generated electrons from the holes to reduce the probability of charge carrier recombinations The catalyst makes use of both majority and minority charge carriers to promote photo-electrolysis reactions for producing hydrogen directly from water or an aqueous electrolyte at higher rates and improved efficiencies.

A difluorophosphate effective as an additive for a nonaqueous electrolyte for secondary battery is produced by a simple method from inexpensive common materials.

The difluorophosphate is produced by reacting lithium hexafluorophosphate with a carbonate in a nonaqueous solvent. The liquid reaction mixture resulting from this reaction is supplied for providing the difluorophosphate in a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a nonaqueous solvent which contains at least a hexafluorophosphate as an electrolyte lithium salt and further contains a difluorophosphate. Also provided is a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery employing this nonaqueous electrolyte.

The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte-based high power lithium secondary battery having a long-term service life and superior safety at both room temperature and high temperature, even after repeated high-current charging and discharging, wherein the battery comprises a mixture of a particular lithium manganese-metal composite oxide (A) having a spinel structure and a particular lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt composite oxide (B) having a layered structure, as a cathode active material.

To provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which restrict reaction between a negative electrode active material and anon-aqueous electrolyte, and can attain excellent charge-discharge cycle performances and high charge-discharge capacity, where a thin film of negative electrode active material including a metal capable of absorbing or releasing lithium is formed on a current collector of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and the thin film of negative electrode active material is separated into columnar shape by slits formed in a thickness direction. In the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that comprises a negative electrode 2, in which a thin film of negative electrode active material 2a including a metal capable of absorbing or releasing lithium is formed on a current collector 2b and this thin film of negative electrode active material 2a is separated into columnar shape by slits 2c formed in a thickness direction, a positive electrode 1 containing a positive electrode active material capable of absorbing or releasing lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte prepared by dissolving lithium salt in a non-aqueous solvent, the non-aqueous electrolyte contains carbonate compound having alkyl group combined with fluorine.

This invention discloses a device for producing electrolytic water (100) comprising an electrode unit (2) comprising a closed-type anode chamber (16), at least part of whose wall is a septum (18) and within which an anode (20) is disposed, and a cathode (24) disposed outside of the anode chamber (16); and a power source unit (4) for supplying DC power to the electrode unit (2). Electrolysis is conducted by filling the anode chamber (16) of the device for producing electrolyte water with a 0.01 to 2 M aqueous electrolyte solution while immersing the device for producing electrolyte water in a 0.001 to 0.01 M aqueous electrolyte solution and then supplying electric power between the anode and the cathode. For example, tap water may be directly used as the 0.001 to 0.01 M aqueous electrolyte solution.

An apparatus for the electrolytic splitting of water into hydrogen and/or oxygen, the apparatus comprising: (i) at least one lithographically-patternable substrate having a surface; (ii) a plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes embedded in said surface; (iii) at least one counter electrode in proximity to but not on said surface; (iv) means for collecting evolved hydrogen and/or oxygen gas; (v) electrical powering means for applying a voltage across said plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes and said at least one counter electrode; and (vi) a container for holding an aqueous electrolyte and housing said plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes and said at least one counter electrode. Electrolytic processes using the above electrolytic apparatus or functional mimics thereof are also described.