Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen storage alloy which is characterized in that two or more crystal phases having different crystal structures are layered in a c-axis direction of the crystal structures. The hydrogen storage alloy is further characterized in that a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of a lattice constant a in the crystal structures of the laminated two or more crystal phases is 0.03 ? or less.

Abstract: An electric automobile includes a fuel cell for power generation by supply of hydrogen and oxidizing agent, a hydrogen generating device for generating a gas containing hydrogen to be supplied to the fuel cell, and a motor driven by electricity generated by the fuel cell. The hydrogen generating device generates gas containing hydrogen by decomposing an organic compound-containing fuel, and includes a proton conductive partition membrane, a fuel electrode provided on one surface of the partition membrane to directly generate the gas containing hydrogen, a device for supplying, to the fuel electrode, water and organic compound-containing fuel capable of producing a proton as a result of electrochemical oxidization which can pass through the partition membrane, an oxidizing electrode provided on the other surface of the partition membrane, a device for supplying the oxidizing agent to the oxidizing electrode, and a device for generating and collecting the gas containing hydrogen.

Abstract: A separator for a lead-acid battery enabling the lead acid battery to infallibly have a predetermined capacity after the initial charging and a prolonged service life by limiting the maximum quantity of reducing substance liberated or produced from the separator at or below a given level. The separator for a lead-acid battery comprising a porous membrane made mainly from a polyolefin resin, an inorganic powder and a mineral oil and containing a surface active agent as an auxiliary material, characterized in that the amount of any reducing substance liberated or eluted after 24 hours of electrolysis carried out at about 25° C. with a direct current of 1.2 A by using an electrolytic cell composed of the porous membrane, a positive electrode, a negative electrode and diluted sulfuric acid is 1.0 ml or less per 100 cm2 when calculated from the consumption of a (1/100)N potassium permanganate solution per 100 cm2 of the porous membrane.

Abstract: A storage battery is provided in which an expand grid is improved with respect to the widths of grid wires 1b, the sectional areas of nodes 1e, and the shapes of meshes 1c, whereby the productivity of the expand grid can be enhanced and the life performance can be improved. As means for attaining the object, a storage battery in which an expand grid is used as a battery plate, the expand grid being a grid member which is formed by expanding a side portion of a collector frame portion 1a of a metal sheet 1 to connect a large number of grid wires 1b to one another in a net-like shape, is configured so that widths of grid wires 1b of a row which is directly connected to the collector frame portion 1a of the expand grid, and a lateral end row are larger than widths of grid wires 1b of at least one of intermediate rows.

Abstract: A hydrogen supply system includes at least a hydrogen supply device for supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen storing device, and a hydrogen generating device producing hydrogen containing gas to be supplied to the hydrogen supply device. The hydrogen generating device produces the hydrogen containing gas by decomposing a fuel containing an organic compound, and includes a partition membrane, a fuel electrode provided on one surface of the partition membrane for generating hydrogen containing gas, a device for supplying a fuel containing the organic compound and water to the fuel electrode, an oxidizing electrode provided on the other surface of the partition membrane, a device for supplying an oxidizing agent to the oxidizing electrode, and a device for collecting the hydrogen containing gas directly from the fuel electrode.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an active material for lithium ion battery capable of producing a lithium ion battery having an excellent high rate charge and discharge performance and a lithium ion battery having an excellent high rate charge and discharge performance. The present invention provides an active material for lithium ion battery represented by a composition formula: Li[Li(1-x)/3AlxTi(5-2x)/3]O4 (??x<1) lithium titanate is substituted with Al, and a lithium ion battery using this active material as a negative electrode active material.

Abstract: A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it.

Abstract: A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic cell manufacturing method is characterized in that a nonaqueous electrolyte containing vinylene carbonate is used, a coating on the surface of the negative electrode is formed at the initial charging/discharging in such a way by lowering the negative electrode potential to less than 0.4 V with relative to the lithium potential, wherein the nonaqueous electrolytic cell comprises a nonaqueous electrolyte containing an electrolytic salt and a nonaqueous solvent, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode containing a negative electrode material into/from which lithium ions are inserted/desorbed at a potential higher than the lithium potential by 1.2 V. The nonaqueous electrolytic cell is used in a range of negative electrode potential nobler than the lithium potential by 0.8 V.

Abstract: A sealed nickel metal-hydride battery shows a high output density and an excellent cycle performance particularly in a cold atmosphere. In a nickel metal-hydride battery having a nickel electrode and a hydrogen absorbing electrode respectively as positive electrode and negative electrode, the hydrogen absorbing electrode is formed by making an conductive support carry hydrogen absorbing alloy powder of rare earth elements and non-rare earth elements including nickel and the saturation mass susceptibility of the hydrogen absorbing alloy powder is 2 to 6 emu/g while the rate at which the hydrogen absorbing electrode carries hydrogen absorbing alloy powder per unit area is 0.06 to 0.15 g/cm2.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a lead acid battery having a liquid surface sensor (3) installed to a liquid surface sensor installation portion (2a) on a top face of a container lid (2), an electronic circuit board (4) contained in a recessed portion (2b) on the top face of the container lid (2), terminal connecting conductors (5a, 6a) connecting the electronic circuit board (4) to terminals (5, 6), and a liquid surface sensor connecting conductor (8) connecting the liquid surface sensor (3) to the electronic circuit board (4), preventing from catching on an object on the top face of the container lid (2) by insert molding the terminal connecting conductors (5a, 6a) and the liquid surface sensor connecting conductor (8) in the container lid (2), preventing the terminal connecting conductors (5a, 6a) and the liquid surface sensor connecting conductor (8) from being corroded by an electrolyte solution even if the electrolyte solution is spotted on the top face, and improving the outer appearance.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for balancing voltages of a serially connected plurality of cells in a battery pack provided with the plurality of cells. In this method, the voltages are balanced by: connecting a pair of a resistor and a switch, which are serially connected with each other, in a parallel relationship to one of the plurality of cells; switching the switch from an open state to a closed state when a voltage of the one cell increases to a prescribed balance operation starting voltage; and maintaining a state where the cell is charged by a voltage of the same magnitude as a voltage that is applied to both ends of the pair after switching of the switch to the closed state.

Abstract: A grid for a battery plate is made by forming a metal sheet is formed into a grid-like shape. Rupture due to torsion or stress concentration does not occur in a basal portion of a wire which is drawn out from a node of the grid, thereby preventing corrosion due to electrolyte from advancing so as not to cause a crack of corrosion in an early stage. The invention provides also a battery using the grid for a battery plate, a method of producing the grid for a battery plate, and a battery using it.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical oxygen sensor including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte solution, wherein the electrolyte solution contains a chelating agent. Since the electrolyte solution in the electrochemical oxygen sensor of the invention contains the chelating agent, the speed of response can be increased. In the invention, the provision of an anode of tin is preferred from the viewpoints of low cost, a low environmental load, and a low susceptibility to liquid leakage. In the invention, the concentration of the chelating agent in the electrolyte solution is preferably not less than 0.005 mol/liter because response speed characteristics are less likely to lower.

Abstract: The metal foil of the positive electrode 1a or the negative electrode 1b in the power generating element 1 is connected along the connecting plate portion 2b which is folded, twisted, and provided in a protruding condition from the main portion 2a of the current-collector connector 2; hence the shape of the current-collector connector 2 becomes easy to form, and a battery capable of enhancing current collection efficiency, reliability and workability can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high energy density and satisfactory cycle performance by using an alloy comprising Ni and Sn as a negative active material. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a negative electrode with a composite layer containing a negative active material, a positive electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative active material consists of an alloy containing 5 to 25 mass % of nickel and 75 to 95 mass % of tin and the alloy contains Sn4Ni3 phase and Sn phase. It is preferable that the content ratio of Sn4Ni3 phase and Sn phase in the alloy be 0.2?Z?3, when m1 is the mass of Sn4Ni3 phase, m2 is the mass of said Sn phase, and Z=ml /m2; and that the composite layer contain carbon material.

Abstract: A membrane element in which, after membrane breakage or deterioration, the filtration plate made of a thermoplastic resin can be reused to replace the membrane with a fresh one. The membrane element comprises a filtration plate made of a thermoplastic resin and, bonded to a peripheral smooth surface thereof, a microporous filter membrane which has fine pores formed therein and employs a nonwoven fabric comprising synthetic resin fibers as a support. A hot plate having a shape corresponding to the peripheral shape of the resinous filtration plate is brought into contact with a peripheral smooth surface of the plate so as to form a recessed part in the surface. The temperature of the hot plate is regulated so as to be not higher than the melting point of the nonwoven fabric serving as the support and not lower than the Vicat softening temperature of the filtration plate made of a thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen storage alloy which is characterized in that two or more crystal phases having different crystal structures are layered in a c-axis direction of the crystal structures. The hydrogen storage alloy is further characterized in that a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of a lattice constant a in the crystal structures of the laminated two or more crystal phases is 0.03 ? or less.