Abstract: The present inventors have clarified that activin has an activity of promoting the proliferation of MSCs and an activity of promoting the regeneration of meniscus or cartilaginous tissue without affecting differentiation multipotency. Further, the present inventors have also found that the use of activin makes it possible to treat and prevent meniscus damage or cartilage disorders, including suppression of degenerative degeneration of cartilage and pain.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lithium ion battery with low resistance to ion conduction. The present disclosure achieves the object by providing a lithium ion battery comprising: a cathode active material; an anode active material; an insulating oxide with neither electron conductivity nor ion conductivity that is formed in an interface between the cathode active material and the anode active material, and contains at least one kind of an element included in the cathode active material and at least one kind of an element included in the anode active material; and an electrolyte material that is an ion conducting path between the cathode active material and the anode active material; wherein the cathode active material comprises Li, at least one kind of Co, Mn, Ni, and Fe, and O; and the anode active material comprises at least one kind of Si, Li and Ti.

Abstract: An all-solid-state battery having an olivine-type positive electrode active material and a sulfur solid electrolyte and a method for producing the all-solid-state battery is provided. The positive electrode active material is a positive electrode active material in which primary particles aggregate into secondary particles. The primary particles have an olivine-type positive electrode active material and a coating layer that coats all or a portion of the olivine-type positive electrode active material. The coating layer contains a transition metal derived from the olivine-type positive electrode active material, lithium, phosphorous and oxygen as components thereof, and the concentration of the transition metal is lower the concentration of the olivine-type positive electrode active material.

Abstract: A method is provided where an anode of an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery is easily doped with lithium and to provide a small resistance at a low battery capacity. The method includes a manufacturing method of a cathode including mixing at least a conductive assistant (C1) and a sulfide solid electrolyte (E1) to obtain a mixture; and mixing at least one cathode active material, a solid electrolyte (E2) and the mixture obtained from the first step to obtain a cathode mixture, wherein an amount of energy added to the sulfide solid electrolyte (E1) is larger than an amount of energy added to the solid electrolyte (E2), and the mixture is a material that releases lithium ions at a potential lower than a potential at which the cathode active material releases and occludes lithium ions. Manufacturing methods for a cathode and an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery including the cathode mixture are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The anode material for lithium-ion batteries is represented by the molecular formula: MxNyTizO(x+3y+4z)/2, where: 0?x?8, 1?y?8, and 1?z?8; M is an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, and K; and N is a group VA element selected from the group consisting of P, Sb, and Bi or a rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Yb, and La. The anode material of the present invention has a delithiation potential of 0.8 to 1.2 V vs. Li+/Li, and has a better potential plateau, better cycle performance, and better output-input properties, than a titanium-based anode material.

Abstract: A method for producing a lithium phosphorus oxynitride layer having high ionic conductivity is provided. The method for producing a lithium phosphorus oxynitride layer on a substrate by atomic layer deposition comprises an atmosphere interchanging step, wherein the atmosphere surrounding the substrate is alternately switched between a first atmosphere, containing a first precursor such as a dialkyl phosphoramidate and/or alkyl phosphorodiamidate, and a second atmosphere, containing a second precursor such as a lithium hexaalkyl disilazide.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lithium ion battery with low resistance to ion conduction. The present disclosure achieves the object by providing a lithium ion battery comprising: a cathode active material; an anode active material; an insulating oxide with neither electron conductivity nor ion conductivity that is formed in an interface between the cathode active material and the anode active material, and contains at least one kind of an element included in the cathode active material and at least one kind of an element included in the anode active material; and an electrolyte material that is an ion conducting path between the cathode active material and the anode active material; wherein the cathode active material comprises Li, at least one kind of Co, Mn, Ni, and Fe, and O; and the anode active material comprises at least one kind of Si, Li and Ti.

Abstract: A method is provided where an anode of an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery is easily doped with lithium and to provide a small resistance at a low battery capacity. The method includes a manufacturing method of a cathode including mixing at least a conductive assistant (C1) and a sulfide solid electrolyte (E1) to obtain a mixture; and mixing at least one cathode active material, a solid electrolyte (E2) and the mixture obtained from the first step to obtain a cathode mixture, wherein an amount of energy added to the sulfide solid electrolyte (E1) is larger than an amount of energy added to the solid electrolyte (E2), and the mixture is a material that releases lithium ions at a potential lower than a potential at which the cathode active material releases and occludes lithium ions. Manufacturing methods for a cathode and an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery including the cathode mixture are also disclosed.

Abstract: An all-solid-state battery having an olivine-type positive electrode active material and a sulfur solid electrolyte and a method for producing the all-solid-state battery is provided. The positive electrode active material is a positive electrode active material in which primary particles aggregate into secondary particles. The primary particles have an olivine-type positive electrode active material and a coating layer that coats all or a portion of the olivine-type positive electrode active material. The coating layer contains a transition metal derived from the olivine-type positive electrode active material, lithium, phosphorous and oxygen as components thereof, and the concentration of the transition metal is lower the concentration of the olivine-type positive electrode active material.

Abstract: A method for producing a lithium phosphorus oxynitride layer having high ionic conductivity is provided. The method for producing a lithium phosphorus oxynitride layer on a substrate by atomic layer deposition comprises an atmosphere interchanging step, wherein the atmosphere surrounding the substrate is alternately switched between a first atmosphere, containing a first precursor such as a dialkyl phosphoramidate and/or alkyl phosphorodiamidate, and a second atmosphere, containing a second precursor such as a lithium hexaalkyl disilazide.

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery with high theoretical capacity. The present invention solves the problem by providing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, wherein the cathode active material comprises a crystal structure belonging to a space group C12/c1, and is represented by (Na1-?Li?)xM1-yNy(PO4)z (0.5???1, 2.5?x?3.5, 0?y?0.5, 1.5?z?2.5, M is at least one of V and Fe, and N is at least one of Co, Ni and Mn).

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery with high theoretical capacity. The present invention solves the problem by providing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, wherein the cathode active material comprises a crystal structure belonging to a space group C12/c1, and is represented by (Na1-?Li?)xM1-yNy(PO4)z (0.5???1, 2.5?x?3.5, 0?y?0.5, 1.5?z?2.5, M is at least one of V and Fe, and N is at least one of Co, Ni and Mn).

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that allows reversible charge and discharge to be carried out and can be used for a long period because of a stable non-aqueous electrolyte used therein. The invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material and capable of storing and releasing sodium, a negative electrode capable of storing and releasing sodium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, and the positive electrode active material includes sodium, nickel, manganese, and a transition metal that can exist in a hexavalent state. An example of the transition metal that can exist in a hexavalent state may include tungsten (W). An example of the negative electrode may include a sodium metal capable of storing and releasing sodium ions.

Abstract: A main object of the invention is to provide a cathode active material used to form a lithium secondary battery having the improved cycle characteristics and output. The invention attains the object by providing a semiconductor-covered cathode active material comprising: a cathode active material; and a pn junction semiconductor covering layer which comprises an n-type semiconductor covering layer that covers a surface of the cathode active material and a p-type semiconductor covering layer that covers the surface of the n-type semiconductor covering layer.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material comprising sodium oxide, is characterized in that the sodium oxide contains lithium, and the molar amount of the lithium is less than the molar amount of the sodium.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material comprising sodium oxide, is characterized in that the sodium oxide contains lithium, and the molar amount of the lithium is less than the molar amount of the sodium.

Abstract: A method of producing a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material comprising sodium oxide, characterized in that: the sodium oxide contains lithium; and the molar amount of the lithium is less than the molar amount of the sodium.

Abstract: A mixed positive electrode active material is used. The mixed positive electrode active material is obtained by mixing a layered oxide whose initial charge-discharge efficiency when lithium metal is used for a counter electrode is less than 100% (hereinafter referred to as a first layered oxide) and a layered oxide whose initial charge-discharge efficiency is 100% or more (hereinafter referred to as a second layered oxide). Examples of the first layered oxide include Li1+aMnxCoyNizO2. A sodium oxide such as LiANaBMnXCoYNiZO2 other than a layered compound from which lithium is previously extracted by acid treatment or the like can be used as the second layered oxide whose initial charge-discharge efficiency is 100% or more. A layered oxide obtained by replacing (ion exchange) sodium in the foregoing LiANaBMnXCoYNiZO2 with lithium can be also used as the second layered oxide.

Abstract: A main object of the invention is to provide a cathode active material used to form a lithium secondary battery having the improved cycle characteristics and output. The invention attains the object by providing a semiconductor-covered cathode active material comprising: a cathode active material; and a pn junction semiconductor covering layer which comprises an n-type semiconductor covering layer that covers a surface of the cathode active material and a p-type semiconductor covering layer that covers the surface of the n-type semiconductor covering layer.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material including lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and a transition metal that can be in the hexavalent state is used. As the transition metal that can be in the hexavalent state, for example, one or both of tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) can be used. As the positive electrode active material including a plurality of materials as mentioned above, LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 can be used. As a negative electrode, a carbon material or a silicon material capable of storing and releasing lithium ions can be used.