Abstract:
A surface-controlled, lithium ion-exchanging battery device comprising: (a) A positive electrode (cathode) comprising a first functional material having a first lithium-capturing or lithium-storing surface; (b) A negative electrode (anode) comprising a second functional material having a second lithium-capturing or lithium-storing surface; (c) A porous separator disposed between the two electrodes, and (d) A lithium-containing electrolyte (preferably liquid or gel electrolyte) in physical contact with the two electrodes; wherein at least one of the two electrodes contains therein a lithium source (e.g., lithium foil, lithium powder, stabilized lithium particles, etc) prior to the first charge or the first discharge cycle of the battery device. This new generation of energy storage device exhibits the best properties of both the lithium ion battery and the supercapacitor.
Abstract:
A supercapacitor comprising a two electrodes, a porous separator disposed between the two electrodes, and an ionic liquid electrolyte in physical contact with the two electrodes, wherein at least one of the two electrodes comprises a meso-porous structure being formed of a plurality of nano graphene platelets and multiple pores having a pore size in the range of 2 nm and 25 nm, wherein the graphene platelets are not spacer-modified or surface-modified platelets. Preferably, the graphene platelets are curved, not flat-shaped. The pores are accessible to ionic liquid molecules, enabling the formation of large amounts of electric double layer charges in a supercapacitor, which exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacitance and high energy density.
Abstract:
A surface-enabled, metal ion-exchanging battery device comprising a cathode, an anode, a porous separator, and a metal ion-containing electrolyte, wherein the metal ion is selected from (A) non-Li alkali metals; (B) alkaline-earth metals; (C) transition metals; (D) other metals such as aluminum (Al); or (E) a combination thereof; and wherein at least one of the electrodes contains therein a metal ion source prior to the first charge or discharge cycle of the device and at least the cathode comprises a functional material or nano-structured material having a metal ion-capturing functional group or metal ion-storing surface in direct contact with said electrolyte, and wherein the operation of the battery device does not involve the introduction of oxygen from outside the device and does not involve the formation of a metal oxide, metal sulfide, metal selenide, metal telluride, metal hydroxide, or metal-halogen compound. This energy storage device has a power density significantly higher than that of a lithium-ion battery and an energy density dramatically higher than that of a supercapacitor.
Abstract:
Accessory device authentication techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, connection of an accessory device to a host computing device is detected. Responsive to the detection, an authentication sequence may occur to verify an identity and/or capabilities of the accessory device. Upon successful authentication of the accessory device, the host device may authorize the accessory device for power exchange interactions with the host device. The host device may then draw supplemental power from a power source associated with the authorized accessory device, such as a battery or power adapter. The host device may also enable the accessory device to obtain and use power supplied by the host device in some scenarios. Power exchange between a host device and an authorized accessory may be managed in accordance with capabilities of the accessory device that are identified during authentication.
Abstract:
A surface-enabled, metal ion-exchanging battery device comprising a cathode, an anode, a porous separator, and a metal ion-containing electrolyte, wherein the metal ion is selected from (A) non-Li alkali metals; (B) alkaline-earth metals; (C) transition metals; (D) other metals such as aluminum (Al); or (E) a combination thereof; and wherein at least one of the electrodes contains therein a metal ion source prior to the first charge or discharge cycle of the device and at least the cathode comprises a functional material or nano-structured material having a metal ion-capturing functional group or metal ion-storing surface in direct contact with said electrolyte, and wherein the operation of the battery device does not involve the introduction of oxygen from outside the device and does not involve the formation of a metal oxide, metal sulfide, metal selenide, metal telluride, metal hydroxide, or metal-halogen compound. This energy storage device has a power density significantly higher than that of a lithium-ion battery and an energy density dramatically higher than that of a supercapacitor.
Abstract:
A surface-controlled, lithium ion-exchanging battery device comprising: (a) A positive electrode (cathode) comprising a first functional material having a first lithium-capturing or lithium-storing surface; (b) A negative electrode (anode) comprising a second functional material having a second lithium-capturing or lithium-storing surface; (c) A porous separator disposed between the two electrodes, and (d) A lithium-containing electrolyte (preferably liquid or gel electrolyte) in physical contact with the two electrodes; wherein at least one of the two electrodes contains therein a lithium source (e.g., lithium foil, lithium powder, stabilized lithium particles, etc) prior to the first charge or the first discharge cycle of the battery device. This new generation of energy storage device exhibits the best properties of both the lithium ion battery and the supercapacitor.
Abstract:
Apparatuses for controlling a humidity level within an enclosed volume storage device and methods for using same. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a container having outer walls defining an inner volume, at least one of the outer walls, preferably an lid wall, having perforations therein. The apparatus further comprises a composition capable of adsorbing and desorbing water and contained in the inner volume of the container. The composition is hydrated to a hydration level less than about 0.13 mL water per gram of the composition. The methods include a step of hydrating the composition in an apparatus of the invention to a hydration level less than about 0.13 mL water per gram of composition.
Abstract:
An impeller for dispersing gas into molten metal includes a rectangular prism body having upper and lower faces and four side walls. The body has an opening extending through the upper and lower faces and defines a hub around the opening on the upper face. The impeller further includes a plurality of elongate grooves extending radially outwardly from the hub.
Abstract:
Accessory device authentication techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, connection of an accessory device to a host computing device is detected. Responsive to the detection, an authentication sequence may occur to verify an identity and/or capabilities of the accessory device. Upon successful authentication of the accessory device, the host device may authorize the accessory device for power exchange interactions with the host device. The host device may then draw supplemental power from a power source associated with the authorized accessory device, such as a battery or power adapter. The host device may also enable the accessory device to obtain and use power supplied by the host device in some scenarios. Power exchange between a host device and an authorized accessory may be managed in accordance with capabilities of the accessory device that are identified during authentication.
Abstract:
An electrochemical energy storage device, lithium super-battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a porous separator disposed between the two electrodes, and a lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with the two electrodes, wherein the positive electrode comprises a disordered carbon material having a functional group that reversibly reacts with a lithium atom or ion. The disordered carbon material is selected from a soft carbon, hard carbon, polymeric carbon or carbonized resin, meso-phase carbon, coke, carbonized pitch, carbon black, activated carbon, or partially graphitized carbon. In a preferred embodiment, a lithium super-battery having a functionalized disordered carbon cathode and a Li4Ti5O12 anode exhibits a gravimetric energy ˜5-10 times higher than those of conventional supercapacitors and a power density ˜10-30 times higher than those of conventional lithium-ion batteries. This device has the best properties of both the lithium ion battery and the supercapacitor.
Abstract translation:一种电化学蓄电装置,锂超级电池,包括正极,负极,设置在两个电极之间的多孔隔板和与两个电极物理接触的含锂电解质,其中正极包括无序的 具有与锂原子或离子可逆地反应的官能团的碳材料。 无序碳材料选自软碳,硬碳,聚合碳或碳化树脂,中间相碳,焦炭,碳化沥青,炭黑,活性炭或部分石墨化碳。 在优选实施例中,具有官能化无序碳阴极和Li 4 Ti 5 O 12阳极的锂超级电池显示比常规超级电容器高约5-10倍的重量能量,并且功率密度比传统锂电池高10〜30倍 电池。 该器件具有锂离子电池和超级电容器的最佳性能。