Abstract: A method for producing a silicon oxide including the steps of supplying silicon atoms onto a substrate through an oxygen atmosphere to form a silicon oxide layer on the substrate, and separating the silicon oxide layer from the substrate and pulverizing the separated silicon oxide layer to obtain silicon oxide containing silicon and oxygen in predetermined proportions, and a negative electrode active material obtained by the production method.

Abstract: In a rechargeable non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using positive electrodes, negative electrodes and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution, additives to the electrolytic solution are used in combination, preferably in combination of at least two compounds selected from o-terphenyl, triphenylene, cyclohexylbenzene and biphenyl, and thus there are provided batteries excellent in safety and storage characteristics.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a negative electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a separator layer comprising a polymer electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer, wherein the peripheral portion of the positive electrode current collector and the peripheral portion of the negative electrode current collector are bonded together, with an insulating material interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A composite negative electrode active material including silicon oxide particles represented by SiOx (0.05<x<1.95) capable of charging and discharging lithium, carbon nanofibers (CFN) bonded to the surface of the silicon oxide particles and a catalyst element for promoting the growth of carbon nanofiber. For example, Au, Ag, Pt, Ru, Ir, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo or Mn is preferred as the catalyst element.

Abstract: A composite particle for an electrode including an active material particle, carbon nanofibers bonded to the surface of the active material particle, and a catalyst element for promoting the growth of the carbon nanofibers, wherein the active material particle includes an electrochemically active phase. As the catalyst element, for example, Au, Ag, Pt, Ru, Ir, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, Mn and the like are used. The composite particle for an electrode may be produced, for example, by means of a method which includes: a step of preparing an active material particle including a catalyst element for promoting the growth of carbon nanofibers at least in the surface layer of the active material particle; and a step of growing carbon nanofibers on the surface of the active material particle in an atmosphere including a raw material gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries or non-aqueous electrolyte electrochemical capacitors which contains a material A containing an element capable of forming an alloy with lithium, a material B containing carbon excluding carbon nanofiber, a catalyst element for promoting the growth of carbon nanofiber, and carbon nanofibers grown on at least one selected from the surface of the material A and the surface of the material B.

Abstract: A negative-electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a silicon compound capable of inserting and extracting lithium ion, wherein the silicon compound contains silicon-hydrogen bonds and the silicon-hydrogen bonds are introduced into the compound by reduction of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, silicon nitride and silicon carbide with hydrogen, and a negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a layer containing the negative-electrode active material in the above arrangement formed on a current collector.

Abstract: A negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries has a mixture layer including a composite negative electrode active material which is composed of active material cores capable of charging and discharging at least lithium ions; carbon nanofibers; and catalyst elements. The carbon nanofibers are attached to the surfaces of the active material cores. The catalyst elements are at least one selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, and manganese, and promote the growth of the carbon nanofibers. The active material cores have the carbon nanofibers therebetween.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode includes composite particles and a binder. Each of the composite particles includes: a negative electrode active material including an element capable of being alloyed with lithium; carbon nanofibers that are grown from a surface of the negative electrode active material; and a catalyst element for promoting the growth of the carbon nanofibers. The binder comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide imide, polyamide, aramid, polyarylate, polyether ether ketone, polyether imide, polyether sulfone, polysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon oxide including the steps of supplying silicon atoms onto a substrate through an oxygen atmosphere to form a silicon oxide layer on the substrate, and separating the silicon oxide layer from the substrate and pulverizing the separated silicon oxide layer to obtain silicon oxide containing silicon and oxygen in predetermined proportions, and a negative electrode active material obtained by the production method.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive and negative electrodes are wound together with the separator. The negative electrode includes composite particles and a binder. Each of the composite particles includes: a negative electrode active material including an element capable of being alloyed with lithium; carbon nanofibers that are grown from a surface of the negative electrode active material; and a catalyst element for promoting the growth of the carbon nanofibers. The binder comprises a polymer having at least one selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid unit, an acrylic acid salt unit, an acrylic acid ester unit, a mathacrylic acid unit, a methacrylic acid salt unit, and a mathacrylic acid ester unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising: a flat outer jacket comprising a metal sheet and having two primary flat portions facing each other; two active material layers of a first polarity respectively carried on inner surfaces of the flat portions; an electrode plate of a second polarity disposed in a position facing with each of the active material layers; and a separator layer interposed between each of the active material layers and the electrode plate of a second polarity, with the outer jacket serving as a current collector of the active material layers.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a negative electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a separator layer comprising a polymer electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer, wherein the peripheral portion of the positive electrode current collector and the peripheral portion of the negative electrode current collector are bonded together, with an insulating material interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a negative electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a separator layer comprising a polymer electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer, wherein the peripheral portion of the positive electrode current collector and the peripheral portion of the negative electrode current collector are bonded together, with an insulating material interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has an electrode plate assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a non-aqueous electrolyte including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent; and a gas absorbing element that absorbs gas produced in the secondary battery, wetting of the gas absorbing element with the non-aqueous solvent is controlled.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has an electrode plate assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a non-aqueous electrolyte including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent; and a gas absorbing element that absorbs gas produced in the secondary battery, wetting of the gas absorbing element with the non-aqueous solvent is controlled.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having: an electrode plate assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a non-aqueous electrolyte including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent; and a gas absorbing element that absorbs gas produced in the secondary battery, wetting of the gas absorbing element with the non-aqueous solvent is controlled.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has an electrode plate assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a non-aqueous electrolyte including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent; and a gas absorbing element that absorbs gas produced in the secondary battery, wetting of the gas absorbing element with the non-aqueous solvent is controlled.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: a positive electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a negative electrode plate including an outer jacket comprising a sheet-shaped negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on an inner surface of the outer jacket except for a peripheral portion thereof; a separator layer comprising a polymer electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer, wherein the peripheral portion of the positive electrode current collector and the peripheral portion of the negative electrode current collector are bonded together, with an insulating material interposed therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising: a flat outer jacket comprising a metal sheet and having two primary flat portions facing each other; two active material layers of a first polarity respectively carried on inner surfaces of the flat portions; an electrode plate of a second polarity disposed in a position facing with each of the active material layers; and a separator layer interposed between each of the active material layers and the electrode plate of a second polarity, with the outer jacket serving as a current collector of the active material layers.