Abstract: Provided is a negative electrode active material that can improve the capacity per volume and charge-discharge cycle characteristics of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery represented by a lithium ion secondary battery. The negative electrode active material according to the present embodiment contains an alloy phase. The alloy phase undergoes thermoelastic diffusionless transformation when releasing or occluding metal ions. The negative electrode active material of the present embodiment is used in a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery. Thermoelastic diffusionless transformation refers to so-called thermoelastic martensitic transformation.

Abstract: Provided is a negative electrode active material that can improve the capacity per volume and charge-discharge cycle characteristics of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery represented by a lithium ion secondary battery. The negative electrode active material according to the present embodiment contains an alloy phase. The alloy phase undergoes thermoelastic diffusionless transformation when releasing or occluding metal ions. The negative electrode active material of the present embodiment is used in a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery. Thermoelastic diffusionless transformation refers to so-called thermoelastic martensitic transformation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a supermagnetostrictive alloy capable of providing a larger shift (lager magnetostriction) with excellent workability, which is applicable to an actuator in response to advances in downsizing of electronic devices and upgrading of medical instruments and production apparatuses. The supermagnetostrictive alloy has a degree of order of 0.6 to 0.95 achieved by subjecting Fe3−xPt1+x(−0.02≦×≦0.2) to a heat treatment. The present invention also provides a method for the preparation of a supermagnetostrictive alloy having a magnetostriction of 0.3% or more, particularly 0.5% or more, comprising the steps of subjecting the Fe3−xPt1+x alloy of a raw material to a homogenization annealing, and then subjecting the resulting product to a heat treatment at 700 to 1000 K for 0.5 to 600 hours.