893 results about "Fluid electrolytes" patented technology

Disclosed are electrochemical device separator structures which include a substantially impervious active metal ion conducting barrier layer material, such as an ion conducting glass, is formed on an active metal ion conducting membrane in which elongation due to swelling on contact with liquid electrolyte is constrained in at least two of three orthogonal dimensions of the membrane. The non-swelling character of the membrane prevents elongation in the x-y (or lateral, relative to the layers of the composite) orthogonal dimensions of the membrane when it is contacted with liquid electrolyte that would otherwise cause the barrier layer to rupture. Substantial swelling of the membrane, if any, is limited to the z (or vertical, relative to the layers of the composite) dimension.

A lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte formed by sintering a molding product containing an inorganic powder and having a porosity of 10 vol % or less, which is obtained by preparing a molding product comprising an inorganic powder as a main ingredient and sintering the molding product after pressing and / or sintering the same while pressing, the lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte providing a solid electrolyte having high battery capacity without using a liquid electrolyte, usable stably for a long time and simple and convenient in manufacture and handling also in industrial manufacture in the application use of secondary lithium ion battery or primary lithium battery, a solid electrolyte having good charge / discharge cyclic characteristic in the application use of the secondary lithium ion battery a solid electrolyte with less water permeation and being safe when used for lithium metal-air battery in the application use of primary lithium battery, a manufacturing method of the solid electrolyte, and a secondary lithium ion battery and a primary lithium battery using the solid electrolyte.

Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDES) play a pivotal role in clean energy production as well as in electrochemical processes and sensors. These gas-consuming electrodes are typically designed for liquid electrolyte systems such as phosphoric acid and alkaline fuel cells, and are commercially manufactured by hand or in a batch process. However, GDEs using the new electrolytes such as conductive polymer membranes demand improved electrode structures. This invention pertains to GDEs and gas diffusion media with new structures for systems using membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), and automated methods of manufacture that lend themselves to continuous mass production Unexpected improvements in gas and vapor transport through the electrode are realized by incorporating a new dispersion process in the construction, reformulating the applied mix with solution additives, and creating a novel coating structure on a conductive web. Furthermore, combining these changes with a judicious choice in coating methodology allows one to produce these materials in a continuous, automated fashion.

A fuel cell comprising: (a) a binary anode, (b) a cathode, and (c) a liquid electrolyte disposed between and interacting with the binary anode and the cathode, wherein the binary anode includes at least one liquid fuel and at least one solid fuel. Preferably, the electrolyte includes an alcohol such as methanol, and the solid fuel includes aluminum, magnesium and / or zinc.

Coagulation spinning produces structures such as fibers, ribbons, and yarns of carbon nanotubes. Stabilization, orientation, and shaping of spun materials are achieved by post-spinning processes. Advantages include the elimination of core-sheath effects due to carbonaceous contaminants, increasing mechanical properties, and eliminating dimensional instabilities in liquid electrolytes that previously prohibited the application of these spun materials in electrochemical devices. These advances enable the application of coagulation-spun carbon nanotube fibers, ribbons, and yarns in actuators, supercapacitors, and in devices for electrical energy harvesting.

A process for producing an electrode for an alkali metal battery, comprising: (a) Continuously feeding an electrically conductive porous layer to an anode or cathode material impregnation zone, wherein the conductive porous layer has two opposed porous surfaces and contain interconnected conductive pathways and at least 70% by volume of pores; (b) Impregnating a wet anode or cathode active material mixture into the porous layer from at least one of the two porous surfaces to form an anode or cathode electrode, wherein the wet anode or cathode active material mixture contains an anode or cathode active material and an optional conductive additive mixed with a liquid electrolyte; and (c) Supplying at least a protective film to cover the at least one porous surface to form the electrode.

An electrochemical cell has an anode of electrochemically-active material; a cathode of electrochemically-active, porous, liquid-permeable, sintered, ceramic material; and a solid-state, liquid-impermeable electrolyte medium disposed between the anode and the cathode. The electrolyte may be a layer of glass or a layer of glass ceramic, or may be a combination of a layer of glass and a layer of glass ceramic. The cell may further contain a liquid electrolyte diffused throughout the cathode.

A body implantable medical device (IMD) includes a first shell and a second shell whose outer surfaces are biocompatible. The IMD further includes a battery enclosure defined by all or a portion of the first shell of the IMD housing and a cover. The cover of the battery enclosure is disposed between the inner surfaces of the first and second shells, has a greater rigidity than the first shell, and includes an improved feedthrough assembly for an electrochemical cell, such as a flat liquid electrolyte battery, provided in the battery enclosure. Electronic circuitry, supported on a flexible wiring substrate, is provided between the inner surface of the second shell and the cover of the battery enclosure. A hermetic seal is provided between the cover of the battery enclosure and all or a portion of the first shell.

The present invention generally relates to batteries or other electrochemical devices, and systems and materials for use in these, including novel electrode materials and designs. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to small-scale batteries or microbatteries. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a battery may have a volume of no more than about 5 mm3, while having an energy density of at least about 400 W h / l. In some cases, the battery may include a electrode comprising a porous electroactive compound. In some embodiments, the pores of the porous electrode may be at least partially filled with a liquid such as a liquid electrolyte. The electrode may be able to withstand repeated charging and discharging. In some cases, the electrode may have a plurality of protrusions and / or a wall (which may surround the protrusions, if present); however, in other cases, there may be no protrusions or walls. The electrode may be formed from a unitary material. In certain embodiments, a nonporous electrolyte may be disposed onto the electrode. Such an electrolyte may allow ionic transport (e.g., of lithium ions) while preventing dendritic formation due to the lack of pores. In certain embodiments the porous electrode has a surface that is denser than its interior. Other aspects of the invention are directed to techniques of making such electrodes or batteries, techniques of forming electrical connections to and packaging such batteries, techniques of using such electrodes or batteries, or the like.

An asymmetric supercapacitor has a positive electrode having a current collector an active material selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, silver oxide, iron sulfide and mixtures thereof, a negative electrode having a carbonaceous active material carbon and optional current collector, an electrolyte, and a separator plate. In a preferred embodiment at least one of the electrodes has nanostructured / nanofibrous material and in a more preferred embodiment, both electrodes have nanostructured / nanfibrous material. The electrolyte can be liquid or solid although liquid electrolytes are preferred.The asymmetric supercapacitor has improved energy density by electrically coupling an electrode of high faradaic capacity such as one having manganese oxide (MnO2) with an electrode such as carbon that stores charge through charge separation at the electric double-layer. The asymmetric supercapacitor also improves power density by using high surface area nanostructured / nanofibrous electrode materials.

Provided is an alkali metal-ion battery, comprising: (a) an anode having an anode active material dispersed in a first liquid electrolyte disposed in pores of a 3D porous anode current collector having at least 80% by volume of pores; (b) a cathode having a cathode active material dispersed in a second liquid electrolyte disposed in pores of a 3D porous cathode current collector wherein the cathode thickness-to-current collector thickness ratio is from 0.8 / 1 to 1 / 0.8; (c) a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode; wherein the anode or cathode active material loading is greater than 10 mg / cm2, the anode and cathode active materials combined exceeds 40% by weight of the battery, and / or the 3D porous anode and / or cathode current collector has a thickness no less than 200 μm (preferably greater than 500 μm and more preferably greater than 700 μm) and is in physical contact with the separator.

The invention relates to an article comprising: a) one or more stacks of battery plates comprising one or more bipolar plates; b) located between each plate is a separator and a liquid electrolyte; further comprising one of more of the features: 1) c) the one or more stacks of battery plates having a plurality of channels passing transversely though the portion of the plates having the cathode and / or the anode deposited thereon; and d) i) one or more seals about the periphery of the channels which prevent the leakage of the liquid electrolyte into the channels, and / or posts located in one or more of the channels having on each end an overlapping portion that covers the channel and sealing surface on the outside of the monopolar plates adjacent to the holes for the transverse channels and applies pressure on the sealing surface of the monopolar plates wherein the pressure is sufficient to withstand pressures created during assembly and operation of electrochemical cells created by the stacks of battery plates; 2) c) a membrane comprising a thermoplastic polymer is disposed about the entire periphery of the edges of the stack of plates; 3) wherein the separator is in the form of a sheet having adhered to its periphery a frame; and 4) c) an integrated valve and integrated channel communicating with the valve.

The battery module comprises a plurality of cells encased in prismatic cell cases having short lateral walls and long lateral walls coupled together as one piece. Each of the cells accommodates therein a group of electrode plates and liquid electrolyte, wherein collector plates are connected respectively to the groups of positive and negative electrode plates at opposite lateral edges thereof. Connection holes are formed at upper edge portions of the short lateral walls of the cell cases, and the collector plates are formed with connection bosses that fit into the connection holes, so that the connection bosses of the collector plates in neighboring cells are abutted each other and welded together, whereby two adjacent cells are connected to each other.

A cathode containing a metal substrate that possesses a micro-roughened surface imparted by spark anodization is provided. The surface is formed by contacting the substrate with an electrolytic solution and applying a voltage to form a dielectric sub-oxide layer. The voltage is raised to a sufficiently high level to initiate “sparking” at the surface of the substrate, which is believed to create high local surface temperatures sufficient to etch away the substrate. This results in the formation of a “micro-roughened” surface having a plurality elevated regions. These elevated regions can increase the effective surface area and thus allow for the formation of capacitors with increased cathode capacitance for a given size and / or capacitors with a reduced size for a given capacitance. The elevated regions may also exhibit excellent adhesion to additional electrochemically-active materials and provide enhanced stability in certain liquid electrolytes.

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 lithium metal battery including: a lithium metal anode; a protective layer disposed on the lithium metal anode, the protective layer including: a polymer and at least one selected from a metal salt including a Group 1 and Group 2 element and a nitrogen-containing additive; a cathode; and a liquid electrolyte disposed between the protective layer and the cathode, the liquid electrolyte including an organic solvent, wherein the at least one selected from metal salt and a nitrogen-containing additive comprising a Group 1 element or Group 2 element is insoluble in the organic solvent of the liquid electrolyte.

A wet electrolytic capacitor that includes an anode, cathode, and a liquid electrolyte disposed therebetween is provided. The cathode contains a metal oxide coating, such as NbO2, in conjunction with other optional coatings to impart improved properties to the capacitor.

An integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell generates hydrogen and oxygen from water while being illuminated with radiation. The PEC cell employs a liquid electrolyte, a multi-junction photovoltaic electrode, and a thin ion-exchange membrane. A PEC system and a method of making such PEC cell and PEC system are also disclosed.

A dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a semiconductor electrode comprising electrospun ultra-fine titanium dioxide fibers and fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The dye-sensitized solar cell comprises a semiconductor electrode comprising an electrospun ultra-fine fibrous titanium dioxide layer, a counter electrode and electrolyte interposed therebetween. A non-liquid electrolyte such as polymer gel electrolyte or the like having low fluidity, as well as the liquid electrolyte, can be easily infiltrated thereinto. In addition, electrons can be effectively transferred since titanium dioxide crystals are one-dimensionally arranged.

Presented herein is a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a cathode, a liquid electrolyte, a solid electrolyte, and an anode. The anode is at least partially coated or plated with the solid electrolyte. The cathode may be porous and infiltrated by the liquid electrolyte. The cathode may also include a binder having a solid graft copolymer electrolyte (GCE). In certain embodiments, the liquid electrolyte is a gel that includes a PIL and a GCE. The battery achieves a high energy density and operates safely over a wide range of temperatures.

An electrolyte membrane for a lithium battery, the electrolyte membrane including: a matrix including a polymerization product of a (meth)acrylate monomer composition; and a porous metal-organic framework dispersed in the matrix, wherein the metal-organic framework includes a crystalline compound including a metal ion or metal ion cluster which is chemically bound to an organic ligand, and a liquid electrolyte including a lithium salt and a nonaqueous organic solvent.

A gel polymer electrolyte according to the present invention comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate copolymer, poly(ethylene / vinylacetate / carbon oxide: EVACM), and poly(ethylene / vinylacetate / maleic acid anhydride: EVAMA); an inorganic filler; and a liquid electrolyte that a lithium salt is dissolved in an aprotic solvent. It is preferable that the polymer material in a gel polymer electrolyte according to the present invention is in the range of 20 to 30% by weight, the inorganic material filler is in the range of 5 to 20% by weight, and the liquid electrolyte is in the range of 60 to 80 % by weight. As a specific functional group which has a high compatibility with a liquid electrolyte in the present invention is contained in the polymer material, a lithium ion becomes to move with ease in electrolyte, and the ionic conductivity is over 0.5 mS / cm which is the demand level of a gel polymer electrolyte. Also, it provides the gel polymer electrolyte material with a high film formability, a good property of containing an electrolyte, a good adhesion, and a good mechanical strength.

A main object of the present invention is to provide an air battery system which can restrain the internal resistance caused by the shortage of liquid electrolyte from increasing and which can carry out a high-rate discharge. The present invention resolves the above-mentioned object by providing an air battery system comprising: an air battery cell which contains an air cathode, an anode, and a separator; and an oxygen gas supply means for supplying an oxygen gas by bubbling to a liquid electrolyte, characterized in that the air cathode further contains an air cathode layer containing a conductive material, and an air cathode current collector for collecting current of the air cathode layer; the anode further contains an anode layer containing an anode active material which stores and releases a metal ion, and an anode current collector for collecting current of the anode layer; and the separator is provided between the air cathode layer and the anode layer, and characterized in that the air cathode layer and the anode layer are constantly filled with the liquid electrolyte at a time of a change in a volume of the electrode caused by a discharge or a discharge and charge.

The invention belongs to the technique fields of high molecular materials and batteries and in particularly relates to a gel polymer electrolyte as well as a preparation method and an application thereof. The gel polymer electrolyte is composed of a liquid electrolyte and a material containing natural high molecules, and has characteristics of not only higher ionic conductivity, better safety performance, better compatibility with an electrode material, better circularity and better multiplying power performance, but also better compatibility with a creature, degradability and environmental friendliness, and can be used as an electrolyte and a membrane barrier of a primary or secondary battery.

A non-liquid electrolyte containing electrochemical cell which operates efficiently at room temperature. The cell includes (a) a non-liquid electrolyte in which protons are mobile, (b) an anode active material based on an organic compound which is a source of protons during cell discharge, or an anode active material including a metal whose cation can assume at least two different non-zero oxidation numbers and (c) a solid cathode including a compound which forms an electrochemical couple with the anode. Anode and cathode active materials can be chosen so that the cell has the feature that the electrochemical reactions at the anode and cathode are at least partially reversible. An important feature of the cell is that no thermal activation is required for its operation, therefore, the cell efficiently operates under ambient temperatures.

A lithium-ion conducting, solid electrolyte is deposited on a thin, flexible, porous alumina membrane which is placed between co-extensive facing side surfaces of a porous, lithium-accepting, negative electrode and a positive electrode formed of a porous layer of particles of a compound of lithium, a transition metal element, and optionally, another metal element. A liquid electrolyte formed, for example, of LiPF6 dissolved in an organic solvent, infiltrates the electrode materials of the two porous electrodes for transport of lithium ions during cell operation. But the solid electrolyte permits the passage of only lithium ions, and the negative electrode is protected from damage by transition metal ions or other chemical species produced in the positive electrode of the lithium-ion cell.