Separator systems for electrochemical systems providing electronic, mechanical and chemical properties useful for applications including electrochemical storage and conversion. Separator systems include structural, physical and electrostatic attributes useful for managing and controlling dendrite formation and for improving the cycle life and rate capability of electrochemical cells including silicon anode based batteries, air cathode based batteries, redox flow batteries, solid electrolyte based systems, fuel cells, flow batteries and semisolid batteries. Separators include multilayer, porous geometries supporting excellent ion transport properties, providing a barrier to prevent dendrite initiated mechanical failure, shorting or thermal runaway, or providing improved electrode conductivity and improved electric field uniformity, as well as composite solid electrolytes with supporting mesh or fiber systems providing solid electrolyte hardness and safety with supporting mesh or fiber toughness and long life required for thin solid electrolytes without fabrication pinholes or operationally created cracks.

An apparatus and a method for processing a capacitor according to the present disclosure may include a clamping module grabbing or releasing a capacitor to transport the capacitor, and a first processing module and a second processing module matched with each other to process and test leads of the capacitor, and simultaneously perform various processes through different processing units formed in the first processing module and symmetrical processing units formed in the second processing module and corresponding to be matched with the processing units. By providing the apparatus and method for processing the capacitor, it is possible to process a larger amount of capacitors assembled to a capacitor assembly and identify and remove the electrical defect before assembled to the assembly.

A solid electrolyte capacitor includes a sintered body formed by sintering a molded body containing a metal powder; and a solid electrolyte layer disposed on the sintered body, wherein the solid electrolyte layer includes a first layer containing an electrolytic polymerization conductive polymer disposed on the sintered body and a second layer containing a chemical polymerization conductive polymer disposed on the first layer.

A solid electrolyte capacitor includes a sintered body formed by sintering a molded body containing metal powder; and a conductive polymer layer disposed above the sintered body. A ratio (t2/t1) of a thickness (t2) of the conductive polymer layer in an edge portion of the sintered body to a thickness (t1) of the conductive polymer layer in a central portion of the sintered body satisfies 0.35≤t2/t1≤0.9.

A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes a valve-action metal substrate including a dielectric layer having pores on at least one main surface thereof, a mask layer made of an insulating material and covering a periphery of the main surface of the valve-action metal substrate, and a cathode layer on the dielectric layer at least within a region surrounded by the mask layer. The cathode layer includes a solid electrolyte layer on the dielectric layer, and the solid electrolyte layer includes a first layer filling the pores of the dielectric layer, a second layer on the dielectric layer and along an outer peripheral portion of the region surrounded by the mask layer, the second layer being made of a material same as or different from that of the first layer, and a third layer covering the second layer and the dielectric layer.

An electrolytic capacitor includes a capacitor element. The capacitor element includes an electrode group including an anode body, a cathode body, a separator, and an electrolyte layer. The anode body and the cathode body each has a foil shape. The anode body has a dielectric layer on a surface of the anode body. The electrolyte layer is in contact with the anode body, the cathode body, and the separator. The electrolyte layer contains a conductive polymer and a hydroxyl group-containing compound having a melting point of 50° C. or higher. The hydroxyl group-containing compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a sugar and a polyhydric alcohol. The hydroxyl group-containing compound is unevenly distributed more in a peripheral portion of the capacitor element than in a central portion of the capacitor element.

An electrolytic capacitor includes an anode body having a dielectric layer; a solid electrolyte layer in contact with the dielectric layer of the anode body; and an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution contains a solvent and a solute. The solvent contains a glycol compound. The solute contains an acid component and a base component. A mass of the acid component in the solute is greater than a mass of the base component in the solute. The acid component contains a first aromatic compound having a hydroxyl group.

A photovoltaic device (10) is provided that comprises serially arranged photovoltaic device cells (10A, 10B). Each cell having a transparent electrode layer region electrical conductors (121A, . . . , 124A) forming an electric contact with the transparent electrode layer region, a photo-voltaic stack portion (14A, 14B) that extends over the transparent electrode region (11A, 11B) and over an insulated portion of the electrical conductors, a further electrode region (15A, 5B) that extends over the photovoltaic stack portion (14A,14B). A further electrode region (15A) of a photovoltaic device cell (10A) extends over electric contacts formed by exposed ends (12B1) of the electrical conductors of a subsequent photovoltaic device cell (10B).

Anodes made from powder, such as tantalum powder, that is highly spherical is described. Methods to make the anodes are further described.

Anodes made from powder, such as tantalum powder, that is highly spherical is described. Methods to make the anodes are further described.