Abstract: A method for determining a state of a rechargeable battery includes obtaining a complex impedance measured by applying AC voltage or AC current to a rechargeable battery that is subject to determination and determining a state of the rechargeable battery based on the obtained complex impedance. The determining a state of the rechargeable battery includes determining whether or not a first capacity shift is occurring based on a comparison of a value of the complex impedance at a predetermined frequency with a first determination value used to determine a negative electrode capacity shift, and when determined that the first capacity shift is not occurring, determining whether or not a second capacity shift is occurring based on a comparison of a gradient of the complex impedance with respect to a real axis in a diffusion resistance region with a second determination value used to determine a positive electrode capacity shift.

Abstract: A method for reusing a vehicle rechargeable battery to rebuild an assembled battery from a plurality of battery units having a usage history is provided. The method includes measuring a remaining charge of each of a plurality of battery units obtained by dismantling an assembled battery having a usage history. The method further includes selecting from the battery units a battery unit in which the measured remaining charge is greater than or equal to a remaining charge lower limit value, which is set in a range that is greater than zero and less than a lower limit value of a remaining charge control range of a vehicle in which the assembled battery was installed, and assembling a new assembled battery using the selected battery unit.

Abstract: A method for determining a state of a rechargeable battery includes obtaining a complex impedance measured by applying AC voltage or AC current to a rechargeable battery that is subject to determination and determining a state of the rechargeable battery based on the obtained complex impedance. The determining a state of the rechargeable battery includes determining whether or not a first capacity shift is occurring based on a comparison of a value of the complex impedance at a predetermined frequency with a first determination value used to determine a negative electrode capacity shift, and when determined that the first capacity shift is not occurring, determining whether or not a second capacity shift is occurring based on a comparison of a gradient of the complex impedance with respect to a real axis in a diffusion resistance region with a second determination value used to determine a positive electrode capacity shift.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a nickel metal hydride battery is provided. The nickel metal hydride battery includes a hydrogen absorbing alloy that serves as a negative electrode material and a safety valve that opens when an internal pressure of a battery case is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure. The method includes connecting a plurality of nickel metal hydride batteries in parallel. Each nickel metal hydride battery is formed by integrating one or more battery cells. The method further includes overcharging the nickel metal hydride batteries by supplying current from a charge unit that is connected in parallel to the nickel metal hydride batteries. The method further includes, when each nickel metal hydride battery is overcharged, restoring a discharge reserve of a negative electrode by releasing at least some of an oxygen gas generated at a positive electrode out of the battery case through the safety valve.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a nickel metal hydride battery is provided. The nickel metal hydride battery includes a hydrogen absorbing alloy that serves as a negative electrode material and a safety valve that opens when an internal pressure of a battery case is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure. The method includes connecting a plurality of nickel metal hydride batteries in parallel. Each nickel metal hydride battery is formed by integrating one or more battery cells. The method further includes overcharging the nickel metal hydride batteries by supplying current from a charge unit that is connected in parallel to the nickel metal hydride batteries. The method further includes, when each nickel metal hydride battery is overcharged, restoring a discharge reserve of a negative electrode by releasing at least some of an oxygen gas generated at a positive electrode out of the battery case through the safety valve.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a battery module including a plurality of connected cells is provided. Each of the connected cells is a nickel-metal hydride battery including a positive electrode containing an active material of which a main component is nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen adsorption alloy, and an electrolytic solution that is an alkali solution. The method includes over-discharging the battery module so that a state of charge reaches 0% in every one of the connected cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rectangular battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a first electrode and a second electrode with a separator interposed therebetween is housed in a battery case having an opening sealed by a sealing plate. The first electrode is electrically connected to the sealing plate, and the second electrode is electrically connected to a current collector plate provided between the sealing plate and the electrode group and extending along a longer side direction of the sealing plate. The sealing plate has a lower-strength portion configured to be deformed prior to the other portions of the sealing plate to provide a contact between the sealing plate and the current collector plate when the sealing plate receives an external pressure along the longer side direction of the sealing plate.

Abstract: A method for reusing a vehicle rechargeable battery to rebuild an assembled battery from a plurality of battery units having a usage history is provided. The method includes measuring a remaining charge of each of a plurality of battery units obtained by dismantling an assembled battery having a usage history. The method further includes selecting from the battery units a battery unit in which the measured remaining charge is greater than or equal to a remaining charge lower limit value, which is set in a range that is greater than zero and less than a lower limit value of a remaining charge control range of a vehicle in which the assembled battery was installed, and assembling a new assembled battery using the selected battery unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode including a lithium-containing transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode contains lithium carbonate and lithium hydrogencarbonate in a total amount of 500 ppm or more and 3000 ppm or less, and exhibits a weight loss by temperature increase from 25° C. to 300° C. at 5° C./min of 70% or less of the total amount and of 1500 ppm or less. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a non-aqueous solvent and a lithium salt. The non-aqueous solvent may contain a cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a battery module including a plurality of connected cells is provided. Each cell is a nickel-metal hydride battery including a positive electrode containing an active material of which the main component is nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen adsorption alloy, and an electrolytic solution that is an alkali solution. The method includes over-discharging the battery module so that a state of charge reaches 0% in every one of the cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the separator including a biaxially-oriented polyolefin porous film including extended-chain crystals and folded-chain crystals, wherein the extended-chain crystals and the folded-chain crystals form a shish-kebab structure. The average distance between the extended-chain crystals adjacent to each other is 1.5 ?m or more and less than 11 ?m, and the average distance between the folded-chain crystals adjacent to each other is 0.3 ?m or more and less than 0.9 ?m. A heat resistant porous film may be laminated on the polyolefin porous film. The heat resistant porous film includes a resin having heat resistance or a melting point higher than a melting point of the polyolefin porous film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rectangular battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a first electrode and a second electrode with a separator interposed therebetween is housed in a battery case having an opening sealed by a sealing plate. The first electrode is electrically connected to the sealing plate, and the second electrode is electrically connected to a current collector plate provided between the sealing plate and the electrode group and extending along a longer side direction of the sealing plate. The sealing plate has a lower-strength portion configured to be deformed prior to the other portions of the sealing plate to provide a contact between the sealing plate and the current collector plate when the sealing plate receives an external pressure along the longer side direction of the sealing plate.

Abstract: A separator for a battery includes a porous polymer film having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface has openings distributed thereon communicating with pores of the porous polymer film, and the ratio of the total area of the openings to the area of the first surface is 89% or more and 96% or less. The diameters of the openings may be within the range of 0.8 ?m or more and 40 ?m or less. A region with a predetermined thickness including at least the first surface of the porous polymer film preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, and a copolymer of propylene and another copolymerizable monomer.

Abstract: A thin secondary battery with a power-generating element 10 including positive electrode sheets 12 and negative electrode sheets 14 stacked with separators 5 interposed therebetween, wherein the outermost positive electrode sheet 12 of the power-generating element 10 includes a first resin layer 6a, instead of a positive electrode active material layer 1, on an outer surface of a positive electrode current collector 2, the outermost negative electrode sheet 14 of the power-generating element 10 includes a second resin layer 6b, instead of a negative electrode active material layer 3, on an outer surface of a negative electrode current collector 3, and the first and second resin layers 6a and 6b cover the power-generating element 10, and are bonded to each other at peripheral portions 9 surrounding the power-generating element 10, thereby hermetically sealing the power-generating element 10.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cylindrical battery including: a cylindrical wound electrode group including sheet-like positive and negative electrodes, and a separator interposed therebetween; a bottomed cylindrical battery case having an opening and accommodating the electrode group; and a sealing unit sealing the opening. The electrode group has, at its center portion, a cavity extending in the axis direction thereof. The sealing unit includes a terminal plate having a vent hole, and a valve plate made of an electrically conductive material. The valve plate includes first and second rupturable portions each configured to be ruptured by an increase in the internal pressure of the battery case. The first rupturable portion is provided so as to surround a first region of the valve plate facing the cavity. The second rupturable portion is provided so as to surround a second region of the valve plate. The second region includes the first region.

Abstract: Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: a plurality of electrode groups each formed by winding a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator into a flat shape; a non-aqueous electrolyte; and a prismatic case accommodating the electrode groups and the non-aqueous electrolyte. The case has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The electrode groups are accommodated in the case such that lateral directions of the cross-sectional shapes of the electrode groups are each perpendicular to the lateral direction of the cross-sectional shape of the case, and the axis directions of the electrode groups are each parallel with the height direction of the case.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode including a lithium-containing transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode contains lithium carbonate and lithium hydrogencarbonate in a total amount of 500 ppm or more and 3000 ppm or less, and exhibits a weight loss by temperature increase from 25° C. to 300° C. at 5° C./min of 70% or less of the total amount and of 1500 ppm or less. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a non-aqueous solvent and a lithium salt. The non-aqueous solvent may contain a cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: a spirally-wound electrode group including a continuous first electrode, a continuous second electrode, and a continuous separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The first electrode includes a sheet-like first current collector, and a first active material layer formed on a surface of the first current collector; and the second electrode includes a sheet-like second current collector, and a second active material layer formed on a surface of the second current collector. In the electrode group, the winding terminal end of the first electrode faces the second electrode on the further outer peripheral side, with the separator interposed therebetween. The facing site of the second electrode where the second electrode faces the winding terminal end of the first electrode is reinforced with a reinforcing component for supplementing the thickness of the second electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the separator including a biaxially-oriented polyolefin porous film including extended-chain crystals and folded-chain crystals, wherein the extended-chain crystals and the folded-chain crystals form a shish-kebab structure. The average distance between the extended-chain crystals adjacent to each other is 1.5 ?m or more and less than 11 ?m, and the average distance between the folded-chain crystals adjacent to each other is 0.3 ?m or more and less than 0.9 ?m. A heat resistant porous film may be laminated on the polyolefin porous film. The heat resistant porous film includes a resin having heat resistance or a melting point higher than a melting point of the polyolefin porous film.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising: an electrode group in which a long first electrode, a long second electrode, and a long separator disposed therebetween are wound spirally; and a non-aqueous electrolyte, is provided. The first electrode includes a sheet-like first current collector and a first active material layer disposed on a surface of the first current collector. The second electrode includes a sheet-like second current collector and a second active material layer disposed on a surface of the second current collector. An end portion of the first electrode on a winding-end side of the electrode group has a non-linear form and faces the second electrode placed on an outer circumferential side with the separator therebetween. The non-linear form is preferably a periodically continuous form, for example a waveform.