Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery with a spirally coiled electrode body (10) including a cathode (11) having a cathode active material and an anode (12) having an anode active material which are coiled through a separator (13) in a battery can (1). As the separator (13), is used a separator having a plurality of laminated microporous films made of polyolefin which have different film layer thickness and average pore size. Specially, the separator (13) has three or more layers of microporous films made of polyolefin laminated. Further, the outermost layer of the separator is made of porous polypropylene and at least one layer of inner layers is made of porous polyethylene. The total of the thickness of layers made of porous polyethylene is located within a range of 40% to 84% as thick as the thickness of the separator. Thus, the temperature of a battery can be controlled, a reliability is enhanced and a productivity and cyclic characteristics are improved.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for evaluating the safety of a battery under an internal short-circuit condition. The battery includes: an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes, which are wound or laminated; an electrolyte; a housing for housing the electrode group and the electrolyte; and a current-collecting terminal for electrically connecting the electrode group and the housing. The method of the invention includes: placing a foreign object at a location inside the electrode group of the battery where the positive electrode and the negative electrode face each other; and pressing the location by the pressure applied by a pressing tool to locally crush the insulating layer between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby causing an internal short-circuit.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which achieves satisfactory low temperature characteristics and high safety against overcharging in combination. The cell includes a lithium-containing cathode, an anode capable of doping and undoping lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. The separator is made up by a plurality of layers of a porous material or materials presenting micro-sized pores. The layers of the porous material or materials is formed of micro-porous separator materials representing different combinations of the porosity, melting point or material/compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for evaluating the safety of a battery under an internal short-circuit condition. The battery includes: an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrodes, which are wound or laminated; an electrolyte; a housing for housing the electrode group and the electrolyte; and a current-collecting terminal for electrically connecting the electrode group and the housing. The method of the invention includes: placing a foreign object at a location inside the electrode group of the battery where the positive electrode and the negative electrode face each other; and pressing the location by the pressure applied by a pressing tool to locally crush the insulating layer between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby causing an internal short-circuit.

Abstract: An electrolyte solution and a battery which are capable of improving cycle characteristics are provided. An anode includes a simple substance, an alloy or a compound of a metal element or a metalloid element capable of forming an alloy with lithium as an anode active material. A separator is impregnated with an electrolyte solution formed through dissolving an electrolyte salt in a solvent. The electrolyte salt includes a first electrolyte salt including LiB(C2O4)2 and a second electrolyte salt including at least one kind selected from the group consisting of LiPF6, LiBF4, LiN(CF3SO2)2, LiN(C2F5SO2)2, LiClO4, LiAsF6 and LiC(CF3SO2)3. In the solvent, 4-fluoroethylene carbonate is included. A coating is formed on the anode by the first electrolyte salt, and high ionic conductivity can be obtained by the second electrolyte salt. Further an oxidation-decomposition reaction of the electrolyte solution which occurs in a cathode can be prevented by 4-fluoroethylene carbonate.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: The present invention enables to obtain both of a cycle characteristic and a high load characteristic. The present invention discloses a positive electrode active material containing lithium composite manganese oxide having a spinel structure for a non-aqueous electrolyte cell and a non-aqueous electrolyte cell using this material. The lithium composite manganese oxide having spinel structure has its primary particle diameter not less than 0.05 ?m and not greater than 10 ?m, forming an aggregate, and a specific surface measured by the BET method in a range not less than 0.2 m2/g and not greater than 2 m2/g.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative-electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode further includes carbon fibers and carbon flakes. The synergistic effects of the improved retention of the electrolyte solution by the carbon fibers and the improved conductivity between the active material particles by the carbon flakes facilitate doping/undoping of lithium in a high-load current mode and increase the capacity of the battery in the high-load current mode.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative-electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode further includes carbon fibers and carbon flakes. The synergistic effects of the improved retention of the electrolyte solution by the carbon fibers and the improved conductivity between the active material particles by the carbon flakes facilitate doping/undoping of lithium in a high-load current mode and increase the capacity of the battery in the high-load current mode.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative-electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode further includes carbon fibers and carbon flakes. The synergistic effects of the improved retention of the electrolyte solution by the carbon fibers and the improved conductivity between the active material particles by the carbon flakes facilitate doping/undoping of lithium in a high-load current mode and increase the capacity of the battery in the high-load current mode.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which achieves satisfactory low temperature characteristics and high safety against overcharging in combination. The cell includes a lithium-containing cathode, an anode capable of doping and undoping lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. The separator is made up by a plurality of layers of a porous material or materials presenting micro-sized pores. The layers of the porous material or materials is formed of micro-porous separator materials representing different combinations of the porosity, melting point or material/compositions.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which achieves satisfactory low temperature characteristics and high safety against overcharging in combination. The cell includes a lithium-containing cathode, an anode capable of doping and undoping lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. The separator is made up by a plurality of layers of a porous material or materials presenting micro-sized pores. The layers of the porous material or materials is formed of micro-porous separator materials representing different combinations of the porosity, melting point or material/compositions.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including anode and cathode consisting of material capable of doping/undoping of lithium, and non-aqueous electrolytic solution in which electrolyte is dissolved in non-aqueous solvent, flaky graphite having high crystallinity and high electron conductivity is added as conductive agent into the anode and the cathode. Further, granulated carbon or carbon black having specific material property is added as conductive agent in addition to the flaky graphite. Thus, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having long cycle life time and high reliability can be obtained.

Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an excellent preservation characteristic at a high temperature and charging/discharging cycle characteristic. A rolled body in which a strip-shape positive electrode and negative electrode are rolled with a separator in-between is provided inside a battery can. The positive electrode contains LixMn2?yMayO4 (where, Ma is at least one element selected from the group consisting of metal elements other than Mn, and B) and LiNi1?zMbzO2 (where, Mb is at least one element selected from the group consisting of metal elements other than Ni, and B). By replacing part of Mn and Ni with other elements, the crystal structure can be stabilized. Thereby, the capacity retention ratio after preservation at a high temperature, and a heavy load discharging power under a high electric potential cutoff can be improved.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a cathode having a cathode active material capable of electrochemically doping/dedoping lithium, an anode having an anode active material capable of electrochemically doping/dedoping lithium and a nonaqueous electrolyte interposed between the cathode and the anode. The nonaqueous electrolyte includes at least one or more kinds of vinylene carbonate, methoxybenzene compounds or antioxidants. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a good cyclic characteristic under any environment of low temperature, ambient temperature and high temperature.

Abstract: An electrolyte solution and a battery which are capable of improving cycle characteristics are provided. An anode includes a simple substance, an alloy or a compound of a metal element or a metalloid element capable of forming an alloy with lithium as an anode active material. A separator is impregnated with an electrolyte solution formed through dissolving an electrolyte salt in a solvent. The electrolyte salt includes a first electrolyte salt including LiB(C2O4)2 and a second electrolyte salt including at least one kind selected from the group consisting of LiPF6, LiBF4, LiN(CF3SO2)2, LiN(C2F5SO2)2, LiClO4, LiAsF6 and LiC(CF3SO2)3. In the solvent, 4-fluoroethylene carbonate is included. A coating is formed on the anode by the first electrolyte salt, and high ionic conductivity can be obtained by the second electrolyte salt. Further an oxidation-decomposition reaction of the electrolyte solution which occurs in a cathode can be prevented by 4-fluoroethylene carbonate.

Abstract: A trade-in battery system for purchasing used secondary batteries and selling the charged used secondary batteries, wherein the trade-in battery system comprises a purchasing step, a pre-storage deterioration inspection step, a charging step, a storage step, a packaging step, and a selling step.