Abstract: A solid-electrolyte battery is provided that includes a LiNbO3 film serving as a buffer layer between a positive-electrode active material and a solid electrolyte and has a sufficiently low electrical resistance. The solid-electrolyte battery includes a positive-electrode layer, a negative-electrode layer, and a solid-electrolyte layer that conducts lithium ions between the electrode layers, wherein a buffer layer that is a LiNbO3 film is disposed between a positive-electrode active material and a solid electrolyte, and a composition ratio (Li/Nb) of Li to Nb in the LiNbO3 film satisfies 0.93?Li/Nb?0.98. The buffer layer may be disposed between the positive-electrode layer and the solid-electrolyte layer or on the surface of a particle of the positive-electrode active material. The buffer layer may have a thickness of 2 nm to 1 ?m.

Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte battery having a high charge-discharge cycle capability in which the battery capacity is less likely to decrease even after repeated charge and discharge. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a positive-electrode layer 1, a negative-electrode layer 2, a solid electrolyte layer 3 interposed between the positive-electrode layer 1 and the negative-electrode layer 2, and a boundary layer 4 between the negative-electrode layer 2 and the solid electrolyte layer 3, the boundary layer 4 maintaining the bond between the negative-electrode layer 2 and the solid electrolyte layer 3. The negative-electrode layer 2 at least contains Li. The boundary layer 4 at least contains a group 14 element in the periodic table. The boundary layer 4 has a thickness of 50 nm or less.

Abstract: A lithium battery includes a substrate, a positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer, and a sulfide solid electrolyte layer disposed between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer, the positive electrode layer, the negative electrode layer, and the sulfide solid electrolyte layer being provided on the substrate. In this lithium battery, the positive electrode layer is formed by a vapor-phase deposition method, and a buffer layer that suppresses nonuniformity of distribution of lithium ions near the interface between the positive electrode layer and the sulfide solid electrolyte layer is provided between the positive electrode layer and the sulfide solid electrolyte layer. As the buffer layer, a lithium-ion conductive oxide, in particular, LixLa(2?x)/3TiO3 (x=0.1 to 0.5), Li7+xLa3Zr2O12+(x/2) (?5?x?3, preferably ?2?x?2), or LiNbO3 is preferably used.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic cap useful for steadfastly maintaining a sealed state created in a container having a mouth with an opening by sealing the opening with a sealing member. The cap has a cap main body and a cover portion integrated with the main body via at least one bridge portion. The main body has a base portion and a top wall. The bridge portion is formed of a synthetic plastic filled in at least one fusion-bonding hole having a diameter of from 0.3 to 3 mm and arranged extending through at least one, preferably one of the main body or cover portion such that the main body and cover portion are integrally fusion-bonded by the bridge portion and the cover portion can be separated from the main body by breaking the bridge portion with hands. A production method of the plastic cap is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus including a processing chamber for processing a sample to be processed, a cooling chamber for cooling the high-temperature sample processed in the processing chamber, and a vacuum transfer chamber for establishing a connection between the processing chamber and the cooling chamber, a vacuum transfer robot equipped inside the vacuum transfer chamber, wherein the cooling chamber includes a gas-exhausting unit for reducing pressure inside the cooling chamber, a gas-supplying unit for supplying a gas into the cooling chamber, a pressure-controlling unit for controlling the pressure inside the cooling chamber, a supporting unit for supporting the high-temperature sample, and a mounting stage for proximity-holding the sample supported by the supporting unit, the mounting stage having a temperature-adjusting unit for adjusting the temperature of surface of the mounting stage into a temperature which is capable of cooling the high-temperature sample, the supporting unit having an ascendi

Abstract: The battery of the invention has a positive-electrode layer 20, a negative-electrode layer 50, and an electrolytic layer 40 through which ionic conduction is performed between the two electrode layers. In this battery, the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 are laminated with each other and an insulating layer 30 is placed between the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50. The insulating layer 30 has an area smaller than that of one of the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 and larger than that of the other. There is no place where the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 face each other through only the electrolytic layer 40. Even when the electrolytic layer 40 has a pinhole, the presence of the insulating layer 30 between the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 can suppress short-circuiting between the positive- and negative-electrode layers.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus having an atmospheric-pressure transport chamber for conveying samples, lock chambers that accommodate the samples conveyed in and have an ambient capable of being switched between an atmospheric ambient and a vacuum ambient, a vacuum transport chamber coupled to the lock chambers, and at least one vacuum chamber for processing the samples. The apparatus further includes cooling portions operable to cool the high-temperature samples processed by the vacuum chamber. Each cooling portion has: a sample stage over which the high-temperature samples are placed and which has a coolant channel; gas-blowing tubes disposed closer to the inlet/exit port and acting to blow gas toward the sample stage; and an exhaust port disposed on the opposite side of the sample stage with regard to the inlet/exit port and acting to discharge the gas blown from the gas-blowing tubes.

Abstract: A vacuum processing system including a cassette holder for setting up cassettes in which samples are stored, an air-transfer chamber for transferring the samples, lock chambers for storing the samples transferred from the air-transfer chamber, the lock chambers being capable of switching between air atmosphere and vacuum atmosphere in their inside, a vacuum transfer chamber connected to the lock chambers, vacuum containers for processing the samples transferred via the vacuum transfer chamber, a cooling chamber for cooling the samples down to a first temperature, the samples being processed in at least one of the vacuum containers, and a cooling unit for cooling the samples down to a second temperature, the samples being cooled in the cooling chamber. The cooling unit is deployed in the air transfer chamber, and has a cooling part for cooling the samples, being cooled in the cooling chamber, down to the second temperature.

Abstract: A positive-electrode member for producing a nonaqueous electrolyte battery having a high discharge capacity and an excellent cycle characteristic, and a method for producing the positive-electrode member are provided. The positive-electrode member includes a positive-electrode collector composed of a metal; and a positive-electrode active-material layer (positive-electrode active-material portion) 10B that allows for electron transfer between the positive-electrode collector and the positive-electrode active-material layer 10B. The positive-electrode active-material layer 10B includes positive-electrode active-material particles 1 and a solid electrolyte 2 that fixes the particles 1. The contours of the particles 1 that are next to each other partially conform to each other.

Abstract: A gas generating device includes a housing and a squib. The housing includes a housing body which accommodates a gas generating agent, a holder which holds a squib, and a connector which connects the housing and the holder to each other. A housing body is connected to the holder so that an annular contact portion is pressed toward the holder. The holder includes a holder body and a resinous molding portion which is interposed between the holder body and the squib. The resinous molding portion includes a flange portion with which the annular contact portion comes into contact. The holder body includes a support portion capable of supporting the flange portion when the housing body and the holder are connected to each other by the connector.

Abstract: A leaf spring supports a pillar shaped movable portion disposed in a center portion with respect to a cylindrical fixed portion disposed around the movable portion in the direction of a center axis shiftably so as to position the movable portion in a radial direction. The leaf spring is made of stainless steel having relative magnetic permeability which is not less than 1.1.

Abstract: A leaf spring supports a pillar shaped movable portion disposed in a center portion with respect to a cylindrical fixed portion disposed around the movable portion in the direction of a center axis shiftably so as to position the movable portion in a radial direction. The leaf spring is made of a material having Vickers hardness which is not less than 500 (HV).

Abstract: There are provided an electric power generating element which has excellent cycle characteristics and which can be produced in satisfactory yield, and a nonaqueous electrolyte battery including the electric power generating element. In an electric power generating element including a positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between these electrode layers, the solid electrolyte layer containing Li, P, S, and O, the O content of the solid electrolyte layer is set so as to be reduced stepwise or continuously from the positive electrode layer side to the negative electrode layer side. When the electric power generating elements each having the structure are produced, most of them provide stable cycle characteristics, i.e.

Abstract: There is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which lithium ions can move smoothly between a positive electrode and a solid electrolyte layer, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having improved internal resistance. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode 1, a negative electrode 2, and a solid electrolyte layer 3 arranged between the positive and negative electrodes. The positive electrode 1 includes a positive-electrode sintered body 10 formed by firing a powder containing a positive-electrode active material and includes a cover layer 11 arranged on a surface of the positive-electrode sintered body 10 adjacent to the solid electrolyte layer 3, the cover layer containing a positive-electrode active material. The cover layer 11 contains a compound having a layered rock-salt structure. Preferably, the direction of the c-axis of the crystal of the compound is not perpendicular to the surface of the positive-electrode sintered body.

Abstract: A lithium battery that contains a solid electrolyte but has a high capacity is provided. A lithium battery 1 includes: a positive-electrode layer 13; a negative-electrode layer 14; and a sulfide solid electrolyte layer (SE layer 15) provided between the layers 13 and 14. The lithium battery 1 has a positive-electrode covering layer 16 and a buffer layer 17 formed between the layers 13 and 15 for suppressing nonuniformity of distribution of lithium ions in a region near the interface between the layers 13 and 15. In the battery 1, the positive-electrode covering layer 16 contains LiCoO2 whereas the positive-electrode layer 13 does not contain LiCoO2.

Abstract: A solventless laminating adhesive comprising a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component, both of which are free from polyol components exhibiting crystalline properties at ordinary temperatures. The adhesive exhibits an initial viscosity of 500 to 1000 mPa s three minutes after mixing of the polyisocyanate component with the polyol component and a viscosity increase of 100 to 350% based on the initial viscosity 20 minutes after the mixing. In a coater which is provided with a pair of opposed rolls and in which the rolls rotates in the directions contrary to each other at the opposition site, the adhesive is applied to a film passing between the rolls.

Abstract: A hydrogen permeable membrane (10) for selectively allowing hydrogen to permeate therethrough includes a metal base layer (12) containing vanadium (V), a metal coating layer (16) containing palladium (Pd), and an intermediate layer (14) that is formed between the metal base layer (12) and the metal coating layer (16) and made of a metal having a higher melting point than the metal base layer (12) and the metal coating layer (16) and possessing hydrogen permeability.

Abstract: The battery of the invention has a positive-electrode layer 20, a negative-electrode layer 50, and an electrolytic layer 40 through which ionic conduction is performed between the two electrode layers. In this battery, the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 are laminated with each other and an insulating layer 30 is placed between the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50. The insulating layer 30 has an area smaller than that of one of the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 and larger than that of the other. There is no place where the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 face each other through only the electrolytic layer 40. Even when the electrolytic layer 40 has a pinhole, the presence of the insulating layer 30 between the positive-electrode layer 20 and the negative-electrode layer 50 can suppress short-circuiting between the positive- and negative-electrode layers.

Abstract: A thin film lithium battery is provided which can realize a high yield by solving various problems caused by a pin hole formed in a solid electrolyte layer. A thin film lithium battery according to the present invention is a thin film lithium battery in which a positive electrode layer 20, a negative electrode layer 50, a solid electrolyte layer 40 provided therebetween, and a collector 10 electrically connected to at least one of the positive electrode layer 20 and the negative electrode layer 50 are laminated to each other. When this battery is viewed in plan along the lamination direction of the above individual layers, the positive electrode layer 20 and the negative electrode layer 50 are disposed at positions so as not to be overlapped with each other. By the structure as described above, even if a pin hole is formed in the solid electrolyte layer 40, short-circuiting between the two electrode layers 20 and 50, which is caused by this pin hole, can be prevented.