Abstract: There is provided an air battery that has sufficient discharge performance and can withstand prolonged use. The air battery having an electrode and a polymer film, wherein the polymer film is situated on the air intake side of the electrode, and the polymer film is a film of a polymer of an alkyne having at least one aromatic group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sodium ion battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a sodium ion nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the negative electrode comprises a negative electrode active material and a negative electrode current collector made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. Also disclosed is use of the negative electrode current collector made of aluminum or aluminum alloy as a negative electrode current collector of a sodium ion secondary battery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mixed metal oxide comprising Na, M1, and M2, where M1 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba; and M2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, wherein the molar ratio of Na:M1:M2 is a:b:1, where a is a value within the range of not less than 0.5 and less than 1; b is a value within the range of more than 0 and not more than 0.5; and “a+b” is a value within the range of more than 0.5 and not more than 1. An electrode having an active material containing the mixed metal oxide is also disclosed. Further disclosed is an electrode containing the electrode active material as well as a sodium secondary battery comprising the electrode as a positive electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sodium secondary battery. The sodium secondary battery comprises a first electrode and a second electrode comprising a carbonaceous material. The carbonaceous material satisfies one or more requirements selected from the group consisting of requirements 1, 2, 3 and 4. Requirement 1: R value (=ID/IG) obtained by Raman spectroscopic measurement is 1.07 to 3. Requirement 2: A value and ?A value obtained by small angle X-ray scattering measurement are ?0.5 to 0 and 0 to 0.010, respectively. Requirement 3: for an electrode comprising an electrode mixture obtained by mixing 85 parts by weight of the carbonaceous material with 15 parts by weight of poly(vinylidene fluoride), the carbonaceous material in the electrode after being doped and dedoped with sodium ions is substantially free from pores having a size of not less than 10 nm. Requirement 4: Q1 value obtained by a calorimetric differential thermal analysis is not more than 800 joules/g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material capable of being doped and dedoped with alkali metal ions and represented by formula AxMyPO4, and a negative electrode. In the above formula, A is one or more alkali metal elements, M is one or more transition metal elements, x is more than 0 and not more than 1.5, y is from 0.8 to 1.2, and the positive electrode active material is obtained by bringing a P source, an A source, an M source and water into contact with each other to obtain a liquid material containing AxMyPO4 and then evaporating water from the liquid material.

Abstract: A high-quality GaAs-type crystal thin film using an inexpensive Si wafer with good thermal release characteristics is achieved. Provided is a semiconductor wafer comprising an Si wafer; a Ge layer that is crystal-grown on the wafer and shaped as an isolated island; and a functional layer that is crystal-grown on the Ge layer. The Ge layer may be shaped as an island having a size that docs not exceed double a distance moved by crystal defects as a result of annealing the Ge layer at a certain temperature for a certain time. The Ge layer may be shaped as an island having a size for which stress due to a difference relative to a thermal expansion coefficient of Si, which is material of the wafer, does not cause crystal dejects when the Ge layer is annealed at a certain temperature.

Abstract: A high-quality GaAs-type crystal thin film using an inexpensive Si wafer with good thermal release characteristics is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode active material that can suppress the necessity of performing sieving and is suitable for use in secondary batteries, particularly sodium secondary batteries. Also provided is a powder for a positive electrode active material as a raw material for the positive electrode active material. The powder for a positive electrode active material of the present invention comprises Mn-containing particles. In the cumulative particle size distribution on the volume basis of particles constituting the powder, D50, which is the particle diameter at a 50% cumulation measured from the smallest particle, is in the range of from 0.1 ?m to 10 ?m, and 90 vol % or more of the particles constituting the powder are in the range of from 0.3 times to 3 times D50. The powder for a positive electrode active material comprises Mn-containing particles, and 90 vol % or more of the particles constituting the powder are in the range of from 0.6 ?m to 6 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrode and a battery comprising the electrode. The electrode comprises a nano composite comprising nano particles capable of being oxidized and reduced and a carbonaceous material covering the nano particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sodium secondary battery having a superior cycling performance as compared with conventional techniques. A sodium secondary battery of the present invention comprises a positive electrode comprising a mixed metal oxide which comprises Na and M1 wherein M1 represents two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni, with an Na:M1 molar ratio being a:1 wherein a is a value falling within the range of more than 0.5 and less than 1, a negative electrode comprising a carbonaceous material capable of storing and releasing Na ions, and an electrolyte. Further, the sodium secondary battery of the present invention may comprise a separator, and the separator may be a separator comprising a porous laminated film in which a heat-resistant porous layer comprising a heat-resistant resin and a porous film comprising a thermoplastic resin are stacked each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sodium secondary battery capable of reducing the amount used of a scarce metal element such as lithium and cobalt and moreover, ensuring a larger discharge capacity after repeating charge/discharge as compared with conventional techniques, and a mixed metal oxide usable as the positive electrode active material therefor. The mixed metal oxide of the present invention comprises Na, Mn and M1 wherein M1 is Fe or Ni, with a Na:Mn:M1 molar ratio being a:(1-b):b wherein a is a value falling within the range of more than 0.5 and less than 1, and b is a value falling within the range of from 0.001 to 0.5. Another mixed metal oxide of the present invention is a mixed metal oxide represented by the following formula (1): NaaMn1-bM1bO2 (1) wherein M1, a and b each have the same meaning as above. The positive electrode active material for sodium secondary batteries of the present invention comprises the mixed metal oxide above.

Abstract: Disclosed are a positive electrode active material and a method for producing an olivine-type phosphate. The positive electrode active material comprises an olivine-type phosphate represented by the following formula (I), wherein the maximum peak in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained using a CuK? ray is the peak of the (031) plane of the olivine-type phosphate and the half-value width of the peak is 1.5° or less: AaMbPO4 (I), wherein A represents one or more elements selected from among alkali metals; M represents one or more elements selected from among transition metals; a is from 0.5 to 1.5; and b is from 0.5 to 1.5. The method for producing an olivine-type phosphate comprises preparing a raw material comprising element A, element M, and phosphorus (P) so that a A:M:P molar ratio may be a:b:1, preliminary calcining the raw material, and mainly calcining the preliminary calcined raw material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sodium secondary battery capable of reducing the amount of lithium used, and ensuring a larger discharge capacity maintenance rate when having repeated a charge and discharge, as compared with conventional techniques; and a mixed metal oxide usable as the positive electrode active material therefor. A mixed metal oxide of the present invention comprises Na and M1 wherein M1 represents three or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni with an Na:M1 molar ratio being a:1 wherein a is a value falling within the range of more than 0.5 and less than 1. Also, a mixed metal oxide of the present invention is represented by the following formula (1): NaaM1O2??(1) wherein M1 and a each have the same meaning as above. The positive electrode active material for secondary batteries of the present invention comprises the mixed metal oxide above.

Abstract: A high-quality GaAs-type crystal thin film using an inexpensive Si wafer with good thermal release characteristics is achieved. Provided is a semiconductor wafer comprising an Si wafer; an inhibiting layer that is formed on the wafer and that inhibits crystal growth, the inhibiting layer including a covering region that covers a portion of the wafer and an open region that does not cover a portion of the wafer within the covering region; a Ge layer that is crystal-grown in the open region; and a functional layer that is crystal-grown on the Ge layer. The Ge layer may be formed by annealing with a temperature and duration that enables movement of crystal defects, and the annealing is repeated a plurality of times.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mixed metal oxide which is reduced in the amount of scarce metal used therein, while having excellent performance as a positive electrode active material for secondary batteries. Also disclosed are a positive electrode for sodium secondary batteries having excellent performance, and a sodium secondary battery. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing a sodium-manganese complex metal oxide which is characterized by comprising a step for calcining a material, which contains sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and dimanganese trioxide (Mn2O3) in such amounts that the molar ratio of sodium to manganese (Na/Mn) is not less than 0.4 but not more than 0.7, at a temperature of not less than 850° C. Also specifically disclosed are a sodium-manganese complex metal oxide produced by the method, a positive electrode for sodium secondary batteries which contains such a sodium-manganese complex metal oxide, and a sodium secondary battery.

Abstract: A sodium ion secondary battery having far superior potential stability during discharge when repeatedly charging and discharging, and a negative electrode active material capable of being efficiently doped and dedoped with sodium ions used therefor are provided. The sodium ion secondary battery according to the present invention includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material capable of being doped and dedoped with sodium ions, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material containing, as a sole component or as a main component, a glassy carbonaceous material capable of being doped and dedoped with sodium ions, and an electrolyte containing sodium ions. Further, the negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte sodium ion secondary battery according to the present invention includes a glassy carbonaceous material as a sole component or as a main component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mixed metal oxide which is extremely useful as a positive electrode active material for secondary batteries, while being reduced in the amount of a scarce metal used therein. Also disclosed are a positive electrode for sodium secondary batteries, and a sodium secondary battery. Specifically disclosed is a mixed metal oxide having an ?-NaFeO2 type (layered rocksalt-type) crystal structure and represented by the following formula: NaxFe1-yMyO2 (wherein M represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of group 4 elements, group 5 elements, group 6 elements and group 14 elements of the IUPAC periodic table and Mn; x represents a value more than 0.5 but less than 1; and y represents a value more than 0 but less than 0.5). Also specifically disclosed are a positive electrode for sodium secondary batteries, which contains the mixed metal oxide, and a sodium secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, an electrode and a carbonaceous material. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery has an electrode containing a carbonaceous material obtained by a production method comprising a step of heating a compound of formula (1) or a calcination product of the compound, under an inert gas atmosphere in the range of from 200° C. to 3000° C.: wherein R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, a sulfonyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a thioalkyl group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group, an amino group or an amide group may be attached to the hydrocarbon group; R? represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; n represents 3, 5 or 7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode for an electrochemical energy storage device. The electrode comprises a nano-structured hollow carbonaceous material and the nano-structured hollow carbonaceous material preferably meets a requirement (A). (A) the nano-structured hollow carbonaceous material has a carbonaceous material portion and a hollow portion, and has such a structure that the hollow portion is covered with the carbonaceous material portion in a saclike shape, a part of the structure, or an aggregate of the structure.

Abstract: In a method of determining the quality of a semiconductor epitaxial crystal wafer having a buffer structure portion comprised of epitaxial layers the semiconductor epitaxial crystal wafer (S) is irradiated with pulsed exciting light (5A) to modulate an internal electric field of the buffer structure portion, the electric transport properties deriving from the crystal quality of the buffer structure of the semiconductor epitaxial crystal wafer (S) are predicted based on a spectral difference in reflectance in reflection probe light (3B) from the semiconductor epitaxial crystal wafer (S), to determine the crystal quality of the buffer structure portion. The crystal quality may also be determined based on electric field strength calculated from Franz-Keldysh oscillation originating in the semiconductor chemical compound of the buffer structure portion.