A series of catalyst inks comprising n-propanol and water are disclosed. The impact of these inks on structure and morphology of catalyst layers is discussed, as well as applications of the catalyst ink compositions in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

A battery and a method of constructing a battery are disclosed in which a first conductive substrate portion has a first face and a second conductive substrate portion has a second face opposed to the first face. A first electrode material is disposed in electrical contact with the first face, an electrolyte material is disposed in contact with the first electrode material, a second electrode material is disposed in contact with the electrolyte material, and a conductive tab disposed in contact with the second electrode material. The first conductive substrate portion, the first electrode material, and the conductive tab extend outward beyond a particular edge of the second conductive substrate portion.

A method of increasing secondary power source capacity includes doping a compound into an electrolyte as an additive which binding energy is higher than binding energy of combinations that are formed at a secondary power source discharge, the compound being ZnKr or CdAr. The method can be used in manufacturing secondary power sources such as batteries for electrical machines, transport vehicles, and cars, and for power sources for portable and mobile electronic devices.

Disclosed is a power storage element including a positive electrode current collector layer and a negative electrode current collector layer which are arranged on the same plane and can be formed through a simple process. The power storage element further includes a positive electrode active material layer on the positive electrode current collector layer; a negative electrode active material layer on the negative electrode current collector layer; and a solid electrolyte layer in contact with at least the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer are formed by oxidation treatment.

The present invention relates to a solid polymer electrolyte including a porous substrate formed of an inorganic fiber containing an ethylenically unsaturated group, a polymer compound coupled to the inorganic fiber and including a polymer network in which an oligomer containing a (meth)acrylate group is coupled in a three-dimensional structure, and a lithium salt, and to a lithium secondary battery including the same.

A solid electrolyte for an alkali metal solid state battery, the solid electrolyte comprising a mixture of two different alkali metal conducting salts and a semi-interpenetrating network (sIPN) of a crosslinked and a non-crosslinked polymer, wherein the semi-interpenetrating network is greater than or equal to 50 wt.-% and less than or equal to 80 wt.-% of a non-crosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide (PEO), polycarbonate (PC), polycaprolactone (PCL), chain end modified derivatives of these polymers or mixtures of at least two components thereof; and greater than or equal to 10 wt.-% and less than or equal to 50 wt.-% of a polycarbonate of crosslinkable polyalkyl carbonate monomers having a carbon number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 15 based on the single monomer as the crosslinked polymer.

To provide a membrane electrode assembly capable of forming a fuel cell excellent in power generation efficiency, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The membrane electrode assembly of the present invention comprises an anode having a catalyst layer containing a proton-conducting polymer and a catalyst, a cathode having a catalyst layer containing a proton-conducting polymer and a catalyst, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the proton-conducting polymer contained in the catalyst layer of at least one of the anode and the cathode, is a polymer (H) having a cyclic ether structural unit and an ion exchange group, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane contains a fluorinated polymer (S) having an ion exchange group; and the thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is from 5 to 15 μm, and the ratio of the content M1 [mol %] of the cyclic ether structure unit to the thickness T1 [μm] of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is 4.5 or more.

Provided are composite electrolytes having a bio-based gel electrolyte in an ordered structure of a porous solid. In some embodiments, the gel electrolyte includes a glycolate gel, a glycerate gel, a bio-based compound-derived gel or a combination thereof. Also provided are electrochemical systems (electrodeposition), redox flow batteries, fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries and lithium-metal batteries including the composite electrolytes, and methods for producing gel electrolytes. In some embodiments, the methods including reacting a polyol, optionally ethylene glycol, propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, or any combination thereof, with a lithium metal and/or a lithium salt, optionally lithium hydroxide, a sodium salt, optionally sodium hydroxide (NaOH), NaTFSI, NaBF.sub.4, or NaPF.sub.6; an aluminum salt; a potassium salt, a magnesium salt; a calcium salt; a zinc salt; or any combination thereof.

As for a secondary battery using lithium cobalt oxide as a positive electrode active material, the positive electrode active material with which a decrease in battery capacity due to repeated charge and discharge is inhibited is provided. Alternatively, a positive electrode active material particle which hardly deteriorates is provided. The positive electrode active material includes lithium, cobalt, oxygen, magnesium, aluminum, and fluorine and is a crystal represented by a layered rock-salt structure. The space group of the crystal is represented by R−3m. The concentration of fluorine in a surface portion of the crystal is higher than that inside the crystal. The concentration of magnesium in the surface portion of the crystal is higher than that inside the crystal. The atomic ratio of magnesium to aluminum in the surface portion of the crystal is higher than that inside the crystal.

A polymer, which is a composition of a battery, is polymerized by a polymeric precursor, and the polymeric precursor includes at least two or at least three monomers. Each of the monomers is a lactone, a lactone cyclic ester or a carbonate ester. The polymer includes a polyester, and the polyester is a straight chain.