Abstract: A negative electrode plate of a nickel hydrogen storage battery includes a nonaqueous polymer binder and has an effective surface area per unit capacity of 70 cm2/Ah or more. The density of the first and second separators between positive and negative electrode plates ranges from 450 kg/m3 to 600 kg/m3. The nonwoven fabrics of the separators are formed by combining microfibers and compound fibers through melting portions of the compound fibers. The fibers have a virtually circular cross-section. The microfibers and the compound fibers have a diameter ranging from 1 ?m to less than 5 ?m and a diameter ranging from 5 ?m to 15 ?m, respectively. The proportion of the microfibers to whole fibers ranges from 10 percent by mass to 20 percent by mass. At least one of the nonwoven fabrics of the separators is subjected to sulfonation treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alkaline storage battery comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator and an alkaline electrolyte solution in a package can. The negative electrode contains a hydrogen storage alloy represented by the following general formula: Ln1-xMgx(Ni1-yTy)z (wherein Ln represents at least one element selected from lanthanoid elements, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr and Hf; T represents at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and 0<x?1, 0?y?0.5 and 2.5?z?4.5) as a negative electrode active material. In this alkaline storage battery, the hydrogen equilibrium pressure (P) is regulated to satisfy 0.02 MPa?P?0.11 MPa when the hydrogen amount stored in the hydrogen storage alloy (H/M (atomic ratio)) at 40° C. is 0.5.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery system according to an aspect of the present invention, with which a partial charging-discharging is performed, includes an alkaline storage battery 10 including an electrode group having a nickel positive electrode 11, a hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode 12, a separator 13; an alkaline electrolyte; and an outer can 14 accommodating the electrode group and the alkaline electrolyte, and further includes a partial charge-discharge control unit for controlling charging-discharging of the battery 10. In addition, zinc (Zn) is added to nickel hydroxide that is a main positive electrode active material in the nickel positive electrode 11 with an addition amount of 5% by mass or less with respect to the mass of nickel in the positive electrode active material. The concentration of the alkaline electrolyte is 6.5 mol/L or less and the content of lithium in the alkaline electrolyte is 0.3 mol/L or more.

Abstract: A negative electrode plate of a nickel hydrogen storage battery includes a nonaqueous polymer binder and has an effective surface area per unit capacity of 70 cm2/Ah or more. The density of the first and second separators between positive and negative electrode plates ranges from 450 kg/m3 to 600 kg/m3. The nonwoven fabrics of the separators are formed by combining microfibers and compound fibers through melting portions of the compound fibers. The fibers have a virtually circular cross-section. The microfibers and the compound fibers have a diameter ranging from 1 ?m to less than 5 ?m and a diameter ranging from 5 ?m to 15 ?m, respectively. The proportion of the microfibers to whole fibers ranges from 10 percent by mass to 20 percent by mass. At least one of the nonwoven fabrics of the separators is subjected to sulfonation treatment.

Abstract: A separator for a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a hydrogen-absorbing alloy as a negative electrode. The separator is a laminate of a substrate and a porous hydrophilic film.

Abstract: In an alkaline secondary battery provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator to be interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte solution, the above-mentioned separator has carbon-carbon double bonds. Further, an average amount of carbon-carbon double bonds in the separator is in the range of 10 &mgr;mol/g to 200 &mgr;mol/g, and an average amount of increased nitrogen in the separator after the separator is immersed in an alkaline aqueous solution having ammonium salt dissolved therein is not less than 140 &mgr;g/g.

Abstract: A nickel electrode for alkaline secondary battery including a porous sintered nickel substrate loaded with a nickel hydroxide-based active material, the nickel electrode has a configuration wherein a surface portion of the active material loaded into the sintered nickel substrate is provided with a combination of a first coating layer of a suitable compound and a second coating layer of a suitable compound, or a coating layer of a compound of two or more suitable elements, or wherein the coating layer of two or more suitable elements is formed between the sintered nickel substrate and the active material.

Abstract: In a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode employed as a negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery, a covering layer containing at least one of metal elected from nickel and cobalt, and carbon particles is formed on a surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode or hydrogen absorbing alloy particles used in the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode.

Abstract: A nickel electrode for alkaline secondary battery including a porous sintered nickel substrate loaded with a nickel hydroxide-based active material, the nickel electrode has a configuration wherein a surface portion of the active material loaded into the sintered nickel substrate is provided with a combination of a first coating layer of a suitable compound and a second coating layer of a suitable compound, or a coating layer of a compound of two or more suitable elements, or wherein the coating layer of two or more suitable elements is formed between the sintered nickel substrate and the active material.

Abstract: A separator for a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a hydrogen-absorbing alloy as a negative electrode. The separator is a laminate of a substrate and a porous hydrophilic film.

Abstract: In an alkaline secondary battery provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator to be interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte solution, the above-mentioned separator has double bond of carbon. Further, an average amount of double bond of carbon in the gram of separator is in the range of 10 &mgr;mol/g to 200 &mgr;mol/g, and an average amount of increased nitrogen in the gram of separator after the separator is immersed in an alkaline aqueous solution having ammonium salt dissolved therein is not less than 140 &mgr;g/g.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode employed as a negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery according to the present invention is obtained by adhering an electrode material consisting of hydrogen absorbing alloy powder and a binding agent composed of a polymeric material to a current collector, an aqueous polymeric material except for fluorocarbon resin is applied to a surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode, to form a coating layer, and a polymeric material in the coating layer is different from the polymeric material in the binding agent.

Abstract: In a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode employed as a negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery, a covering layer containing at least one of metal elected from nickel and cobalt, and carbon particles is formed on a surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode or hydrogen absorbing alloy particles used in the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode.

Abstract: A washing apparatus and a washing method, which further improve a washing effect and enable highly clean washing with a small amount of chemical. Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a washing apparatus of high throughput involving rapid switching of various chemicals of high responsibility and capable of performing a series of washing operations at high speed. The washing apparatus comprises undiluted cleaning liquid injection means for injecting an undiluted solution or undiluted gas of a cleaning liquid into a ultrapure water channel to make a cleaning liquid of a desired concentration, cleaning liquid supplying means connected to the super demineralized water channel for simultaneously supplying front and rear surface of a substrate with a cleaning liquid adjusted to a desired concentration or a ultrapure water, means for superposing ultrasonic wave or high frequency sound waves of 0.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a measuring instrument with a memory or measuring electrodes each having a memory, which does not require setting of a calibration or correction value at each replacement of the electrode, permits automatic recognition of information such as the model name or the manufacture No. of the electrode in the instrument body, and allows free selection of an appropriate electrode for each use. The measuring instrument 1 has an instrument body 20 and a measuring electrode 10 releasably connected to the instrument body 20. Storage means 15 for storing information regarding the measuring electrode 10 in the measuring electrode 10, or in a cable 12 or a connector 13 for connecting the measuring electrode 10 to the instrument body 20.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus and method for cleaning a precision substrate through use of high-frequency- or ultrasonic-applied cleaning liquid. An object substrate is horizontally held and rotated. High-frequency- or ultrasonic-applied cleaning liquid is jetted toward the surface of the object substrate from first cleaning liquid jetting unit disposed above the object substrate, and the nozzle of the first cleaning liquid jetting unit is moved in parallel with the surface of the object substrate. Cleaning liquid is also fed toward the central portion of the surface of the object substrate from cleaning liquid feed-to-center unit during cleaning. In the cleaning apparatus and method, a sufficiently high cleaning speed is attained.

Abstract: In a cleaning apparatus, a cleaning solution spray means itself is given a function of producing OH.sup.- ionized water and H.sup.+ ionized water and can spray OH.sup.- ionized water and H.sup.+ ionized water, as cleaning solutions immediately after they are produced, upon a substrate to be cleaned, and one of OH.sup.- ionized water and H.sup.+ ionized water can be selectively used as a cleaning solution. This cleaning apparatus includes a substrate holding member for holding a substrate to be cleaned, and a cleaning solution spray member for spraying a cleaning solution upon the substrate. The cleaning solution spray member includes an electrolytic ion generating member for radical-activating or ionizing pure water, and an ultrasonic wave generating member for spraying the radical-activated or ionized pure water, by carrying it on ultrasonic waves, upon the substrate.

Abstract: A cleaning solution and cleaning method are provided which: (1) make treatment at room temperature possible, and do not require heating, (2) use little chemicals and water, (3) do not require specialized apparatuses, and moreover, (4) do not require the use of specialized chemicals. The cleaning solution of the present invention comprises pure water containing 20 ppb-100 ppb of oxygen and 2 ppb or more of nitrogen. Furthermore, the cleaning solution may comprise electrolytically ionized water containing OH.sup.- and containing 20 ppb-100 ppb of oxygen. In the cleaning method of the present invention, the cleaning of a material to be cleaned is conducted in a cleaning solution comprising pure water containing 20 ppb-100 ppb of oxygen and 2 ppb-15 ppm of nitrogen, while applying ultrasound having a frequency of 30 kHz or more.

Abstract: An improvement is proposed in the cleaning treatment of semiconductor silicon wafers in which the conventional step of cleaning with an aqueous solution of an acid is replaced with a cleaning treatment with a temporarily acidic pure water which is produced electrolytically by the application of a DC voltage between an anode and a cathode bonded to the surfaces of a hydrogen-ion exchange membrane so that the acidic cleaning treatment can be performed under mild conditions so as to eliminate the troubles unavoidable in the conventional process. The apparatus used therefor comprises a rectangular vessel partitioned into a central anode compartment, in which the wafers are held in a vertical disposition within an upflow of pure water, and a pair of cathode compartments on both sides of the anode compartment by partitioning with a pair of hydrogen-ion exchange membranes, on both sides of which an anode plate and a cathode plate are bonded.

Abstract: An improvement is proposed in the cleaning treatment of semiconductor silicon wafers in which the conventional step of cleaning with an aqueous solution of an alkali is replaced with a cleaning treatment with a temporarily alkaline pure water which is produced electrolytically by the application of a DC voltage between a cathode and an anode bonded to the surfaces of a hydrogen-ion exchange membrane so that the alkaline cleaning treatment can be performed under mild conditions so as to eliminate the troubles due to formation of COPs unavoidable in the conventional process. In addition, the pure water rinse following the alkali cleaning of the wafers before transfer to the succeeding acidic cleaning step can be omitted to greatly contribute to the improvement of productivity.