Abstract: A zinc foil is provided that can be used as a negative electrode active material, and in a battery including the zinc foil as a negative electrode active material, the amount of gas generated during long term storage of the battery is reduced as compared with that in a battery including a conventional zinc foil. The zinc foil contains zinc as a main material and bismuth. The bismuth content is 100 ppm or more and 10000 ppm or less on a mass basis. The zinc crystal grain size is 0.2 ?m or more and 8 ?m or less. The bismuth crystal grain size is less than 1000 nm, as measured in a backscattered electron image obtained using a scanning electron microscope. The zinc foil is free of aluminum and/or lead, or even if the zinc foil contains aluminum and/or lead, the aluminum content is 1% or less on a mass basis and/or the lead content is 200 ppm or less on a mass basis.

Abstract: A zinc foil is provided that can be used as a negative electrode active material, and in a battery including the zinc foil as a negative electrode active material, the amount of gas generated during long term storage of the battery is reduced as compared with that in a battery including a conventional zinc foil. The zinc foil contains zinc as a main material and bismuth. The bismuth content is 100 ppm or more and 10000 ppm or less on a mass basis. The zinc crystal grain size is 0.2 ?m or more and 8 ?m or less. The bismuth crystal grain size is less than 1000 nm, as measured in a backscattered electron image obtained using a scanning electron microscope. The zinc foil is free of aluminum and/or lead, or even if the zinc foil contains aluminum and/or lead, the aluminum content is 1% or less on a mass basis and/or the lead content is 200 ppm or less on a mass basis.

Abstract: Provided is a new method for producing a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, by which even in the case of washing a spinel type lithium transition metal oxide with water or the like, the service life characteristics can be further enhanced, and the concentration of magnetic substances can be effectively reduced. Suggested is a method for producing a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, the method including a water washing step of bringing a powder of a spinel type lithium transition metal oxide into contact with a polar solvent and thereby washing the powder; and a drying step of subsequently drying the powder by heating the powder to 300° C. to 700° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium metal composite oxide having a layered structure, which is particularly excellent as a positive electrode active material for batteries that are mounted on electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. Proposed is a lithium metal composite oxide having a layered structure, which is represented by general formula Li1+x(Mn?Co?Ni?)1?xO2 (0.00?X?0.07, 0.10???0.40, 0.10???0.40, and 0.30???0.75) and has a specific surface area of more than 2.0 m2/g but 5.0 m2/g or less and has an average particle size of the primary particles/crystallite size ratio of 5.7 to 18.5.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes a catalytic layer containing a particle component A-1 and a particle component A-2 with different catalytic metal contents, each of which is composed of catalytic-metal-doped CeZr-based mixed oxide powder. The particle component A-1 having the lower catalytic metal content is supported on a particle component B composed of Zr-based-oxide-supported alumina powder, and the particle component A-2 having the higher catalytic metal content is supported on a particle component C composed of CeZr-based mixed oxide powder in which catalytic metal is not solid-dissolved.

Abstract: A catalyst layer includes: a first mixed oxide particle component 4 which contains Ce and Rh 8 and in which Rh is partially exposed at particle surfaces; and a second mixed oxide particle component 5 containing Ce, Zr, and a rare earth metal except Ce. The particle size distribution of the first mixed oxide particle component 4 has a peak in the particle size range from 100 nm to 300 nm, both inclusive. The particle size distribution of the second mixed oxide particle component 5 has a peak in a particle size range larger than the particle size range in which the first mixed oxide particle component 4 has the peak. At least part of particles of the first mixed oxide particle component 4 is attached to at least part of particles of the second mixed oxide particle component 5.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium metal composite oxide having a layered structure, which is particularly excellent as a positive electrode active material for batteries that are mounted on electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. Proposed is a lithium metal composite oxide having a layered structure, which is represented by general formula Li1+x(Mn?Co?Ni?)1?xO2 (0.00?X?0.07, 0.10???0.40, 0.10???0.40, and 0.30???0.75) and has a specific surface area of more than 2.0 m2/g but 5.0 m2/g or less and has an average particle size of the primary particles/crystallite size ratio of 5.7 to 18.5.

Abstract: Provided is spinel-type lithium transition metal oxide (LMO) used as a positive electrode active material for lithium battery, said LMO being capable of simultaneously achieving all output characteristics (rate characteristics), high temperature cycle life characteristics, and rapid charging characteristics. The disclosed is spinel-type lithium transition metal oxide including, besides Li and Mn, one or more elements selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ti, Ni, Co, and Fe, and having crystallite size of between 200 nm and 1000 nm and strain of 0.0900 or less. Because the crystallite size is markedly large, oxygen deficiency is markedly little, and the structure is strong, when the LMO is used as a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, all output characteristics (rate characteristics), high temperature cycle life characteristics, and rapid charging characteristics can be achieved simultaneously.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium ion battery wherein the content of an iron element contained in a positive electrode active material (measured with an ICP emission spectrophotometer) is 10 ppm or more, and magnetic materials having a size of 0.70 times or greater than the thickness of a separator layer are substantially not included in order to provide a lithium ion battery which has small voltage drop during a charge state or under storage at high temperatures.

Abstract: With the object of providing a positive electrode active material for lithium battery that can increase the filling density, can increase the output characteristics, and furthermore, with a small voltage decrease during conservation at high temperature in a charged state, a positive electrode active material for lithium battery is proposed, containing a spinel type (Fd3-m) lithium transition metal oxide represented by general formula Li1+xM2?xO4?? (where M represents a transition metal including Mn, Al and Mg, x represents 0.01 to 0.08 and 0??) and a boron compound, the inter-the atomic distance Li—O of the spinel type lithium transition metal oxide being 1.971 ? to 2.006 ?, and the amount of magnetic substance measured for the positive electrode active material for lithium battery being 600 ppb or less.

Abstract: Provided is a new method for producing a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, by which even in the case of washing a spinel type lithium transition metal oxide with water or the like, the service life characteristics can be further enhanced, and the concentration of magnetic substances can be effectively reduced. Suggested is a method for producing a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, the method including a water washing step of bringing a powder of a spinel type lithium transition metal oxide into contact with a polar solvent and thereby washing the powder; and a drying step of subsequently drying the powder by heating the powder to 300° C. to 700° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium ion battery wherein the content of an iron element contained in a positive electrode active material (measured with an ICP emission spectrophotometer) is 10 ppm or more, and magnetic materials having a size of 0.70 times or greater than the thickness of a separator layer are substantially not included in order to provide a lithium ion battery which has small voltage drop during a charge state or under storage at high temperatures.

Abstract: Provided is spinel-type lithium transition metal oxide (LMO) used as a positive electrode active material for lithium battery, said LMO being capable of simultaneously achieving all output characteristics (rate characteristics), high temperature cycle life characteristics, and rapid charging characteristics. The disclosed is spinel-type lithium transition metal oxide including, besides Li and Mn, one or more elements selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ti, Ni, Co, and Fe, and having crystallite size of between 200 nm and 1000 nm and strain of 0.0900 or less. Because the crystallite size is markedly large, oxygen deficiency is markedly little, and the structure is strong, when the LMO is used as a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, all output characteristics (rate characteristics), high temperature cycle life characteristics, and rapid charging characteristics can be achieved simultaneously.

Abstract: With the object of providing a positive electrode active material for lithium battery that can increase the filling density, can increase the output characteristics, and furthermore, with a small voltage decrease during conservation at high temperature in a charged state, a positive electrode active material for lithium battery is proposed, containing a spinel type (Fd3-m) lithium transition metal oxide represented by general formula Li1+xM2-xO4-? (where M represents a transition metal including Mn, Al and Mg, x represents 0.01 to 0.08 and 0??) and a boron compound, the inter-the atomic distance Li—O of the spinel type lithium transition metal oxide being 1.971 ? to 2.006 ?, and the amount of magnetic substance measured for the positive electrode active material for lithium battery being 600 ppb or less.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes a catalytic layer containing a particle component A-1 and a particle component A-2 with different catalytic metal contents, each of which is composed of catalytic-metal-doped CeZr-based mixed oxide powder. The particle component A-1 having the lower catalytic metal content is supported on a particle component B composed of Zr-based-oxide-supported alumina powder, and the particle component A-2 having the higher catalytic metal content is supported on a particle component C composed of CeZr-based mixed oxide powder in which catalytic metal is not solid-dissolved.

Abstract: In order to provide a novel spinel type lithium transition metal oxide (LMO) having excellent power performance characteristics, in which preferably both the power performance characteristics and the cycle performance at high temperature life characteristics may be balanced, a novel spinel type lithium transition metal oxide with excellent power performance characteristics is proposed by defining the inter-atomic distance Li—O to be 1.978 ? to 2.006 ? as measured by the Rietveld method using the fundamental method in a lithium transition metal oxide represented by the general formula Li1+xM2?xO4 (where M is a transition metal consisting of three elements Mn, Al and Mg and x is 0.01 to 0.08).

Abstract: A quality control method using a plurality of analyzers and a control device connected to the analyzers via a network, the method comprising: (a) measuring quality control samples by the analyzers; (b) collecting a plurality of quality control data obtained by measuring the quality control samples; (c) implementing a quality control by the control device based on the collected quality control data; (d) obtaining uncertainty of measurement of analyzer based on uncertainty of analyzer calibration and the quality control data; (e) outputting a result of the quality control; and (f) outputting the uncertainty of measurement is disclosed. A quality control system and an analyzer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalyst layer includes: a first mixed oxide particle component 4 which contains Ce and Rh 8 and in which Rh is partially exposed at particle surfaces; and a second mixed oxide particle component 5 containing Ce, Zr, and a rare earth metal except Ce. The particle size distribution of the first mixed oxide particle component 4 has a peak in the particle size range from 100 nm to 300 nm, both inclusive. The particle size distribution of the second mixed oxide particle component 5 has a peak in a particle size range larger than the particle size range in which the first mixed oxide particle component 4 has the peak. At least part of particles of the first mixed oxide particle component 4 is attached to at least part of particles of the second mixed oxide particle component 5.

Abstract: In order to provide a novel spinel type lithium transition metal oxide (LMO) having excellent power performance characteristics, in which preferably both the power performance characteristics and the cycle performance at high temperature life characteristics may be balanced, a novel spinel type lithium transition metal oxide with excellent power performance characteristics is proposed by defining the inter-atomic distance Li—O to be 1.978 ? to 2.006 ? as measured by the Rietveld method using the fundamental method in a lithium transition metal oxide represented by the general formula Li1+xM2?xO4 (where M is a transition metal consisting of three elements Mn, Al and Mg and x is 0.01 to 0.08).

Abstract: A quality control method using a plurality of analyzers and a control device connected to the analyzers via a network, the method comprising: (a) measuring quality control samples by the analyzers; (b) collecting a plurality of quality control data obtained by measuring the quality control samples; (c) implementing a quality control by the control device based on the collected quality control data; (d) obtaining uncertainty of measurement of analyzer based on uncertainty of analyzer calibration and the quality control data; (e) outputting a result of the quality control; and (f) outputting the uncertainty of measurement is disclosed. A quality control system and an analyzer are also disclosed.