Abstract: Optical coatings for curved or non-planar substrates are disclosed. Optical coatings may include AR (antireflection) coatings or absorbing (“black” optical) coatings. The optical coatings may include a nanostructure layer formed on top of a stack of one or more materials. Both the nanostructure layer and the stack may be deposited on a curved or non-planar substrate using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) to provide conformal coating of the substrate. The nanostructure layer may include a mixture of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide hydroxide that is formed by placing a PEALD-deposited aluminum oxide layer in heated deionized water for a predetermined time period. The materials in the stack may be alternated to provide tuning of the optical properties in the optical coating.

Abstract: A secondary battery capable of improving cycle characteristics is provided. An anode includes: an anode active material layer on an anode current collector, the anode active material layer including a plurality of anode active material particles, in which the average particle area of the plurality of anode active material particles observed from a surface of the anode active material layer is within a range of 1 ?m2 to 60 ?m2 both inclusive.

Abstract: An anode capable of preventing expansion of an anode active material layer and a battery using it are provided. The anode includes an anode current collector, and an anode active material layer containing silicon (Si) as an element, wherein the anode active material layer therein contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluoride of an alkali metal and a fluoride of an alkali earth metal.

Abstract: An optical element in which light with a large principal ray input angle is gradually input from a center to a peripheral portion, a thickness gradually increases from the center to the peripheral portion, and 1<RD?1.085 is satisfied, when an increase ratio of a thickness to the center at an outermost peripheral portion to which light of which the principal ray input angle is maximum is input is set to RD.

Abstract: A current collector including a first principal plane and a second principal plane with a roughness of a first principal plane and a roughness of a second principal plane being mutually different.

Abstract: A battery capable of improving cycle characteristics is provided. An anode includes: an anode current collector, and an anode active material layer arranged on the anode current collector, in which the anode active material layer includes an anode active material including silicon (Si), and including a pore group with a diameter ranging from 3 nm to 50 nm both inclusive, and the volumetric capacity per unit weight of silicon of the pore group with a diameter ranging from 3 nm to 50 nm both inclusive is 0.2 cm3/g or less, the volumetric capacity being measured by mercury porosimetry using a mercury porosimeter.

Abstract: A current collector including a first principal plane and a second principal plane. In the current collector, the roughness of the first principal plane and second principal plane being mutually different.

Abstract: Provided are an anode capable of preventing an increase in impedance and variations in characteristics and a battery using the anode. An anode active material layer includes at least one kind selected from the group consisting of simple substances, alloys and compounds of silicon and the like capable of forming an alloy with Li. The anode active material layer is formed by a vapor-phase deposition method or the like, and is alloyed with an anode current collector. A coating including lithium carbonate is formed on at least a part of a surface of the anode current collector. Thereby, an increase in impedance can be prevented. Moreover, the anode is less subject to an influence by a difference in a handling environment or storage conditions, so variations in impedance can be prevented.

Abstract: A current collector includes a first principal plane and a second principal plane. In the current collector, the roughness of the first principal plane and second principal plane being mutually different.

Abstract: The invention provides an anode capable of improving battery characteristics such as cycle characteristics and a battery using it. An anode current collector is provided with an anode active material layer. The anode active material layer contains at least one from the group consisting of simple substances, alloys, and compounds of silicon or the like capable of forming an alloy with Li. Further, the anode active material layer is formed by vapor-phase deposition method or the like, and is alloyed with the anode current collector. Further, Li of from 0.5% to 40% of an anode capacity is previously inserted in the anode active material layer. Therefore, when Li is consumed due to reaction with an electrolyte or the like, Li can be refilled, and potential raise of the anode can be inhibited in the final stage of discharge.

Abstract: A battery capable of improving cycle characteristics is provided. An anode includes: an anode current collector, and an anode active material layer arranged on the anode current collector, in which the anode active material layer includes an anode active material including silicon (Si), and including a pore group with a diameter ranging from 3 nm to 50 nm both inclusive, and the volumetric capacity per unit weight of silicon of the pore group with a diameter ranging from 3 nm to 50 nm both inclusive is 0.2 cm3/g or less, the volumetric capacity being measured by mercury porosimetry using a mercury porosimeter.

Abstract: An anode capable of preventing expansion of an anode active material layer and a battery using it are provided. The anode includes an anode current collector, and an anode active material layer containing silicon (Si) as an element, wherein the anode active material layer therein contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluoride of an alkali metal and a fluoride of an alkali earth metal.

Abstract: An anode for a secondary battery capable of improving cycle characteristics, a secondary battery using the anode, and a method of manufacturing an anode for secondary battery. An anode active material layer is formed by vapor phase deposition method, and contains Si as an element. In the anode active material layer, there are a plurality of primary particles grown in the thickness direction. The primary particles aggregate and form a plurality of secondary particles. At least some of the primary particles have shape curved in the identical direction to an anode current collector on the cross section in the thickness direction. Thereby, stress due to expansion and shrinkage due to charge and discharge can be relaxed.

Abstract: An optical element in which light with a large principal ray input angle is gradually input from a center to a peripheral portion, a thickness gradually increases from the center to the peripheral portion, and 1<RD<1.085 is satisfied, when an increase ratio of a thickness to the center at an outermost peripheral portion to which light of which the principal ray input angle is maximum is input is set to RD.

Abstract: An anode capable of preventing expansion of an anode active material layer and a battery using it are provided. The anode includes an anode current collector, and an anode active material layer containing silicon (Si) as an element, wherein the anode active material layer therein contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluoride of an alkali metal and a fluoride of an alkali earth metal.

Abstract: A secondary battery electrode includes an active material layer configured to be provided on a current collector and be obtained by stacking a plurality of active material sub-layers composed of an active material. Pores of which pore diameter along a thickness direction of the active material layer is 3 to 300 nm are formed along a boundary between the active material sub-layers, and at least a part of the pores is filled with an electrolyte and/or a product arising from reduction of the electrolyte upon assembling of a secondary battery.

Abstract: An anode capable of relaxing the stress due to expansion and shrinkage and a battery using the anode are provided. In the anode, an anode active material layer containing at least one of silicon and tin as an element is provided on both faces of a strip-shaped anode current collector. In the anode current collector and the anode active material layer, at least one penetrating portion that is cut out or slit to penetrate the anode current collector and the anode active material layer is formed to extend to include a longitudinal component of the anode current collector.

Abstract: A secondary battery capable of improving cycle characteristics is provided. An anode includes: an anode active material layer on an anode current collector, the anode active material layer including a plurality of anode active material particles, in which the average particle area of the plurality of anode active material particles observed from a surface of the anode active material layer is within a range of 1 ?m2 to 60 ?m2 both inclusive.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a secondary battery includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer provided in the negative electrode current collector and which is alloyed with the negative electrode current collector at least at a part of an boundary face between it and the negative electrode current collector, wherein the negative electrode current collector has a first surface on which the negative electrode active material layer is formed and a second surface on which the negative electrode active material layer is not formed, the negative electrode having a portion in which the second surfaces of the negative electrode current collector are opposed to each other.

Abstract: A secondary battery capable of improving cycle characteristics is provided. An anode includes: an anode active material layer on an anode current collector, the anode active material layer including a plurality of anode active material particles, in which the average particle area of the plurality of anode active material particles observed from a surface of the anode active material layer is within a range of 1 ?m2 to 60 ?m2 both inclusive.