Abstract: Provided are nickel manganese composite hydroxide particles that are a precursor for forming cathode active material comprising lithium nickel manganese composite oxide having hollow structure of particles having a small and uniform particle size for obtaining a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high capacity, high output and good cyclability. When obtaining the nickel manganese composite hydroxide particles from a crystallization reaction, an aqueous solution for nucleation, which includes at least a metallic compound that contains nickel and a metallic compound that contains manganese, and does not include a complex ion formation agent that forms complex ions with nickel, manganese and cobalt, is controlled so that the temperature of the solution is 60° C. or greater, and so that the pH value that is measured at a standard solution temperature of 25° C. is 11.5 to 13.

Abstract: A transition metal composite hydroxide can be used as a precursor to allow a lithium transition metal composite oxide having a small and highly uniform particle diameter to be obtained. A method also is provided for producing a transition metal composite hydroxide represented by a general formula (1) MxWsAt(OH)2+?, coated with a compound containing the additive element, and serving as a precursor of a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. The method includes producing a composite hydroxide particle, forming nuclei, growing a formed nucleus; and forming a coating material containing a metal oxide or hydroxide on the surfaces of composite hydroxide particles obtained through the upstream step.

Abstract: A transition metal composite hydroxide can be used as a precursor to allow a lithium transition metal composite oxide having a small and highly uniform particle diameter to be obtained. A method also is provided for producing a transition metal composite hydroxide represented by a general formula (1) MxWsAt(OH)2+?, coated with a compound containing the additive element, and serving as a precursor of a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. The method includes producing a composite hydroxide particle, forming nuclei, growing a formed nucleus; and forming a coating material containing a metal oxide or hydroxide on the surfaces of composite hydroxide particles obtained through the upstream step.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide particles having a small particle diameter and a uniform particle size distribution, and a method for producing the same. [Solution] A method for producing a nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide by a crystallization reaction is provided. The method includes: a nucleation step of performing nucleation by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for nucleation including metal compounds containing nickel, cobalt and manganese, and an ammonium ion donor to 12.0 to 14.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard; and a particle growth step of growing nuclei by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for particle growth containing nuclei formed in the nucleation step to 10.5 to 12.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard.

Abstract: Provided are nickel manganese composite hydroxide particles having a small and uniform particle size and having a double structure which enables to obtain a cathode active material having a hollow structure, and a manufacturing method thereof. When obtaining the nickel manganese composite hydroxide by a reaction crystallization, using an aqueous solution for nucleation, which includes at least a metallic compound that contains nickel, a metallic compound that contains manganese and an ammonium ion donor and controlling the pH value that is measured at a standard solution temperature of 25° C. is 10.5 to 12.0, nucleation is performed in an oxidizing atmosphere in which the oxygen concentration is greater than 1% by volume, and then nuclei are grown by switching the atmosphere from the oxidizing atmosphere to a mixed atmosphere of oxygen and inert gas in which the oxygen concentration is 1% by volume or less.

Abstract: Provided are a cathode active material having a suitable particle size and high uniformity, and a nickel composite hydroxide as a precursor of the cathode active material. When obtaining nickel composite hydroxide by a crystallization reaction, nucleation is performed by controlling a nucleation aqueous solution that includes a metal compound, which includes nickel, and an ammonium ion donor so that the pH value at a standard solution temperature of 25° C. becomes 12.0 to 14.0, after which, particles are grown by controlling a particle growth aqueous solution that includes the formed nuclei so that the pH value at a standard solution temperature of 25° C. becomes 10.5 to 12.0, and so that the pH value is lower than the pH value during nucleation.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus includes a shutter unit, a plurality of target holders, and a substrate holder which can rotate about an axis perpendicular to a surface on which a substrate is held. The shutter unit includes a first shutter having first and second apertures and a second shutter having third and fourth apertures. The plurality of target holders are arranged on a first virtual circle centered on the axis, with the arrangement intervals between the plurality of target holders on the first virtual circle including at least two types of arrangement intervals.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided that has both good safety and durability characteristics while at the same time has high charge/discharge capacity. The cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention is a lithium nickel composite oxide to which at least two or more kinds of metal elements including aluminum are added, and comprises secondary particles that are composed of fine secondary particles having an average particle size of 2 ?m to 4 ?m, and rough secondary particles having an average particle size of 6 ?m to 15 ?m, with an overall average particle size of 5 ?m to 15 ?m; where the aluminum content of fine secondary particles (metal mole ratio: SA) is greater than the aluminum content of rough secondary particles (metal mole ratio: LA), and preferably the aluminum concentration ratio (SA/LA) is within the range 1.2 to 2.6.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing the positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, including a first step of mixing a Li-metal composite oxide powder which is represented by the general formula: LizNi1-x-yCoxMyO2 (where 0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, and 0.97?z?1.30 are satisfied, and M is at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti and Al) and constituted by primary particles and secondary particles, to an alkaline solution with a W compound dissolved therein, and immersing a resulting mixture, followed by solid-liquid separation, to obtain a W mixture with W uniformly dispersed on the surface of the primary particles of the composite oxide, and a second step of heat-treating the W mixture to thereby form a compound containing W and Li on the surface of the primary particles of the composite oxide powder.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide particles having a small particle diameter and a uniform particle size distribution, and a method for producing the same. [Solution] A method for producing a nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide by a crystallization reaction is provided. The method includes: a nucleation step of performing nucleation by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for nucleation including metal compounds containing nickel, cobalt and manganese, and an ammonium ion donor to 12.0 to 14.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard; and a particle growth step of growing nuclei by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for particle growth containing nuclei formed in the nucleation step to 10.5 to 12.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided that has both good safety and durability characteristics while at the same time has high charge/discharge capacity. The cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention is a lithium nickel composite oxide to which at least two or more kinds of metal elements including aluminum are added, and comprises secondary particles that are composed of fine secondary particles having an average particle size of 2 ?m to 4 ?m, and rough secondary particles having an average particle size of 6 ?m to 15 ?m, with an overall average particle size of 5 ?m to 15 ?m; where the aluminum content of fine secondary particles (metal mole ratio: SA) is greater than the aluminum content of rough secondary particles (metal mole ratio: LA), and preferably the aluminum concentration ratio (SA/LA) is within the range 1.2 to 2.6.

Abstract: Achieved is a nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide which is excellent in reactivity with a lithium compound, and excellent thermal stability and battery characteristics. The nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide is represented by a general formula: Ni1-x-y-zCoxMnyMz (OH)2 (0<x??, 0<y??, 0?z?0.1, M represents one or more elements selected from Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, and W), to serve as a precursor for a positive electrode active material of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and the nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide has a specific surface area of 3.0 to 11.0 m2/g as measured by a nitrogen adsorption BET method, and a ratio I(101)/I(100) of peak intensity I(101) of plane (101) to peak intensity I(100) of plane (100) less than 0.300 through an X-ray diffraction measurement.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide particles having a small particle diameter and a uniform particle size distribution, and a method for producing the same. [Solution] A method for producing a nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide by a crystallization reaction is provided. The method includes: a nucleation step of performing nucleation by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for nucleation including metal compounds containing nickel, cobalt and manganese, and an ammonium ion donor to 12.0 to 14.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard; and a particle growth step of growing nuclei by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for particle growth containing nuclei formed in the nucleation step to 10.5 to 12.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard.

Abstract: Provided are nickel manganese composite hydroxide particles that are a precursor for forming cathode active material comprising lithium nickel manganese composite oxide having hollow structure of particles having a small and uniform particle size for obtaining a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high capacity, high output and good cyclability. When obtaining the nickel manganese composite hydroxide particles from a crystallization reaction, an aqueous solution for nucleation, which includes at least a metallic compound that contains nickel and a metallic compound that contains manganese, and does not include a complex ion formation agent that forms complex ions with nickel, manganese and cobalt, is controlled so that the temperature of the solution is 60° C. or greater, and so that the pH value that is measured at a standard solution temperature of 25° C. is 11.5 to 13.

Abstract: To provide a cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrode rechargeable battery, with which it is possible to improve input/output characteristics, particularly by reducing resistance in a low SOC state in which DCIR increases, and to provide a manufacturing method for same. The cathode active material includes layered hexagonal crystal lithium nickel manganese composite oxide particles represented by the general formula (A): Li1+uNixMnyCozMtO2 (where 0?u?0.20, x+y+z+t=1, 0.30?x ?0.70, 0.10?y?0.55, 0?z?0.40, 0?t?0.10, and M is one or more elements selected from Al, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, and W), and further including Na, Mg, Ca and SO4, in which the total amount of Na, Mg and Ca is 0.01 to 0.1 mass %, the amount of SO4 is 0.1 to 1.0 mass %, and the ratio of the integrated intensity of the diffraction peak on plane (003) to that on plane (104) obtained by powder X-ray diffraction measurement using CuK? rays is 1.20 or greater.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, which enables a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery to achieve great battery characteristics, and a process for producing the material, as well as a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batter.

Abstract: Provided is a precursor of a positive electrode active material containing, in a reduced amount, impurities which do not contribute to a charge/discharge reaction but rather corrode a firing furnace and peripheral equipment and thus having excellent battery characteristics and safety, and production method thereof. A method for producing a precursor of a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having a hollow structure or porous structure includes obtaining the precursor by washing nickel-manganese composite hydroxide particles having a particular composition ratio and a pore structure in which pores are present within the particles with an aqueous carbonate solution having a carbonate concentration of 0.1 mol/L or more.

Abstract: Provided are a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous secondary batteries, the material having a narrow particle-size distribution and a monodisperse property and being capable of increasing a battery capacity; an industrial production method thereof; and a nonaqueous secondary battery using the positive electrode active material and having excellent electrical characteristics. The positive electrode active material is represented by a general formula: Li1+uNixCoyMnzMtO2+? (wherein, 0.05?u?0.95, x+y+z+t=1, 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.5, 0.5?z<0.8, 0?t?0.1, and M is an additive element and at least one element selected from Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, and W), has an average particle diameter of 3 to 12 um, and has [(d90?d10)/average particle diameter], an index indicating a scale of particle-size distribution, of 0.60 or less.

Abstract: Achieved is a nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide which is excellent in reactivity with a lithium compound, and excellent thermal stability and battery characteristics. The nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide is represented by a general formula: Ni1-x-y-zCoxMnyMz (OH)2 (0<x??, 0<y??, 0?z?0.1, M represents one or more elements selected from Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, and W), to serve as a precursor for a positive electrode active material of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and the nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide has a specific surface area of 3.0 to 11.0 m2/g as measured by a nitrogen adsorption BET method, and a ratio I(101)/I(100) of peak intensity I(101) of plane (101) to peak intensity I(100) of plane (100) less than 0.300 through an X-ray diffraction measurement.