The University of Chicago

Other

Eveready Battery Company, Inc.

Illinois Institute of Technology

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Jai Prakash

Donald R Vissers

Laszlo I Redey

Kevin M Myles

Khalil Amine

Michael M Thackeray

Fuminori Mizuno

Nikhilendra Singh

Dennis W Dees

Richard A Hudson

Deepika B Singh

Syed Rahman

Michael R Klein

Vince Puglisi

Thomas R DeMoully

Thorfinn Thayer

Shrihari Sankarasubramanian

Chang Woo Lee

Lianying Zhang

Nate Banes

A Li-air battery is provided. The battery contains: an anode compartment containing lithium or a lithium alloy as active metal; a cathode compartment supplied with an Osource; and a lithium ion conductive membrane separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment. The cathode compartment contains an air electrode with a skin alloy platinum or palladium catalyst.

Alloys as cathode materials for lithium-air batteries

A lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a non-aqueous solvent lithium electrolyte. At least one cyclophosphazene is added to the non-aqueous solvent lithium electrolyte, which cyclophosphazene acts as a flame-retardant material. The non-aqueous solvent lithium electrolyte is preferably a carbonate-based electrolyte and the preferred cyclophosphazene is hexamethoxycyclotriphosphazene.

Flame-retardant additive for li-ion batteries

A metal hydride rechargeable cell is provided that discharges during a test discharge at a rate of 8 C to 18 C and a cell temperature of 0&deg; C. where the voltage remains above 0.2 volts during the half of the discharge curve. The cell comprises a negative electrode of hydrogen storage alloy material having a particle size volume distribution whose d(50) value does not exceed 2(2D,t),, where D,is the hydrogen diffusion coefficient for the alloy at 0&deg; C. and t is a time period from about 200 to about 450 seconds. A method of manufacturing the cell of the present invention involves an activation protocol comprising at least one formation cycle, a heat treating step, and a cycling step. This method avoids unnecessary processing of the metal alloy material prior to incorporation into the negative electrode.

Nickel metal hydride cells designed for high rate/low temperature performance

The subject invention pertains to a method and device for implementing a dynamic End of Discharge Voltage (EODV) for rechargeable batteries and battery packs (batteries/packs). This dynamic EODV can be adjusted based on, for example, environment, operating conditions, temperature, residual capacity, cell chemistry, cell size, form factor, discharge rate, and/or the number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has undergone. The subject invention can provide for enhanced run time from each discharge cycle of the battery/pack. In addition, the subject invention can provide for more accurate save-to-disk alarms, while ensuring adequate energy for the actual save to disk operation. Furthermore, the subject invention can also extend the useful life of the battery/pack.

Method and device for enhancing smart battery performance

A pseudo-capacitor having a high energy storage capacity develops a double layer capacitance as well as a Faradaic or battery-like redox reaction, also referred to as pseudo-capacitance. The Faradaic reaction gives rise to a capacitance much greater than that of the typical ruthenate oxide ultracapacitor which develops only charge separation-based double layer capacitance. The capacitor employs a lead and/or bismuth/ruthenate and/or iridium system having the formula A.sub.2 �B.sub.2-x Pb.sub.x !O.sub.7-y, where A=Pb, Bi, and B=Ru, Ir, and O&lt;x.ltoreq.1 and O&lt;y&lt;0.5 and limits the amount of ruthenate and/or iridium in the electrodes while increasing the energy storage capacity. The ruthenate can be synthesized at low temperatures (40.degree.-80.degree. C.) to form a compound with a high surface area and high electronic conductivity which, in combination with the increased pseudo-capacitance, affords high energy/power density in the pseudo-capacitor. The amount of expensive ruthenate and iridium can be substantially reduced in the pseudo-capacitor by increasing the lead content while improving energy storage capacity.

Pseudo-capacitor device for aqueous electrolytes

Electrochemical cell

An electrochemical cell with a positive electrode having an electrochemically active layer of at least one transition metal chloride. A negative electrode of an alkali metal and a compatible electrolyte including an alkali metal salt molten at cell operating temperature is included in the cell. The electrolyte is present at least partially as a corrugated .beta.' alumina tube surrounding the negative electrode interior to the positive electrode. The ratio of the volume of liquid electrolyte to the volume of the positive electrode is in the range of from about 0.1 to about 3. A plurality of stacked electrochemical cells is disclosed each having a positive electrode, a negative electrode of an alkali metal molten at cell operating temperature, and a compatible electrolyte. The electrolyte is at least partially present as a corrugated .beta.' alumina sheet separating the negative electrode and interior to the positive electrodes. The alkali metal is retained in a porous electrically conductive ceramic, and seals for sealing the junctures of the electrolyte and the adjacent electrodes at the peripheries thereof.

An electrochemical cell having an alkali metal negative electrode such as sodium and a positive electrode including Ni or transition metals, separated by a .beta.' alumina electrolyte and NaAlCl.sub.4 or other compatible material. Various concentrations of a bromine, iodine and/or sulfur containing additive and pore formers are disclosed, which enhance cell capacity and power. The pore formers may be the ammonium salts of carbonic acid or a weak organic acid or oxamide or methylcellulose.

An electrochemical cell having a bimodal positive electrode, a negative electrode of an alkali metal, and a compatible electrolyte including an alkali metal salt molten at the cell operating temperature. The positive electrode has an electrochemically active layer of at least one transition metal chloride at least partially present as a charging product, and additives of bromide and/or iodide and sulfur in the positive electrode or the electrolyte. Electrode volumetric capacity is in excess of 400 Ah/cm.sup.3 ; the cell can be 90% recharged in three hours and can operate at temperatures below 160.degree. C. There is also disclosed a method of reducing the operating temperature and improving the overall volumetric capacity of an electrochemical cell and for producing a positive electrode having a BET area greater than 6.times.10.sup.4 cm.sup.2 /g of Ni.

Growing community of inventors

Downers Grove, IL, United States of America

Jai Prakash