Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a nonaqueous solvent which contains ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), &ggr;-butyrolactone (BL), and a fourth component, which is a solvent other than the EC, PC and BL, and the mixing ratio x (% by volume) of EC based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent falls within a range of between 15 and 50, the mixing ratio y (% by volume) of PC based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent falls within a range of between 2 and 35, the mixing ratio z (% by volume) of BL based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent falls within a range of between 30 and 85, and the mixing ratio p (% by volume) of the fourth component based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent is larger than 0 and is not larger than 5.

Abstract: This invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including an electrode group comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator for separating the positive and negative electrodes from each other, a jacket for housing the electrode group, and a nonaqueous electrolyte with which the electrode group is impregnated. The separator contains a porous sheet whose air permeability is 600 sec/100 cm3 or less. The positive electrode and the separator are adhered to each other by adhesive polymers that are held in voids of the positive electrode and those of the separator, and the negative electrode and the separator are adhered to each other by adhesive polymers that are held in voids of the negative electrode and those of the separator.

Abstract: The display unit comprises a display device such as liquid crystal cell or the like; and a secondary battery disposed to a rear side of the display device. A heat shielding layer having a thermal conductivity of at most 5W/mK, preferably at most 1W/mK is formed as a heat shielding plate between the display device and the secondary battery, and the display device and the secondary battery are integrally assembled to form a module structure. According to the above structure of the present invention, since the display device such as liquid crystal cell or the like and the secondary battery are integrally assembled to form a module structure, the display unit can be made compact and thin to attain a light weight.

Abstract: There is proposed a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode assembly which is impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, wherein the battery can be made thin while maintaining improved capacity, large-current characteristics and cycle life. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The production process of the battery comprises steps of preparing an electrode assembly by interposing a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, impregnating the electrode assembly with an organic solvent which can dissolve the binder of the positive- and/or negative electrodes, bonding the positive electrode and the separator together and bonding the negative electrode and the separator together by drying the electrode assembly, and impregnating the electrode assembly with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte containing ethylene carbonate and &ggr;-butyrolactone, wherein, when a charge-discharge cycle test satisfying conditions (A) to (D) given below is performed under an environment of 45° C., the capacity retention rate at 100-th charge-discharge cycle is at least 85% based on the discharge capacity in the first charge-discharge cycle, (A) for the charging, the constant current-constant voltage charging to 4.2V is performed for 3 hours under a current of 1C, (B) the discharging is performed to 3V under a current of 1C, (C) after the charging, the secondary battery is left to stand for 10 minutes, followed by performing the discharging, and (D) after the discharging, the secondary battery is left to stand for 10 minutes, followed by performing the charging.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte containing ethylene carbonate and &ggr;-butyrolactone, wherein, when a charge-discharge cycle test satisfying conditions (A) to (D) given below is performed under an environment of 45° C., the capacity retention rate at 100-th charge-discharge cycle is at least 85% based on the discharge capacity in the first charge-discharge cycle, (A) for the charging, the constant current-constant voltage charging to 4.2V is performed for 3 hours under a current of 1C, (B) the discharging is performed to 3V under a current of 1C, (C) after the charging, the secondary battery is left to stand for 10 minutes, followed by performing the discharging, and (D) after the discharging, the secondary battery is left to stand for 10 minutes, followed by performing the charging.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a case having a wall thickness not larger than 0.3 mm, a positive electrode provided in the case, a negative electrode provided in the case and the negative electrode containing a carbonaceous material capable of absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a nonaqueous electrolyte provided in the case and the nonaqueous electrolyte containing a nonaqueous solvent including &ggr;-butyrolactone and a solute dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, wherein after being discharged to 3V with a current of 0.2C at room temperature, the voltage reduction caused by the self-discharge at 60° C. is not larger than 1.5V in 3 weeks.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy for battery according to the present invention comprises an alloy having the composition represented by a general formula A Ni.sub.a Mn.sub.b M.sub.c ?where, A is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements including Y (yttrium), M is a metal mainly composed of at least one kind of element selected from Co, Al, Fe, Si, Cr, Cu, Ti, Zr, Zn, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Ag, Pd, B, Ga, In, Ge and Sn, 3.5.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.1, 4.5.ltoreq.a+b+c.ltoreq.6!, wherein the alloy has columnar structures in which the area ratio of the columnar structures having the ratio of a minor diameter to a major diameter (aspect ratio) of 1:2 or higher is 50% or more. Further, an average minor diameter of the columnar structures is set to 30 microns or less.

Abstract: This invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode capable of absorbing/desorbing lithium ions, a negative electrode capable of absorbing/desorbing lithium ions, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a Positive Thermal Coefficient, wherein the Positive Thermal Coefficient satisfies expression (1) below50/P<R (1)where R (m.OMEGA.) is the resistance at 25.degree. C. of the Positive Thermal Coefficient and P (Ah) is the nominal capacity of the secondary battery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an alkaline secondary battery improved in the positive electrode utilization, the large-current discharge characteristic, the discharge capacity, and the capacity recovery ratio after storage. This method of manufacturing an alkaline secondary battery comprising a positive electrode containing a nickel compound and a cobalt compound, a negative electrode and an alkaline electrolyte, the method comprising the step of performing initial charging which comprises a charging process of supplying a current I (mA) satisfying the following Inequality (1):50<(T.times.C.sup.2)/(I.times.S)<2000 (1)where C is a electrochemical capacity (mAh) of the cobalt compound contained in the positive electrode, which is calculated on the basis of a electrochemical equivalent of the cobalt compound, T is a temperature (.degree.C.) at which the charging process is performed, and S is an area (cm.sup.2) of the positive electrode.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy for battery according to the present invention comprises an alloy having the composition represented by a general formula A Ni.sub.a Mn.sub.b M.sub.c [where, A is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements including Y (yttrium), M is a metal mainly composed of at least one kind of element selected from Co, Al, Fe, Si, Cr, Cu, Ti, Zr, Zn, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Ag, Pd, B, Ga, In, Ge and Sn, 3.5.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.1, 4.5.ltoreq.a+b+c.ltoreq.6], wherein the alloy has columnar structures in which the area ratio of the columnar structures having the ratio of a minor diameter to a major diameter (aspect ratio) of 1:2 or higher is 50% or more. Further, an average minor diameter of the columnar structures is set to 30 microns or less.

Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride secondary cell, comprising a hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode accommodated in an enclosure and containing spherical hydrogen absorbing alloy particles covered with a free cooling surface and having an average particle diameter of 1 to 100 .mu.m, a non-sintered type nickel positive electrode disposed within the enclosure and positioned to face the negative electrode with a separator interposed therebetween, and an alkaline electrolyte poured in the enclosure.

Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride secondary cell comprising an enclosure, a non-sinter type nickel positive electrode accommodated in said enclosure and formed of a conductive core and a layer formed on the core and made mainly of a binding medium, nickel hydroxide powder, and cobalt monoxide powder, a hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode accommodated in said enclosure and formed of punched metal and a layer formed on the punched metal by applying a paste thereto, said punched metal having a plurality of apertures having a diameter of 1 to 5 mm at an aperture rate of 45 to 70% and having a thickness equal to 10 to 35% of the overall thickness of the negative electrode, and said paste made of 100 parts by weight of hydrogen absorbing alloy powder, 0.005 to 1 part by weight of polyacrylate, 0.01 to 1 part by weight of carboxymethylcellulose, 0.5 to 7 parts by weight of fluoro-resin, and 0.

Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride secondary cell comprising a non-sinter type nickel positive electrode accommodated in an enclosure and comprised of a conductive core and a layer formed on the conductive core, the layer made of a mixture of nickel hydroxide power and cobalt monoxide powder covered with a layer of high-valence cobalt oxide, a hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode accommodated in the enclosure and comprised of a conductive core and a layer formed on the conductive core and made of a mixture hydrogen absorbing alloy powder and carbon black having a specific surface area of 700 m.sup.2 /g or more, and having a capacity 1.0 to 2.5 times the sum of the capacity of the nickel hydroxide contained in the positive electrode and the electricity required to oxidize the cobalt monoxide powder, a separator made of synthetic resin unwoven fabric having a texture size of 50 to 100 g/m.sup.2 and a thickness of 0.1 to 0.

Abstract: A resist is coated on a photomask and a predetermined pattern is exposed on the resist. The photomask is dipped in a developing solution together with an electrode which exhibits a stable potential in the developing solution, so that a change in current flowing between the photomask and the electrode is detected on the basis of a change in capacitance between the photomask and the developing solution, while developing the pattern formed on the resist. The current abruptly changes (e.g., exhibits its peak) around the time at which the resist is removed and a chromium underlying layer of the photomask is exposed. The time obtained by multiplying the time until the change appears by a predetermined coefficient is regarded as the time corresponding to the end of the developing step.