Abstract: An appropriate upper limit voltage is set to enable maximum charging performance of a secondary battery to be exhibited while effectively suppressing degradation of the secondary battery. An assembled battery control unit determines an upper limit voltage during charge of the secondary battery and calculates chargeable power of the secondary battery based on the upper limit voltage. The assembled battery control unit has an upper limit voltage calculating unit which calculates a voltage history of the secondary battery based on time series data of a voltage of the secondary battery and which calculates the upper limit voltage based on the voltage history.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode for lithium secondary battery that has a large retaining amount of an electrolyte and high output, and simultaneously, secures a volume density and suppresses a decrease in an electron conductivity. The electrode for lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes an electrode foil and a mixture layer disposed in the electrode foil. The mixture layer has an active material. The mixture layer has an inner layer 54 disposed in the electrode foil and a surface layer 55 positioned on a surface side in a thickness direction of the mixture layer with respect to the inner layer 54. The inner layer 54 has a higher average void ratio than the surface layer 55. The inner layer 54 has an intermediate layer 542 having a lower void ratio than both sides in a halfway position in a thickness direction of the inner layer 54.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a secondary battery with enhanced insulating reliability without degrading the performance of an active material mixture layer formed on an electrode. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a prismatic secondary battery (100) including a negative electrode (41) having a negative electrode current-collecting foil (411), a negative electrode mixture layer (412) formed thereon, and an insulating layer (413) formed on the negative electrode mixture layer (412). The method of the present invention includes a step of forming the negative electrode mixture layer (412) and the insulating layer (413) by concurrently applying an active material mixture slurry and an insulating layer dispersion liquid to the negative electrode current-collecting foil (411). Each ceramic particle (413a) has a plate shape with an aspect ratio greater than or equal to 2.0 and less than or equal to 5.0.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery with increased durability and capacity includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The positive electrode includes a current collector foil and an electrode mixture layer disposed on a surface of the current collector foil. The positive electrode mixture layer includes a superficial layer portion and a deep layer portion. The superficial layer portion opposes the negative electrode via the separator. The deep layer portion is disposed between the superficial layer portion and the current collector foil. The superficial layer portion contains positive electrode active material particles having an average particle diameter larger than an average particle diameter of positive electrode active material particles contained in the deep layer portion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a secondary battery with enhanced insulating reliability without degrading the performance of an active material mixture layer formed on an electrode. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a prismatic secondary battery (100) including a negative electrode (41) having a negative electrode current-collecting foil (411), a negative electrode mixture layer (412) formed thereon, and an insulating layer (413) formed on the negative electrode mixture layer (412). The method of the present invention includes a step of forming the negative electrode mixture layer (412) and the insulating layer (413) by concurrently applying an active material mixture slurry and an insulating layer dispersion liquid to the negative electrode current-collecting foil (411). Each ceramic particle (413a) has a plate shape with an aspect ratio greater than or equal to 2.0 and less than or equal to 5.0.

Abstract: Provided is a square secondary battery that is capable of reducing the amount of electrolyte compared to the related art. The square secondary battery includes a flat electrode group that is manufactured by winding positive and negative electrodes, a flat square battery can which stores the electrode group, a battery lid that seals an opening of the battery can, and an insulating member which is fixed to the battery lid and stored in the battery can. The square secondary battery includes a storage member made of a bag-like insulating sheet that has a volume smaller than the battery can, is stored in the battery can and stores the electrode group together with the electrolyte. The insulating member adheres to the battery lid to seal a space formed with respect to the battery lid, and is bonded to an opening of the storage member to seal the opening.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery is provided that suppresses an increase of an internal pressure of a battery caused by gases generated therein so as to suppress battery swelling which is linked to a variation of a thickness of the battery and an increase of a binding force of the battery, and is trouble-free in manufacturing as an on-vehicle battery module, so that a high reliability is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery includes a clathrate compound in a battery container, and the clathrate compound is one or more types of compounds selected from a group consisting of cyclodextrins, calixarenes, and crown ethers. With this configuration, CO gas, CO2 gas, and H2 gas in the battery container are absorbed, and the battery swelling caused by the gases is suppressed.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes a flat-shaped electrode group in which separators are interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode has a positive electrode collector, a positive electrode mixture layer formed on a top surface of the positive electrode collector, and an insulating layer formed on the top surface of the positive electrode collector along an end portion of the positive electrode mixture layer. Further, a mixed layer, formed by mixing of a positive electrode mixture configuring the positive electrode mixture layer, and an insulator configuring the insulating layer, is interposed between the positive electrode mixture layer and the insulating layer.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit fuel cells each having a positive electrode (8) for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode (9) for oxidizing liquid fuel, and an electrolyte layer (10) interposed between the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9), and a section (3) for storing liquid fuel (4), wherein power can be generated stably while reducing the size by arranging the plurality of unit fuel cells on the substantially same plane. Each electrolyte layer of the unit fuel cell preferably constitutes a continuous integrated electrolyte layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to particles comprising at least carbon particles, platinum and ruthenium oxide, wherein the carbon particles support platinum and ruthenium oxide having an average particle diameter of 1 nm or less, and a method for producing the same, and to a power generating element for a fuel cell in which the particles are used as a catalyst for an electrode.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cell includes a positive electrode (8) for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode (9) for oxidizing fuel, a solid electrolyte (10) placed between the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9), and liquid fuel (4), wherein the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9) respectively include catalyst layers (8b), (9b) with a thickness of 20 ?m or more, at least one of the respective catalyst layers (8b), (9b) has a pore with a pore diameter in a range of 0.3 ?m to 2.0 ?m, and a pore volume of the pore is 4% or more with respect to a total pore volume. Because of this configuration, a liquid fuel cell with a high output density can be provided in which the pore configuration in the catalyst layer is optimized, and catalyst performance is exhibited sufficiently.

Abstract: An air-hydrogen battery with high energy density and satisfactory cycle characteristics is provided. The air-hydrogen battery includes: a positive electrode made of an air electrode; a negative electrode provided with a hydrogen-absorbing alloy; and a cation-exchange film or an anion-exchange film formed as an electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein a periphery of the hydrogen-absorbing alloy of the negative electrode is covered with an anion-exchange resin, whereby the contact area between the anion-exchange resin that functions as an electrolyte and the hydrogen-absorbing alloy is increased, and the utilization factor and resistance to corrosion of the hydrogen-absorbing alloy are enhanced.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit fuel cells each having a positive electrode (8) for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode (9) for oxidizing liquid fuel, and an electrolyte layer (10) interposed between the positive electrode (8) and the negative electrode (9), and a section (3) for storing liquid fuel (4), wherein power can be generated stably while reducing the size by arranging the plurality of unit fuel cells on the substantially same plane. Each electrolyte layer of the unit fuel cell preferably constitutes a continuous integrated electrolyte layer.

Abstract: An electric power generating element for a fuel cell includes a positive electrode for reducing oxygen, a negative electrode for oxidizing a fuel, and a solid electrolyte provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode and the negative electrode include a laminate of two or more electrode layers containing a catalyst. Each of the electrode layers has a thickness of 50 &mgr;m or less, and an adhesive layer is disposed between the electrode layers. In this way, it is possible to provide an electric power generating element for a fuel cell that can both thicken an electrode layer and achieve a porous structure and a structural flawlessness of the electrode layer.

Abstract: An air-hydrogen battery with high energy density and satisfactory cycle characteristics is provided.