(19)

(11)

EP 1 163 704 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 19.12.2001 Bulletin 2001/51 (21) Application number: 00914963.4 (22) Date of filing: 15.03.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H01M 4/64, H01M 4/70, H01M 4/30, C01B 6/02, C25C 5/02 (86) International application number: PCT/US0006/724 (87) International publication number: WO 0055/931 (21.09.2000 Gazette 2000/38)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 15.03.1999 US 124443 P (71) Applicant: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY Cleveland, OH 44106-4984 (US)	(72) Inventors: WELSCH, Gerhard Cleveland Heights, OH 44106 (US) McGERVEY, Donald Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 (US) SZOZDOWSKI, Paul Euclid, OH 44119 (US) (74) Representative: Kador & Partner  Corneliusstrasse 15 80469 München 80469 München (DE)