Abstract: Provided are: a composite metal oxide with which it is possible to improve the performance of a sodium secondary battery; a process for producing the composite metal oxide; a positive active material which comprises the composite metal oxide; a positive electrode produced using the positive active material; and a sodium secondary battery including the positive electrode. The composite metal oxide is represented by the following formula: NaxFeyMn1-yO2. The composite metal oxide is constituted of an oxide having a P2 structure and a lamellar oxide, with some extent of stacking faults, having an octahedral structure and/or a triangular-prism structure. The lamellar oxide preferably is an oxide having an O3 structure.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode capable of maintaining superior capacity retention without destruction of an electrode structure, even in the case of using an active material including silicon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an active cathode material of the general formula (I): MxNiaM1bM2cOc (I) in which the variables are each defined as follows: M is an alkali metal, M1 is V, Cr, Mn, Fe or Co, M2 is Ge, Sn, Ti or Zr, x is in the range from 0.5 to 0.8, a is in the range from 0.1 to 0.4, b is in the range from 0.05 to 0.6, c is in the range from 0.05 to 0.6, wherein a+b+c=1. The present invention further relates to an electrode material comprising said active cathode material, to electrodes produced from or using said electrode material and to a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising at least one electrode. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing said active cathode material of the general formula (I).

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode that can be used for a sodium secondary battery having a larger discharge capacity when charging and discharging are performed repeatedly than that of the prior art. This sodium secondary battery electrode contains tin (Sn) powder as an electrode active material. The electrode, particularly, further contains one or more electrode-forming agents selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(sodium acrylate) (PAANa), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), thereby making it possible to provide a sodium secondary battery having even greater electrode performance.

Abstract: There are provided a battery electrode wherein an active material layer is formed on a collector surface, and the layer contains an active material and a block copolymer having a vinyl alcohol polymer block; and a lithium ion secondary battery having a laminate structure in which a pair of electrodes having an active material layer are disposed in such a manner that the active material layers face each other via a separator, and an electrolyte composition containing a lithium-containing electrolyte salt fills the gaps between the pair of electrodes and the separator, wherein at least one of the pair of electrodes is the above battery electrode. Thus, there can be provided a lithium ion secondary battery which can be easily produced and be less polarized, exhibiting excellent charge/discharge properties and cycle characteristics.

Abstract: Provided are: a composite metal oxide with which it is possible to improve the performance of a sodium secondary battery; a process for producing the composite metal oxide; a positive active material which comprises the composite metal oxide; a positive electrode produced using the positive active material; and a sodium secondary battery including the positive electrode. The composite metal oxide is represented by the following formula: NaxFeyMn1-yO2. The composite metal oxide is constituted of an oxide having a P2 structure and a lamellar oxide, with some extent of stacking faults, having an octahedral structure and/or a triangular-prism structure. The lamellar oxide preferably is an oxide having an O3 structure.

Abstract: An additive for a sodium ion secondary battery of the present invention includes a compound of at least one of a saturated cyclic carbonate having a fluoro group and a chain carbonate having a fluoro group. A sodium ion secondary battery (1) of the present invention includes: a non-aqueous electrolytic solution including the additive for a sodium ion secondary battery and a non-aqueous solvent containing a saturated cyclic carbonate or a non-aqueous solvent containing a saturated cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate; a positive electrode (11); and a negative electrode (12) that includes a coating formed in a surface of the negative electrode, the coating containing a composite material having carbon, oxygen, fluorine and sodium in the surface and includes a negative-electrode active material containing a hard carbon.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate generally to methods, compositions, articles, and devices associated with layer-by-layer assembly and/or functionalization of carbon-based nanostructures and related structures. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for forming an assembly of carbon-based nanostructures on a surface. The carbon-based nanostructure assembly may exhibit enhanced properties, such as improved arrangement of carbon-based nanostructures (e.g., carbon nanotubes) and/or enhanced electronic and/or ionic conductivity and/or other useful features. In some cases, improved properties may be observed due to the attachment of functional groups to the surfaces of carbon-based nanostructures. Using methods described herein, formation of carbon-based nanostructure assemblies may be controlled to produce structures with enhanced properties.