Abstract: A charging system for a rechargeable battery with a rapid charge capacity. This invention relates to the charging system for the rechargeable battery with a rapid charge capacity which can be recharged at a public place. The charging system comprises a charging equipment for the rapid charge battery, a measurement display unit which measures and displays a charging condition and deterioration of the rapid charge battery, and a fee collection device which collects a charging fee.

Abstract: Flaky particles which are produced through easy conversion from mother particles by using an organic compound other than monomers having double bonds as the hardening and crosslinking agent and to which at least one mechanical or functional characteristic selected from among reactivity, close adhesion, and tackiness is imparted by the presence of part of the unreacted reactive groups of the organic compound inside and on the particles; and a process for the production of the flaky particles. More specifically, flaky particles composed of mother particles (A) having functional groups and an organic compound (B) which has groups reactive with the functional groups of the particles (A) and is soluble in a solvent, characterized in that at least part of the functional groups of the mother particles (A) and at least part of the reactive groups of the organic compound (B) react with each other to form crosslinks.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte which contains an ionic liquid having general formula (1) below and a melting point not higher than 50° C., a compound which reductively decomposes at a more noble potential than the ionic liquid, and a lithium salt. In formula (1), R1 to R4 are each independently an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbons or an alkoxyalkyl group of the formula R?—O—(CH2)n— (R? being methyl or ethyl, and the letter n being an integer from 1 to 4), and any two from among R1, R2, R3 and R4 may together form a ring, with the proviso that at least one of R1 to R4 is an alkoxyalkyl group of the above formula. X is a nitrogen atom or a phosphorus atom, and Y is a monovalent anion.

Abstract: Secondary cells and electrical double-layer capacitors of excellent charge-discharge efficiency, stability and low-temperature properties can be obtained using nonaqueous electrolytes which contain an ionic liquid that has general formula (1) below and is liquid at not higher than 50° C. and an ion-conductive polymer. In formula (1), R1 to R4 are each independently an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbons or an alkoxyalkyl group of the formula R?—O—(CH2)n—(R? being methyl or ethyl, and the letter n being an integer from 1 to 4), and any two from among R1, R2, R3 and R4 may together form a ring, with the proviso that at least one of R1 to R4 is an alkoxyalkyl group of the above formula. X is a nitrogen atom or a phosphorus atom, and Y is a monovalent anion.

Abstract: A composite particle that can be easily converted to cured particle or half cured particle by the use of carbodiimide resin without changing of the configuration of matrix particle of, for example. a thermoplastic resin, excelling in mechanical and functional characteristics by virtue of the reaction capability inherently possessed by a carbodiimide group. In particular, a composite particle comprising matrix particle (A) having a functional group capable of reacting with a carbodiimide group and carbodiimide resin (B), characterized in that the functional group of the matrix particle (A) couples with the carbodiimide group of the carbodiimide resin (B) and that the composite particle is provided with an outer shell layer of carbodiimide resin (B) having an average thickness diameter (L), defined by the following formula [1], ranging from 0.01 to 20 ?m: L=(L2?L1)/2 [1] wherein L1 represents the average diameter of matrix particle, and L2 represents the average diameter of composite particle.

Abstract: A polymer gel electrolyte includes an electrolyte solution composed of a plasticizer with at least two carbonate structures on the molecule and an electrolyte salt, in combination with a matrix polymer. Secondary batteries made with the polymer gel electrolyte can operate at a high capacitance and a high current, have a broad service temperature range and a high level of safety, and are thus particularly well-suited for use in such applications as lithium secondary cells and lithium ion secondary cells. Electrical double-layer capacitors made with the polymer gel electrolyte have a high output voltage, a large output current, a broad service temperature range and excellent safety.

Abstract: A polymer gel electrolyte includes an electrolyte solution composed of a plasticizer with at least two carbonate structures on the molecule and an electrolyte salt, in combination with a matrix polymer. Secondary batteries made with the polymer gel electrolyte can operate at a high capacitance and a high current, have a broad service temperature range and a high level of safety, and are thus particularly well-suited for use in such applications as lithium secondary cells and lithium ion secondary cells. Electrical double-layer capacitors made with the polymer gel electrolyte have a high output voltage, a large output current, a broad service temperature range and excellent safety.

Abstract: The electric double layer capacitor utilizing the multi-layer electrode structure. The multi-layer electrode structure is provided comprised of a plurality of electrode layers composed of a binder and an electrode material and coated on a current-collecting member, each of the electrode layers including a macromolecular substance wherein a first electrode layer in contact with the current-collecting member and the second electrode layer in contact with the first electrode layer are formed of different constituents or have different proportions of the same constituent.

Abstract: A multi-layer electrode structure is provided comprised of a plurality of electrode layers composed of a binder and an electrode material and coated on a current-collecting member, each of the electrode layers including a macromolecular substance wherein a first electrode layer in contact with the current-collecting member and the second electrode layer in contact with the first electrode layer are formed of different constituents or have different proportions of the same constituent. A method of forming the multi-layer electrode structures as well as a battery and double-layer capacitor formed from the multi-layer electrode structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-layer electrode structure is provided comprised of a plurality of electrode layers composed of a binder and an electrode material and coated on a current-collecting member, each of the electrode layers including a macromolecular substance wherein a first electrode layer in contact with the current-collecting member and the second electrode layer in contact with the first electrode layer are formed of different constituents or have different proportions of the same constituent. A method of forming the multi-layer electrode structures as well as a battery and double-layer capacitor formed from the multi-layer electrode structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure method for an electrode without causing any breakage of a current collecting material. The electrode structure comprises the current collecting material and an electrode layer. The electrode layer has a smaller surface area than a surface area of the current collecting material. The work roll with the concave portion pressurizes the electrode layer coated on the current collecting material while the convex portion to the section of the current collecting material without the electrode layer coated thereon where said section of the current collecting material is the predetermined distance away from the electrode layer, thereby elongating the electrode layer and the current collecting material.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition and a solid polymer electrolyte for electrical double-layer capacitors are endowed with high ionic conductivity. The invention is also directed at a polar electrode composition and a polar electrode having excellent binder capabilities which are able to strongly bond a high surface area material such as activated carbon and an electrically conductive material to a current collector, and which also have shape stability. A high-performance electrical double-layer capacitor arrived at using the above compositions and components is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A pregel composition is added to an organic electrolyte solution of an electrolyte salt in a nonaqueous solvent for causing the solution to gel and form a polymer gel electrolyte. The pregel composition is dehydrated by azeotropic distillation and has a moisture content of not more than 1,000 ppm as determined by Karl Fischer titration. Polymer gel electrolytes prepared with such a pregel composition have a good electrochemical stability, and are thus highly suitable for use in secondary cells and electrical double-layer capacitors.

Abstract: A mixer and a method for mixing and press-sliding a mixture of an ion-conducting polymer or a raw material of the ion-conducting polymer with a powdered substance 11 are disclosed. Due to the effective press-sliding process of this invention, the powdered substance 11 is effectively coated with the ion-conducting polymer 12.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is made up of a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are composed of a lithium ion-occluding and releasing material and a binder polymer, at least one separator for separating the positive and negative electrodes, and a nonaqueous electrolyte which is composed of a lithium salt and an organic solvent. The electrolyte includes also a substance which is oxidized at the positive electrode at a cell voltage of from 4.1 V to 5.2 V, and which provokes an oxidation reaction that differs from the lithium-releasing reaction. The presence of this substance improves the overcharge characteristics and safety of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Abstract: An accumulator power supply unit equalizing the voltage between terminals of the respective accumulator block to be a predetermined value without being affected by different characteristics of the accumulator block such as electric double layer capacitor and secondary battery in series or serial-parallel connection. The accumulator power supply unit comprises plural accumulator blocks in a series connection or a serial-parallel connection and plural transform charging circuits connected in parallel to the respective accumulator block, wherein the respective accumulator block is independently charged by the transform charging circuit and a control method for the same.

Abstract: The water present within an ionic liquid that is in a liquid state at 25° C. or an organic solution containing at least one ionic compound is decomposed by bringing electrodes into contact with the ionic liquid or organic solution within an atmosphere having a dew-point temperature not higher than −40° C. or under a reduced pressure of not more than 75 torr, thereby reducing the water content. This process makes it possible to obtain highly dehydrated ionic liquids.

Abstract: To provide an electrical component, in which ions migrate between electrodes and which provides high efficiency. A method for manufacturing an electrical component, in which ions migrate between electrodes, whereby an ion conductive polymer layer 2 dissolving ions is formed on an electrode material layer 12 of at least one of a pair of electrode structures 1 which comprise an electrode material layer 12 formed on a current collector 11, said pair of electrode structures 1 are arranged at opposed positions with the current collector 11 facing outward, and this is stored in a housing 4, and liquid electrolyte is injected into the housing.

Abstract: The addition of a compound which reductively decomposes on a potential at least 1.0 V higher than the equilibrium potential of metallic lithium and lithium ions (a potential versus Li/Li+ of +1.0 V or more) to an electrolyte solution for a secondary cell keeps propylene carbonate, when used as an organic electrolyte therein, from decomposing on the negative electrode. Such addition also improves the cycle properties, electrical capacity and low-temperature characteristics of the cell.

Abstract: A polymer gel electrolyte-forming composition which includes a pregel composition having a viscosity at 20° C. of at most 100 cP is impregnated into an electrical double-layer capacitor assembly or a cell assembly composed of a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator. This process enables the polymer gel electrolyte-forming composition to rapidly and uniformly penetrate into the cell or capacitor assembly and provides a battery or capacitor having excellent cycle properties.