Reviews on the Japanese Patent Applications Regarding Nickel/Metal Hydride Batteries

• Published in: Batteries (Basel) Vol. 2; no. 3; p. 21
• Main Authors: Ouchi, Taihei, Young, Kwo-Hsiung, Moghe, Dhanashree
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Alloys; Automobiles; Batteries; Chemical engineering; Composite materials; Electric vehicles; electrode fabrication; Electrodes; Electrolytes; High temperature; Hydrogen; Industrial research; Japan patent application; Manufacturers; Manufacturing; Materials science; metal hydride (MH); Metal hydrides; Nickel; nickel hydroxide; nickel/metal hydride (Ni/MH) battery; Organic chemistry; Patent applications; R&D; Rechargeable batteries; Research & development; Research facilities; United States > US; China; Japan
• ISSN: 2313-0105; 2313-0105
• DOI: 10.3390/batteries2030021

The Japanese Patent Applications filed on the topic of nickel/metal hydride (Ni/MH) batteries have been reviewed. Patent applications filed by the top nine battery manufacturers (Matsushita, Sanyo, Hitachi Maxell, Yuasa, Toshiba, FDK, Furukawa, Japan Storage, and Shin-kobe), five component suppliers (Tanaka, Mitsui, Santoku, Japan Metals & Chemicals Co. (JMC), and Shin-Etsu), and three research institutes (Industrial Research Institute (ISI), Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and Toyota R & D) were chosen as the main subjects for this review, based on their production volume and contribution to the field. By reviewing these patent applications, we can have a clear picture of the technology development in the Japanese battery industry. These patent applications also provide insights, know-how, and future directions for engineers and scientists working in the rechargeable battery field.