Patents by Inventor Akinori Sudoh

Akinori Sudoh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110236767
    Abstract: Disclosed are a negative electrode for lithium secondary batteries, containing an active material (A) capable of absorbing/desorbing lithium ions and a binder (B), wherein the active material (A) is a carbon-based material obtained from at least one starting material selected from a group consisting of petroleum cokes and coal cokes and having a mean particle size of from 1 to 30 and a true density of from 1.90 to 2.00 g/cm3 and its use; and a method for producing a carbon-based negative electrode active material having a mean particle size of from 1 to 30 ?m and a true density of from 1.90 to 2.00 g/cm3, the method comprising (a) a step of grinding at least one selected from a group consisting of petroleum cokes and coal cokes, (b) a step of controlling the particle size, and (c) a step of heat-treating in an inert gas atmosphere at 900 to 1900° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Chiaki Sotowa, Akinori Sudoh, Masataka Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7919427
    Abstract: A catalyst carrier, being characterized in that a catalyst metal for promoting an oxidation-reduction reaction is carried on a vapor-grown carbon fiber having an average outer diameter of from 2 nm to 500 nm, which has been subjected to a crushing treatment so as to have a BET specific surface area of from 4 m2/g to 100 m2/g and an aspect ratio of from 1 to 200, and exhibiting high activity per unit amount of a catalyst metal, a low reaction resistance and an improved output density, and is useful for a fuel cell; a production method thereof and a fuel cell using the catalyst carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Ken-ichiro Ota, Akimitsu Ishihara, Satoshi Iinou, Akinori Sudoh
  • Publication number: 20100221543
    Abstract: A graphite material is provided wherein D50% is 2 to 9 ?m in particle diameter distribution based on volume as measured by laser diffraction, a specific surface area is 2 to 6 m2/g and no coating layer is substantially included in a surface of the particle. Also provided is a graphite material comprising substantially single-composition particles having an isotropic crystal structure, wherein D50% is 2 to 9 ?m in particle diameter distribution based on volume as measured by laser diffraction, and a specific surface area is 2 to 6 m2/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Akinori Sudoh, Masataka Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20100216057
    Abstract: A catalyst carrier, being characterized in that a catalyst metal for promoting an oxidation-reduction reaction is carried on a vapor-grown carbon fiber having an average outer diameter of from 2 nm to 500 nm, which has been subjected to a crushing treatment so as to have a BET specific surface area of from 4 m2/g to 100 m2/g and an aspect ratio of from 1 to 200, and exhibiting high activity per unit amount of a catalyst metal, a low reaction resistance and an improved output density, and is useful for a fuel cell; a production method thereof and a fuel cell using the catalyst carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Ken-ichiro OTA, Akimitsu ISHIHARA, Satoshi IINOU, Akinori SUDOH
  • Patent number: 7749935
    Abstract: A catalyst carrier, being characterized in that a catalyst metal for promoting an oxidation-reduction reaction is carried on a vapor-grown carbon fiber having an average outer diameter of from 2 nm to 500 nm, which has been subjected to a crushing treatment so as to have a BET specific surface area of from 4 m2/g to 100 m2/g and an aspect ratio of from 1 to 200, and exhibiting high activity per unit amount of a catalyst metal, a low reaction resistance and an improved output density, and is useful for a fuel cell; a production method thereof and a fuel cell using the catalyst carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Ken-ichiro Ota, Akimitsu Ishihara, Satoshi Iinou, Akinori Sudoh
  • Publication number: 20090242849
    Abstract: A carbon raw material such as a green coke in which loss on heat when it is heated from 300 to 1200° C. under an inert atmosphere is no less than 5% by mass and no more than 20% by mass is pulverized and then the pulverized carbon raw material is graphitized to obtain a graphite material suitable for a carbon material for anode in a lithium-ion secondary battery or the like that enables to make electrodes having a high-energy density and a large-current load characteristic since it has a small specific surface area and a small average particle diameter while maintaining high beginning efficiency and a high discharge capacity in the first round of charging and discharging. And an electrode for batteries are obtained using the graphite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Akinori Sudoh, Masataka Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7572553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-density electrode, obtained by impregnating a high-density electrode which comprises an electrode active substance and carbon fiber having a fiber filament diameter of 1 to 1,000 nm and has a porosity of 25% or less, with a solid polymer electrolyte; and to a battery including the resultant (high-density) electrode. According to the invention, electrolytic solution permeability and electrolytic solution retainability, which are matters of importance in realizing a high-density electrode for achieving a battery having a high energy density, can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Takashi Ohkubo, Akinori Sudoh, Masataka Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070111101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-density electrode, obtained by impregnating a high-density electrode which comprises an electrode active substance and carbon fiber having a fiber filament diameter of 1 to 1,000 nm and has a porosity of 25% or less, with a solid polymer electrolyte; and to a battery including the resultant (high-density) electrode. According to the invention, electrolytic solution permeability and electrolytic solution retainability, which are matters of importance in realizing a high-density electrode for achieving a battery having a high energy density, can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Takashi Ohkubo, Akinori Sudoh, Masataka Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070092428
    Abstract: The invention provides a carbon material for a battery electrode, which comprises a carbon powder material as a composite of carbonaceous particles and an a carbon material derived from an organic compound prepared by allowing the organic compound serving as a polymer source material to deposit onto and/or permeate into the carbonaceous particles to thereby polymerize the polymer material and then heating at 1,800 to 3,300° C., and which has an intensity ratio of 0.1 or more for peak intensity attributed to a (110) plane to peak intensity attributed to a (004) plane determined through X-ray diffraction spectroscopic analysis on a mixture of the carbon material and a binder resin when pressed at 103 kg/cm2 or higher. The carbon material which undergoes less deformation/orientation due to application of pressure, has high discharge capacity and small irreversible capacity and exhibiting excellent coulombic efficiency, cycle characteristics and leakage-current load characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Chiaki Sotowa, Masataka Takeuchi, Akinori Sudoh
  • Patent number: 7150840
    Abstract: A graphitized fine carbon fiber comprising a hollow space extending along its center axis, and a plurality of graphene sheets, wherein the fiber has an end surface comprising a portion of discontinuity in which ends of graphene sheets are not bonded to one another and at least one portion of continuity comprised of at least one group of graphene sheets in which one graphene sheet is bonded to another graphene sheet adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamamoto, Akinori Sudoh
  • Publication number: 20060188784
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-density electrode, comprising an electrode active substance and carbon fiber having a filament diameter of 1 to 1,000 nm, wherein the porosity of the electrode is 25% or less. According to the invention, electrolytic solution permeability and electrolytic solution retainability, which are matters of importance in realizing a high-density electrode for achieving a battery having a high energy density, can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Akinori Sudoh, Masataka Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20060133980
    Abstract: The invention relates to a carbon material for forming a battery electrode, comprising carbon powder having a homogeneous structure which is produced by causing an organic compound, serving as a ra.w material of a polymer, to deposit onto and/or permeate into carbonaceous particles, and subsequently polymerizing the organic compound, followed by thermal treatment at a temperature of 1,800 to 3,300° C., which comprises a structure which is substantially uniform throughout the entirety of the particle from the surface to the central core where a graphite crystal structure region and an amorphous structure region are distributed. By using the material, a battery having high discharging capacity and low irreversible capacity, with excellent coulombic efficiency and excellent cycle characteristics can be fabricated. The carbon material of the invention may contain carbon fiber filaments. Average roundness, BET specific surface area, true density, laser Roman R value, and average particle size were investigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Youichi Nanba, Masataka Takeuchi, Akinori Sudoh, Satoshi Iinou
  • Patent number: 6989137
    Abstract: The present invention relates to graphite powder and to a battery using it as a negative electrode material, the powder having a specific surface area of not more than 3 m2/g, an aspect ratio of not more than 6, and a tapping bulk density of not less than 0.8 g/cm3; or a tapping bulk density of not less than 0.8 g/cm3 and an oxidation initiation temperature of not less than 600° C.; or a specific surface area of not more than 3 m2/g and a tapping bulk density of not less than 0.8 g/cm3, a specific electrical resistance of the powder not more than 0.06 ?cm in the specified condition. The battery obtained thus has a large discharge capacity, good cycle property and high charge and discharge efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Kunio Nishimura, Akinori Sudoh, Chiaki Sotowa
  • Publication number: 20050245390
    Abstract: A catalyst carrier, being characterized in that a catalyst metal for promoting an oxidation-reduction reaction is carried on a vapor-grown carbon fiber having an average outer diameter of from 2 nm to 500 nm, which has been subjected to a crushing treatment so as to have a BET specific surface area of from 4 m2/g to 100 m2/g and an aspect ratio of from 1 to 200, and exhibiting high activity per unit amount of a catalyst metal, a low reaction resistance and an improved output density, and is useful for a fuel battery; a production method thereof and a fuel battery using the catalyst carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Ken-ichiro Ota, Akimitsu ishihara, Satoshi Iinou, Akinori Sudoh
  • Publication number: 20040041130
    Abstract: A graphitized fine carbon fiber comprising a hollow space extending along its center axis, and a plurality of graphene sheets, wherein the fiber has an end surface comprising a portion of discontinuity in which ends of graphene sheets are not bonded to one another and at least one portion of continuity comprised of at least one group of graphene sheets in which one graphene sheet is bonded to another graphene sheet adjacent thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamamoto, Akinori Sudoh