The present invention provides a fiber-reinforced aerogel material which can be used as insulation in thermal battery applications. The fiber-reinforced aerogel material is highly durable, flexible, and has a thermal performance that exceeds the insulation materials currently used in thermal battery applications. The fiber-reinforced aerogel insulation material can be as thin as 1 mm less, and can have a thickness variation as low as 2% or less. Also provided is a method for improving the performance of a thermal battery by incorporating a reinforced aerogel material into the thermal battery. Further provided is a casting method for producing thin fiber-reinforced aerogel materials.

An implantable medical device contains a hermetic battery. The hermetic battery contains a hermetically sealed battery housing defining an internal chamber, an electrochemical cell disposed within the internal chamber, and an electronic module disposed within the internal chamber. The electronic module is electrically conductively connected to the electrochemical cell, and the electronic module is arranged in the electrochemical cell.

An implantable medical device contains a hermetic battery. The hermetic battery contains a hermetically sealed battery housing defining an internal chamber, an electrochemical cell disposed within the internal chamber, and an electronic module disposed within the internal chamber. The electronic module is electrically conductively connected to the electrochemical cell, and the electronic module is arranged in the electrochemical cell.

A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are electrically conductive feedthroughs or pathways, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into tapered via holes machined into one or both ceramic casing halves. The two ceramic casing halves are separated from each other by a metal interlayer, such as of gold, bonded to a thin film metallization layer, such as of titanium, that contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. A solid electrolyte of LiPON (Li.sub.xPO.sub.yN.sub.z) is used to activate the electrode assembly.

A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are electrically conductive feedthroughs or pathways, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into tapered via holes machined into one or both ceramic casing halves. The two ceramic casing halves are separated from each other by a metal interlayer, such as of gold, bonded to a thin film metallization layer, such as of titanium, that contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. A solid electrolyte of LiPON (Li.sub.xPO.sub.yN.sub.z) is used to activate the electrode assembly.

A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.

A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.

A liquid crystal polymer including structural units derived from an aromatic hydroxy carboxylic acid in an amount of greater than about 30 mol % and less than or equal to about 50 mol %, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid which includes about 50 mol % or greater of a structural unit derived from a compound including two carboxyl groups at a meta-position of an aromatic ring in an amount greater than or equal to about 50 mol % of the amount of the structural unit derived from the aromatic hydroxy carboxylic acid, each based on total moles of the structural units in the liquid crystal polymer, and an aromatic diol that is 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl, hydroquinone, or a combination thereof; a composite composition including the liquid crystal polymer, an article produced from the liquid crystal polymer or the composite composition, a battery case including the article, and a battery including the battery case and an electrode assembly.

A secondary battery with an exterior body having a novel sealing structure, and a structure of a sealing portion that relaxes a stress of deformation are provided. The secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte solution, and an exterior body enclosing at least part of the positive electrode, at least part of the negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution. The exterior body includes a first region having a shape with a curve, a shape with a wavy line, a shape with an arc, or a shape with a plurality of inflection points, and a second region having the same shape as the first region. The first region is in contact with the second region. Alternatively, the first region has a shape without a straight line. The secondary battery may be flexible, and the exterior body in a region having flexibility may include the first region.

A secondary battery with an exterior body having a novel sealing structure, and a structure of a sealing portion that relaxes a stress of deformation are provided. The secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte solution, and an exterior body enclosing at least part of the positive electrode, at least part of the negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution. The exterior body includes a first region having a shape with a curve, a shape with a wavy line, a shape with an arc, or a shape with a plurality of inflection points, and a second region having the same shape as the first region. The first region is in contact with the second region. Alternatively, the first region has a shape without a straight line. The secondary battery may be flexible, and the exterior body in a region having flexibility may include the first region.