Abstract: Provided are an optical element that can make the brightness of light emitted from a light guide plate uniform, a light guide element, and an image display device. The optical element includes a patterned cholesteric liquid crystal layer that is obtained by immobilizing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, in which the patterned cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a liquid crystal alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from a liquid crystal compound changes while continuously rotating in at least one in-plane direction, and the patterned cholesteric liquid crystal layer has regions having different pitches of helical structures in a plane.

Abstract: Provided is a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, capable of improving the energy density and the cycle characteristics of the battery without lowering the initial charge/discharge efficiency of the battery. This negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material including a silicon oxide represented by SiOx and carbon material. A proportion of a mass of the silicon oxide relative to a total mass of the silicon oxide and the carbon material: y satisfies 0.03?y?0.3. A difference between a theoretical capacity density of the negative electrode active material and a charge capacity density of the negative electrode active material when a cutoff voltage is 5 mV relative to lithium metal: ?C (mAhg?1) satisfies L=?C/100 and 6y?L?12y+0.2.

Abstract: A nickel-hydrogen storage battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode using an AB5 based hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and a separator arranged between the positive and negative electrodes. The AB5 based hydrogen-absorbing alloy includes an A element, which is a constituent element of a misch metal, and a B element, which includes nickel and cobalt. The ratio of the amount of substance of the B element to that of the A element is 5.2 or more and 5.4 or less. The ratio of the amount of substance of cobalt to that of the A element is 0.15 or more and 0.4 or less. The liquid retention volume (V1) and the true volume (V2) of the separator, the theoretical capacity of the negative electrode (C1), and the theoretical capacity of the positive electrode (C2) satisfy the following expression. 2.0?V1/V2×C1/C2?3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer comprising a positive electrode active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions, and a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer comprising an alloy-formable active material, and a negative electrode current collector; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material layer has an easily swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of 20% or more, and the negative electrode active material layer has a hardly swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of less than 20%.

Abstract: A nickel-hydrogen storage battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode using an AB5 based hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and a separator arranged between the positive and negative electrodes. The AB5 based hydrogen-absorbing alloy includes an A element, which is a constituent element of a misch metal, and a B element, which includes nickel and cobalt. The ratio of the amount of substance of the B element to that of the A element is 5.2 or more and 5.4 or less. The ratio of the amount of substance of cobalt to that of the A element is 0.15 or more and 0.4 or less. The liquid retention volume (V1) and the true volume (V2) of the separator, the theoretical capacity of the negative electrode (C1), and the theoretical capacity of the positive electrode (C2) satisfy the following expression. 2.0?V1/V2×C1/C2?3.

Abstract: Provided is a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, capable of improving the energy density and the cycle characteristics of the battery without lowering the initial charge/discharge efficiency of the battery. This negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material including a silicon oxide represented by SiOx and carbon material. A proportion of a mass of the silicon oxide relative to a total mass of the silicon oxide and the carbon material: y satisfies 0.03?y?0.3. A difference between a theoretical capacity density of the negative electrode active material and a charge capacity density of the negative electrode active material when a cutoff voltage is 5 mV relative to lithium metal: ?C (mAhg?1) satisfies L=?C/100 and 6y?L?12y+0.2.

Abstract: An electrode assembly (30) is formed by combining a positive electrode plate (14), a separator (15), and a negative electrode plate (18), and the electrode assembly (30) was wound. An insulating member (21) having a hollow portion (22) is placed on the positive electrode plate (14), the negative electrode plate (18), or the separator (15) before the end of the winding step so that the insulating member (21) is incorporated inside the outermost of the electrode assembly (30) and into a corner portion (31) of the electrode assembly (30) in the winding direction. After a winding end portion (32) of the electrode assembly (30) is fixed, the hollow portion (22) is broken. Thereby, a space (20) resulting from the hollow portion (22) is formed inside the outermost of the electrode assembly (30).

Abstract: In a charging method for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which includes a positive electrode including a lithium-containing composite oxide as an active material, a negative electrode including an alloy-formable negative electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, a voltage of the secondary battery is detected. When the detected value is smaller than a predetermined voltage x, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value B. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage x and smaller than a predetermined voltage z, charging is performed at a comparatively great current value A. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage z and smaller than a predetermined voltage y, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value C. When the detected value is greater than the predetermined voltage y, constant-voltage charging is performed or charging is terminated. Here, x<z<y.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode current collector; a positive electrode active material layer that is provided in contact with the positive electrode current collector; a separator layer that is provided on a side of the positive electrode active material layer on which the positive electrode current collector is not provided; a negative electrode active material layer that is provided on a side of the separator layer on which the positive electrode active material layer is not provided, that primarily contains silicon or tin, and that includes a opposing portion opposing the positive electrode active material layer and a non-opposing portion not opposing the positive electrode active material layer, the opposing portion and the non-opposing portion containing lithium produced by a thin film-forming method; and a negative electrode current collector that is provided on a side of the negative electrode active material layer on which the separator layer is not provided.

Abstract: Charging of a lithium ion secondary battery including a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material being an alloy-formable active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte is performed. In charging, the remaining capacity and the temperature of the lithium ion secondary battery are detected, and the lithium ion secondary battery is charged until the battery voltage reaches a reference voltage E1 associated beforehand with the remaining capacity and the temperature.

Abstract: This invention provides a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a Li-absorbing element as a negative electrode active material, is free from deformation, separation of the negative electrode active material layer from the negative electrode current collector, and deposition of lithium on the negative electrode current collector, and is excellent in cycle characteristic, large-current discharge characteristic, and low-temperature discharge characteristic. The negative electrode of this invention includes: a current collector having depressions and protrusions on a surface in the thickness direction thereof; and a negative electrode active material layer that includes a plurality of columns containing a negative electrode active material that absorbs and releases lithium ions, the columns being grown outwardly from the surface of the current collector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer comprising a positive electrode active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions, and a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer comprising an alloy-formable active material, and a negative electrode current collector; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material layer has an easily swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of 20% or more, and the negative electrode active material layer has a hardly swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of less than 20%.

Abstract: An active material of silicon, tin or a compound containing silicon or tin is formed on a current collector of a negative electrode in form of a plurality of island regions so that the island regions are separated from one another. Furthermore, a conductive protective film is formed on the current collector so as to cover the island regions. The conductive protective film is formed so as to also cover exposed regions (space portions) of the current collector on which the island regions are not formed. Thus, expansion/shrink of the active region following charge/discharge can be absorbed by the conductive protective film formed in the space portions between the island regions. Also, adhesiveness of the active material with the current collector can be improved.

Abstract: A negative electrode for lithium ion secondary batteries, including: a negative electrode current collector having a plurality of protrusions formed on a surface thereof; and a plurality of granular bodies, the granular bodies being supported on the protrusions, respectively, and including an alloy-formable active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions, wherein: the granular bodies have a resin layer on their respective surfaces; and the resin layer includes a first resin component which is at least one selected from polyimides and polyacrylic acid, and a second resin component which is composed of a copolymer including vinylidene fluoride units and hexafluoropropylene units. A lithium ion secondary battery including the above negative electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes the following three steps of: A) fabricating the negative electrode by depositing a negative electrode active material on a current collector; B) heat-treating the negative electrode; and C) imparting lithium to the negative electrode active material after the B step.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery, the negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector with protrusions formed on a surface thereon, and columnar bodies being carried on the protrusions and comprising an alloy active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions. The columnar bodies each have a multilayer structure in which a plurality of unit layers comprising the alloy active material are stacked sequentially on the surface of the protrusion, and the average layer thickness of the unit layer in a region within 20% of the thickness of the columnar body extending from the surface of the protrusion is smaller than that in a region within 80% of the thickness of the columnar body extending from the top of the columnar body.

Abstract: An electrode assembly (30) is formed by combining a positive electrode plate (14), a separator (15), and a negative electrode plate (18), and the electrode assembly (30) was wound. An insulating member (21) having a hollow portion (22) is placed on the positive electrode plate (14), the negative electrode plate (18), or the separator (15) before the end of the winding step so that the insulating member (21) is incorporated inside the outermost of the electrode assembly (30) and into a corner portion (31) of the electrode assembly (30) in the winding direction. After a winding end portion (32) of the electrode assembly (30) is fixed, the hollow portion (22) is broken. Thereby, a space (20) resulting from the hollow portion (22) is formed inside the outermost of the electrode assembly (30).

Abstract: In a charging method for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which includes a positive electrode including a lithium-containing composite oxide as an active material, a negative electrode including an alloy-formable negative electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, a voltage of the secondary battery is detected. When the detected value is smaller than a predetermined voltage x, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value B. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage x and smaller than a predetermined voltage z, charging is performed at a comparatively great current value A. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage z and smaller than a predetermined voltage y, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value C. When the detected value is greater than the predetermined voltage y, constant-voltage charging is performed or charging is terminated. Here, x<z<y.

Abstract: A negative electrode 10 for a lithium ion battery of the present invention includes a negative electrode current collector 11, protrusions 13 formed so as to be spaced apart from each other on a surface of the negative electrode current collector 11, columns 12 supported on the protrusions 13 one by one, and a coating layer 15 coating a surface of each of the columns 12. The columns 12 include a negative electrode active material including either one of silicon and tin, and further include lithium absorbed thereinto. The coating layer 15 contains at least one of lithium carbonate and lithium fluoride and is formed by exposing the columns 12 to an atmosphere with a dew point temperature of ?60° C. or higher and 0° C. or lower.

Abstract: A negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries has a mixture layer disposed on a current collector. The mixture layer includes a composite negative electrode active material, a first binder containing an acryl-group-containing polymer, and a second binder containing adhesive rubber particles. The composite negative electrode active material contains carbon nanofibers, a catalyst element, and silicon-containing particles capable of charging and discharging at least lithium ions. The first binder binds the silicon-containing particles to the current collector, and the second binder binds the carbon nanofibers together.