Abstract: A separator carries lithium particles on its surface. Using the separator, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high initial efficiency and improved cycle retentivity is available.

Abstract: A method for producing a SiOx (x<1) is provided. The SiOx produced is adapted for use as an anode material in producing a lithium ion secondary battery having a large capacity which does not experience degradation with repeated cycles of use, and which has low irreversible capacity in the initial charge and discharge. The method for producing a SiOx (x<1) comprises the steps of heating a starting material which generates a silicon oxide gas to a temperature in the range of 1,100 to 1,600° C. in the presence of an inert gas or under a reduced pressure to produce the silicon oxide gas, while heating is metal silicon to a temperature in the range of 1,800 to 2,400° C. in the presence of an inert gas or under a reduced pressure to generate silicon gas, and precipitating the gas mixture of the silicon oxide gas and the metal silicon gas on a surface of a substrate.

Abstract: An efficient method for producing a silicon oxide powder at a low cost is provided. This method comprises the steps of heating a powder mixture of a silicon dioxide powder and a metal silicon powder to a temperature of 1,100 to 1,450° C. in an inert gas or under reduced pressure to generate silicon monoxide gas, and precipitating the silicon monoxide gas on a surface of a substrate to produce the silicon oxide powder, and in this method, the silicon dioxide powder has an average particle diameter of up to 1 ?m, and the metal silicon powder has an average particle diameter of 30 ?m.

Abstract: Organohalosilanes are prepared by reacting metallic silicon particles with an organohalide in the presence of a copper catalyst. A contact mass composed of metallic silicon and copper catalyst contains an effective amount of a catalyst powder obtained by mechanical surface treatment of a powder mixture of tin powder and another metal, typically copper powder, on a ball mill, stamp mill, jet mill, mechanofusion device or the like.

Abstract: A SiCO—Li composite is prepared by causing a reactive silane and/or siloxane having crosslinkable groups to crosslink, sintering the crosslinked product into an inorganic Si—C—O composite, and doping the Si—C—O composite with lithium. When the SiCO—Li composite is used as a negative electrode, a lithium ion secondary cell exhibits good cycle performance, unique discharge characteristics and improved initial efficiency.

Abstract: A silicon-silicon oxide-lithium composite comprises a silicon-silicon oxide composite having such a structure that silicon grains having a size of 0.5-50 nm are dispersed in silicon oxide, the silicon-silicon oxide composite being doped with lithium. Using the silicon-silicon oxide-lithium composite as a negative electrode material, a lithium ion secondary cell having a high initial efficiency and improved cycle performance can be constructed.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolytic solution is provided comprising a non-aqueous solvent, an electrolyte salt, and a siloxane-modified polyoxyalkylene compound having (poly)organosiloxane structures at both ends of polyoxyalkylene. A secondary battery using the same has improved temperature characteristics and high-output characteristics.

Abstract: A carbonate-modified silane or siloxane is combined with a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte salt to form a non-aqueous electrolytic solution, which is used to construct a secondary battery having improved charge/discharge characteristics.

Abstract: A polyoxyalkylene-modified silane is combined with a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte salt to form a non-aqueous electrolytic solution, which is used to construct a secondary battery having improved temperature and high-output characteristics.

Abstract: Organohalosilanes are prepared by reacting metallic silicon particles with an organohalide in the presence of a copper catalyst. A contact mass composed of the metallic silicon and the copper catalyst contains an effective amount of a catalyst alloy containing 0.2–8 wt % of tin and 4–20 wt % of phosphorus which is powdered by atomization.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolytic solution is provided comprising a non-aqueous solvent, an electrolyte salt, and a siloxane-modified polyoxyalkylene compound having (poly)organosiloxane structures at both ends of polyoxyalkylene. A secondary battery using the same has improved temperature characteristics and high-output characteristics.

Abstract: A conductive silicon composite in which particles of the structure that silicon crystallites are dispersed in silicon dioxide are coated on their surfaces with carbon affords satisfactory cycle performance when used as the negative electrode material in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell.

Abstract: A cyclic carbonate-modified silane or siloxane is combined with a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte salt to form a non-aqueous electrolytic solution, which is used to construct a secondary battery having improved temperature and high-output characteristics.

Abstract: Organohalosilanes are prepared by charging a reactor with a contact mass comprising metallic silicon and a catalyst and feeding an organohalide-containing gas to the reactor. The contact mass is prepared by premixing metallic silicon and a tin compound and heat treating the premix at 300-600° C. in an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A metallic silicon powder is prepared by effecting chemical reduction on silica stone, metallurgical refinement, and metallurgical and/or chemical purification to reduce the content of impurities. The powder is best suited as a negative electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells, affording better cycle performance.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolytic solution is provided comprising a non-aqueous solvent, an electrolyte salt, and a siloxane modified with ether bond-bearing organic group. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the same has improved characteristics both at low temperatures and at high outputs.

Abstract: A Si—C—O composite powder is obtained by curing a reactive silane or siloxane having crosslinkable groups through heat curing or catalytic reaction into a crosslinked product and sintering the crosslinked product in an inert gas stream at a temperature of 700-1,400° C. into an inorganic state. It exhibits satisfactory cycle performance when used as the negative electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells.

Abstract: In a Rochow process, organohalosilanes are prepared by reacting metallic silicon particles with an organohalide in the presence of a copper catalyst and a co-catalyst. The invention uses as the co-catalyst a powder of co-catalyst active element-copper alloy containing substantial strain energy because this co-catalyst can reduce the activation time taken until a steady state is reached, which has been an outstanding problem in Rochow reaction, maintain the steady state over time and increase the selectivity of desired diorganodihalosilane for eventually increasing the yield based on the starting silicon.

Abstract: A silicon composite comprises silicon particles whose surface is at least partially coated with a silicon carbide layer. It is prepared by subjecting a silicon powder to thermal CVD with an organic hydrocarbon gas and/or vapor at 900-1,400° C., and heating the powder for removing an excess free carbon layer from the surface through oxidative decomposition.

Abstract: Silicon composite particles are prepared by sintering primary fine particles of silicon, silicon alloy or silicon oxide together with an organosilicon compound. Sintering of the organosilicon compound results in a silicon-base inorganic compound which serves as a binder. Each particle has the structure that silicon or silicon alloy fine particles are dispersed in the silicon-base inorganic compound binder, and voids are present within the particle.