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 process for producing an electrode material for a rechargable lithium battery comprising the steps of mixing a metal compound (a) of a metal (a′) capable of being electrochemically alloyed with lithium, a transition metal compound (b) of a transition metal (b′) and a complexing agent (c) with a solvent (d) to obtain a mixed solution, mixing a reducing agent (e) with said mixed solution to obtain a mixture, and oxidizing said reducing agent in said mixture to reduce ion of said metal (a′) and ion of said transition metal (b′) to obtain an amorphous alloy material capable of being electrochemically alloyed with lithium as said electrode material. An electrode structural body in which said electrode material is used, and a rechargeable lithium battery in which said electrode material is used.

Abstract: A recovering process for recovering the constituent components of a sealed type battery comprising at least a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte sealed in a battery housing, characterized in that said process includes a step (a) of decreasing the ionic conductivity between said cathode and anode of said sealed type battery and a step (b) of opening said battery housing of the sealed type battery after conducting said step (a). An apparatus suitable for practicing said recovering process.

Abstract: There are disclosed a powdery material comprising a hydrogen-storing compound comprising a core layer of a hydrogen-storing alloy coated with a transition metal oxide layer and having a transition metal dispersed and carried on the outermost surface thereof, an electrode member for alkali secondary cells using the powdery material comprising a hydrogen-storing compound, and a secondary cell using the electrode member as an electrode. With such an alkali secondary cell, a strong resistance to overcharge, a high charging and discharging efficiency and a long cycle life can be implemented.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrolyte comprising a salt of an organofluorosilicon compound containing silicon, fluorine and carbon, which comprises the step of reacting an organosilane compound containing at least silicon and carbon, with a fluorine compound in a solvent comprising a nonaqueous solvent as a main component.

Abstract: A recovering process for recovering the constituent components of a sealed type batter comprising at least an a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte sealed in a battery housing, characterized in that said process includes a step (a) of decreasing the ionic conductivity between said cathode and anode of said sealed type battery and a step (b) of opening said battery housing of the sealed type battery after conducting said step (a). An apparatus suitable for practicing said recovering process.

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 rechargeable lithium battery comprising at least a cathode, a separator, an anode, and an electrolyte or electrolyte solution integrated in a battery housing, is characterized by a cathode constituted of a specific powdery cathode active material having a large specific surface area and a primary particle size of 0.5 .mu.m or less. The cathode active material is obtained by mixing a salt of a transition metal in and dissolving the salt in an aqueous solution containing at least a water-soluble polymer material to obtain a product, and baking the product to form the powdery cathode active material for use as the cathode active material of the cathode. Alternatively, the cathode active material is obtained by mixing a salt of a transition metal in a monomer capable of forming at least a water-soluble polymer material, polymerizing the monomer to obtain a polymerized product, and baking the polymerized product to form the powdery cathode active material for use as the cathode active material of the cathode.

Abstract: An anode for a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an anode substrate and a coat disposed so as to cover at least a surface of said anode substrate opposed to said cathode, said coat comprising a film comprised of a metal oxide material of 1.5 or less in standard electrode potential difference with respect to lithium and capable of intercalating or deintercalating lithium ions generated during battery reaction. A process for producing said anode, characterized in that said film is formed using a polyacid or a peroxo polyacid. A rechargeable lithium battery is provided with said anode.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium cell comprising an anode, a separator, a cathode, and an electrolyte or an electrolyte solution, characterized in that said anode comprises (a) a metal capable of being alloyed with lithium and (b) a metal incapable of being alloyed with lithium, said anode contains lithium when charging is operated, and wherein an anode terminal is extended from a portion formed of said metal (b).

Abstract: There are disclosed a powdery material comprising a hydrogen-storing compound comprising a core layer of a hydrogen-storing alloy coated with a transition metal oxide layer and having a transition metal dispersed and carried on the outermost surface thereof, an electrode member for alkali secondary cells using the powdery material comprising a hydrogen-storing compound, and a secondary cell using the electrode member as an electrode. With such an alkali secondary cell, a strong resistance to overcharge, a high charging and discharging efficiency and a long cycle life can be implemented.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary cell having a positive pole and a negative pole separated by a separator in an electrolyte in a cell case, which has the negative pole comprising a substance which can contain lithium and/or the positive pole comprising a substance to which lithium can be inserted, thus being excellent in excessive discharge characteristics, high in energy density, and long in cycle life even in applications where a plurality of cells are connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: A recovering process for recovering constituent components of a battery having at least an active material layer formed on a collector, said process includes at least a step of separating said active material layer from said collector by applying thermal shock to the electrode by way of at least cooling the electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rechargeable battery comprising an anode, a separator, a cathode, an electrolyte, and a battery housing accommodating the members, the battery being of a type utilizing intercalating and deintercalating reactions of lithium ions as charging and discharging reactions of the battery. The anode comprises a host material for allowing lithium ions to intercalate therein upon conducting the charging, and the host material comprises a carbonous material containing a crystalline portion in which a graphite structure is developed and an amorphous portion in which the graphite structure is not developed. The crystalline portion and the amorphous portion of the carbonous material exhibit two or more of peaks in a region of 2.theta.=22-27.degree. based on the (002) face on a chart obtained by X-ray wide angle diffraction using CuK .alpha.-rays.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and a layer including communicating pores through which ions participating in a battery reaction can move between the anode side and the cathode side and whose sizes can change depending on environment. The electrolyte and the layer are disposed between the anode and the cathode. The battery also includes a battery housing for accommodating these components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium secondary battery which has an anode, a separator, a cathode and an electrolyte and which employs intercalation and deintercalation reaction of lithium ions. The anode and/or the cathode of the secondary battery contains a carbonaceous material having a structure in which pores are oriented. The lithium secondary battery exhibits a high charge-discharge efficiency, a high energy density and a long cycle life. The present invention also provides a method of forming the lithium secondary battery including the carbonaceous material having oriented pores, by using an orienting material.

Abstract: To provide a method for treating nonaqueous solvent type cells, in particular, a method by which lithium cells can be treated and resources can be recovered in safe and in a good efficiency, a method for recovering resources of lithium cells comprises the steps of cutting or boring a lithium cell comprised of at least a negative electrode active material, a separator, a positive electrode active material, an electrolyte solution (electrolytic solution), a collector and a cell casing, in an ignition preventing means; washing the lithium cell thus opened, with an organic solvent to recover the electrolytic solution; reacting lithium with a reacting agent to recover lithium in the form of lithium hydroxide or a lithium salt; carrying out filtration to recover the separator, the collector and a positive electrode material comprising the positive electrode active material; and carrying out distillation to recover the organic solvent.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery comprising at least a cathode, a separator, an anode, and an electrolyte or electrolyte solution integrated in a battery housing, characterized in that said rechargeable lithium battery is provided with a pressure means comprising a polymer gel for pressing said anode and cathode.

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: The object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery that has a lamination of negative electrodes and positive electrodes with intervening separators that acquires a low battery internal impedance and excellent charging and discharging power by the sufficient compressing of the electrodes, and that is very safe and easy to recycle, and to provide a method for manufacturing such a battery. To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a battery wherein positive electrodes and negative electrodes are disposed with intervening separators, and are stored in a battery housing with a solid electrolyte or an electrolyte solution, provided in the battery housing is a member whose shape is changed at a predetermined temperature (first temperature), which is lower than the melting point of the separator that maintains the shape in the battery operating temperature range.