Abstract: A lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a carbon material as an active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a solute dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent in which ?-butyrolactone is the main solvent, wherein the carbon material has a ratio (ID/IG) of a Raman spectrum intensity (a peak intensity ratio) (R) obtained by Raman spectroscopy of 0.2 or greater, and the nonaqueous electrolyte includes at least 0.1 part by weight of vinylene carbonate and at least 0.1 part by weight of vinyl ethylene carbonate in 100 parts by weight of the nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte prepared by dissolving a solute in a non-aqueous solvent wherein a positive electrode active material of said positive electrode is composed of lithium-manganese composite oxide having a spinel structure and lithium-transition metal composite oxide having a layer structure containing at least nickel and lithium salt having oxalato complex as anion is admixed to said non-aqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: A battery includes an electrically-conductive battery can (1) for accommodating a spirally-wound electrode assembly (3) in which an electrolyte solution is impregnated. The battery can has an open end and a closed end, and to the open end, an electrically-conductive sealing plate (5) is fixed being insulated from the battery can (1). A positive electrode (31) and a negative electrode (33) project from respective opposing ends of the spirally-wound electrode assembly (3), and a positive electrode current collector plate (4) and a negative electrode current collector plate (2) are joined to the respective projecting edges of the electrodes (31), (33). Electrically-conductive leads (45), (46) connect the positive electrode current collector plate (4) and the sealing plate (5) together. The negative electrode current collector plate (2) and the battery can (1) are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that uses a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material can alleviate reduction in battery capacity associated with charge-discharge cycling at high temperatures and can enhance elevated-temperature durability, that is, high-temperature cycle performance. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery uses a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide superficially coated with microparticles of Al2O3 as the positive electrode active material.

Abstract: Elevated-temperature durability (i.e., high-temperature storage performance) is improved in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that uses a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a positive electrode containing a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The lithium-transition metal composite oxide contains boron and at least one element selected from the group IVa elements of the periodic table.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte prepared by dissolving a solute in a non-aqueous solvent wherein a positive electrode active material of said positive electrode is composed of lithium-manganese composite oxide having a spinel structure and lithium-transition metal composite oxide having a layer structure containing at least nickel and lithium salt having oxalato complex as anion is admixed to said non-aqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: Good cycle performance and high discharge power characteristics are obtained with a non-aqueous secondary cell including a positive electrode containing as a positive electrode active material a mixture of a lithium-manganese composite oxide and a lithium-transition metal composite oxide containing at least Ni and Mn, and a negative electrode having as a negative electrode active material a material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium. Discharge of the non-aqueous secondary cell is controlled so that the end-of-discharge voltage of the non-aqueous secondary cell becomes equal to or higher than 2 V and lower than 3 V.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a carbon material as an active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a solute dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent in which &ggr;-butyrolactone is the main solvent, wherein the carbon material has a ratio (ID/IG) of a Raman spectrum intensity (a peak intensity ratio) (R) obtained by Raman spectroscopy of 0.2 or greater, and the nonaqueous electrolyte includes at least 0.1 part by weight of vinylene carbonate and at least 0.1 part by weight of vinyl ethylene carbonate in 100 parts by weight of the nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: A lithium cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode employing a carbon material as an active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte including a solute dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent, and is characterized in that the carbon material in the negative electrode has an RA value (IA/IG) of 0.05 or more, the RA value calculated from a peak intensity (IA) of a broad peak PA having a full width at half maximum of 100 cm−1 or more and a peak intensity (IG) in the vicinity of 1580 cm−1 as determined by laser Raman spectroscopy using an argon ion laser having a wavelength of 514.5 nm, the peak intensity (IA) determined from a peak PD in the vicinity of 1360 cm−1, as determined by the aforesaid laser Raman spectroscopy, which is separated into the broad peak PA having the full width at half maximum of 100 cm−1 or more and a peak PB having a full width at half maximum of less than 100 cm−1.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a carbon material as a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing a solvent and a solute wherein sulfolane is included in the nonaqueous electrolyte as a solvent and vinyl ethylene carbonate and vinylene carbonate or a derivative of the vinylene carbonate are added to the nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: The separator 10a for use in the alkaline storage battery of the invention comprises densely and uniformly formed over the entire separator and entrained from the surface to the back plane of the separator, first fine paths (pores) 15 rendered hydrophilic and second fine paths (pores) 16 rendered non-hydrophilic. In this manner, the gas generated in the vicinity of the first fine paths (pores) 15 can immediately reach the second fine paths (pores) 16 formed in the vicinity of the first fine paths (pores) 15 and transferred. On the other hand, the ions that attempt passing through the second fine paths (pores) 16 can readily reach the first fine paths (pores) 15 formed in the vicinity of the second fine paths (pores) 16, and hence, the ions can be transferred through the first fine paths (pores) 15.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery excellent in both charge properties and discharge properties. A novel alkaline storage battery is provided comprising an active positive electrode material containing nickel hydroxide as a main component and an alkaline electrolyte containing at least Li+ and Na+, characterized in that the positive electrode contains Y and/or Y compound and the alkaline electrolyte has an Li+ content of from not lower than 0.1 to less than 1.0 N and an Na+ content of from 0.3 to 1.5 N.

Abstract: The separator 10a for use in the alkaline storage battery of the invention comprises densely and uniformly formed over the entire separator and entrained from the surface to the back plane of the separator, first fine paths (pores) 15 rendered hydrophilic and second fine paths (pores) 16 rendered non-hydrophilic. In this manner, the gas generated in the vicinity of the first fine paths (pores) 15 can immediately reach the second fine paths (pores) 16 formed in the vicinity of the first fine paths (pores) 15 and transferred. On the other hand, the ions that attempt passing through the second fine paths (pores) 16 can readily reach the first fine paths (pores) 15 formed in the vicinity of the second fine paths (pores) 16, and hence, the ions can be transferred through the first fine paths (pores) 15.

Abstract: An electrode body in which current collecting bodies are welded to upper and lower end surfaces of a spiral electrode group formed by interposing a separator between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate is installed into a battery case. After the current collecting body is welded to the battery case, the cylindrical body is loaded on the diameter of the current collecting body, then the blade portions are welded, then the electrolytic solution is injected, and then a pair of electrodes are arranged on the port-sealing body and the battery case while bringing the bottom surface of the port-sealing body into contact with the peripheral side surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery excellent in both charge properties and discharge properties. A novel alkaline storage battery is provided comprising an active positive electrode material containing nickel hydroxide as a main component and an alkaline electrolyte containing at least Li and Na, characterized in that the positive electrode contains Y and/or Y compound and the alkaline electrolyte has an Li content of from not lower than 0.1 to less than 1.0 N and an Na content of from 0.3 to 1.5 N.

Abstract: A cylindrical alkaline storage battery including a spiraled electrode body composed of a pair of opposed electrodes spirally rolled up through a separator and coupled within a cylindrical casing, at least one of the electrodes being in the form of a non-sintered type electrode composed of an active material retention substrate of three dimensionally meshed structure impregnated with paste of an active material, and a current collector formed with a disc portion for connection to one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode and a lead portion for connection to a terminal, wherein the one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode is formed without impregnation of the paste of the active material, and wherein a perforated sheet metal welded to the one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode is welded at its side edge to the disc portion of the current collector.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method of producing a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode which is solid and enables a metal hydride storage cell, using the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode, with high discharge characteristics in high-rate discharge and in low temperature and a long cycle life. To achieve this, the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode is produced by firstly generating a first powder by giving a surface treatment to a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder in an acid solution, secondly generating a mixed material by mixing the first powder with a second powder which is composed of a metal which does not absorb hydrogen and/or an alloy which does not absorb hydrogen, thirdly attaching the mixed material to a base plate, and fourthly baking the base plate for sintering the mixed material attached to the base plate.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy electrode for use in electrochemical hydrogen storage cells, the electrode being in the form of a negative electrode fabricated by sintering a mixture of a hydrogen storage alloy containing manganese and an alloy containing a measured amount of manganese.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy electrode for use in electro-chemical hydrogen storage cells, the electrode being in the form of a negative electrode fabricated by sintering a mixture of a hydrogen storage alloy containing manganese and an alloy containing a measured amount of manganese.

Abstract: In the production of a 124-type or 123-type superconductor by a sol-gel method using alkoxides of respective metals, the use of a compound wherein a sec-butoxy group and a hydroxy group are coordinated with a copper atom gives a superconductor composed of flat particles having a broad C plane. The dimensional ratio defined by l/d is at least 6.7 in the case of the 124-type or is at least 8.4 in the case of the 123-type. It shows a superconducting property at a liquid nitrogen temperature. This superconductor shows a higher critical current density than one obtained by a sintering method.