Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy which is excellent in stability in an aqueous solution and in mechanical pulverizability is disclosed.

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):

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;M1XM2YMn60   (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.

Abstract: There is provided a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery which comprises a negative electrode comprising a hydrogen-absorbing alloy represented by the following general formula (A), a positive electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte, and which meets the conditions represented by the formulas (1) and (2), (R1-xMgx)NiyAz   (A) wherein R is at least one element selected from rare earth elements (including yttrium), Ca, Zr and Ti, A is at least one element selected from Co, Mn, Fe, V, Cr, Nb, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, P and B, and x, y and z are atomic ratio individually defined as 0<x<1, 0≦z≦1.5, 2.5≦y+z<4.5, 3.2≦P≦5.0   (1) 0.9≦Q≦0.2P+0.7   (2) wherein P is a quantity (g) of the hydrogen-absorbing alloy per theoretical capacity 1 Ah of the positive electrode, and Q is a quantity (mL) of the alkaline electrolyte per theoretical capacity 1 Ah of the positive electrode.

Abstract: A nickel-hydrogen secondary battery having a negative electrode comprising a hydrogen-absorbing alloy containing magnesium, a rare earth element and nickel as essential elements, which is capable of suppressing the self-discharge being occurred under the condition of high temperature storage, or the like. This secondary battery comprises a negative electrode containing a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a separator comprising a non-woven fabric, and an alkaline electrolyte. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy is represented by (R1−xMgx)NiyAz (wherein R is at least one element selected from rare earth elements (including yttrium), Ca, Zr and Ti, A is at least one element selected from Co, Mn, Fe, V, Cr, Nb, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, P and B), and x, y and z are atomic ratio individually defined as 0<x<1, 0≦z≦1.5, 2.5≦y+z<4.5).

Abstract: There is provided a hydrogen-absorbing alloy which contains an alloy ingot manufactured by means of a casting or sintering method or a pulverized product of the alloy ingot, and the alloy ingot being represented by the following general formula (1),(Mg.sub.1-a-b R1.sub.a M1.sub.b)Ni.sub.z (1)wherein R1 is at least one element selected from rare earth elements (including Y), M1 is at least one element selected from elements having a larger electronegativity than that of Mg (excluding the elements of R1, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Ni), and a, b and z are respectively a number satisfying conditions 0.1.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.8, 0<b.ltoreq.0.9, 1-a-b>0, and 3.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.3.8.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing electrode containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy consisting mainly of AB.sub.3 type crystal-structure phase and represented by the following formula (I) is providedR(Ni.sub.1-x M.sub.x).sub.z (I)wherein R is at least one element selected from rare earth elements (including Y), M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, Cu, Si, Ag, In, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo and W, and x and z are respectively a number satisfying conditions 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.2, and 2.5<z<3.25.

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):Mg.sub.2 M1.sub.y (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.ltoreq.1.5.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy which comprises a first region comprising 50 to 75 mole % of Mg and not more than 50 mole % of Ni, and at least two regions selected from the group consisting of a second region comprising less than 50 mole % (including 0 mole %) of Mg and less than 75 mole % of Ni, a third region comprising not less than 75 mole % of Mg, and a fourth region comprising not less than 75 mole % of Ni.

Abstract: This invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode comprises a lithium-containing nickel oxide having a composition represented by Li.sub.1+x Ni.sub.1-x O.sub.u-y F.sub.y where the ranges of x, y and u meet the following equations (1) to (3):(y+0.05)/2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.(y+1)/3 (1)y>0 (2)1.9.ltoreq.u.ltoreq.2.1 (3).

Abstract: To generate electric energy to a load such as an electric car or the like, a fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel cell composed of a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode with an electrolytic layer interposed therebetween so as to continuously supply electric power to the load, a secondary cell for supplying a required quantity of electric energy to the load at least during the initial time until the generation of electric energy is started with the fuel cell and a shifting unit serving to shift the power source of electric energy to the load from the fuel cell main body to the secondary cell or from the secondary cell to the fuel cell. An electrolytic layer constituting the fuel cell is composed of a film of high molecular material having ionic conductivity, and the secondary cell is a secondary lithium cell consisting of a nonaqueous solution based material or a solid electrolyte based material as an electrolyte.

Abstract: To generate electric energy to a load such as an electric car or the like, a fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel cell composed of a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode with an electrolytic layer interposed therebetween so as to continuously supply electric power to the load, a secondary cell for supplying a required quantity of electric energy to the load at least during the initial time until the generation of electric energy is started with the fuel cell and a shifting unit serving to shift the power source of electric energy to the load from the fuel cell main body to the secondary cell or from the secondary cell to the fuel cell. An electrolytic layer constituting the fuel cell is composed of a film of high molecular material having ionic conductivity, and the secondary cell is a secondary lithium cell consisting of a nonaqueous solution based material or a solid electrolyte based material as an electrolyte.

Abstract: In a fuel cell comprising a stack having superposed a plurality of electromotive parts composed of a fuel electrode, an oxidizing electrode, and an electrolyte layer nipped by the two electrodes and using a liquid fuel as the fuel for the fuel cell, this invention contemplates forming a liquid fuel introducing path destined to be directly exposed to the liquid fuel on terminal surfaces of the component parts of the electromotive parts in a direction perpendicular to the flow of an oxidizing gas along at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the stack including the terminal surface of the fuel electrode and lying parallelly to the flow of the oxidizing gas and enabling the liquid fuel in the liquid fuel introducing path to be supplied to the fuel electrodes by a capillary attraction.

Abstract: In a fuel cell comprising a stack having superposed a plurality of electromotive parts composed of a fuel electrode, an oxidizing electrode, and an electrolyte layer nipped by the two electrodes and using a liquid fuel as the fuel for the fuel cell, this invention contemplates forming a liquid fuel introducing path destined to be directly exposed to the liquid fuel on terminal surfaces of the component parts of the electromotive parts in a direction perpendicular to the flow of an oxidizing gas along at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces of the stack including the terminal surface of the fuel electrode and lying parallelly to the flow of the oxidizing gas and enabling the liquid fuel in the liquid fuel introducing path to be supplied to the fuel electrodes by a capillary attraction.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorption alloy electrode is manufactured by a dry method in which a fluorine resin powder in an amount of 0.5 to 5.0%, based on the weight of the electrode, is with a hydrogen absorption alloy powder while applying a sufficient shearing force such that the fluorine resin powder is turned into an aggregate of monofilaments each having a diameter D of about 5 to 100 microns, a length L of about 100 to 500 microns, and an aspect ratio L/D of 10 to 100, so as to prepare a cotton-like mixture. The cotton-like mixture is placed on a conductive substrate acting as a current collector, and shaped by a roll pressing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogen storage alloy electrode prepared by integrating a mixture of a hydrogen storage alloy powder, an electrical conducting powder and a polymer binder with a current collector, characterized in that the polymer binder is composed of a polyacrylic acid salt and polytetrafluoroethylene as essential components, and that the hydrogen storage alloy powder is coated with polyacrylic acid salt, wherein the three-dimensional reticulate molecular chain of the polyacrylic acid salt itself is partially severed.

Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical cell a positive electrode, an alkaline electrolyte and a negative electrode made mainly of a hydrogen absorbing alloy containing a mixture of at least two rare earth elements including Ce whose content relative to the total amount of rare earth elements is less than 40 wt % and is preferably 0.1 wt % to 12 wt % or in the range 0.1-8 wt %, which gives still better capacity and life characteristics. Moreover, larger capacity characteristics can be obtained if the negative electrode contains a conductive powder preferably with an average particle diameter of 10 .mu.m or less as a subsidiary material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a sealed metal oxide-hydrogen storage cell, comprising the step of housing in a container a cathode containing a metal oxide as an active material, an anode containing a hydrogen storage alloy as the main component, a separator for separating the cathode and the anode, a pre-charging member, and an electrolyte solution consisting of an alkaline aqueous solution. The pre-charging member is electrically combined with the anode and consists of a metal having a less noble potential than the hydrogen electrode potential within the alkaline solution. A material containing said metal as the main component may also be used as the pre-charging member. The storage cell has a desired anode-cathode capacity balance and exhibits a long life.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetically sealed metalic oxide-hydrogen battery comprising a metallic oxide as a positive electrode active material and hydrogen as a negative electrode active material, characterized in that the negative electrode is composed of a hydrogen storage alloy represented by the formula:MNi.sub.5-(x+y) Mn.sub.x Al.sub.ywherein M is a mischmetal (Mm), a lanthanum element or a lanthanum-rich mischmetal (Lm); and x and y are values satisfying relations of 0<x<1, 0<y<1 and 0.2.ltoreq.x+y.ltoreq.1, respectively.An internal pressure of the battery in this invention does not increase even when a charge/discharge cycle has been carried out for a long period of time, and a discharge capacity can be maintained at a high level over a prolonged period. The battery of this invention is superior to the conventional metallic oxide-hydrogen battery and has a great industrial value.