Abstract: A cubic boron nitride sintered material comprises cubic boron nitride particles and a bonding material, wherein the bonding material comprises at least one first metallic element selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten; cobalt; and aluminum; the cubic boron nitride sintered material has a first interface region sandwiched between an interface between the cubic boron nitride particles and the bonding material, and a first virtual line passing through a point 10 nm apart from the interface to the bonding material side; and when an element that is present at the highest concentration among the first metallic elements in the first interface region is defined as a first element, an atomic concentration of the first element in the first interface region is higher than an atomic concentration of the first element in the bonding material excluding the first interface region.

Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery that includes a positive electrode including a sulfur-based positive active material containing at least sulfur and a negative electrode including a silicon-based negative active material containing at least silicon or a tin-based negative active material containing tin, in which lithium ions are easily implanted and moved. A positive electrode includes a positive current collector and a sulfur-based positive active material containing at least sulfur (S). A negative electrode includes a negative current collector and a silicon-based negative active material containing at least silicon (Si) or a tin-based negative active material containing tin (Sn). The positive current collector is made of an aluminum foil having a plurality of through holes. The negative current collector is made of a copper foil having a plurality of through holes. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked via a separator to form an electrode group.

Abstract: There is provided a lithium-ion secondary battery that includes a positive electrode including a sulfur-based positive active material containing at least sulfur and a negative electrode including a silicon-based negative active material containing at least silicon or a tin-based negative active material containing tin, in which lithium ions are easily implanted and moved. There is also provided a method of manufacturing the lithium-ion secondary battery. A positive electrode 3 includes a positive current collector 4 and a sulfur-based positive active material 5 containing at least sulfur (S). A negative electrode 7 includes a negative current collector 8 and a silicon-based negative active material 9 containing at least silicon (Si) or a tin-based negative active material 9 containing tin (Sn). The positive current collector 4 is made of an aluminum foil having a plurality of through holes. The negative current collector 8 is made of a copper foil having a plurality of through holes.

Abstract: A direct-current power source apparatus in which a lithium-ion capacitor unit is used as an electric storage system and which can fully utilize the lithium-ion capacitor unit and maintain the supply of electricity to a load is provided. An electric storage system includes a lithium-ion capacitor unit and a lead-acid battery connected in parallel with a load, and a voltage detecting section that detects the voltage of the lithium-ion capacitor unit. When the voltage detecting section detects that the voltage of the lithium-ion capacitor unit has reached a unit lower-limit voltage, a control circuit outputs a conduction signal for causing a switching circuit to get into a conductive state. When the switching circuit gets into a conductive state, the secondary battery supplies an electric power to a motor. At this time, the secondary battery charges the lithium-ion capacitor unit.

Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor that is resistant to vibration is provided. A positive current collecting member 39 is welded to an unapplied portion 25 of a positive electrode 9 included in a wound electrode group 5. An outer peripheral portion 40 of the positive current collecting member 39 is shaped and sized to extend to a position beyond a top portion 3c of an annular projected portion 3a. An insulating ring member 63 is disposed in a compressed state between the positive current collecting member 39 and the annular projected portion 3a and also between the positive current collecting member 39 and the annular projected portion 3a and an annular wall portion 3d of a peripheral wall portion that is continuous with the annular projected portion. This configuration makes it possible to reliably fix an electrode group unit in a container 3 while preventing a short circuit.

Abstract: A direct-current power source apparatus in which a lithium-ion capacitor unit is used as an electric storage system and which can fully utilize the lithium-ion capacitor unit and maintain the supply of electricity to a load is provided. An electric storage system includes a lithium-ion capacitor unit and a lead-acid battery connected in parallel with a load, and a voltage detecting section that detects the voltage of the lithium-ion capacitor unit. When the voltage detecting section detects that the voltage of the lithium-ion capacitor unit has reached a unit lower-limit voltage, a control circuit outputs a conduction signal for causing a switching circuit to get into a conductive state. When the switching circuit gets into a conductive state, the secondary battery supplies an electric power to a motor. At this time, the secondary battery charges the lithium-ion capacitor unit.

Abstract: A thawing device for railway track points is constituted by connecting a heating coil (1a) wound around a floor plate (2) for heating the floor plate (2) by induction to an inverter device (5) for supplying high-frequency current to the heating coil (1a), via a connection cable (4); and providing a protection against magnetism (9, 10a-10c, 11a-11c , 12a, 12b) about the periphery of the heating coil (1a) and the connection cable (4).