Abstract: A low-temperature hydrothermal reaction is provided to generate crystalline perovskite nanotubes such as barium titanate (BaTiO3) and strontium titanate (SrTiO3) that have an outer diameter from about 1 nm to about 500 nm and a length from about 10 nm to about 10 micron. The low-temperature hydrothermal reaction includes the use of a metal oxide nanotube structural template, i.e., precursor. These titanate nanotubes have been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and selected area electron diffraction (SAED).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a highly-crystallized double oxide powder composed of a single crystal phase which can be used as a phosphor material, a dielectric material, a magnetic material, etc. The method involves forming fine droplets of a raw material solution containing a raw material compound that includes at least one metal element and/or at least one semi-metal element that constitutes a double oxide, and heating these droplets at a high temperature, wherein the raw material solution is a solution which exhibits only one main peak attributable to the decomposition reaction of the raw material compound or a reaction intermediate thereof in a DTA profile when the solution is dried and solidified and subjected to TG-DTA measurement.

Abstract: A cathode electroactive material for use in lithium ion secondary cells, process for producing the material, and lithium ion secondary cells using the cathode electroactive material, wherein the electroactive material predominantly comprises an Li—Mn composite oxide particles with the spinel structure and particles of the electroactive material have an average porosity of 15% or less, the porosity being calculated by employing the following equation: Porosity (%)=(A/B)×100 (wherein A represents a total cross-section area of pores included in a cross-section of one secondary particle, and B represents the cross-section area of one secondary particle), a tapping density of 1.9 g/ml or more, a size of crystallites of 400 ?–960 ?, a lattice constant of 8.240 ? or less.

Abstract: Lepidocrocite lithium potassium titanate characterized as having a composition represented by the formula K0.5-0.7Li0.27Ti1.73O3.85-3.95, and preferably having an arithmetic mean of major and minor diameters of 0.1–100 ?m, a proportion of a major to minor diameter of from 1 to below 10, a mean thickness of 50–5,000 nm and a flaky shape. A friction material characterized as containing 1–80% by weight of the lepidocrocite lithium potassium titanate as a friction control agent.

Abstract: Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4–11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell comprising a LiMn2?xMxO4 spinel structure in which M is one or more metal cations with an atomic number less than 52, such that the average oxidation state of the manganese ions is equal to or greater than 3.5, and in which 0?x?0.15, having one or more lithium spine oxide LiM?2O4 or lithiated spinel oxide Li1+yM?2O4 compounds on the surface thereof in which M? are cobalt cations and in which 0?y?1.

Abstract: A low temperature contaminant limiting process for lithiating hydroxides and forming lithiated metal oxides of suitable crystalinity in-situ. M(OH)2 is added to an aqueous solution of LiOH. An oxidant is introduced into the solution which is heated below about 150° C. and, if necessary, agitated. M may be selected from cobalt, nickel and manganese. The resultant LiMO2 becomes crystallized in-situ and is subsequently removed.

Abstract: An inert anode 50, for use in an electrolytic cell 12 for producing metals such as aluminum, is made by providing chemical source materials 100 such as at least two of metal salts, metal particles, or metal oxides and dissolving them to form a solution or a slurry 110, followed by adding a base 120 and adjusting the pH so that a gel 130 is formed which is dried and calcined 150, 160, 190 to provide a blend of metal oxide powder 200 which can be pressed and sintered 220 to form an inert anode 50.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium-cobalt-manganese oxide having the formula Li[CoxLi(1/3?x/3)Mn(2/3?2x/3)]O2(0.05<X<0.9) which provide a stable structure and a superior discharge capacity, and the method of synthesizing of the same. The method of synthesizing the oxides according to the present invention comprises: preparing an aqueous solution of lithium salt, cobalt salt, and manganese salt; forming a gel by burning the aqueous solution; making oxide powder by burning the gel; forming a fine oxide powder having a layered structure by the twice of treatments. The lithium-cobalt-manganese oxide synthesized according to the present invention has a stable and superior electrochemical characteristic. The oxide is synthesized by simple and low cost heat treatment process.

Abstract: An electrolytic perovskite and method for synthesizing the electrolytic perovskite are described herein. Basically, the electrolytic perovskite is a solid that has an ion conductivity greater than 10?5 S/cm in a temperature range of 0–400° C., wherein the ion is Li+, H+, Cu+, Ag+, Na+ or Mg2+. For example, Li1/8Na3/8La1/4Zr1/4Nb3/4O3 (5.26×10?4 S/cm) and Li1/8K1/2La1/8NbO3 (2.86×10?3 S/cm) are two electrolytic perovskites that have been synthesized in accordance with the present invention that have a high Li+ conductivity at 20° C. Both compositions have been confirmed in experiments to conduct Ag+ and H+ ions, as well. The present invention also includes a solid proton conductor that can be formed from the electrolytic perovskite by replacing the ions located therein with protons.

Abstract: A process to produce mixed metal oxides and metal oxide compounds. The process includes evaporating a feed solution that contains at least two metal salts to form an intermediate. The evaporation is conducted at a temperature above the boiling point of the feed solution but below the temperature where there is significant crystal growth or below the calcination temperature of the intermediate. The intermediate is calcined, optionally in the presence of an oxidizing agent, to form the desired oxides. The calcined material can be milled and dispersed to yield individual particles of controllable size and narrow size distribution.

Abstract: Nanostructured and layered lithium manganese oxide powders and methods of producing same. The powders are represented by the chemical formula, LixMn1-yMyO2, where 0.5<x<1.33, 0?y?0.5 and have an average primary particle diameter from 5 nm to 300 nm, preferably between 5 and 100 nm, and M is at least one cation dopant. The powders can be formed into active cathode materials in Li-ion and Li rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A positive active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided comprising lithium manganese oxide having such a spinel structure that the half-width (2?) of the reflection peak corresponding to 440 plane as determined by X-ray diffractometry using CuK? ray is not greater than 0.145°. The use of this positive active material makes it possible to obtain a secondary battery which exhibits a good cycle life performance at room temperature and high temperatures and a reduced capacity drop when stored at high temperatures.

Abstract: A method for making an active material comprises the steps of forming a slurry, spray drying the slurry to form a powdered precursor composition, and heating the powdered precursor composition at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a reaction product. The slurry has a liquid phase and a solid phase, and contains at least an alkali metal compound and a transition metal compound. Preferably the liquid phase contains dissolved alkali metal compound, and the solid phase contains an insoluble transition metal compound, an insoluble carbonaceous material compound, or both. Electrodes and batteries are provided that contain the active materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing lithium-transition metal mixtures of general formula Lix(M1yM21-y)nOnz, wherein M1 represents nickel, cobalt or manganese, M2 represents chromium, cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum or aluminium, and is different from M1, n is 2 if M1 represents manganese and is 1 otherwise, x is comprised between 0.9 and 1.2, y is comprised between 0.5 and 1.0 and z is comprised between 1.9 and 2.1. According to the inventive method, an intimate mixture composed of transition metal compounds containing oxygen and of a lithium compound containing oxygen is calcinated, said mixture being obtained by processing a solid powder transition metal compound with a solution of said lithium compound, and then drying. At least the M1 compound is used in powder form having a specific surface of at least 20 m2/g (BET) and calcination is carried out in a fluidised bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing lithium intercalation compounds by plasma reaction comprising the steps of: forming a feed solution by mixing lithium nitrate or lithium hydroxide or lithium oxide and the required metal nitrate or metal hydroxide or metal oxide and between 10-50% alcohol by weight; mixing the feed solution with O2 gas wherein the O2 gas atomizes the feed solution into fine reactant droplets, inserting the atomized feed solution into a plasma reactor to form an intercalation powder; and if desired, heating the resulting powder to from a very pure single phase product.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of materials of the photorefractive crystal. The composition of these crystals is Li1−xNb1+yO3: Fem, Mn, where M can be magnesium, indium, or zinc; when using q to denote the ion valence of M (q=2 when M is Mg or Zn, and q=3 when M is In), the values of x, y, m, and n are in the range of 0.05≦x≦0.13, 0.00≦y≦0.01, 5.0×10−5≦m≦7.5×10−4, and 0.02≦qn≦0.13. This invention greatly improves the photorefractive properties of LiNbO3 crystals: makes it have a high diffraction efficiency (more than 68%), a fast response speed for photorefraction (an order of magnitude faster than iron doped LiNbO3), and a high resistance to optical scattering (the light intensity threshold to photorefractive fan scattering near two orders of magnitude larger than LiNbO3: Fe). This invention is an excellent three-dimensional optical storage material and has a vast potential market.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a secondary battery cathode material by calcining raw materials. The process is characterized by calcining the raw materials together with one or more substances, which are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, water and water vapor, and conductive carbon and/or a substance, which can form conductive carbon by pyrolysis, added thereto. As crystals of the secondary battery cathode material obtained by this process have been controlled fine sizes, the secondary battery cathode material promotes movements of ions of an alkali metal led by lithium between the interiors of grains of the cathode material and an electrolyte to suppress polarization in an electrode reaction, and further, increases an area of contact between the positive material and a conductivity-imparting material to provide improved conductivity so that improvements are assured in voltage efficiency and specific battery capacity.

Abstract: A solid amorphous electrolyte composition for a thin-film battery. The electrolyte composition includes a lithium phosphorus oxynitride material containing a sulfide ion dopant wherein the atomic ratio of sulfide ion to phosphorus ion (S/P) in the electrolyte ranges greater than 0 up to about 0.2. The composition is represented by the formula: LiwPOxNySz, where 2x+3y+2z=5+w, x ranges from about 3.2 to about 3.8, y ranges from about 0.13 to about 0.46, z ranges from greater than zero up to about 0.2, and w ranges from about 2.9 to about 3.3. Thin-film batteries containing the sulfide doped lithium oxynitride electrolyte are capable of delivering more power and energy than thin-film batteries containing electrolytes without sulfide doping.

Abstract: Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4-11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.

Abstract: A perovskite feedstock (powder or preform) is placed in a high-pressure cell of a high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) apparatus and subjected to pressures in excess of about 2 kbar and temperatures above about 800° C. for a time adequate to increase the density of the preform.

Abstract: Metal oxides having a perovskite or perovskite-like crystal structure are prepared by a process comprising subjecting a mixture of starring powders to a high energy milling sufficient to induce chemical reaction of the components and thereby directly mechanosynthesize said metal oxide in the form of a perovskite or a perovskite-like material having a nanocrystalline structure as determined by X-ray diffractometry. The process according to the present invention is simple, efficient, not expensive and does not require any heating step for producing a perovskite that may easily show a very high specific surface area. Another advantage is that the perovskite obtained according to the present invention also has a high density of lattice defects thereby showing a higher catalytic activity, a characteristic which is highly desirable in their eventual application as catalysts and electronic conductors.

Abstract: A cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having a c-axis length of lattice constant of 14.080 to 14.160 Å, an average particle size of 0.1 to 5.0 &mgr;m, and a composition represented by the formula: LiCo(1−x−y)MnxMgyO2 wherein x is a number of 0.008 to 0.18; and y is a number of 0 to 0.18. This cathode active material is capable of maintaining an initial discharge capacity required for secondary cells and showing improved charge/discharge cycle characteristics under high temperature conditions.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a compound of molecular formula LixCryMn2−yO4+z, wherein 2.2<x<4, 0<y<2 and z≧0, and to the use of this compound as a cathode material in secondary lithium and lithium ion cells.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes: a positive electrode containing a positive active substance capable of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium; a negative electrode containing a negative active substance capable of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium; and an electrolyte having lithium conductivity, wherein the positive active substance contains an oxide including lithium and transition metal, and a composition ratio among the lithium, the transition metal and oxygen in the oxide is in at least one selected from the following states:

Abstract: A method for carrying out solid state reactions under reducing conditions is provided. Solid state reactants include at least one inorganic metal compound and a source of reducing carbon. The reaction may be carried out in a reducing atmosphere in the presence of reducing carbon. Reducing carbon may be supplied by elemental carbon, by an organic material, or by mixtures. The organic material is one that can form decomposition products containing carbon in a form capable of acting as a reductant. The reaction proceeds without significant covalent incorporation of organic material into the reaction product. In a preferred embodiment, the solid state reactants also include an alkali metal compound. The products of the method find use in lithium ion batteries as cathode active materials. Preferred active materials include lithium-transition metal phosphates and lithium-transition metal oxides.

Abstract: A process method for producing a lithium based mixed oxide of the formula LiM′x . . . Oy through the steps of combining a lithium oxide with a second oxide having the base metal element (M′) at room temperature; and applying to the combination, a high energy milling process, wherein the high energy milling process obtains, without the addition of substantial external heat being added to the synthesis, a chemical synthesis of a composite oxide of the above formula, having crystallites of nanometer dimension.

Abstract: A lithium-manganese oxide for use in a lithium secondary cell cathode, having a spinel structure expressed by a chemical compositional formula of LixMn2O4-zFz (1.12≦X≦1.20, 0<Z<0.16) and having a lattice constant ranging from 8.220 to 8.230 Å, the lithium-manganese oxide including electrolytic or chemically synthesized manganese dioxide, lithium salt, and fluoride.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing lithium metal oxides, comprising at least one annealing stage. The inventive method is characterized in that at least one annealing stage consists of a treatment with microwave energy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of an oxide of a metal A by heating precursors of the oxide of a metal A, in the presence of an oxygen partial pressure control agent comprising an oxide of a metal B that is capable of assuming multiple valence numbers. The process is carried out under a condition that an ionization tendency relationship of Ai+<Bj+<A0 is satisfied, where i is a valence number of the metal A in the oxide to be produced and j is a valence number of the metal B in the oxygen partial pressure control agent.

Abstract: The present invention includes substantially single-phase lithium metal oxide compounds having hexagonal layered crystal structures that are substantially free of localized cubic spinel-like structural phases. The lithium metal oxides of the invention have the formula Li&agr;M&bgr;A&ggr;O2, wherein M is one or more transition metals, A is one or more dopants having an average oxidation state N such that +2.5≦N≦+3.5, 0.90≦&agr;≦1.10, and &bgr;+&ggr;=1. The present invention also includes dilithiated forms of these compounds, lithium and lithium-ion secondary batteries using these compounds as positive electrode materials, and methods of preparing these compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery, including lithium-transition metal composite oxide of a layer crystal structure, in which the lithium-transition metal composite oxide contains an element that improves conductivity of electrons in the lithium-transition metal composite oxide. Use of this positive electrode active material can improve cycle characteristics, high rate characteristics and thermal stability of lithium ion secondary batteries. Furthermore, by use of this positive electrode active material, gas generation in batteries can be decreased.