Provided herein are energy storage devices high energy and power densities, cycle life, and safety. In some embodiments, the energy storage device comprise a non-flammable electrolyte that eliminate and/or reduce fire hazards for improved battery safety, with improved electrode compatibility with electrode materials.

The present disclosure relates to nickel/aluminum-containing catalyst materials useful, for example, as reforming catalysts, processes for making them, and processes for using them in molten carbonate fuel cells. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a catalyst material including an alumina carrier in an amount in the range of about 5 wt % to about 75 wt %; and a mixed metal oxide in an amount in the range of about 25 wt % to about 95 wt %, the mixed metal oxide including at least about 90 wt % of oxides of nickel and aluminum, the mixed metal oxide having an atomic ratio of nickel to aluminum in the range of about 60:40 to about 90:10, the mixed metal oxide being substantially free of zirconium, in the form of a composite of the alumina carrier and the mixed metal oxide.

A method for replenishing an electrolyte of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack includes: preparing an electrolyte colloidal solution containing 10% to 20% of the electrolyte and having a viscosity of 200 to 800 Pa.Math.s; replenishing the electrolyte of the cell stack using the electrolyte colloidal solution prepared in step 1 to allow the electrolyte to adhere to an electrode and an internal channel of the cell stack; discharging excess electrolyte colloidal solution in the cell stack; and drying and discharging water or an organic solvent in the cell stack under an inert gas condition to complete replenishment of the electrolyte of the cell stack, and performing a discharge performance test.

Provided is a carbon dioxide electrolysis-carbon deposition/carbon fuel cell-integrated apparatus which enable interconversion between electric energy and chemical energy (electrodeposited carbon) through the use of an integrated electrochemical reaction system with a molten salt.

A binder solution for an electrolyte matrix for use with molten carbonate fuel cells is provided. The binder solution includes a first polymer with a molecular weight of less than about 150,000 and a second binder with a molecular weight of greater than about 200,000. The binder solution produces an electrolyte matrix with improved flexibility, matrix particle packing density, strength, and pore structure.

A non-aqueous electrolyte solution and a lithium secondary batter including the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a non-aqueous electrolyte solution includes a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and a first additive including a compound represented by Formula 1:

##STR00001##

wherein R1, and R2 are each independently hydrogen; or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

A reformer is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a channel to convey a preheated plurality of reactants containing both a feedstock fuel and an oxidant. A plasma generator is provided to apply an electrical potential to the reactants sufficient to ionize one or more of the reactants. These ionized reactants are then conveyed to a reaction zone where they are chemically transformed into synthesis gas containing a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A heat transfer mechanism is used to transfer heat from an external heat source to the reformer to provide the heat of reformation.

This non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator; and a non-aqueous electrolyte including a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte salt dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains a fluorine-containing chain carboxylic acid ester represented by formula 1 and a trifluoroethanol. The fluorine-containing chain carboxylic acid ester is contained in an amount of at least 10 vol % with respect to the volume of the non-aqueous electrolyte excluding the electrolyte salt, and the trifluoroethanol is contained in an amount of 0.1-2 mass % with respect to the mass of the fluorine-containing chain carboxylic acid ester. [Formula 1] RCOOCH.sub.2CF.sub.3, wherein R is a C2 or lower alkyl group, or a fluoroalkyl group.

A reinforced electrolyte matrix for a molten carbonate fuel cell includes a porous ceramic matrix, a molten carbonate salt provided in the porous ceramic matrix, and at least one reinforcing structure comprised of at least one of yttrium, zirconium, cerium or oxides thereof. The reinforcing structure does not react with the molten carbonate salt. The reinforced electrolyte matrix separates a porous anode and a porous cathode in the molten carbonate fuel cell.

Lithium ion batteries and electrolytes therefor are provided, which include electrolyte additives having dithioester functional group(s) that stabilize the SEI (solid-electrolyte interface) at the surfaces of the anode material particles, and/or stabilize the CEI (cathode electrolyte interface) at the surfaces of the cathode material particles, and/or act as oxygen scavengers to prevent cell degradation. The electrolyte additives having dithioester functional group(s) may function as polymerization controlling and/or chain transfer agents that regulate the level of polymerization of other electrolyte components, such as VC (vinyl carbonate) and improve the formation and operation of the batteries. The lithium ion batteries may have metalloid-based anodes—including mostly Si, Ge and/or Sn as anode active material particles.