Abstract: An electrode for a lithium battery having a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, e.g., a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, provided on a current collector, the electrode being characterized in that a constituent of the current collector is diffused into the thin film.

Abstract: An electrode for lithium batteries, in which a thin film of active material capable of storage and release of lithium, such as a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, is provided, through an interlayer, on a current collector, the electrode being characterized in that the interlayer comprises a material alloyable with the thin film of active material.

Abstract: An electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery characterized in that thin films of active material capable of lithium storage and release, i.e., microcrystalline or amorphous silicone thin films are deposited on opposite faces of a plate-form current collector.

Abstract: An electrode for a lithium battery having a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, e.g., a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, provided on a current collector, the electrode being characterized in that the current collector has a surface roughness Ra of 0.01 ?m or greater.

Abstract: In an electrode for a lithium battery having a lithium storing and releasing active thin film provided on a current collector, such as a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, the electrode is characterized in that the thin film is divided into columns by gaps formed therein in a manner to extend in its thickness direction and that the columnar portions are at their bottoms adhered to the current collector.

Abstract: An electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery which includes a thin film composed of active material that expands and shrinks as it stores and releases lithium, e.g., a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, deposited on a current collector, characterized in that said current collector exhibits a tensile strength (=tensile strength (N/mm2) per sectional area of the current collector material×thickness (mm) of the current collector) of not less than 3.82 N/mm.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprises a negative electrode containing lithium metal or a material previously storing lithium as an active material, a positive electrode containing a positive active material, and an electrolyte containing a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The positive active material is a thin film formed by depositing on a substrate from vapor phase or liquid phase and including an oxide containing at least iron as a main constituent by a sputtering method, a reactive deposition method, a vacuum deposition method, a chemical vapor deposition method, a spraying method, a plating method, or a method in combination of these methods.

Abstract: A method for preparing an electrode material for a lithium battery, characterized in that a noncrystalline silicon thin film that serves as an active material is deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus, for forming an electrode for a lithium secondary cell capable of readily forming an active material layer constituted by at least two elements and controlling the composition of the active material layer, comprises a first sputtering source for sputtering a first material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector and a second sputtering source for sputtering a second material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector. Plasma regions of the first and second sputtering sources are arranged to overlap each other. The active material layer constituted by at least two elements is readily formed with excellent reproducibility, and its composition can be readily controlled by independently controlling power applied to the first sputtering source and the second sputtering source.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery using an Li alloying metal as the active material of at least one of its positive and negative electrodes. The metal active material is covered with a thin film which is nonreactive with Li ions, permits passage of Li ions but does not have an Li ion conductivity.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery including a positive electrode comprising a molybdenum metal oxide deposited, in the form of a thin film, on an aluminum-containing substrate and represented by the formula Mo1−xMxO2+y (where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, Al, Mg, W, Sc, Ti, Zn, Ga, Ge, Nb, Rh, Pd and Sn, x satisfies the relationship 0.005≦x≦0.5, and y satisfies the relationship 0.6≦y≦1.2).

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery using molybdenum oxide in the form of thin film deposited on an aluminum-containing substrate, as a positive electrode material.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery which includes depositing a thin film composed of active material capable of alloy formation with lithium on a current collector made of a metal incapable of alloy formation with lithium, by using a process for depositing a thin film by supplying a material from a gas phase, characterized in that the thin film of active material is deposited at such a temperature that enables formation of a mixed layer via diffusion of a constituent of the current collector into the thin film in the vicinity of an interface therebetween.

Abstract: A hard carbon film-coated substrate is disclosed which has between a substrate and a hard carbon film an interlayer principally comprised of at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr, Sn, Co and B, oxides, nitrides and carbides thereof.

Abstract: A method for treating a carbon film comprising, in sequence, depositing a carbon film onto a substrate by a plasma CVD technique and exposing the carbon film at its surface to a gas plasma produced utilizing at least one type of gas selected from an Ar gas, N2 gas, H2 gas and F-containing gas so that the carbon film surface is modified.

Abstract: A hard carbon thin film formed on a substrate has a graded structure in which a ratio of sp2 to sp3 carbon-carbon bonding in the thin film decreases in its thickness direction from a thin film/substrate interface toward a surface of the thin film. A method of forming the thin film involves varying the film-forming ion species over time to produce the composition gradient or structural gradient in the thickness direction of the thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an electrode for a lithium secondary cell capable of readily forming an active material layer constituted by at least two elements and controlling the composition of the active material layer is obtained. The apparatus for forming an electrode for a lithium secondary cell comprises a first sputtering source for sputtering a first material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector and a second sputtering source for sputtering a second material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector. Plasma regions of the first and second sputtering sources are arranged to overlap with each other. Thus, the active material layer constituted by at least two elements is readily formed with excellent reproducibility. When power applied to the first sputtering source and the second sputtering source is controlled independently of each other, the composition of the active material layer constituted by at least two elements is readily controlled.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprises a negative electrode containing lithium metal or a material previously storing lithium as an active material, a positive electrode containing a positive active material, and an electrolyte containing a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The positive active material is a thin film formed by depositing on a substrate from vapor phase or liquid phase and including an oxide containing at least iron as a main constituent by a sputtering method, a reactive deposition method, a vacuum deposition method, a chemical vapor deposition method, a spraying method, a plating method, or a method in combination of these methods.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery using an Li alloying metal as the active material of at least one of its positive and negative electrodes. The metal active material is covered with a thin film which is nonreactive with Li ions, permits passage of Li ions but does not have an Li ion conductivity.

Abstract: A sliding member having a sliding surface for sliding contact with a cooperative member is disclosed. A protective film is deposited not only on the sliding surface but also a surface region immediately adjacent the sliding surface such that a ratio d1/d2 is controlled to be 1 or greater, where d1 is a thickness of the protective film on the sliding surface and d2 is a thickness of the protective film on the surface region immediately adjacent the sliding surface. Alternatively, the protective film is deposited at least on the sliding surface such that the protective film is varied in thickness to define an irregular top surface.