Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery including a negative electrode made by depositing a noncrystalline thin film composed entirely or mainly of silicon on a current collector, a positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte, characterized in that said nonaqueous electrolyte contains carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

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: An electrode for a lithium secondary battery in which an alloy thin film containing Sn (tin) and In (indium) is formed on the surface of a current collector having a surface roughness Ra of 0.1 &mgr;m or more, and a lithium secondary battery using thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary battery by depositing a thin film composed of active material on a current collector in which a surface-treated layer such as an antirust-treated layer is formed, including the steps of: removing at least part of the surface-treated layer by etching the surface of the current collector with an ion beam or plasma in order to improve the diffusion of the current collector material into the active material thin film; and depositing the thin film on the surface of the current collector subjected to the etching step.

Abstract: An electrode having a current collector and, formed thereon, a thin film comprising an active material, characterized in that a thin alloy film (such as Sn—Co) comprising a metal which can form an alloy with lithium (such as Sn) and a metal which can not form an alloy with lithium (such as Co) is formed on a current collector such as a copper foil. It is preferred that the above metal which can form an alloy with lithium and the above metal which can not form an alloy with lithium can not form an intermetallic compound with each other.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery-use electrode and a lithium secondary battery, which are high in discharge capacity and excellent in cycle characteristics, characterized in that a layer consisting of a metal alloying with Li is provided on a substrate consisting of a metal not alloying with Li, and a layer having these metals mixed therein is formed between the above layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium secondary cell capable of preventing an active material layer from oxidation and moisture absorption is obtained. This method of manufacturing a lithium secondary cell comprises steps of forming an active material layer on a collector by a method supplying raw material through discharge into a vapor phase and holding the collector formed with the active material layer at least under an inert atmosphere or under a vacuum atmosphere up to preparation of the cell. Thus, the collector formed with the active material layer is prevented from exposure to the atmosphere, whereby the active material layer is prevented from oxidation and moisture absorption. Consequently, a lithium secondary cell having excellent characteristics can be prepared.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary cell capable of readily forming an active material layer only on a necessary portion of a collector by a method supplying raw material from a gas phase is obtained. This method of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary cell comprises steps of forming a mask layer containing a material reduced in adhesion to a collector due to a high temperature for forming an active material layer on a prescribed region of the collector, forming the active material layer on the collector and on the mask layer by a method supplying raw material from a gas phase and removing the mask layer and part of the active material layer formed on the mask layer. Thus, the mask layer is readily separated from the collector after the active material layer is formed by the method supplying raw material from a gas phase.

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 of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary battery by depositing a thin film composed of active material on a current collector in which a surface-treated layer such as an antirust-treated layer is formed, including the steps of: removing at least part of the surface-treated layer by etching the surface of the current collector with an ion beam or plasma in order to improve the diffusion of the current collector material into the active material thin film; and depositing the thin film on the surface of the current collector subjected to the etching step.

Abstract: An electrode for a lithium secondary battery in which an alloy thin film containing Sn (tin) and In (indium) is formed on the surface of a current collector having a surface roughness Ra of 0.1 &mgr;m or more, and a lithium secondary battery using thereof.