Abstract: The present invention relates to carbon nanotubes that are excellent in dispersibility and a process for producing the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes according to the present invention each comprise a wall that comprises a parallel portion and a narrowed portion having a tube outer diameter that is not more than 90% of a tube outer diameter of the parallel portion. Thus, the carbon nanotubes are readily dispersible owing to a high abundance ratio of easily-breaking portions.

Abstract: A graphite material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery is provided. A ratio Lc(112)/Lc(006) defined as a ratio of expansion of graphene sheets to sheet displacement ranges from 0.08 to 0.11, both inclusive. A crystallite size Lc(006) calculated from a wide-angle X-ray diffraction line ranges from 30 nm to 40 nm, both inclusive. An average particle size ranges from 3 ?m to 20 ?m, both inclusive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to carbon nanotubes that are excellent in dispersibility and a process for producing the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes according to the present invention each comprise a wall that comprises a parallel portion and a narrowed portion having a tube outer diameter that is not more than 90% of a tube outer diameter of the parallel portion. Thus, the carbon nanotubes are readily dispersible owing to a high abundance ratio of easily-breaking portions.

Abstract: This amorphous carbon material is used as a material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery. The material has a circularity of 0.7 to 0.9, both inclusive, a mean particle size of 1 ?m to 30 ?m, both inclusive, and a total content of transition metals of 700 ppm to 2500 ppm, both inclusive.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns graphite materials having lattice distortion for lithium-ion secondary battery negative electrode obtained by a manufacturing method comprising the steps of: pulverizing and classifying a raw coke composition obtained from a heavy-oil composition undergone coking by delayed coking process, the raw coke composition having a H/C atomic ratio that is a ratio of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C of 0.30 to 0.50 and having a micro-strength of 7 to 17 mass % to obtain powder of the raw coke composition; giving compressive stress and shear stress to the powder of the raw coke composition so that average circularity is 0.91 to 0.97 to obtain round powder; heating the round powder to obtain a carbonized composition; and graphitizing the carbonized composition.

Abstract: A method for producing an amorphous carbon material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery includes the steps of; pulverizing and classifying a raw coke composition obtained from a heavy-oil composition undergone coking by delayed coking process to obtain powder of the raw coke composition, the raw coke composition having a H/C atomic ratio that is a ratio of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C of 0.30 to 0.50 and having a micro-strength of 7 to 17 mass %; giving compressive stress and shear stress to the powder of the raw coke composition to obtain a carbonized composition precursor; and heating the carbonized composition precursor under an inert atmosphere at a temperature from 900° C. to 1,500° C. so that a size of a crystallite Lc(002) is in a range of 2 nm to 8 nm, the size being calculated from a (002) diffraction line obtained by X-ray wide-angle diffractometry.

Abstract: A graphite material for a negative electrode is provided which can suppress capacity degradation due to repeated charging and discharging cycles, storage in a charged state, and floating charging. A method of manufacturing a graphite material for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery is provided in which an atomic ratio H/C of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C in the raw coke composition is in a range of 0.30 to 0.50 and a microstrength of the raw coke composition is in a range of 7 wt % to 17 wt %.

Abstract: A graphite material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery is provided. A ratio Lc(112)/Lc(006) defined as a ratio of expansion of graphene sheets to sheet displacement ranges from 0.08 to 0.11, both inclusive. A crystallite size Lc(006) calculated from a wide-angle X-ray diffraction line ranges from 30 nm to 40 nm, both inclusive. An average particle size ranges from 3 ?m to 20 ?m, both inclusive.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spherical carbon material in the form of isotropic particles which undergoes a considerably less change in shape even after subjected to carbonization or graphitization, and has a good crystal growth property. The present invention relates to a raw coke spherical carbon material in which an average of a plane-direction sphericity and an elevation-direction sphericity of particles of the spherical carbon material as measured in plane and elevation directions of particles of the spherical carbon material, respectively, by observation using a scanning electron microscope is not less than 60%, and a shape retention rate of the spherical carbon material after being heated at 1200° C. for 5 hr and then at 2800° C.

Abstract: An amorphous carbon material for lithium-ion secondary battery negative electrode is capable of reducing capacity degradation due to repeated charge and discharge cycles, storage while being charged, or floating charge. A method for producing an amorphous carbon material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery includes the steps of: pulverizing and classifying a raw coke composition obtained from a heavy-oil composition undergone coking by delayed coking process to obtain powder of the raw coke composition, the raw coke composition having a H/C atomic ratio that is a ratio of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C of 0.30 to 0.50 and having a micro-strength of 7 to 17 mass %; giving compressive stress and shear stress to the powder of the raw coke composition to obtain a carbonized composition precursor; and heating the carbonized composition precursor under an inert atmosphere at a temperature from 900° C. to 1,500° C.

Abstract: A graphite material for a negative electrode is provided which can suppress capacity degradation due to repeated charging and discharging cycles, storage in a charged state, and floating charging. A method of manufacturing a graphite material for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery is provided in which an atomic ratio H/C of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C in the raw coke composition is in a range of 0.30 to 0.50 and a microstrength of the raw coke composition is in a range of 7 wt % to 17 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nickel-cobalt-manganese-based compound particles which have a volume-based average secondary particle diameter (D50) of 3.0 to 25.0 ?m, wherein the volume-based average secondary particle diameter (D50) and a half value width (W) of the peak in volume-based particle size distribution of secondary particles thereof satisfy the relational formula: W?0.4×D50, and can be produced by dropping a metal salt-containing solution and an alkali solution to an alkali solution at the same time, followed by subjecting the obtained reaction solution to neutralization and precipitation reaction. The nickel-cobalt-manganese-based compound particles according to the present invention have a uniform particle size, a less content of very fine particles, a high crystallinity and a large primary particle diameter, and therefore are useful as a precursor of a positive electrode active substance used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Abstract: An amorphous carbon material for lithium-ion secondary battery negative electrode is capable of reducing capacity degradation due to repeated charge and discharge cycles, storage while being charged, or floating charge. A method for producing an amorphous carbon material for a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery includes the steps of: pulverizing and classifying a raw coke composition obtained from a heavy-oil composition undergone coking by delayed coking process to obtain powder of the raw coke composition, the raw coke composition having a H/C atomic ratio that is a ratio of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C of 0.30 to 0.50 and having a micro-strength of 7 to 17 mass %; giving compressive stress and shear stress to the powder of the raw coke composition to obtain a carbonized composition precursor; and heating the carbonized composition precursor under an inert atmosphere at a temperature from 900° C. to 1,500° C.

Abstract: A graphite material for a negative electrode is provided which can suppress capacity degradation due to repeated charging and discharging cycles, storage in a charged state, and floating charging. A method of manufacturing a graphite material for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery is provided in which an atomic ratio H/C of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C in the raw coke composition is in a range of 0.30 to 0.50 and a microstrength of the raw coke composition is in a range of 7 wt % to 17 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nickel-cobalt-manganese-based compound particles which have a volume-based average secondary particle diameter (D50) of 3.0 to 25.0 ?m, wherein the volume-based average secondary particle diameter (D50) and a half value width (W) of the peak in volume-based particle size distribution of secondary particles thereof satisfy the relational formula: W?0.4×D50, and can be produced by dropping a metal salt-containing solution and an alkali solution to an alkali solution at the same time, followed by subjecting the obtained reaction solution to neutralization and precipitation reaction. The nickel-cobalt-manganese-based compound particles according to the present invention have a uniform particle size, a less content of very fine particles, a high crystallinity and a large primary particle diameter, and therefore are useful as a precursor of a positive electrode active substance used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Abstract: In gear shift control apparatus and method for an automatic transmission, a first frictional engagement element is, in turn, released, a second frictional engagement element is, in turn, engaged to perform the gear shift to another gear stage, a command hydraulic pressure to the second frictional engagement element is temporarily reduced when a parameter indicating a degree of progress of the gear shift detected during the gear shift to the other gear stage has reached to a predetermined value representing an inertia phase finish immediate prior region at a time of an inertia phase developed during a replacement gear shift, an reduction quantity of the command hydraulic pressure is set whenever a predetermined time has elapsed on a basis of the parameter detected whenever the predetermined time has elapsed in the inertia phase finish immediate prior region to progressively reduce the command hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A method of treatment or prophylaxis of diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia or metabolic syndrome includes administering an effective amount of a benzylamine derivative represented by Formula (I): wherein, R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R3 and R5 each independently represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.

Abstract: When a downshift is performed while a vehicle travels in a coasting state, a determination is made as to whether or not a fuel cut recovery will be performed. When a fuel cut recovery will be performed, an offset oil pressure is set and an initial oil pressure set after raising an oil pressure of an engagement side frictional engagement element to a pre-charge oil pressure is set at an oil pressure obtained by subtracting the offset oil pressure from a reference initial oil pressure.

Abstract: A method of treatment or prophylaxis of diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia or metabolic syndrome, includes administering an effective amount of a benzylamine derivative represented by Formula (I): wherein, R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R3 and R5 each independently represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R4 representa a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing lithium iron phosphate particles having an olivine type structure, comprising a first step of mixing an iron oxide or an iron oxide hydroxide as an iron raw material which comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, Mg, Al, Si, Cr, Mn and Ni in an amount of 0.1 to 2 mol % for each element based on Fe, and a carbon element C in an amount of 5 to 10 mol % based on Fe, and has a content of Fe2+ of not more than 40 mol % based on an amount of Fe and an average primary particle diameter of 5 to 300 nm, with a lithium raw material and a phosphorus raw material; a second step of controlling agglomerates diameter in the resulting mixture is 0.3 to 5.0 ?m; and a third step of sintering the mixture obtained in the second step in an inert gas or reducing gas atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of not more than 0.1% at a temperature of 250 to 750° C.