Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing a nickel hydroxide active material and a compound oxide in a range of 2 wt % to 30 wt % to the amount of the nickel hydroxide. The compound oxide contains at least one transition metal element and at least one rare earth element or alkaline earth metal element. The compound oxide has conductivity of 10.sup.-2 S/cm or higher at 25.degree. C. and stability in an alkaline electrolyte. Consequently, the alkaline storage battery shows excellent characteristics in a long-term preservation at a high temperature, capacity restoration, and charge/discharge cycle life.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery comprises a positive electrode prepared by filling a nickel hydroxide in a porous plaque as an active material, a negative electrode, a separator and an alkaline electrolyte, the positive electrode containing the nickel hydroxide as a main component and a complex oxide of lithium and cobalt as a conductive agent. The lithium-cobalt complex oxide as a conductive agent is preferably represented by the formula Li.sub.x CoO.sub.2 (x is 0.2-0.9).

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrogen storage alloy electrode comprising the step of treating a hydrogen storage alloy by immersing it in an alkaline solution containing cobalt ion or copper ion at a high temperature at a stage wherein the alloy is in powder state before formed into an electrode and/or at a stage wherein the alloy has been formed into an electrode. By this treatment, a hydrogen storage alloy electrode having an excellent high-rate discharge performance at a low temperature is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a hydrogen storage alloy low in cobalt content which can restrains a decrease in cycle life characteristic and preservation characteristic of an alkaline storage battery when the alloy is used as a negative electrode. The method includes the following steps. An Mm-Ni system hydrogen storage alloy which has a crystal structure of CaCu.sub.5 and contains 15 atom % or less of cobalt is powdered to have an average particle diameter of 10-100 .mu.m. Then, the powdered alloy is immersed in a treatment solution at 80.degree.-130.degree. C., the treatment solution comprising an alkaline aqueous solution containing 10 g/l or more of lithium hydroxide and having a specific gravity of 1.1 or higher, and cobalt ions which is contained in the alkaline aqueous solution, thereby forming a layer containing nickel and cobalt in higher concentration than in the bulk of the powdered alloy onto the alloy surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing a nickel hydroxide active material and a compound oxide in a range of 2 wt % to 30 wt % to the amount of the nickel hydroxide. The compound oxide contains at least one transition metal element and at least one rare earth element or alkaline earth metal element. The compound oxide has conductivity of 10.sup.-2 S/cm or higher at 25.degree. C. and stability in an alkaline electrolyte. Consequently, the alkaline storage battery shows excellent characteristics in a long-term preservation at a high temperature, capacity restoration, and charge/discharge cycle life.

Abstract: Addition of Mo to a Zr--Mn--V--Cr--Co--Ni, a Zr--Mn--Cr--Co--Ni hydrogen storage alloy, or those including Ti as substitution for Zr improves high-rate discharge characteristics of the hydrogen storage alloy at low temperatures. The hydrogen storage alloy is of the general formula ZrMn.sub.a V.sub.b Mo.sub.c Cr.sub.d Co.sub.e Ni.sub.f, wherein 0.4.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.8, 0.ltoreq.b<0.3, 0<c.ltoreq.0.3, 0<d.ltoreq.0.3, 0<e.ltoreq.0.1, 1.0.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.1.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b+c.ltoreq.0.3, and 2.0.ltoreq.a+b+c+d+e+f.ltoreq.2.4, or Zr.sub.1-x Ti.sub.x Mn.sub.a V.sub.b Mo.sub.c Cr.sub.d Co.sub.e Ni.sub.f, wherein 0<x.ltoreq.0.5, 0.4.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.8, 0.ltoreq.b<0.3, 0<c.ltoreq.0.3, 0<d.ltoreq.0.3, 0<e.ltoreq.0.1, 1.0.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.1.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b+c.ltoreq.0.3, x.ltoreq.b+c+d+e, and 1.7.ltoreq.a+b+c+d+e+f.ltoreq.2.2 or Zr.sub.1- Ti.sub.x Mn.sub.a Mo.sub.c M.sub.y Cr.sub.d Ni.sub.f, wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cu, and Zn, and wherein 0<x.ltoreq.

Abstract: In a method for producing a multi-component hydrogen storage alloy including metals of zirconium or vanadium, oxides of these metals is used to produce an alloy having characteristics equivalent to that produced with pure metals. It comprises steps of calcining the raw material, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconium and vanadium is included in its oxide form, at a temperature ranging from 900.degree. C. to 1300.degree. C., mixing metal calcium with said calcined raw material, and treating the mixture with heat at a temperature ranging from the melting point of metal calcium to 1300.degree. C., under inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen storing alloy electrode having a large discharging capacity and a long lifetime at a high temperature. The electrode is also excellent in discharging characteristics in the early charging and discharging cycles. In one aspect of the present invention, the hydrogen storing alloy electrode is made of a hydrogen storing alloy represented by the general formula ZrMn.sub.m V.sub.x X.sub.y Ni.sub.z or a hydride thereof, wherein X is Al, Zn or W; m, x, y, and z are respectively mole ratio of Mn, V, X, and Ni to Zr: 0.4.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.0.8, 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 1.0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.5, and 2.0.ltoreq.m+x+y+z.ltoreq.2.4; when X is Al or Zn, 0<y.ltoreq.0.2; and when X is W, 0<y.ltoreq.0.1. The alloy has mainly C15-type Laves phases with a crystal structure of MgCu.sub.2 type face center cubix. The alloy has a crystal lattice constant .alpha. 7.03 angstroms or more and 7.10 angstroms or less.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy preferably used for electrodes in alkaline rechargeable battery is of the general formula: Zr.sub.1.2-a Ti.sub.a Mn.sub.v Al.sub.w Ni.sub.x M.sub.y Cr.sub.z wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Zn, Sn, Fe, Mo, Cu and Co; and wherein 0.1.ltoreq.a<1.2, 0.4.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.1.2, 0<w.ltoreq.0.3, 0.8.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.6, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.2, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.3, and 1.7.ltoreq.(v+w+x+y+z).ltoreq.2.7. The alloy has at least one of a C14-type Laves phase of a crystal structure similar to that of MgZn.sub.2 and a C15-type Laves phase of a crystal structure similar to that of MgCu.sub.2 as a main alloy phase.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy preferably used for electrodes in an alkaline storage battery is provided. The alloy is of the general formula ZrMn.sub.w V.sub.x Mo.sub.b M.sub.y Ni.sub.z, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe and Co and 0.4.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0.05.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.2, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.2, 1.0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.5, and 2.0.ltoreq.w+x+b+y+z.ltoreq.2.4. The alloy has C15-type Laves phases of a crystal structure similar to that of MgCu.sub.2 as a main alloy phase, and a lattice constant "a" such that 7.05 .ANG..ltoreq.a.ltoreq.7.13 .ANG..

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy electrode comprising a hydrogen storage alloy having a major phase of C15 (MgCu.sub.2) type Laves phase with a composition expressed as ZrMn.sub.w M.sub.x Cr.sub.y Ni.sub.z (where M is one or more elements selected from V and Mo), or its hydride. In this formula, one composition range is 0.6.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0<y.ltoreq.0.2, and 1.2.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.5, and the other composition range is 0.6.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0<y.ltoreq.0.2, and 0.8.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.2.

Abstract: A lithium-ion conducting solid electrolyte of the present invention comprises a parent material, a lithium-ion conducting sulfide glass represented by the formula Li.sub.2 S--X (X is at least one sulfide selected from the group consisting of B.sub.2 S.sub.3, SiS.sub.2, P.sub.2 S.sub.5, Al.sub.2 S.sub.3, and GeS.sub.2), and a high-temperature lithium-ion conducting compound (i.e. Li.sub.3 PO.sub.4 or Li.sub.2 SO.sub.4). The lithium-ion conducting solid electrolyte has higher ionic conductivity and higher decomposition voltage compared to the parent material. By the use of this solid electrolyte for electrical/chemical components such as batteries, condensers, electrochromic displays, and the like, electronic apparatus that includes such elements may have improved performance.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy preferably used for electrodes in an alkaline storage battery is provided. The alloy is of the general formula ZrMn.sub.w V.sub.x M.sub.y Ni.sub.z which comprises C15-type Laves phases having a crystal structure similar to that of MgCu.sub.2 as a main alloy phase, where M is an element selected from the group consisting of Fe and Co; w, x, y, and z are respectively the mole ratios of Mn, V, M and Ni to Zr; the conditions 0.4.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.8, 0.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.2, 1.0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.5 and 2.0.ltoreq.w+x+y+z.ltoreq.2.4 are satisfied.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of Chevrel compounds by sintering a mixture of metal sulfides, metallic molybdenum and molybdenum sulfides under reduced pressure or in a stream of an inert gas containing a reductive gas, and by sintering a mixture of metal sulfides and molybdenum sulfides in a stream of an inert gas containing a reductive gas. This process does not meet any complicated procedure as in prior art and enables one to use a reaction container a desired number of times and to prepare Chevrel compounds inexpensively in large amounts.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition comprising a mixture or a fired product of a material of the general formula Sr.sub.(1+x)/2 La.sub.(1-x)/2 Co.sub.1-x Me.sub.x O.sub.3-.delta. (wherein Me: at least one of Fe, Mn, Cr and V; O.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1; .delta.: loss of oxygen) and SrMeO.sub.3 (wherein Me: at least one of Ti, Zr and and Hf), and a catalyst and a multi-functional sensor using such composition. With this composition it is possible to improve the catalytic performance for cleaning exhaust gas grom combusters or internal combustion engines and to improve sensitivity or response characteristics of the sensors for detecting stoichiometric composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of Chevrel phase compounds by sintering a mixture of metal sulfides, metallic molybdenum and molybdenum sulfides under reduced pressure or in a stream of an inert gas containing a reductive gas, and by sintering a mixture of metal sulfides and molybdenum sulfides in a stream of an inert gas containing a reductive gas. This process does not need any complicated procedure as in the prior art and enables one to use a reaction container a desired number of times and to prepare Chevrel phase compounds inexpensively in large amounts.

Abstract: A solid-state electrochemical cell is disclosed that comprises at least one pair of electrodes and a silver-ion conductive solid-electrolyte layer disposed between the electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes contains as an electrode active material a compound oxide composed of silver and transition metal oxide. The electrochemical cell is used as a solid-state rechargeable battery, solid-state analogue memory cell, or the like.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition comprising a mixture or a fired product of a material of the general formula Sr.sub.(1+x)/2 La.sub.(1-x)/2 Co.sub.1-x Me.sub.x O.sub.3-.delta. (wherein Me: at least one of Fe, Mn, Cr and V; 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1; .delta.: loss of oxygen) and SrMeO.sub.3 (wherein Me: at least one of Ti, Zr and and Hf), and a catalyst and a multi-functional sensor using such composition. With this composition it is possible to improve the catalytic performance for cleaning exhaust gas from combusters or internal combustion engines and to improve sensitivity or response characteristics of the sensors for detecting the stoichiometric composition.