Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a sealing unit including a conductive support plate, wherein the conductive support plate contains at least one kind of a conductive material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy and a composite metallic material, each of the metal, the alloy and the composite metallic material has a modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) at 25° C. that falls within a range from 1×1011 Pa to 3.27×1011 Pa, and the conductive support plate has an area resistance value RS at 20° C. falling within a range from 0.032 (??·cm2) to 1.24 (??·cm2).

Abstract: There is proposed a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode assembly which is impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, wherein the battery can be made thin while maintaining improved capacity, large-current characteristics and cycle life. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The production process of the battery comprises steps of preparing an electrode assembly by interposing a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, impregnating the electrode assembly with an organic solvent which can dissolve the binder of the positive- and/or negative electrodes, bonding the positive electrode and the separator together and bonding the negative electrode and the separator together by drying the electrode assembly, and impregnating the electrode assembly with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a battery pack comprising an outer case, and a plurality of cylindrical lithium ion secondary batteries accommodated in the outer case in vertical N rows and lateral M rows (N rows?M rows), with a gap between the secondary batteries, wherein the outer case has a draft port opened in a first wall facing an outer circumferential surface of the secondary batteries in the first vertical row, and an exhaust port opened in a second wall positioned at the opposite side of the first wall, in each secondary battery in the first vertical row and the second vertical row, a part of the outer circumferential surface, which is at a shorter distance from the first wall than any other parts, faces the draft port of the outer case.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode active material containing a composite oxide having a composition represented by a structural formula (1) given below: Lix(Ni1-yMe1y)(O2-zXz)+A??(1)

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy which is excellent in stability in an aqueous solution and in mechanical pulverizability is disclosed. This hydrogen-absorbing alloy contains an alloy represented by the following general formula (I): Mg2M1y  (I) wherein M1 is at least one element selected (excluding Mg, elements which are capable of causing an exothermic reaction with hydrogen, Al and B) from elements which are incapable of causing an exothermic reaction with hydrogen; and y is defined as 1<y≦1.5.

Abstract: There is provided a hydrogen-absorbing alloy comprising, as a principal phase, at least one kind of phase selected from the group consisting of a first phase having a hexagonal crystal system (excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type crystal structure) and a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal system, the hydrogen-absorbing alloy having a composition represented by the following general formula (1): R1-a-bMgaTbNiZ-X-Y-&agr;M1XM2YMn&agr;  (1) wherein R is at least one kind of element selected from rare earth elements (which include Y), T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zr and Hf, M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co and Fe, M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, B, Nb, W, Mo, V, Cr, Ta, Li, P and S, and the atomic ratios of a, b, X, Y, &agr; and Z are respectively a number satisfying the conditions of: 0.15≦a≦0.37, 0≦b≦0.3, 0≦X≦1.3, 0≦Y≦0.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy which is excellent in stability in an aqueous solution and in mechanical pulverizability is disclosed. This hydrogen-absorbing alloy contains an alloy represented by the following general formula (I): Mg2M1y  (I) wherein M1 is at least one element selected (excluding Mg, elements which are capable of causing an exothermic reaction with hydrogen, Al and B) from elements which are incapable of causing an exothermic reaction with hydrogen; and y is defined as 1<y≦1.5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery pack electrically connected to an AC/DC conversion circuit board comprising an exothermic element, comprising an outer case including a wall portion having an outside that faces the AC/DC conversion circuit board, a combination battery of lithium ion secondary cells provided in the outer case and a battery control circuit board provided in the outer case, between the wall portion and the combination battery.

Abstract: A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is provided with a battery pack that generates heat and is capable of efficiently cooling the battery pack. The battery pack of the battery-powered vacuum cleaner is cooled by a vacuum cleaner cooling method.

Abstract: The invention provides a battery pack comprising an outer case, and a plurality of cylindrical lithium ion secondary batteries accommodated in the outer case in vertical N rows and lateral M rows (N rows≦M rows), with a gap between the secondary batteries, wherein the outer case has a draft port opened in a first wall facing an outer circumferential surface of the secondary batteries in the first vertical row, and an exhaust port opened in a second wall positioned at the opposite side of the first wall, in each secondary battery in the first vertical row and the second vertical row, a part of the outer circumferential surface, which is at a shorter distance from the first wall than any other parts, faces the draft port of the outer case.

Abstract: There is provided a secondary battery comprising an electrode group comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode having a negative electrode collector and a negative electrode layer held to the collector, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode layer, a nonaqueous electrolyte held by the electrode group, and a jacket housing the electrode group and having a thickness of not more than 0.3 mm, wherein the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator are formed integral, and the peeling strength between the negative electrode layer and the separator is lower than the peeling strength between the negative electrode layer and the negative electrode collector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a material for absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode group and including a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, and a jacket for housing the electrode group and having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, wherein the nonaqueous solvent &ggr;-butyrolactone in an amount larger than 50% by volume and not larger than 95% by volume based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen absorbing alloy containing as a principal phase at least one phase selected from the group consisting of a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal structure and a first phase having a crystal structure of a hexagonal system excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type structure, wherein a content of a phase having a crystal structure of AB2 type is not higher than 10% by volume including 0% by volume and the hydrogen absorbing alloy has a composition represented by general formula (1) given below:

Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a porous separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the pores of the porous separator being closed when heated, a nonaqueous electrolyte held by the porous separator, and a jacket formed of a sheet including a thermoplastic resin layer forming at least a portion of the inner surface, having the electrode group housed therein, and having mutually facing regions of the thermoplastic resin layer heat-sealed to each other to seal the electrode group therein, wherein the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator are made integral, and the thermoplastic resin layer has a melting point higher than a pore-closing initiating temperature of the porous separator at which the pores of the separator begin to be closed.

Abstract: There is proposed a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode assembly which is impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, wherein the battery can be made thin while maintaining improved capacity, large-current characteristics and cycle life.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a sealing unit including a conductive support plate, wherein the conductive support plate contains at least one kind of a conductive material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy and a composite metallic material, each of the metal, the alloy and the composite metallic material has a modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) at 25° C. that falls within a range from 1×1011 Pa to 3.27×1011 Pa, and the conductive support plate has an area resistance value RS at 20° C. falling within a range from 0.032 (&mgr;&OHgr;·cm2) to 1.24 (&mgr;&OHgr;·cm2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a material for absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode group and including a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, and a jacket for housing the electrode group and having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, wherein the nonaqueous solvent &ggr;-butyrolactone in an amount larger than 50% by volume and not larger than 95% by volume based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode active material containing a composite oxide having a composition represented by a structural formula (1) given below:

Abstract: This invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including an electrode group comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator for separating the positive and negative electrodes from each other, a jacket for housing the electrode group, and a nonaqueous electrolyte with which the electrode group is impregnated. The separator contains a porous sheet whose air permeability is 600 sec/100 cm3 or less. The positive electrode and the separator are adhered to each other by adhesive polymers that are held in voids of the positive electrode and those of the separator, and the negative electrode and the separator are adhered to each other by adhesive polymers that are held in voids of the negative electrode and those of the separator.

Abstract: There is proposed a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode assembly which is impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, wherein the battery can be made thin while maintaining improved capacity, large-current characteristics and cycle life. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The production process of the battery comprises steps of preparing an electrode assembly by interposing a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, impregnating the electrode assembly with an organic solvent which can dissolve the binder of the positive- and/or negative electrodes, bonding the positive electrode and the separator together and bonding the negative electrode and the separator together by drying the electrode assembly, and impregnating the electrode assembly with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution.