Abstract: Provided is a multi-layered porous film which includes a functional layer having a controlled thickness in a length-wise direction thereof and which is suitable as a separator for batteries. The multi-layered porous film includes a base film, and a functional layer containing both an inorganic filler and a binder resin, the functional layer being formed on the base film, wherein a difference between a maximum basis weight and a minimum basis weight of the multi-layered porous film in a length-wise direction thereof is equal to or smaller than 2 grams/m2, the basis weight being measured every 100 meters interval. The separator fabricated by cutting a film roll comprised of a multi-layered porous film into pieces each having a given length has small lot-based fluctuation in quality, and makes it possible to fabricate a battery having a small fluctuation in quality.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention prevents a defect from occurring in a joint portion, in a case where a film is produced by processing a film original sheet including the joint portion. A coating device carries out processing in different manners, respectively, for a joint portion of a first porous film original sheet and a second porous film original sheet and for portions other than the joint portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotary tubular furnace including a rotatable furnace tube having an inlet end through which silicon compound particles (SiOx where 0.5?x<1.6) are put therein and an outlet end through which the particles coated with carbon are taken out therefrom; and a heating chamber having a heater to heat the furnace tube, wherein the furnace tube is composed of a heat portion inside the heating chamber and a non-heat portion outside the heating chamber, a length B of the heat portion and an overall length A of the furnace tube satisfy 0.4?B/A<1, and a distance C between the heat portion and the outlet end and the overall length A satisfy 0.04?C/A?0.35. This furnace can inhibit clogging of the furnace tube and mass-produce a negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high capacity with inhibited variations in the amount of carbon coating and crystallinity.

Abstract: A method for producing a functional film is provided. In the method, a film is sequentially transferred through processing devices including a film inspection device. At least one expander roll is used for film transfer from a processing device to the film inspection device next to the processing device.

Abstract: This lithium ion secondary battery negative electrode material is characterized as being particles that contain silicon and that can occlude and release lithium ions, and satisfying 1.00?P2/P1?1.10 when the maximum value of 28.0°?2??28.2° is defined as P1 and the maximum value of 28.2°?2??28.6° is defined as P2 in an analysis of an X-ray diffraction pattern.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a separator which method less causes a tear in the separator. The method is a method for producing a separator by slitting, in a direction in which a separator original sheet (12b) being porous is conveyed, the separator original sheet (12b) into a plurality of separators (12a), including the steps of: (a) conveying the separator original sheet (12b) in a state where the separator original sheet (12b) is in contact with a roller (77); and (b) slitting the separator original sheet (12b) at a portion where the separator original sheet (12b) is in contact with the roller (77).

Abstract: The present invention provides a negative electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery, the negative electrode material comprising silicon active material particles containing silicon and nitrogen, the silicon active material particles being capable of occluding and emitting lithium ions, wherein an amount of the nitrogen contained in each silicon active material particle is in the range from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm, a negative electrode and lithium-ion secondary battery using the material, and a method of producing the material. The negative electrode material is suitable for a lithium-ion secondary battery negative electrode that has high first charge and discharge efficiency and excellent cycle performance and makes the best use of high battery capacity and low volume expansion rate of a silicon material such as a silicon oxide material.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a separator which method less causes a tear in the separator. The method is a method for producing a separator by slitting, in a direction in which a separator original sheet (12b) being porous is conveyed, the separator original sheet (12b) into a plurality of separators (12a), including the steps of: (a) conveying the separator original sheet (12b) in a state where the separator original sheet (12b) is in contact with a roller (77); and (b) slitting the separator original sheet (12b) at a portion where the separator original sheet (12b) is in contact with the roller (77).

Abstract: In a plasma treatment system, a temperature detection section detecting a temperature of a perfusion layer of an electrically conductive solution is fixed to a treatment portion, and is located at a position to be immersed in the perfusion layer when a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion are immersed in the perfusion layer. In the plasma treatment system, a control section controls an adjustment of a temperature in a temperature adjustment unit and controls a supply volume and a suction volume of the electrically conductive solution on the basis of a detection result in the temperature detection section so that the temperature of the perfusion layer is within a target temperature range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a negative electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery, the negative electrode material comprising silicon active material particles containing silicon and nitrogen, the silicon active material particles being capable of occluding and emitting lithium ions, wherein an amount of the nitrogen contained in each silicon active material particle is in the range from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm, a negative electrode and lithium-ion secondary battery using the material, and a method of producing the material. The negative electrode material is suitable for a lithium-ion secondary battery negative electrode that has high first charge and discharge efficiency and excellent cycle performance and makes the best use of high battery capacity and low volume expansion rate of a silicon material such as a silicon oxide material.

Abstract: A method of producing a negative electrode material for use in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including: making base powder containing silicon; measuring a volume average particle diameter of this powder by particle size distribution with laser diffractometry; randomly sampling 5000 particles or more from the powder and measuring their roundness; selecting the powder if the volume average particle diameter ranges from 0.5 to 20 ?m, the roundness of the sampled particles is 0.93 or more on average, and a ratio of the number of particles having a roundness of 0.85 or less is 5% or less; and coating the selected powder with carbon. A negative electrode material useful for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that has excellent cycle performance and makes the best use of advantages of a silicon-contained material, a method of producing this negative electrode material, and a lithium-ion secondary battery.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detection unit, an X-ray filter, an input unit, and an X-ray filter support unit. The X-ray tube generates X-rays. The X-ray detection unit detects the X-rays transmitted through a subject. The X-ray filter is arranged between the X-ray tube and the object and has an opening. The X-ray filter support unit supports the X-ray filter so as to make the X-ray filter movable in an imaging axis direction of the X-rays.

Abstract: A plasma treatment system includes a spout, a suction hole, a first electrode and a second electrode, an impedance acquisition unit, a liquid volume adjustment unit, and a first control unit. The first electrode and a second electrode are configured to generate plasma to treat a living tissue by the application of a voltage. The impedance acquisition unit acquires impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode. The liquid volume adjustment unit adjusts the supply volume or suction volume of the electrically conductive solution. The first control unit controls the liquid volume adjustment unit to increase or decrease the supply volume or suction volume of the electrically conductive solution based on the impedance.

Abstract: To easily specify the position of a defect in a separator, a method for producing a separator original sheet (12b) includes the steps of: forming a separator original sheet (12b) including a separator original sheet (12c) and a heat-resistant layer coated on the separator original sheet (12c); detecting a defect (D) in the separator original sheet (12b); and recording information including information on a position of the defect (D) which position is a position in the width direction of the separator original sheet (12b).

Abstract: A negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including negative electrode active material particles containing a silicon compound (SiOx where 0.5?x?1.6), the negative electrode active material particles being coated with a carbon coating composed of a substance at least partially containing carbon, the carbon coating having a density ranging from 1.2 g/cm3 to 1.9 g/cm3, the negative electrode active material particles having a characteristic of type II or type III adsorption-desorption isotherm in the IUPAC classification, as obtained by adsorption-desorption isotherm measurement with nitrogen gas. This negative electrode active material can increase the battery capacity and improve the cycle performance and battery initial efficiency.

Abstract: A roll member having an outer circumferential surface in which a plurality of grooves are formed, wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged at an angle relative to a direction parallel to a central axis of the roll member. A coating device for coating a film member with a coating liquid, the coating device comprising the roll member. A separator production device for producing a separator in which a heat-resistant layer is laminated over a substrate. The separator production device comprising the coating device. A secondary battery production device for producing a secondary battery comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a pair of separators that sandwich the positive electrode plate or the negative electrode plate therebetween. The secondary battery production device comprising the separator production device.

Abstract: To prevent adherence of foreign matter such as wear powder to a film, an expander device (21) includes: an expander roller (22) configured to apply a tension to a film (F) in the width direction of the film (F); and a sucking section (26) configured to suck foreign matter into the expander roller (22) through a sucking port provided at an outer peripheral surface of the expander roller (22).

Abstract: To prevent wear powder from adhering to a film, an expander roller (21) is used that extends in the width direction of a porous film (F) and that is configured to apply a tension to the porous film (F) in the width direction, and foreign matter adhering to the expander roller (21) is removed from a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the expander roller (21) at which portion the expander roller (21) is in no contact with the porous film (F).

Abstract: Provided is a multi-layered porous film which includes a functional layer having a controlled thickness in a length-wise direction thereof and which is suitable as a separator for batteries. The multi-layered porous film includes a base film, and a functional layer containing both an inorganic filler and a binder resin, the functional layer being formed on the base film, wherein a difference between a maximum basis weight and a minimum basis weight of the multi-layered porous film in a length-wise direction thereof is equal to or smaller than 2 grams/m2, the basis weight being measured every 100 meters interval. The separator fabricated by cutting a film roll comprised of a multi-layered porous film into pieces each having a given length has small lot-based fluctuation in quality, and makes it possible to fabricate a battery having a small fluctuation in quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a laminated porous film comprising a porous film substrate and a heat-resistant layer. The method comprises forming a heat-resistant layer mainly comprising a filler on the surface of the porous film substrate by applying a coating slurry comprising a solvent, a binder resin and the filler to the surface of the porous film substrate and then removing the solvent, wherein the coating slurry is prepared so as to have a contact angle of 75° or more with an untreated porous film substrate, and the method comprises conducting surface treatment of a porous film substrate so that the contact angle of the coating slurry with the porous film substrate can be 65° or less before applying the coating slurry to the surface of the porous film substrate.