Abstract: A positive active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided comprising lithium manganese oxide having such a spinel structure that the half-width (2?) of the reflection peak corresponding to 440 plane as determined by X-ray diffractometry using CuK? ray is not greater than 0.145°. The use of this positive active material makes it possible to obtain a secondary battery which exhibits a good cycle life performance at room temperature and high temperatures and a reduced capacity drop when stored at high temperatures.

Abstract: A positive active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium-nickel composite oxide represented by the compositional formula LiaNi1?b?cCObMncO2 (a?1.09, 0.05?b?0.35, 0.15?c?0.35, and 0.25?b+c?0.55). By X-ray diffractometry with a CuK? ray, the lithium-nickel composite oxide exhibits an intensity ratio R ((I012+I006)/I101) of not greater than 0.50, wherein R is the ratio of the sum of the diffraction peak intensity I012 on the 012 plane and the diffraction peak intensity I006 on the 006 plane to the diffraction peak intensity I101 on the 101 plane. The crystallinity of the positive active material of the compositional formula LiaNi1?b?cCobMncO2 can be kept high and it is possible to secure good capacity density and cycle life performance.

Abstract: A positive active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which has a higher capacity and improved thermal stability in a charged state and is less expensive compared to the current active material of LiCoO2 is provided by a lithium compound oxide having the formula: LiaNibCocMndMeO2  (1) where M stands for one or two of W and Mo, 0.90≦a≦1.15, 0<b<0.99, 0<c≦0.5, 0<d≦0.5, 0<c+d≦0.9, 0.01≦e≦0.1, and b+c+d+e=1, the lithium compound oxide giving an X-ray diffraction pattern including a diffraction peak or peaks assigned to a compound oxide of Li and W and/or a compound oxide of Li and Mo, in addition to main diffraction peaks assigned to a hexagonal crystal structure.

Abstract: For charging a secondary battery, at least two operation modes including first and second operation modes, in which the secondary battery is charged to predetermined charge end voltages different from each other, are established. Both life and capacity of the battery can be maximized by a user selecting either of the two operation modes, or switching between the two operation modes automatically with a timer device, or according to a temperature of the battery, state of health thereof, or internal pressure thereof.

Abstract: A positive active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which has a higher capacity and improved thermal stability in a charged state and is less expensive compared to the current active material of LiCoO2 is provided by a lithium compound oxide having the formula:

Abstract: For charging a secondary battery, at least two operation modes including first and second operation modes, in which the secondary battery is charged to predetermined charge end voltages different from each other, are established. Both life and capacity of the battery can be maximized by a user selecting either of the two operation modes, or switching between the two operation modes automatically with a timer device, or according to a temperature of the battery, state of health thereof, or internal pressure thereof.

Abstract: In a method for arranging cells, a plurality of cells each configured in an substantially elliptic cylindrical shape having a major axis and a minor axis in its sectional shape, and the sectional surface including the major axis of each of the lid wall and the bottom wall of each of the cells, is arranged to be inclined with respect to a vertical line perpendicular to an arrangement reference surface.

Abstract: A positive active material for the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a lithium-nickel composite oxide represented by the compositional formula LiaNi1-b-cCObMnCO2 (a≦1.09, 0.05≦b≦0.35, 0.15≦c≦0.35, and 0.25≦b+c≦0.55). BY the X-ray diffractometry with the CuK&agr; ray, the lithium-nickel composite oxide exhibits an intensity ratio R ((I012+I006)/I101) of not greater 0.50, wherein R is the ratio of the sum of the diffraction peak intensity I012 on the 012 plane and the diffraction peak intensity I006 on the 006 plane to the diffraction peak intensity I101 on the 101 plane. The crystallinity of the positive active material of the compositional formula LiaNi1-b-cCobMnCO2 can be kept high and it is possible to secure the good capacity density and cycle life performance.

Abstract: A positive active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided comprising lithium manganese oxide having such a spinel structure that the half-width (2&thgr;) of the reflection peak corresponding to 440 plane as determined by X-ray diffractometry using CuK&agr; ray is not greater than 0.145°. The use of this positive active material makes it possible to obtain a secondary battery which exhibits a good cycle life performance at room temperature and high temperatures and a reduced capacity drop when stored at high temperatures.

Abstract: In an organic electrolyte battery, resistor layers having higher resisting values than those of electric conducting substrates retaining active material of an electrode are formed on the substrate surfaces.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention has a power-generating element and a collector. The power-generating element is provided with a portion where a negative electrode plate and a positive electrode plate are not opposed to each other. In the power-generating element, the electrode plates are wound or laminated through a separation body so that the side edge portion of one of the electrode plates protrudes from that of the other. The collector is connected to the side edge portions. The collector has a plurality of grooves bonded to the side edges of the electrode plates. The bonding is made by at least one of a welding method such as ultrasonic welding method, laser welding method, electric welding method, arc welding method and plasma arc welding method, and a mechanical joint using a rivet, pin or eyelet, or by deforming under pressure the collector to crimp.