Apparatuses and systems are disclosed for improved reliability in securing a removable battery pack. An example latch mechanism may include a flexible latch disposed on an outer housing of a removable battery pack, the flexible latch defining an inner surface facing the outer housing and an opposing outer surface, wherein a portion of the opposing outer surface of the flexible latch defines one or more locking tabs that are engageable with one or more engaging slots operatively positioned within a receiving battery enclosure, and wherein the flexible latch is deformable from a first open configuration to a second compressed configuration upon insertion into the battery enclosure.

An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The starting system includes a battery, a starter motor, and a blower housing. The starter motor is configured to start the internal combustion engine. The battery is integrated with the blower housing.

An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The starting system includes a battery, a starter motor, and a blower housing. The starter motor is configured to start the internal combustion engine. The battery is integrated with the blower housing.

The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.

The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.

Provided herein is a fiber having a fiber body including fiber body material with a longitudinal-axis fiber body length. A plurality of gel domains is disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the longitudinal-axis fiber body length. Each gel domain includes a porous host matrix material and a liquid gel component that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the host matrix material and that is disposed in interstices of the host material matrix. At least two of the gel domains within the fiber body are disposed directly adjacent to each other in direct physical contact with each other. This fiber can include polymeric fiber body material and gel domains including a porous polymer host matrix material and an ionically conducting liquid solvent that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the polymer host matrix material and disposed in interstices of the polymer host material matrix.

Provided herein is a fiber having a fiber body including fiber body material with a longitudinal-axis fiber body length. A plurality of gel domains is disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the longitudinal-axis fiber body length. Each gel domain includes a porous host matrix material and a liquid gel component that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the host matrix material and that is disposed in interstices of the host material matrix. At least two of the gel domains within the fiber body are disposed directly adjacent to each other in direct physical contact with each other. This fiber can include polymeric fiber body material and gel domains including a porous polymer host matrix material and an ionically conducting liquid solvent that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the polymer host matrix material and disposed in interstices of the polymer host material matrix.

Provided are graphitic carbon materials and methods of making graphitic carbon materials. Also provided are compositions of the graphitic carbon materials with nanoparticles disposed thereon and methods of making the compositions. Also disclosed are devices utilizing the graphitic carbon materials and/or the compositions. The graphitic carbon materials are porous and have a desirable graphitic content. The graphitic materials may be nitrogen- and/or metal-doped. The nanoparticles may be platinum or platinum/transition metal nanoparticles. The compositions may be used in oxygen reduction reaction applications.

A secondary battery is provided for cycling between a charged and a discharged state, the secondary battery including a battery enclosure, an electrode assembly, carrier ions, a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the battery enclosure, and a set of electrode constraints. The set of electrode constraints includes a primary constraint system having first and second primary growth constraints and at least one primary connecting member, the first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein the primary constraint array restrains growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that any increase in the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction over 20 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery is less than 20%. The set of electrode constraints further includes a secondary constraint system having first and second secondary growth constraints connected by at least one secondary connecting member, wherein the secondary constraint system at least partially restrains growth of the electrode assembly in a second direction upon cycling of the secondary battery.

A secondary battery is provided for cycling between a charged and a discharged state, the secondary battery including a battery enclosure, an electrode assembly, carrier ions, a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the battery enclosure, and a set of electrode constraints. The set of electrode constraints includes a primary constraint system having first and second primary growth constraints and at least one primary connecting member, the first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein the primary constraint array restrains growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that any increase in the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction over 20 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery is less than 20%. The set of electrode constraints further includes a secondary constraint system having first and second secondary growth constraints connected by at least one secondary connecting member, wherein the secondary constraint system at least partially restrains growth of the electrode assembly in a second direction upon cycling of the secondary battery.