Abstract: Provided is a conductive undercoating agent, including: a conductive carbon material; a binding agent; and a solvent, wherein the conductive carbon material is flaked graphite having an average thickness of from 10 nm to 200 nm and a specific surface area of from 10 m2/g to 40 m2/g.

Abstract: To provide an electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte batteries, which traps hydrogen sulfide gas, generated from the inside thereof for some reason, in the electrode, and suppresses the outflow of hydrogen sulfide gas to the outside of the battery. An electrode for lithium ion batteries includes a coating material which contains a silanol group and is present on at least a surface of an active material layer. The active material layer contains a sulfur-based material and a resin-based binder. The sulfur-based material is an active material capable of alloying with lithium metal or an active material capable of occluding lithium ions. The coating material containing the silanol group is a silicate having a siloxane bond or a silica fine particle aggregate having a siloxane bond as a component.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode, including: a collector; and an active material layer formed on the collector, wherein the active material layer contains sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile and a lithium-titanium oxide, wherein an average secondary particle diameter of the sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile is larger than an average secondary particle diameter of the lithium-titanium oxide, and wherein a content of the sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile in the active material layer is from 5 mass % to 85 mass %, and a content of the lithium-titanium oxide in the active material layer is from 5 mass % to 85 mass %.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode active material that has a large charge discharge capacity, a high initial efficiency, as well as excellent cycle characteristics and rate characteristics and is favorably used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. An organo sulfur-based electrode active material contains sodium and potassium in a total amount of 100 ppm by mass to 1000 ppm by mass; an electrode for use in a secondary battery, the electrode containing the organo sulfur-based electrode active material as an electrode active material; and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the electrode. Preferably, the organo sulfur-based electrode active material further contains iron in an amount of 1 ppm by mass to 20 ppm by mass. Preferably, the organo sulfur-based electrode active material is sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile, and the amount of sulfur in the organo sulfur-based electrode active material is 25 mass % to 60 mass %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile, which has a content of sulfur of from 30 mass % to 50 mass %, and satisfies the expression: 4,500<140×x?y<5,200 when the content (mass %) of sulfur is represented by “x”, and an average CT value of the sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile in X-ray CT is represented by “y”.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile, including: a step (1) of heating polyacrylonitrile and elemental sulfur in a rotating-type heating container including a discharge pipe and a sulfur vapor recovery unit while rotating the rotating-type heating container; a step (2) of liquefying a sulfur vapor by the sulfur vapor recovery unit while discharging hydrogen sulfide generated in the heating step; and a step (3) of returning the liquefied sulfur to a mixture of the sulfur and the polyacrylonitrile of the step (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including: a current collector; and an electrode active material mixture layer containing an organosulfur electrode active material, a conductive assistant, and a binder, wherein the electrode active material mixture layer contains 0.01 mass % to 0.4 mass % of the binder with respect to a total mass of the electrode active material mixture layer, and wherein the electrode active material mixture layer is formed on the current collector.

Abstract: To provide an electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte batteries, which traps hydrogen sulfide gas, generated from the inside thereof for some reason, in the electrode, and suppresses the outflow of hydrogen sulfide gas to the outside of the battery. An electrode for lithium ion batteries includes a coating material which contains a silanol group and is present on at least a surface of an active material layer. The active material layer contains a sulfur-based material and a resin-based binder. The sulfur-based material is an active material capable of alloying with lithium metal or an active material capable of occluding lithium ions. The coating material containing the silanol group is a silicate having a siloxane bond or a silica fine particle aggregate having a siloxane bond as a component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sulfur-based electrode active material with which a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that has a large capacity and exhibits less deterioration of the cycle characteristics can be obtained even when an electrode is employed in which the sulfur-based electrode active material is used as an electrode active material and an aluminum foil is used as a current collector. Also disclosed is a method for producing an organosulfur electrode active material, including a step of obtaining an organosulfur compound by heat-treating an organic compound and sulfur and a step of treating the organosulfur compound with a basic compound. The organosulfur compound is preferably sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile, and the basic compound is preferably ammonia. The organosulfur compound may be treated with the basic compound after the organosulfur compound is ground, or may be ground in a medium that contains the basic compound.

Abstract: An organosulfur compound-containing slurry composition for making an electrode. The slurry composition forms an electrode mixture layer that exhibits high adhesion to a current collector even when combined with inexpensive aluminum foil current collector and therefore achieves sufficient capacity. The slurry composition contains an organosulfur compound, a binder, an electroconductive agent, and a solvent and has a pH of 4.0 to 9.0. The slurry composition preferably contains a basic compound. The organosulfur compound is preferably at least one of sulfur-modified elastomer compounds, sulfur-modified polynuclear aromatic compounds, sulfur-modified pitch compounds, sulfur-modified aliphatic hydrocarbon oxides, sulfur-modified polyether compounds, polythienoacene compounds, carbon polysulfide compounds, sulfur-modified polyamide compounds, and sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode active material that has a large charge discharge capacity, a high initial efficiency, as well as excellent cycle characteristics and rate characteristics and is favorably used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. An organo sulfur-based electrode active material contains sodium and potassium in a total amount of 100 ppm by mass to 1000 ppm by mass; an electrode for use in a secondary battery, the electrode containing the organo sulfur-based electrode active material as an electrode active material; and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the electrode. Preferably, the organo sulfur-based electrode active material further contains iron in an amount of 1 ppm by mass to 20 ppm by mass. Preferably, the organo sulfur-based electrode active material is sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile, and the amount of sulfur in the organo sulfur-based electrode active material is 25 mass % to 60 mass %.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that is small and lightweight, has a high capacity, and can be produced without causing a size increase and a significant cost increase, wherein, even if an internal short circuit occurs, thermal runaway is unlikely to occur, and there is no risk of ignition or explosion. Also disclosed is is a method for suppressing thermal runaway caused by an internal short circuit, wherein sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile is contained in a negative electrode material mixture layer in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that includes: a positive electrode that contains a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode that contains a negative electrode active material; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The amount of sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile can be set to 30 mass % or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous secondary battery having a nonaqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent, in which the positive electrode active material is preferably a manganese-containing, lithium transition metal oxide salt. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains at least one compound of general formula (1), preferably at least one compound of general formula (1?). The content of the compound of formula (1) or (1?) in the nonaqueous electrolyte is preferably 0.001 to 10 mass %. The symbols in formulae (1) and (1?) are as defined in the description.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sulfur-based electrode active material with which a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that has a large capacity and exhibits less deterioration of the cycle characteristics can be obtained even when an electrode is employed in which the sulfur-based electrode active material is used as an electrode active material and an aluminum foil is used as a current collector. Also disclosed is a method for producing an organosulfur electrode active material, including a step of obtaining an organosulfur compound by heat-treating an organic compound and sulfur and a step of treating the organosulfur compound with a basic compound. The organosulfur compound is preferably sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile, and the basic compound is preferably ammonia. The organosulfur compound may be treated with the basic compound after the organosulfur compound is ground, or may be ground in a medium that contains the basic compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous secondary battery having a nonaqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent, in which the positive electrode active material is preferably a manganese-containing, lithium transition metal oxide salt. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains at least one compound of general formula (1), preferably at least one compound of general formula (1?). The content of the compound of formula (1) or (1?) in the nonaqueous electrolyte is preferably 0.001 to 10 mass %. The symbols in formulae (1) and (1?) are as defined in the description.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dye-sensitized solar cell which includes a working electrode and a counter electrode facing each other with an electrolyte layer therebetween, the working electrode having a dye-supporting metal oxide electrode composed of a metal oxide layer having a dye supported thereon. The dye contains a cyanine dye, and the electrolyte of the electrolyte layer contains a cobalt-based electrolyte. It is preferred to use at least one cyanine dye represented by general formula (1) as the cyanine dye. Anq? represents a q-valent anion, wherein q represents 1 or 2, and p represents a coefficient for maintaining overall charge neutrality.

Abstract: Provided are an additive for an electrolytic composition which can suppress the decrease of a short-circuit current and improve an open circuit voltage as compared to the case when conventional 4-TBpy is used as an additive for an electrolytic composition, and an electrolytic composition using this additive and a dye-sensitized solar cell. The additive for an electrolytic composition for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell contains a pyridine derivative having a pyridine ring into which an alkylsilyl group is introduced, and it is preferable that this pyridine derivative has an alkylsilyl group at the 4-position of the pyridine ring, and it is more preferable that the pyridine derivative is 4-(trimethylsilyl) pyridine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel compound represented by formula (1) below.

Abstract: A method for loading a support with a compound in an organic solvent, characterized in that the organic solvent contains an amine. The organic solvent preferably has a hydroxy group. The compound preferably has at least one of carboxyl, sulfonic, phosphoric, phosphonic, and alkoxysilyl groups. The support is preferably a metal oxide, such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, or aluminum oxide. The resulting compound-loaded support is suited for use as an electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel compound represented by formula (1) below. In the formula, A represents an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring or aromatic heterocyclic group, B represents a group including a chain of one to four pieces of one or more groups selected from groups represented by specific formulae (B-1) to (B-13) (such as —C?C— or —N?N—, specifically see the description), R1 to R3 each represent an optionally substituted hydrocarbon or hydrocarbonoxy group, at least one of R1 to R3 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbonoxy group, R4 and R5 each represent an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, R4 and R5 may be linked together to form a ring, and R4 and R5 may be each independently linked with A to form a ring.