Abstract: A detecting method for detecting an internal state of an inspective rechargeable battery (Ba), said internal state including a deterioration state, an electricity storable capacity, a remaining capacity, and an internal resistance of said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba), comprising: (1) a step in which basic data (BD) of characteristics of a normal non-deteriorated rechargeable battery (Bn) as a reference rechargeable battery for said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba) are provided; and (2) a step in which for said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba), a voltage value or/and a current value thereof are measured, and the measured result is compared with said basic data (BD) obtained in said step (1) to judge whether or not said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba) is of a deterioration mode and to detect the internal state thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing fullerenes, characterized in that said method includes a step (a) of contacting an aromatic compound-containing starting material with a supercritical fluid or a subcritical fluid in the presence of a transition metal element-containing catalyst at a temperature in a range of from 350 to 800° C. and at a pressure in a range of from 3 to 50 MPa. Said supercritical fluid or said subcritical fluid is formed from one or more kinds of materials selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound as said starting material, a solvent for said aromatic compound, a solvent for said catalyst, water, dinitrogen monoxide, and ammonia.

Abstract: A metal oxide of porous structure intercalating or deintercalating lithium ions by the electrochemical reaction, characterized by being provided with regularly ordered pores.

Abstract: A secondary cell having a long cycle lifetime and a superior charge and discharge performance is provided with an electrode having a collector having a metal matrix 301 having micropores 302 with an average diameter not larger than 3 microns. The micropores 302 is formed by utilizing reduction reaction of a metal.

Abstract: A method for producing fullerenes, characterized in that said method includes a step (a) of contacting an aromatic compound-containing starting material with a supercritical fluid or a subcritical fluid at a temperature in a range of from 31° C. to 500° C. and at a pressure in a range of from 3.8 MPa to 60 MPa. Said supercritical fluid or said subcritical fluid is formed from one or more kinds of materials selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound as said starting material, a solvent capable of dissolving said aromatic compound, water, dinitrogen monoxide, and ammonia.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising at least a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte, and utilizing oxidizing and reducing reactions of lithium ions for charging and discharging, wherein an electrode having an active material which has at least an amorphous phase and a half value width not smaller than 0.48 degrees of a peak having a highest diffraction intensity at 2&thgr; on an X-ray diffractometric chart traced at a diffraction intensity at an X-ray diffraction angle of 2&thgr;, and is made of a material which has an amorphous phase and contains at least one element selected from among cobalt, nickel, manganese and iron is used as the negative electrode and/or the positive electrode.

Abstract: A detecting method for detecting internal information of an inspective rechargeable battery when said inspective rechargeable battery is charged by a constant current-constant voltage charging regime, comprising at least a step (A) of measuring an elapse of time (t) from the time when a constant current charging mode at a constant current value I0 is shifted to a constant voltage charging mode at a constant voltage Vmax and measuring a charge current value I in the constant voltage charging mode, a step (B) of obtaining a period of time from said shift time to the constant voltage charging in the constant voltage charging mode until the time when said charge current value I0 in the constant voltage charging mode reaches a given current value IM, and a step (C) of obtaining an electricity quantity charged in the constant voltage charging mode with respect to the inspective rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery having an anode comprising a powdery composite material, said powdery composite material comprising a plurality of powdery composites having a structure comprising a core whose surface is covered by a coat layer, said core comprising an alloy particle of an alloy capable of reversibly storing and releasing hydrogen as a main component, said alloy containing at least one kind of a metal element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti and V as a main constituent element, and said coat layer comprising a hydrous oxide (including a hydroxide) of a metal element having an affinity with oxygen which is greater than that of any of said metal elements as the main constituent element of said alloy.

Abstract: In Lithium secondary cells, alkali secondary cells and bromine-zinc secondary batteries capable of retarding the growth of a dendrite, which would occur at the time of charging thereof and result in performance degradation, and having high energy densities and long cycle lives, a method for forming a material of a negative electrode of such a secondary cell or battery and a method for handling the material of the negative electrode are provided. The secondary cell or battery is provided with positive and negative electrodes separated from each other by a separator in an electrolyte contained in a case. The negative electrode is made of metallic powder alloyed with at least an amphoteric metal which reacts with both of an acid and an alkali.

Abstract: An alkali rechargeable battery having an anode principally comprising a magnesium-nickel alloy capable of storing hydrogen therein and releasing said hydrogen stored therein in electrochemical reaction, wherein said magnesium-nickel alloy constituting said anode has a surface having a coat layer provided thereon, and said coat layer comprises an insulating material which is not dissolved in an electrolyte solution comprising an aqueous alkali solution used in said rechargeable battery, which restrains a reaction which cases a magnesium hydroxide when said magnesium-nickel alloy contacts with said electrolyte solution, and which allows hydrogen or hydrogen ion to pass therethrough. A process for the production of said rechargeable battery.

Abstract: An ion conductor structural body principally comprising (a) a polymer matrix, (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer and (c) an electrolyte, wherein said polymer matrix (a) comprises a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1), a main chain portion of said polymer chain and a side chain portion of said segment have an orientation property, and said polymer matrix has a crosslinked structure.

Abstract: A detecting method for detecting an internal state of an inspective rechargeable battery (Ba), said internal state including a deterioration state, an electricity storable capacity, a remaining capacity, and an internal resistance of said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba), comprising: (1) a step in which basic data (BD) of characteristics of a normal non-deteriorated rechargeable battery (Bn) as a reference rechargeable battery for said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba) are provided; and (2) a step in which for said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba), a voltage value or/and a current value thereof are measured, and the measured result is compared with said basic data (BD) obtained in said step (1) to judge whether or not said inspective rechargeable battery (Ba) is of a deterioration mode and to detect the internal state thereof.

Abstract: An electrode structural body comprising a plate-like shaped collector having opposite surfaces and an electrode material layer formed an at least one of said opposite surfaces of said collector, wherein said electrode material layer contains 35% by weight or more of a grained host matrix material of 5 to 60 in average particle size. A rechargeable battery provided with said electrode structural body as an electrode thereof.

Abstract: A highly reliable rechargeable battery comprising an anode, a separator, a cathode, an electrolyte or an electrolyte solution, and a housing, characterized in that said anode is structured to have a size which is greater than that of said cathode. The rechargeable battery provides an increased energy density and has a prolonged charging and discharging cycle life, in which a dendrite causing a reduction in the battery performance, which is generated upon operating charging in the conventional rechargeable battery, is effectively prevented from generating or from growing in the case where it should be generated.

Abstract: A secondary battery exhibiting a long cycle life and comprising a negative pole activating material made of lithium or zinc is provided, the battery at least having a negative pole made of lithium or zinc serving as the negative pole activating material, an electrolyte (electrolytic solution), a separator, a positive pole made of a positive pole activating material, a collecting electrode and a battery case, wherein at least the surface of the negative pole is covered with a film having a structure which allows ions relating to the battery reactions to pass through. Since growth of dendrite of lithium or zinc at the time of the charge can be prevented, short circuit between the negative pole and the positive pole can be prevented. Therefore, the charge/discharge cycle life can significantly be lengthened.

Abstract: A secondary battery exhibiting a long cycle life and comprising a negative pole activating material made of lithium or zinc is provided, the battery at least having a negative pole made of lithium or zinc serving as the negative pole activating material, an electrolyte (electrolytic solution), a separator, a positive pole made of a positive pole activating material, a collecting electrode and a battery case, wherein at least the surface of the negative pole is covered with a film having a structure which allows ions relating to the battery reactions to pass through. Since growth of dendrites of lithium or zinc at the time of charge can be prevented, short circuiting between the negative pole and the positive pole can be prevented. Therefore, the charge/discharge cycle life can significantly be lengthened.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising at least a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte, and utilizing oxidizing and reducing reactions of lithium ions for charging and discharging, wherein an electrode having an active material which has at least an amorphous phase and a half value width not smaller than 0.48 degrees of a peak having a highest diffraction intensity at 2&thgr; on an X-ray diffractometric chart traced at a diffraction intensity at an X-ray diffraction angle of 2&thgr;, and is made of a material which has an amorphous phase and contains at least one element selected from among cobalt, nickel, manganese and iron is used as the negative electrode and/or the positive electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a charging method of a secondary battery capable of reducing the irreversible quantity in initial charge and discharge cycles after production of the battery and improving charge and discharge cycle characteristics. The secondary battery is at least comprised of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte and has a curve of anode potential or cathode potential against storage quantity, or an open-circuit voltage curve against storage quantity with inflection points. A charging operation of the secondary battery is carried out in a predetermined wave form at least until the inflection point. After passing the inflection point, until a fully charged state is achieved, the charging is performed in a different pattern from that before the inflection point.

Abstract: A secondary battery comprises a negative electrode and a positive electrode which oppose each other and an ion conductive member which includes a layered or columnar structure (ion channels) in its matrix and which is sandwiched between the negative electrode and the positive electrode.

Abstract: A nickel-series rechargeable battery whose cathode active material comprising a material containing an amorphous phase-bearing nickel hydroxide particulate which in X-ray diffraction using K&agr;-rays of Cu as a radiation source, has a diffraction peak of a (001) face appeared near a diffraction angle 2&thgr;=19° having a half-value width of more than 1.2° and has a diffraction peak of a (101) face appeared near a diffraction angle 2&thgr;=38° having a half-value width of more than 1.5°. A process for the production of said rechargeable battery.