Nanoporous composite separators are disclosed for use in batteries and capacitors comprising a nanoporous inorganic material and an organic polymer material. The inorganic material may comprise Al.sub.2O.sub.3, AlO(OH) or boehmite, AlN, BN, SiN, ZnO, ZrO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, or combinations thereof. The nanoporous composite separator may have a porosity of between 35-50%. The average pore size of the nanoporous composite separator may be between 10-90 nm. The separator may be formed by coating a substrate with a dispersion including the inorganic material, organic material, and a solvent. Once dried, the coating may be removed from the substrate, thus forming the nanoporous composite separator. A nanoporous composite separator may provide increased thermal conductivity and dimensional stability at temperatures above 200 C. compared to polyolefin separators.

An electrochemical device which includes: an element main body wherein a pair of internal electrodes are laminated so as to sandwich a separator sheet there between; an outer casing sheet that covers the element main body; sealing parts that hermetically seal the peripheral part of the outer casing sheet so that the element main body is immersed in an electrolyte solution; and lead terminals that are electrically connected to the internal electrodes respectively and are led out from the sealing parts of the outer casing sheet to the outside. A resin inner layer that is present in the inner surface of the outer casing sheet is provided with a fusion bonding part for separators, which partially bonds a part of the separator sheet to the inner surface of the outer casing sheet.

The present disclosure provides an electrode assembly including a unit cell stack having n unit cells stacked with a separation film interposed therebetween and at least one reinforcing member formed from metal that integrally covers at least one of the upper and lower surfaces and at least one side surface of the unit cell stack. In particular, n is an odd number excluding 1. Additionally, in each unit cell, one or more cathodes and one or more anodes are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the unit cells are protected against external impacts.

A battery including: a casing having a cylindrical portion, an end portion configured for covering an opening disposed in an end of the cylindrical portion, and an inner surface defining a chamber in which an electrolyte is disposed therein; a conductive surface located within the chamber adjacent the inner surface of the casing, the conductive surface being configured for electrical communication with an anode terminal of the battery; a permeable separator sheet located within the casing configured for electrically isolating the electrolyte from the conductive surface; a conductive rod having a first end configured for electrical communication with a cathode terminal of the battery, and, a second end of the conductive rod configured for electrical communication with the electrolyte; wherein the end portion and the cylindrical portion are movably attached to each other, the end portion and cylindrical portion being movable relative to each other between at least a first attached position whereby the end portion covers the opening disposed at the end of the cylindrical portion so as to substantially block ingress of a liquid into the casing via the opening, and, a second attached position whereby the end portion is displaced from the end of the cylindrical portion so as to allow ingress of a liquid into contact with the electrolyte in the chamber via the opening so that the electrolyte is suitable for allowing a potential difference to be generated between the conductive surface and the conductive rod of the battery.

Improved battery separators, batteries, and systems, as well as methods relating thereto are disclosed herein for use in various lead acid batteries such as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries that include one or more AGM layers. The improved battery separators described herein may provide a battery system with an advantage of a significantly decreased acid filling time and a significantly increased acid filling speed. Various improved batteries, methods and systems are described herein using such improved battery separators that increase acid filling speed and decrease acid filling time for a VRLA battery.

Lithium-metal batteries with improved dimensional stability are presented along with methods of manufacture. The lithium-metal batteries incorporate an anode cell that reduces dimensional changes during charging and discharging. The anode cell includes a container having a first portion and a second portion to form an enclosed cavity. The first portion is electrically-conductive and chemically-stable to lithium metal. The second portion is permeable to lithium ions and chemically-stable to lithium metal. The anode cell also includes an anode comprising lithium metal and disposed within the cavity. The anode is in contact with the first portion and the second portion. The cavity is configured such that volumetric expansion and contraction of the anode during charging and discharging is accommodated entirely therein.

A battery for use in electronic devices and which is safely ingested into a body and a related method of making the battery. The battery includes an anode, a cathode and a quantum tunneling composite coating. The quantum tunneling composite coating covers at least a portion of at least one of the anode or the cathode and provides pressure sensitive conductive properties to the battery including a compressive stress threshold for conduction. The compressive stress threshold may be greater than a pre-determined applied stress in a digestive tract of the body in order to prevent harm if the battery is ingested. The battery may include a waterproof seal that extends between the quantum tunneling composite coating and a gasket separating the anode and cathode to inhibit the battery from short circuiting in a conductive fluid below the compressive stress threshold.

Provided are separator systems for electrochemical systems providing electronic, mechanical and chemical properties useful for a variety of applications including electrochemical storage and conversion. Embodiments provide 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. Disclosed 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. Disclosed separators include 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.

In an embodiment, a secondary ZnMnO.sub.2 battery comprises a battery housing, a MnO.sub.2 cathode, a Zn anode, and an electrolyte solution. The MnO.sub.2 cathode, the Zn anode, and the electrolyte solution are disposed within the battery housing, and the MnO.sub.2 cathode comprises a MnO.sub.2 cathode mixture and a current collector. The MnO.sub.2 cathode mixture is in electrical contact with at least a portion of an outer surface of the current collector, and the MnO.sub.2 cathode has a porosity of from about 5 vol. % to about 90 vol. %, based on the total volume of the MnO.sub.2 cathode mixture of the MnO.sub.2 cathode.

Provided is a separator including: a substrate; and a surface layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate, and having a higher porosity than that of the substrate. It is preferable that the surface layer includes: a first layer having convexities and concavities existing as cavities; and a second layer formed between the first layer and the separator, and the second layer has a higher porosity than that of the substrate, and the first layer has a higher porosity than that of the second layer. In this case, it is preferable that the porosity of the substrate is from 25% to 40%, the porosity of the first layer is from 60% to 90%, and the porosity of the second layer is from 40% to 65%.