Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery including a negative electrode made by depositing a noncrystalline thin film composed entirely or mainly of silicon on a current collector, a positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte, characterized in that said nonaqueous electrolyte contains carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery including a negative electrode made by sintering, on a surface of a conductive metal foil as a current collector, a layer of a mixture of active material particles containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy and a binder, a positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte, characterized in that the nonaqueous electrolyte contains carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode (1), a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrode assembly having the negative electrode (1), the positive electrode, and the separator. The negative electrode (1) has a negative electrode current collector (11) and negative electrode active material layers (12), (13) formed on respective surfaces of the negative electrode current collector (11). The negative electrode active material layers are composed of an alloy containing silicon, which intercalates and deintercalates lithium, and iron, which does not intercalate or deintercalate lithium.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a lithium secondary battery in which a thin film of active material is deposited on a current collector is provided that eliminates adverse effects on the battery caused by protrusions adhered on an electrode surface. The method of manufacturing an electrode for lithium secondary batteries includes depositing a thin film of active material on a current collector using thin-film deposition equipment as shown in FIG. 1, and performing a compression process after depositing the thin film, whereby the heights of protrusions formed on the electrode surface are reduced.

Abstract: Charge-discharge cycle performance is improved in a lithium secondary battery including a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material having silicon as its main component, provided on a surface of a current collector, a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide containing Li and Co and having a layered structure, and further containing a group IVA element of the periodic table, such as Zr, Ti, or Tf, and a group IIA element of the periodic table, such as Mg.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode (1), a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrode assembly having the negative electrode (1), the positive electrode, and the separator. The negative electrode (1) has a negative electrode current collector (11) and negative electrode active material layers (12), (13) formed on respective surfaces of the negative electrode current collector (11). The negative electrode active material layers are composed of an alloy containing silicon, which intercalates and deintercalates lithium, and iron, which does not intercalate or deintercalate lithium.

Abstract: An electrode for lithium secondary battery having a current collector and, deposited thereon, a thin film comprising silicon as a main component, characterized in that the thin film comprising silicon contains at least one of the elements belonging to the groups IIIa, Iva, Va, VIa, VIIa, VIII, Ib and IIb in the fourth, fifth and sixth periods of the Periodic Table (exclusive of copper (Cu)) at least in the surface portion thereof.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising an electrode in which an active material layer which includes an active material that electrochemically occludes and releases lithium is formed on a current collector, wherein cracks are formed in the active material layer by occlusion and release of lithium ions and thereafter a solid electrolyte is formed in the cracks in the active material layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a lithium secondary battery in which a thin film of active material is deposited on a current collector is provided that eliminates adverse effects on the battery caused by protrusions adhered on an electrode surface. The method of manufacturing an electrode for lithium secondary batteries includes depositing a thin film of active material on a current collector using thin-film deposition equipment as shown in FIG. 1, and performing a compression process after depositing the thin film, whereby the heights of protrusions formed on the electrode surface are reduced.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery including a negative electrode made by depositing a noncrystalline thin film composed entirely or mainly of silicon on a current collector, a positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte, characterized in that said nonaqueous electrolyte contains carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery including a negative electrode made by sintering, on a surface of a conductive metal foil as a current collector, a layer of a mixture of active material particles containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy and a binder, a positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte, characterized in that the nonaqueous electrolyte contains carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

Abstract: An electrode for a lithium secondary cell capable of attaining excellent charge/discharge characteristics with high discharge capacity is obtained by properly controlling a component of a collector diffusing into active material layers formed on both sides of the collector. Embodiments include forming a first active material layer consisting of a plurality of layers on a first surface of a collector, and forming a second active material layer consisting of a plurality of layers on a second surface of the collector. At least one layer constituting the second active material layer is formed before forming all layers constituting the first active material layer, thereby preventing heat for forming at least one of the layers constituting the second active material layer from being applied to all layers constituting the first active material layer.

Abstract: Charge-discharge cycle performance is improved in a lithium secondary battery including a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material having silicon as its main component, provided on a surface of a current collector, a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide containing Li and Co and having a layered structure, and further containing a group IVA element of the periodic table, such as Zr, Ti, or Tf, and a group IIA element of the periodic table, such as Mg.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising an electrode in which an active material layer which includes an active material that electrochemically occludes and releases lithium is formed on a current collector, wherein cracks are formed in the active material layer by occlusion and release of lithium ions and thereafter a solid electrolyte is formed in the cracks in the active material layer.

Abstract: An electrode for lithium secondary battery having a current collector and, deposited thereon, a thin film comprising silicon as a main component, characterized in that the thin film comprising silicon contains at least one of the elements belonging to the groups IIIa, Iva, Va, VIa, VIIa, VIII, Ib and IIb in the fourth, fifth and sixth periods of the Periodic Table (exclusive of copper (Cu)) at least in the surface portion thereof.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery characterized by applying a tension to a metallic foil so as to pull an area of the metallic foil on which a thin film composed of active material is deposited, from the both sides in the direction of longitude, when depositing the thin film on the metallic foil serving as a current collector.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a lithium secondary cell capable of attaining excellent charge/discharge characteristics with high discharge capacity is obtained by properly controlling the state of a component of a collector diffusing into active material layers each consisting of a plurality of layers when forming the active material layers on both sides of the collector. This method of manufacturing an electrode for a lithium secondary cell comprises steps of forming a first active material layer consisting of a plurality of layers on a first surface of a collector by a method supplying raw material through discharge into a vapor phase and forming a second active material layer consisting of a plurality of layers on a second surface of the collector by the method supplying raw material through discharge into a vapor phase, while forming at least one layer constituting the second active material layer before forming all layers constituting the first active material layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photovoltaic device comprising on a substrate (1) a plurality of photovoltaic elements (10) each composed of a lamination body of a first electrode (2), a photovoltaic conversion layer (3), and a second electrode (4), the thickness of a side end (B) in the first electrode (2) in the vicinity of a separating trench (S) existing between the first electrode (2) and the adjacent first electrode (2) being larger than the thickness of an element region (A) in the first electrode (2).

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery characterized by applying a tension to a metallic foil so as to pull an area of the metallic foil on which a thin film composed of active material is deposited, from the both sides in the direction of longitude, when depositing the thin film on the metallic foil serving as a current collector.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a photovoltaic device comprising a plurality of unit cells including a first electrode of zinc oxide, a photovoltaic conversion layer, and a second electrode on a surface of a substrate includes a process for forming a zinc oxide film on the surface of the substrate, a process for eliminating a predetermined part of the zinc oxide film by laser beam irradiation and dividing the zinc oxide film into a plurality of the first electrodes, and a process for etching the surface of the substrate including the plurality of the first electrodes.