Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms. The main chain portion of the polymer chain and the side chain portion of the segment have an orientation property.

Abstract: There are provided an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an intermetallic compound containing at least tin is dispersed in a silicon phase and an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an at least one intermetallic compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, indium, antimony, bismuth and lead is dispersed in a silicon phase.

Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms. The main chain portion of the polymer chain and the side chain portion of the segment have an orientation property. The polymer matrix has a cross-linked structure.

Abstract: A process for patterning a nanocarbon material includes a step of forming a nanocarbon layer on a substrate; a step of forming a first metal layer on the nanocarbon layer to pattern the first metal layer, the first metal layer containing at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc, tin, indium, aluminum, and titanium; and a step of etching the nanocarbon layer with oxygen plasma using the first metal layer as a positive pattern. Also, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a semiconductor layer containing a nanocarbon material includes a step of patterning a nanocarbon material by the above process; and, a semiconductor device containing a nanocarbon material includes a semiconductor layer including a nanocarbon sub-layer patterned by the process.

Abstract: A detecting method for detecting internal resistance of an inspective rechargeable battery when said inspective rechargeable battery is charged by the constant current-constant voltage charging regime, said detecting method comprising at least a step (a) wherein an accumulated, charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery in the constant voltage charging mode is obtained and a step (b) wherein said charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery obtained in the constant voltage charging mode in said step (a) is referred to previously acquired data of a normal rechargeable battery, which corresponds to said inspective rechargeable battery, with respect to relationships of charged electricity quantities Qcv thereof versus internal resistances thereof when increased or decreased or their increased or decreased magnitudes in the constant voltage charging mode.

Abstract: An electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which includes particles each having a central portion and a surface portion covering the surface of the central portion. A distance from a center to an outermost surface of the particle is occupied 80 to 99% by the central portion and 1 to 20% by the surface portion. The central portion includes LiM1-aDaO2 having an ?-NaFeO2 structure, and the surface portion includes LiM1-bEbO2 having an ?-NaFeO2 structure. (M is C or Ni; D is a transition metal element or Al replacing a part of Co or Ni as M; E is a metal element replacing a part of Co or Ni as M; and M is not the same as D or E.) The following relationships are satisfied in the central portion, in terms of atomic ratio: D/(M+D+E)<0.05 and E/(M+D+E)<0.05.

Abstract: There are provided an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an intermetallic compound containing at least tin is dispersed in a silicon phase and an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an at least one intermetallic compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, indium, antimony, bismuth and lead is dispersed in a silicon phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides: an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery containing lithium boron mixed oxide having a monoclinic LiBO2 structure and represented by a chemical formula LiB1-xDxO2-yEy (wherein, D represents a substitution element of boron B, E represents a substitution element of oxygen O, 0<x<0.5, and 0?y<0.1); an electrode structure employing the electrode material; and a lithium secondary battery having the electrode structure. Accordingly, the present invention provides: an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery having a voltage of 3.0 V (vs. Li/Li+) or more, a usable capacity exceeding 200 mAh/g, and a high energy density; an electrode structure employing the electrode material; and a lithium second battery having the electrode structure.

Abstract: An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 ?m?R<0.5 ?m. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.

Abstract: An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 ?m?R<0.5 ?m. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.

Abstract: A powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions rapidly in a large amount is provided. In addition, an electrode structure for an energy storage device which can provide a high energy density and a high power density and has a long life, and an energy storage device using the electrode structure are provided. In a powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions, the surface of particles of one of silicon metal and tin metal and an alloy of any thereof is coated by an oxide including a transition metal element selected from the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, and V as a main component. The electrode structure includes the powder material. The battery device includes a negative electrode having the electrode structure, a lithium ion conductor, and a positive electrode, and utilizes an oxidation reaction of lithium and a reduction reaction of lithium ion.

Abstract: There is provided a lithium secondary battery with a negative electrode which comprises a negative electrode active material layer comprising alloy particles comprising silicon and tin and having an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 2 ?m as an active material, and a negative electrode current collector, wherein the negative electrode active material layer has a storage capacity of 1,000 to 2,200 mAh/g and a density of 0.9 to 1.5 g/cm3 and which thereby has a high capacity and a good cycle-characteristic. Thus, a lithium secondary battery having a high capacity and a long life and so designed as to exhibit these characteristics at the same time is provided.

Abstract: A method for producing nano-carbon materials, having a step wherein a starting material comprising one or more kinds of compounds selected from the group consisting saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons, saturated cyclic hydrocarbons, and alcohols whose atomic ratio of the component carbon to the component oxygen is more than 2.0 and a catalyst are together treated at a temperature in a range of from 100 to 800° C. while being compressed at a pressure in a range of from 0.2 to 60 MPa.

Abstract: There are provided an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an intermetallic compound containing at least tin is dispersed in a silicon phase and an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an at least one intermetallic compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, indium, antimony, bismuth and lead is dispersed in a silicon phase.

Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms. The main chain portion of the polymer chain and the side chain portion of the segment have an orientation property.

Abstract: A secondary battery exhibiting a long cycle life and comprising a negative pole activating material made of lithium or zinc is provided. The battery at least having a negative pole made of lithium or zinc serving as the negative pole activating material, an electrolyte (electrolytic solution), a separator, a positive pole made of a positive pole activating material, a collecting electrode and a battery case, wherein at least the surface of the negative pole is covered with a film having a structure which allows ions relating to the battery reactions to pass through. Since growth of dendrites of lithium or zinc at the time of charge can be prevented, short circuiting between the negative pole and the positive pole can be prevented. Therefore, the charge/discharge cycle life can significantly be lengthened.

Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and an excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1), a main chain portion of said polymer chain and a side chain portion of said segment have an orientation property, and said polymer matrix has a crosslinked structure: wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A detecting method for detecting internal resistance of an inspective rechargeable battery when said inspective rechargeable battery is charged by the constant current-constant voltage charging regime, said detecting method comprising at least a step (a) wherein an accumulated, charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery in the constant voltage charging mode is obtained and a step (b) wherein said charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery obtained in the constant voltage charging mode in said step (a) is referred to previously acquired data of a normal rechargeable battery, which corresponds to said inspective rechargeable battery, with respect to relationships of charged electricity quantities Qcv thereof versus internal resistances thereof when increased or decreased or their increased or decreased magnitudes in the constant voltage charging mode.

Abstract: A detecting method for detecting internal resistance of an inspective rechargeable battery when said inspective rechargeable battery is charged by the constant current-constant voltage charging regime, said detecting method comprising at least a step (a) wherein an accumulated, charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery in the constant voltage charging mode is obtained and a step (b) wherein said charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery obtained in the constant voltage charging mode in said step (a) is referred to previously acquired data of a normal rechargeable battery, which corresponds to said inspective rechargeable battery, with respect to relationships of charged electricity quantities Qcv thereof versus internal resistances thereof when increased or decreased or their increased or decreased magnitudes in the constant voltage charging mode.

Abstract: An electrode material for an anode of a rechargeable lithium battery, containing a particulate comprising an amorphous Sn.A.X alloy with a substantially non-stoichiometric ratio composition. For said formula Sn.A.X, A indicates at least one kind of an element selected from a group consisting of transition metal elements, X indicates at least one kind of an element selected from a group consisting of O, F, N, Mg, Ba, Sr, Ca, La, Ce, Si, Ge, C, P, B, Pb, Bi, Sb, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Zn, Be, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, As, Se, Te, Li and S, where the element X is not always necessary to be contained. The content of the constituent element Sn of the amorphous Sn.A.X alloy is Sn/(Sn+A+X)=20 to 80 atomic %.