Abstract: An anode for nonaqueous secondary batteries is disclosed. The anode has a pair of current collecting surface layers of which the surfaces are adapted to be brought into contact with an electrolytic solution and at least one active material layer interposed between the surface layers. The active material layer contains particles of an active material having high capability of forming a lithium compound. The material constituting the surfaces is preferably present over the whole thickness of the active material layer to electrically connect the surfaces so that the electrode exhibits a current collecting function as a whole. The surface layers each preferably have a thickness of 0.3 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy is provided which, when used in a battery, has high drain (power) performance and charge acceptance that are excellent, and in addition, cracks are few, and cycle life performance are excellent, to be used in large batteries, in particular for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, high-power use, and the like. The hydrogen storage alloy is a hydrogen storage alloy having phase conversion accompanying the variation of hydrogen storage capacity (H/M) and is in a single phase or in a state close to a single phase when the above-mentioned hydrogen storage capacity (H/M) is in a range of 0.3 to 0.7 or 0.4 to 0.6.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode as a positive electrode or a negative electrode of a secondary battery. The electrode has an active material layer containing active material particles. An electro-conductive material is filled between the active material particles over the entire thickness direction of the active material layer. The electro-conductive material is preferably a material having low capability of forming a lithium compound. Preferably, the electro-conductive material is filled in the active material layer by electroplating. The active particle material preferably comprises a material having high capability of forming a lithium compound, or a hydrogen storage alloy. The invention also provides a secondary battery which has the above electrode as a positive electrode or a negative electrode.

Abstract: A negative electrode 10 for a nonaqueous secondary battery, has an active material layer 2 containing active material particles 2a. The active material layer 2 has a metallic material 4 deposited among the particles by electroplating. The negative electrode 10 has a large number of holes 5 open on at least one side thereof and extending through the thickness of the active material layer. The negative electrode 10 further has a pair of current collecting layers 3a and 3b adapted to be brought into contact with an electrolyte. The active material layer 2 is between the current collecting layers 3a and 3b. The holes 5 open on the negative electrode 10 preferably have an opening area ratio of 0.3% to 30%. At least one of the pair of the current collecting layers 3a and 3b preferably has a thickness of 0.3 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode for a nonaqueous secondary battery included of a current collector and an active material structure containing an electro-conductive material having low capability of forming a lithium compound on at least one side of the current collector, the active material structure containing 5 to 80% by weight of active material particles containing a material having high capability of forming a lithium compound. The active material structure preferably has an active material layer containing the active material particles and a surface coating layer formed on the active material layer.

Abstract: A negative electrode 1 for nonaqueous secondary batteries characterized by having an active material layer 5 and a metallic lithium layer 3 both between a pair of current collecting surface layers 4. The negative electrode 1 has two negative electrode precursors 2 each composed of the current collecting surface layer 4 and the active material layer 5 on one side of the surface layer 4. The two negative electrode precursors 2 are united with their active material layers 5 facing each other and with the metallic lithium layer 3 sandwiched therebetween. A metallic material having low capability of forming a lithium compound penetrates through the whole thickness of the active material layer 5.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode for a nonaqueous secondary battery comprised of a current collector and an active material structure containing an electro-conductive material having low capability of forming a lithium compound on at least one side of the current collector, the active material structure containing 5 to 80% by weight of active material particles containing a material having high capability of forming a lithium compound. The active material structure preferably has an active material layer containing the active material particles and a surface coating layer formed on the active material layer.

Abstract: An anode for a nonaqueous secondary battery comprising a current collector having formed thereon a first covering layer containing tin, a tin alloy, aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a second covering layer containing a metal having low capability of forming a lithium compound in that order. The anode may have an additional first covering layer formed on the second covering layer. A covering layer containing a copper etc. may be formed as an uppermost layer. Each layer can be formed by heat treating to get desired property. As heat treatment can be done in a short time, it has a great cost merit.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material which is an AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy having a CaCu5 type crystal structure represented by general formula: MmNiaMnbAlcCod wherein Mm is a misch metal, 4.1<a≦4.3, 0.4<b≦0.6, 0.2≦c≦0.4, 0.1≦d≦0.4, and 5.2≦a+b+c+d≦5.45, or general formula: MmNiaMnbAlcCodXe wherein Mm is a misch metal, X is Cu and/or Fe, 4.1<a≦4.3, 0.4<b≦0.6, 0.2≦c≦0.4, 0.1≦d≦0.4, 0<e≦0.1, and 5.2≦a+b+c+d+e≦5.45, characterized in that the lattice length on the c-axis is 406.2 pm or more, and a process of producing the same.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material which is characterized by having, as a cast alloy, a flaky or similar shape with a thickness of 50 to 500 &mgr;m and showing such crystallite orientation that the X-ray diffraction pattern has an intensity ratio of plane indices (002)/(200) of 2 to 10 as measured with the cooled surface of the flaky cast alloy being in parallel with a mount, and a process of producing the same.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material which is characterized by having, as a cast alloy, a flaky or similar shape with a thickness of 50 to 500 &mgr;m and showing such crystallite orientation that the X-ray diffraction pattern has an intensity ratio of plane indices (002)/(200) of 2 to 10 as measured with the cooled surface of the flaky cast alloy being in parallel with a mount, and a process of producing the same.

Abstract: A method for recovering a valuable metal including the steps of: recovering valuables from scraps containing the valuable metal; and removing at least part of carbon contained in the recovered valuables by heating the valuables in a non-oxidizable atmosphere, and a method for recovering a valuable metal including the steps of: thermally treating a melted mixture including the valuable metal and slag with a flux component to separate the valuable metal in a liquid phase from the slag in another liquid phase. In accordance with the present invention, the valuable metal in the scrap can be easily recovered.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material which is an AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy having a CaCu5 type crystal structure represented by general formula:

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material which is an AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy having a CaCu5 type crystal structure represented by general formula: MmNiaMnbAlcCod wherein Mm denotes a misch metal, 4.0<a≦4.3, 0.25≦b≦0.4, 0.25≦c≦0.4, 0.3≦d≦0.5, and 5.05≦a+b+c+d≦5.25, or general formula: MmNiaMnbAlcCodXe wherein Mm denotes a misch metal, X is Cu and/or Fe, 4.0<a≦4.3, 0.25≦b≦0.4, 0.25≦c≦0.4, 0.3≦d≦0.5, 0<e≦0.1, and 5.05≦a+b+c+d+e≦5.25, characterized in that the lattice length on the c-axis is 404.9 pm to 405.8 pm.

Abstract: A method for recovering a valuable metal including the steps of: recovering valuables from scraps containing the valuable metal; and removing at least part of carbon contained in the recovered valuables by heating the valuables in a non-oxidizable atmosphere, and a method for recovering a valuable metal including the steps of: thermally treating a melted mixture including the valuable metal and slag with a flux component to separate the valuable metal in a liquid phase from the slag in another liquid phase. In accordance with the present invention, the valuable metal in the scrap can be easily recovered.