Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode characterized in that the electrode consists mainly of a mixture of a first hydrogen absorbing alloy powder A formed on surfaces of particles thereof with a surface layer 22 containing metallic copper or a copper oxide and a second hydrogen absorbing alloy powder B formed on surfaces of particles thereof with a surface layer 24 containing metallic cobalt or a cobalt oxide. The copper-coated hydrogen absorbing alloy powder A affords improved electric conductivity, and the cobalt-coated hydrogen absorbing alloy powder B gives improved ability to absorb and desorb hydrogen, whereby the electrode is improved in different battery characteristics, such as cycle characteristics, high-rate discharge characteristics and infernal pressure characteristics, at the same time.

Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of electrically connected unit cells fixed in a container. A buffer member is provided at the void between the inner wall of the container and the unit cell. By virtue of the buffer member in the battery module formed of a heat conductive elastic body, the requirement of vibration resistance can be met by the buffer member while the heat generated by the unit cell can be easily discharged via the buffer member. Thus, a battery module suppressed in degradation of the performance of the unit cell caused by heat can be provided.

Abstract: A sealed alkaline-zinc storage battery includes a battery can, a hollow positive electrode disposed within the battery can in electrical contact therewith and containing a positive active material including nickle hydroxide, a negative electrode disposed inwardly of the positive electrode and containing a negative active material including zinc, a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a negative current collector inserted into the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte filled in the battery can and impregnated into the positive electrode, negative electrode and separator. The positive electrode, negative electrode, separator, negative current collector and electrolyte together account for at least 75% of an internal volume of the battery can. The alkaline electrolyte is in the 30 to 45 mass % concentration range and has a total water content in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 g for each theoretical capacity of the negative electrode expressed as 1 Ah (ampere-hour).

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery according to the present invention comprises:

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy electrode for a battery is made of a hydrogen storage alloy powder which includes agglomerates of hydrogen storage alloy particles joined together through a metallic layer. A method of making the electrode includes forming agglomerates of hydrogen storage alloy particles joined together by a metallic layer which covers surface portions of the particles, and then forming the electrode using a resulting powder including the agglomerates.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery having improved storage stability is disclosed. The battery includes a positive electrode; s negative electrode in which the active material is lithium or a compound capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium; and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing an organic solvent, at least 10 wt % of which is dioxolane, a solute and a storage stabilizing additive which is an oxygen acid ester, isoxazole, oxazole or oxazoline or a derivative thereof. The additive reduces the self-discharge rate of the battery during storage.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an effective hydrogen-absorbing alloy activation process which can enhance the electrochemical activity of a hydrogen-absorbing alloy and to provide a hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode which, when used in a battery, ensures an excellent initial inner pressure characteristic, low-temperature discharge characteristic, high-rate discharge characteristic and cycle characteristic. In accordance with the present invention, a hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode production process is provided which comprises an alloy activation treatment step of immersing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy in a strong acid treatment solution containing metal ions and, in the course of the pH rise of the acid treatment solution, adding an alkali to the acid treatment solution to promote the pH rise of the acid treatment solution.

Abstract: The opening to be sealed in a battery is sealed with an electrical insulating sealant S by placing an electrical insulating sealing material C, including a first sealing material A that is soften by heat applied for sealing and a second sealing material B that is more difficult to soften by the heat applied for sealing than the first sealing material A, and by heating and successively cooling the electrical insulating sealing material C. Thus, a sealed battery with few defectives such as a sealing failure and a short-circuit can be manufactured in a high yield rate.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode for an alkaline secondary battery. The electrode is prepared by adding a transition metal salt to a paste comprising a hydrogen-absorbing alloy powder and binder. The electrode improves charge-discharge cycle performance and high rate discharge capacity at low temperature of an alkaline secondary battery.

Abstract: The invention provides a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode obtained by the step P1 of preparing a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder containing cobalt and nickel, the step P2 of subjecting the surfaces of the alloy particles to a reduction treatment with high-temperature hydrogen by holding the powder in a high-temperature hydrogen atmosphere under the conditions of temperature, pressure and time sufficient to reduce oxides formed in a surface layer portion of each of the alloy particles, not melting the alloy particles and not permitting the alloy particles to absorb hydrogen, the step P3 of treating the resulting powder with an acid or alkali by immersing the powder in an acid or alkaline aqueous solution, followed by suction filtration, washing with water and drying, and the step P4 of applying the resulting power to an electrically conductive substrate and shaping the substrate in the form of the electrode. The electrode thus provided has higher activity than conventionally.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell having a rolled-up electrode unit housed in a cell can and comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode each formed by coating a surface of a striplike current collector with an electrode material. According to a first embodiment, the current collector of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a plurality of current collector pieces 42 arranged along one direction and a PTC element 5 interconnecting each pair of adjacent current collector pieces 42. Alternatively with a second embodiment, at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises a PTC element held between opposed faces of an uncoated portion of the current collector thereof and a base end portion of a current collector tab. The PTC element serves to prevent continuous occurrence of a current in excess of a predetermined value and realizes a high energy density.

Abstract: A sealed alkaline storage battery using, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide including Mn as a solid-solution element and having a &ggr; ratio of 65 through 100%; a sealed alkaline storage battery using, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide including as an additive or coated with a rare earth element and/or a rare earth compound in a ratio measured based on the rare earth element of 0.05 through 5 wt %; and a sealed alkaline storage battery including, as a positive electrode active material, nickel oxyhydroxide having a half-width of a peak in a lattice plane (003) in an X-ray diffraction pattern of 0.8° or more. The pressure within the battery is not largely increased for a long period of charge-discharge cycles, and hence, the electrolyte hardly leaks.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte lithium primary or secondary battery having improved storage property is disclosed. The battery includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode in which the active material is lithium, a lithium alloy or a compound capable of occluding and discharging lithium; and a nonaqueous electrolyte including a solvent containing at least 10 wt % of dioxolane or derivative of dioxolane and an electrolytic solute represented by LiN(CmF2m+1SO2)(CnF2n+1SO2) (where m is a natural number of 1 or greater, and n is a natural number of 2 or greater).

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode for an alkaline secondary battery. The electrode is made from a hydrogen-absorbing alloy containing nickel which has been treated with an acidic solution containing a chelating agent for nickel. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode has good activity and a nickel-hydrogen battery having the hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode as a negative electrode has a large high rate discharge capacity soon after being assembled, and inhibits an increase of internal pressure during discharge.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alkaline secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a zinc based negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte solution, wherein the positive electrode includes a central cavity for receiving the zinc based negative electrode, and the negative electrode includes a central cavity for holding the alkaline electrolyte solution. The battery is arranged such that the positive electrode presents a smaller capacity than the negative electrode at least in an initial charge/discharge period.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lithium battery is provided. The battery includes electrodes formed of a layer of an active material, the active material being capable of occluding and discharging lithium electrochemically, provided on the surface of a current collector, electrode external terminals for providing electricity to the outside of the battery, and an electrode tab joined at an end thereof to a surface of said current collector and at another end thereof to an electrode external terminal. The electrode tab has a roughened surface at the end joined to the current collector, and the roughened surface is welded to the surface of said current collector. The roughened surface is produced by chemical etching, abrasion by an abrasive, abrasion by ultrasonic waves or by blasting with an abrasive.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylindrical non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell according to the present invention comprises a first step of forming a lead-attaching area on which an active material layer is not formed, in a positive electrode wherein a positive electrode active material layer is formed on both sides of the positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode wherein a negative electrode active material layer is formed on both sides of the negative electrode current collector, and winding the positive electrode and the negative electrode with disposing a separator therebetween so that the lead-attaching areas are protruded from the edges of the separator, and a second step of disposing a lead at an end part of the lead-attaching area with interposing a metal plate having a multiplicity of holes, and thereafter laser-welding the lead and the metal plate and the lead-attaching area by applying a laser beam with a spot diameter larger than a hole diameter of the metal plate.

Abstract: The invention provides a sealed alkaline-zinc storage battery including a tubular positive electrode containing, as an active material, a material having reversibility in a charge-discharge reaction; a separator; a negative electrode disposed within the tubular positive electrode with the separator sandwiched therebetween; and an alkaline electrolyte, in which the positive electrode has a capacity smaller than a capacity of the negative electrode at least in initial charge-discharge cycles, and the amounts of an uncharged active material and zinc to be packed in the negative electrode in manufacture of the sealed alkaline-zinc storage battery are set so that a theoretical capacity P of the uncharged active material existing in the negative electrode can be 0.3 through 1.8 times as large as a battery capacity in a completely charged state in the initial charge-discharge cycles, and that a theoretical capacity Q of zinc existing in the negative electrode can be 0.6 through 2.

Abstract: A cell unit for use in fuel cells of the type using an electrode portion having an anode formed of a plate or film on one surface of an electrolyte and a cathode formed of a plate or film on the other surface. An anode side plate of the invention has stepped portions to form recesses which accommodate the electrode and provide an anode side chamber facing the anode. A cathode side plate having a cathode side chamber facing the cathode is also accommodated in the recessed portions of the anode side plate. A fuel supply manifold and a fuel discharge manifold can extend through the stepped portions. Use of such cell units reduces the number of seal members required between fuel or oxidant manifolds when cell units are stacked to form a fuel cell stack. Such reduction in seal members simplifies fabrication of the units and renders the cell unit easier to maintain and repair.