Abstract: When the composite particle containing Si or Sn is used for the negative electrode, the ratio of the median diameter “Dc” of the conductive material to the median diameter “Da” of the negative electrode material (Dc/Da) is made from 0.02 to 0.5 in order to improve reduction in electron conductivity, which is attributed to fine division of the particles due to repeated charge/discharge.

Abstract: A high capacity negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which has low declining rate in discharge capacity caused by charge/discharge cycles by improving the electronic conductivity on the surface of the particles of the negative electrode material. The negative electrode material is formed by coating part of or the entire surface of solid phase A comprising a nucleus particle with the solid phase B. The solid phase A contains silicon as a constituent element. The solid phase B is composed of a solid solution or intermetallic compounds composed of silicon and at least one another element selected from a group comprising of group 2 elements, transition elements, group 12 elements, group 13 elements and group 14 elements (exclusive of carbon and silicon) of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: 100 parts by weight of a carbon material having irreversible capacity and 20 to 150 parts by weight of a lithium-containing complex nitride represented by the general formula Li3-XMXN wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Mn and Cu, and wherein 0.2≦X≦0.8, are included in a negative electrode thereby to compensate for the irreversible capacity of the carbon material by the above-described nitride. This enables the maximum utilization of large capacity possessed by an amorphous carbon or low crystalline carbon, thereby making it possible to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high capacity and excellent cycle reversibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative electrode material for a non-aqueous lithium secondary battery comprising a metal material M consisting of solid phases A and B, a graphite material, and a carbonaceous material having a crystallinity lower than that of said graphite material, wherein said metal material M has a structure in which a part or all of the surface of a core particle consisting of said solid phase A is covered with said solid phase B; said solid phase A contains at least silicon as a constitutive element; and said solid phase B is a solid solution or an intermetallic compound of silicon and a specific element.

Abstract: A lithium-containing composite nitride with an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal added thereto is used as the negative electrode active material, or used as surface layers of core particles of a lithium-containing composite nitride, to provide a negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with large capacity and high reliability improved in oxidation and decomposition resistance property and thus capacity recovery property after overdischarge.

Abstract: Using a graphite material capable of intercalating and de-intercalating lithium ions as the anode, the peak intensity ratio R(=I(110)/I(004)) corresponding to lattice planes (110) and (004) of graphite material obtained by wide angle X-ray diffraction measurement of this anode is in a range of 0.05 to 0.5. Hence, edges of graphite crystals exist adequately on the electrode surface at the interface to the electrolyte, and therefore intercalation of lithium proceeds smoothly, polarization at the time of charging and discharging is suppressed, and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery excellent in high rate discharging characteristic is obtained. The obtained battery is small in deterioration if charging and discharging are repeated.