Abstract: Provided is an electrode alloy powder that is useful to obtain a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a high battery capacity and a reduced self-discharge. The alloy powder is: a mixture including particles of a first hydrogen storage alloy having an AB5-type crystal structure, and particles of at least one second hydrogen storage alloy selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen storage alloy a having an AB2-type crystal structure and a hydrogen storage alloy b having an AB3-type crystal structure, wherein an amount of the first hydrogen storage alloy included in the mixture is greater than 50 mass %.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alloy powder for electrodes for nickel-metal hydride storage batteries having a high battery capacity and being excellent in life characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy containing elements L, M, Ni, Co, and E. L includes La as an essential component. L includes no Nd, or when including Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is less than 5 mass %. The percentage of La in the hydrogen storage alloy is 23 mass % or less. M is Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba. A molar ratio ? to a total of L and M is 0.045???0.133. A molar ratio x of Ni to the total of L and M is 3.5?x?4.32, and a molar ratio y of Co is 0.13?y?0.5. The molar ratios x and y, and a molar ratio z of E to the total of L and M satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03.

Abstract: Provided is an alloy powder for an electrode which enables an alkaline storage battery to have both excellent discharge characteristics and excellent life characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy including an element L, Mg, Ni, Al, and an element Ma. The element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3 elements and group 4 elements of the periodic table (excluding Y). The element Ma is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ge, Y, and Sn. A molar proportion x of Mg in a total of the element L and Mg is 0.008?x?0.54. A molar proportion y of Ni, a molar proportion ? of Al, and a molar proportion ? of the element Ma, per the foregoing total is 1.6?y?4, 0.008???0.32, and 0.01???0.12, respectively.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy included in alloy powder for electrodes includes elements L, elements M, Ni, Co, and elements E. L include La as an essential component. L do not include Nd, or, even when L include Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is 5 mass % or less. Furthermore, M include at least Mg, E include at least Mn, and molar ratio ?1 of Mg to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.000<?1?0.050. Molar ratio x of Ni to the sum total of L and M satisfies 3.50?x?4.32, and molar ratio y of Co to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.13?y?0.50. Molar ratio x, molar ratio y, and molar ratio z of E satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03, and ratio y/? of molar ratio y to molar ratio ? that is the ratio of Mn to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.80?y/??1.50.

Abstract: Alloy powder for electrodes that includes particles of a hydrogen-absorbing alloy having an AB2 type crystal structure. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy includes first elements that are located in an A site in the crystal structure and include Zr, and second elements that are located in a B site and include Ni and. Mn. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy includes a plurality of alloy phases having different Zr concentrations. In each of the alloy phases, the percentage of Zr in the first elements exceeds 70 atom %.

Abstract: Alloy powder for electrodes includes first hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles having a spherical core portion, and non-spherical second hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles. The average particle diameter of the first hydrogen-absorbing alloy is 50 ?m or less. The content of the first hydrogen-absorbing alloy is less than 30 vol %.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes: a cylindrical case having a side wall including an opening end portion and a bottom; a sealing plate; a gasket interposed between the sealing plate and the opening end portion; and a sealant between the gasket and the opening end portion. The side wall has an annular groove opened at an outer surface thereof, and an inwardly curl portion at the opening end portion. In at least part of the groove, the minimum width L1 is within 0.2 mm. The sealant includes a polyamide resin formed such that when two test-plate materials are bonded together at bonding faces facing each other via a bonding portion of the sealant, and moved in parallel with the bonding faces and in opposite directions to have a relative displacement within 0.5 to 5 mm, a stress at least 0.02 N/mm2 is applied to the bonding portion.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy is provided in which an X-ray diffraction image generated by CuK? rays has at least one peak selected from (1) peak Psp1 at 2?=32.25±0.15°, (2) peak Psp2 at 2?=33.55±0.15°, and (3) peak Psp3 at 2?=37.27±0.15°.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode alloy powder that is useful to obtain a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a high battery capacity and a reduced self-discharge. The alloy powder is: a mixture including particles of a first hydrogen storage alloy having an AB5-type crystal structure, and particles of at least one second hydrogen storage alloy selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen storage alloy a having an AB2-type crystal structure and a hydrogen storage alloy b having an AB3-type crystal structure, wherein an amount of the first hydrogen storage alloy included in the mixture is greater than 50 mass %.

Abstract: A charge/discharge control method for an alkaline storage battery (11) includes: obtaining in advance a coefficient (K) representing characteristics of a memory effect of the alkaline storage battery; causing the alkaline storage battery to perform a charge/discharge between a lower-limit depth-of-charge (SOCb), of which a depth-of-charge is set within a range of 10% to 30%, and an upper-limit depth-of-charge (S), of which a depth-of-charge is set within a range of 70% to 90%; calculating an additional charge electricity quantity (C) based on the coefficient (K), the upper-limit depth-of-charge (S), and a predetermined reference time (T); measuring a charging/discharging time during which the alkaline storage battery performs the charge/discharge; and performing a charge of the alkaline storage battery with the calculated additional charge electricity quantity added to the upper-limit depth-of-charge, each time when the measured charging/discharging time reaches the reference time.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alloy powder for electrodes for nickel-metal hydride storage batteries having a high battery capacity and being excellent in life characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy containing elements L, M, Ni, Co, and E. L includes La as an essential component. L includes no Nd, or when including Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is less than 5 mass %. The percentage of La in the hydrogen storage alloy is 23 mass % or less. M is Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba. A molar ratio ? to a total of L and M is 0.045???0.133. A molar ratio x of Ni to the total of L and M is 3.5?x?4.32, and a molar ratio y of Co is 0.13?y?0.5. The molar ratios x and y, and a molar ratio z of E to the total of L and M satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes: a cylindrical case having a side wall including an opening end portion and a bottom; a sealing plate; a gasket interposed between the sealing plate and the opening end portion; and a sealant between the gasket and the opening end portion. The side wall has an annular groove opened at an outer surface thereof, and an inwardly curl portion at the opening end portion. In at least part of the groove, the minimum width L1 is within 0.2 mm. The sealant includes a polyamide resin formed such that when two test-plate materials are bonded together at bonding faces facing each other via a bonding portion of the sealant, and moved in parallel with the bonding faces and in opposite directions to have a relative displacement within 0.5 to 5 mm, a stress at least 0.02 N/mm2 is applied to the bonding portion.

Abstract: Provided is an alloy powder for an electrode which enables an alkaline storage battery to have both excellent discharge characteristics and excellent life characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy including an element L, Mg, Ni, Al, and an element Ma. The element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3 elements and group 4 elements of the periodic table (excluding Y). The element Ma is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ge, Y, and Sn. A molar proportion x of Mg in a total of the element L and Mg is 0.008?x?0.54. A molar proportion y of Ni, a molar proportion ? of Al, and a molar proportion ? of the element Ma, per the foregoing total is 1.6?y?4, 0.008???0.32, and 0.01???0.12, respectively.

Abstract: A charge/discharge control method for an alkaline storage battery (11) includes: obtaining in advance a coefficient (K) representing characteristics of a memory effect of the alkaline storage battery; causing the alkaline storage battery to perform a charge/discharge between a lower-limit depth-of-charge (SOCb), of which a depth-of-charge is set within a range of 10% to 30%, and an upper-limit depth-of-charge (S), of which a depth-of-charge is set within a range of 70% to 90%; calculating an additional charge electricity quantity (C) based on the coefficient (K), the upper-limit depth-of-charge (S), and a predetermined reference time (T); measuring a charging/discharging time during which the alkaline storage battery performs the charge/discharge; and performing a charge of the alkaline storage battery with the calculated additional charge electricity quantity added to the upper-limit depth-of-charge, each time when the measured charging/discharging time reaches the reference time.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material for a nickel-metal hydride battery of the present invention includes a hydrogen storage alloy, the hydrogen storage alloy containing La, Mg, Ni, Co, Al, and element M. The molar ratio y of Ni to the total of La and Mg is 2?y?3, the molar ratio z of Co to the total of La and Mg is 0.25?z?0.75, the molar ratio ? of Al to the total of La and Mg is 0.01???0.05, and the molar ratio x of Mg to the total of La and Mg is 0.01?x?0.5. Element M represents at least one selected from the group consisting of Y and Sn, and the content of element M in the hydrogen storage alloy is 0.4 wt % or less.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for a nickel-metal hydride battery containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy represented by a general formula: Mm1-aT1aNixAlyMnzCobT2c, in which: Mm is at least one of light rare earth elements; T1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; T2 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sn, Cu and Fe; and 0.015?a?0.5, 2.5?x?4.5, 0.05?y+z?2, 0?b?0.6, 0?c?0.6 and 5.6?x+y+z+b+c?6 are satisfied.

Abstract: An electrode alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy and magnetic material clusters. The hydrogen storage alloy contains 20 to 70 wt % of Ni. The magnetic material clusters contain metal nickel, and have an average cluster size of 8 to 10 nm. A method for producing the electrode alloy powder includes an activation step of allowing a raw material powder including a hydrogen storage alloy to be in contact with an aqueous solution containing A wt % of sodium hydroxide and held at 100° C. or greater for B minutes. A and B satisfy 2410?A×B?2800.

Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen occluding alloy powder having an ideally activated surface state where oxide and hydroxide precipitated on the surface of said powder have been removed quickly with a simple means. The method for surface treating a hydrogen occluding alloy powder involves agitating a hydrogen occluding alloy powder containing Ni and Mg with an Ni content from 35 to 60 wt % in a lithium hydroxide aqueous solution (first process). Then the hydrogen occluding alloy powder is agitated in an alkali metal hydroxide aqueous solution containing at least either one of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide (second process).

Abstract: An electrode alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy and magnetic material clusters. The hydrogen storage alloy contains 20 to 70 wt % of Ni. The magnetic material clusters contain metal nickel, and have an average cluster size of 8 to 10 nm. A method for producing the electrode alloy powder includes an activation step of allowing a raw material powder including a hydrogen storage alloy to be in contact with an aqueous solution containing A wt % of sodium hydroxide and held at 100° C. or greater for B minutes. A and B satisfy 2410?A×B?2800.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for a nickel-metal hydride battery containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy represented by a general formula: Mm1-aT1aNixAlyMnzCobT2c, in which: Mm is at least one of light rare earth elements; T1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; T2 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sn, Cu and Fe; and 0.015?a?0.5, 2.5?x?4.5, 0.05?y+z?2, 0?b?0.6, 0?c?0.6 and 5.6?x+y+z+b+c?6 are satisfied.