Abstract: A method for forming a thin film includes the steps of: supplying a deposition material in the form of a liquid onto a heated surface; heating and vaporizing the deposition material on the heated surface while the deposition material is undergoing movement; and depositing the deposition material onto a deposition surface. The deposition material is supplied onto a position of the heated surface where the vaporized deposition material does not reach the deposition surface.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery including a current collector and an active material layer carried on the current collector, wherein the active material layer includes an active material and no binder, the active material contains silicon and nitrogen, and the active material layer has a larger nitrogen ratio on a side of a first face which is in contact with the current collector than on a side of a second face which is not in contact with the current collector.

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: A method of manufacturing a negative electrode includes: a first step of forming a plurality of columnar active material blocks capable of electrochemically storing and releasing lithium ions on the surface of a current collector; and a second step of disposing particulate lithium in the gaps between the active material blocks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte batteries, which comprises the following three steps: (A) a step for forming a negative electrode by depositing a negative electrode active material on a collector; (B) a step for subjecting the negative electrode to a heat treatment; and (C) a step for providing the negative electrode active material with lithium after the step (B).

Abstract: A negative active material thin film containing silicon as a main component is formed on a collector. A composition gradient layer, in which a composition distribution of a main component element of the collector and silicon is varied smoothly, is formed in the vicinity of the interface between the collector and the negative active material thin film. The composition gradient layer contains at least one kind of third element selected from W, Mo, Cr, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, and P, in addition to the elements contained in the collector and the elements contained in the negative active material thin film. The third element irregularizes the atomic arrangement at the interface between the collector and the negative active material thin film.

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: A negative electrode 100 for a nonaqueous electrolytic secondary cell includes a current collector 1 and a plurality of active material bodies 2 formed on a surface of the current collector 1 at intervals; each active material body 2 contains a material for occluding or releasing lithium; and a plurality of projections 3 are formed on a part of a side surface of each active material body 2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mold 10 for forming cast rods including: a segment assembly 12 including a plurality of segments 14 being placed side by side, and a plurality of cavities 26 extending along a longitudinal direction 16; and clamping means (18 to 21) for clamping the segment assembly 12 in directions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 16. The mold 10 has one or more cavity-forming portions 28 each forming a part of one of the peripheral surfaces of the cavities 26. Each cavity 26 is formed by a combination of two or more segments 14, and at least one of the plurality of segments 14 has two or more cavity-forming portions 28.

Abstract: A vapor deposition device 100 for moving a sheet-like substrate 4 in a roll-to-roll system in a chamber 2 to continuously form a vapor deposition film on the substrate 4. The vapor deposition device 100 comprises an evaporation source 9 for evaporating a vapor-depositing material; a transportation section including first and second rolls 3 and 8 for holding the substrate 4 in the state of being wound therearound and a guide section for guiding the substrate 4; and a shielding section, located in a vapor deposition possible zone, for forming a shielded zone which is not reachable by the vapor-depositing material from the evaporation source 9.

Abstract: To accelerate a film formation rate in forming a negative electrode active material film by vapor deposition using an evaporation source containing Si as a principal component, and to provide an electrode for lithium batteries which is superior in productivity, and keeps the charge and discharge capacity at high level are contemplated. The method of manufacturing an electrode for lithium batteries of the present invention includes the steps of: providing an evaporation source containing Si and Fe to give a molar ratio of Fe/(Si+Fe) being no less than 0.0005 and no greater than 0.15; and vapor deposition by melting the evaporation source and permitting evaporation to allow for vapor deposition on a collector directly or through an underlying layer. The electrode for lithium batteries of the present invention includes a collector, and a negative electrode active material film which includes SiFeyOx (wherein, 0<x<2, and 0.0001?y/(1+y)?0.

Abstract: In a purifying method for metal grade silicon, metal grade silicon with a silicon concentration not less than 98 wt % and not more than 99.9 wt % is prepared. The metal grade silicon contains aluminum not less than 1000 ppm and not more than 10000 ppm by weight. The metal grade silicon is heated at a temperature not less than 1500° C. and not more than 1600° C. in an inert atmosphere under pressure not less than 100 Pa and not more than 1000 Pa, and maintained at the temperature in the atmosphere for a predetermined period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a current collector including a base portion with a flat face, primary projections projecting from the flat face, and secondary projections projecting from the top of the primary projections. The present invention also relates to a current collector including a base portion with a flat face and primary projections projecting from the flat face, wherein the roughening rate of the top of the primary projections is 3 to 20. By using such a current collector, separation of the active material from the current collector can be inhibited when using an active material that has a high capacity but undergoes a large expansion at the time of lithium ion absorption.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electricity storage device which can be charged/discharged at high rate and have high output, high capacity and excellent repeating charge/discharge characteristics, although it uses a non-carbon material as a negative electrode active material. Specifically disclosed is an electricity storage device comprising: a positive electrode collector; a positive electrode disposed on the positive electrode collector and including a positive electrode active material which can reversibly absorb/desorb at least anions; a negative electrode collector; and a negative electrode disposed on the negative electrode collector and including a negative electrode active material which can substantially absorb/desorb lithium ions reversibly.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped energy device includes at least sheet-shaped battery cells, in each of which a positive collector, a negative collector, a positive active material, and an electrolyte are laminated, and a plurality of substrates in a thickness direction. An internal wiring pattern and/or an optical function part are formed on at least one substrate excluding a substrate constituting an outermost layer of the energy device among the plurality of substrates. Because of this, a constraint on the arrangement of various kinds of components used simultaneously with the sheet-shaped energy device and lengthy wiring can be reduced in electronic equipment.

Abstract: A battery comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The first electrode and the second electrode are wound with the separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode assembly. The first electrode includes a current collector and an active material layer carried on one face of the current collector. The active material layer includes columnar particles having a bottom and a head, the bottom of the columnar particles being adhered to the current collector. The head of the columnar particles is positioned at an outer round side of the electrode assembly than the bottom.

Abstract: An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 6 according to the present invention includes: a current collector 3; a first active material layer 2 formed on the current collector 3; and a second active material layer 5 provided on the first active material layer 2, the second active material layer 5 including a plurality of active material particles 4. The plurality of active material particles 4 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOx(0?x<1.2). The first active material layer 2 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOy(1.0?y<2.0, y>x). The area in which the first active material layer 2 is in contact with the plurality of active material particles 4 is smaller than the area in which the current collector 3 is in contact with the first active material layer 2.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery including a current collector and an active material layer carried on the current collector, wherein the active material layer includes an active material represented by the general formula: LiaSiOx where 0.5?a?x?1.1 and 0.2?x?1.2; and the active material is obtained by vapor-depositing lithium on a layer including an active material precursor containing silicon and oxygen to cause reaction between the active material precursor and the lithium.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrode of an electrochemical element includes: (A) forming an active material layer on a current collector; and (B) providing lithium to the active material layer. The A step and the B step are carried out in continuous space.

Abstract: It is aimed at providing a brazing flux powder, which exhibits an excellent spreadability in case of brazing of an Mg-containing aluminum-based material, which is non-corrosive and is thus excellent in safety, which is relatively inexpensive and is thus economically excellent, and which can be used in a wide and general manner. There is provided an improvement in a flux powder containing therein KAlF4, K2AlF5, and K2AlF5·H2O, usable for brazing of an aluminum-based material having an Mg content of 0.1 to 1.0 wt %, and the improving characteristic configuration resides in that the flux powder has a composition where a K/Al molar ratio is within a range of 1.00 to 1.20 and an F/Al molar ratio is within a range of 3.80 to 4.10, and the K2AlF5 and K2AlF5·H2O have a sum content of 6.0 to 40.0 wt %, balance KAlF4, and that part or the whole of the crystal structure of K2AlF5·H2O is at least one of a K-defective type, F-defective type, and K-and-F-defective type crystal structure.