Abstract: An alkaline zinc secondary battery in accordance with the present invention comprises a separator layer comprising a gel electrolyte comprising a water absorbent polymer and an alkaline aqueous solution, disposed between a negative electrode comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc oxide and a positive electrode. Because the separator layer is in a gel form, transfer of zinc ions is limited. Thereby, deformation of the negative electrode and generation of dendrite due to charge and discharge of the battery are substantially inhibited. Moreover, since impurity ions such as nitrate ions become less prone to move, self-discharge of the battery is also inhibited.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the reaction between the non-aqueous electrolyte and the electrode is suppressed to reduce a decrease in the discharge capacity with the charge/discharge cycle progress and the deterioration of battery characteristics during high-temperature storage. At least one of a chargeable and dischargeable positive electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt, and a chargeable and dischargeable negative electrode in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a phosphate having three aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, a phosphate having two aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or an aromatic hydrocarbon group, and a phosphate having an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or an aromatic hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode, which contains at least one organic sulfide compound selected from the group consisting of a thiolato compound and a thiol compound, and at least one selected from the group consisting of sulfur and a lithium sulfide represented by Formula (1): (LixS)n, where 0<x≦2 and n>0, a method of manufacturing the positive electrode, and a lithium battery using the positive electrode. Compared with the prior art lithium battery, the lithium battery using the positive electrode of the present invention has a greater capacity and a higher voltage. The positive electrode of the present invention effectively suppresses escape of the positive electrode active material from the positive electrode during charge and discharge operations and thus actualizes a secondary battery of high energy density having a less decrease in service capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for alkaline storage batteries with superb utilization of nickel hydroxide in an atmosphere from room temperature to high temperature. The positive electrode comprises a nickel hydroxide particle or a nickel hydroxide particle with one or more elements other than Ni incorporated therein, a coating layer which comprises a compound of cobalt having a mean valence over 2 and which coats the nickel hydroxide particle, and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Y, Yb, Ce, Sm, Gd and Er.

Abstract: A solid solution represented by the formula (1): LixM1yM2z is used as a negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a chargeable and dischargeable positive electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a chargeable and dischargeable negative electrode. In the formula (1), M1 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Fe, and M2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Sn, and 0≦x<10, 0.1≦y≦10 and z=1.

Abstract: An alkaline zinc secondary battery in accordance with the present invention comprises a separator layer comprising a gel electrolyte comprising a water absorbent polymer and an alkaline aqueous solution, disposed between a negative electrode comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc oxide and a positive electrode. Because the separator layer is in a gel form, transfer of zinc ions is limited. Thereby, deformation of the negative electrode and generation of dendrite due to charge and discharge of the battery are substantially inhibited. Moreover, since impurity ions such as nitrate ions become less prone to move, self-discharge of the battery is also inhibited.

Abstract: Disclosed is an active material for a hydrogen storage alloy electrode which can provide a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a longer cycle life than any conventional battery. The active material has a core alloy of a hydrogen storage alloy and a surface layer comprising iron compound formed on the surface of the core alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode active material offering a long life non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with high energy density that shows excellent cycle life characteristics. The negative electrode active material comprises a compound represented by the formula DSnO3 wherein D represents at least one selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy electrode having a high capacity and excellent cycle characteristics is provided. The electrode is made from particulate active material comprising a hydrogen storage alloy of body-centered cubic crystal structure or body-centered tetragonal crystal structure, said hydrogen storage alloy being represented by the general formula TiaM1bCrcM2dLe, wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Mo; M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, V, Zn, Zr, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Al, Si, C, N, P and B; L is at least one element selected from the group consisting of rare-earth elements and Y; 0.2≦a≦0.7; 0.01≦b≦0.4; 0.1≦c≦0.7; 0≦d≦0.3; 0≦e≦0.03; and a+b+c+d+e=1.0, and said particulate active material having a Ti—Ni system alloy phase in the surface portion thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for alkaline storage batteries with superb utilization of nickel hydroxide in an atmosphere from room temperature to high temperature. The positive electrode comprises a nickel hydroxide particle or a nickel hydroxide particle with one or more elements other than Ni incorporated therein, a coating layer which comprises a compound of cobalt having a mean valence over 2 and which coats the nickel hydroxide particle, and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Y, Yb, Ce, Sm, Gd and Er.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for alkaline storage batteries with superb utilization of nickel hydroxide in an atmosphere from room temperature to high temperature. The positive electrode comprises a nickel hydroxide particle or a nickel hydroxide particle with one or more elements other than Ni incorporated therein, a coating layer which comprises a compound of cobalt having a mean valence over 2 and which coats the nickel hydroxide particle, and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Y, Yb, Ce, Sm, Gd and Er.

Abstract: The disclosure is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of high energy density and long life exhibiting an excellent charge and discharge cycle life. The battery comprises a rechargeable positive electrode, a rechargeable negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, the negative electrode including a compound represented by the formula Li&kgr;MX&agr;, where X represents at least one selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine and M represents at least one selected from the group consisting of Sn, Si, Ge, Pb, Bi, P, B, Ga, In, Al, As, Sb, Zn, Ir, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba and where 0≦&kgr;<10 and 2<&agr;<12.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an improved negative electrode is disclosed. The negative electrode comprises alloy particles having a composition represented by the formula: LixM1aM2  (1) wherein M1 represents at least one element selected from the element group m1 consisting of Ti, Zr, V, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Co, Ir, Ni, Cu and Fe, M2 represents at least one element selected from the element group m2 consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, In, Si, Sn, Pb, Sb and Bi, M1 and M2 represent different elements each other, and wherein 0≦x≦10, 0.1≦a≦10, with the proviso that 2≦a≦10 when M1 is composed only of Fe, and having at least two phases which are different in composition each other.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is disclosed, which hardly causes deterioration of its properties at high temperatures. The battery has a chargeable and dischargeable cathode, a chargeable and dischargeable anode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte and includes a substance which produces water with an increase in temperature in any one of the cathode, the anode, the non-aqueous electrolyte, other elements, and voids in the battery. Examples of the substance which produces water include hydroxides and compounds having water of crystallization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting a fully charged condition of a secondary battery by which the fully charged condition of a secondary battery can be detected accurately and deterioration in battery characteristic due to overcharging can be restrained irrespective of the charging mode and the surroundings, without the need for a special battery structure. In the method, pulse vibrations generated inside a secondary battery being charged are detected, and when the obtained characteristic value of the pulse vibrations, for example, incidence of generation of the vibrations reaches a predetermined value, the secondary battery is determined to be in fully charged condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an anode active material with a high capacity and excellent cycle characteristics. The active material comprises a salt of a metal or a semi-metal and a compound selected from the group consisting of oxo-acids, thiocyanic acid, cyanogen, and cyanic acid, wherein each said oxo-acid comprises an element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, sulfur, carbon, boron, phosphorus, selenium, tellurium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, chromium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, manganese, and vanadium, salts of said oxo-acids of phosphorus and boron being restricted to hydrogenphosphates and hydrogenborates.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material and a positive electrode for an alkaline storage battery are disclosed which exhibit high charge efficiency at a high temperature. The positive electrode active material comprises particles formed by agglomeration of crystals of nickel hydroxide active material, at least the surface layer of the particles containing a solid solution nickel hydroxide with manganese incorporated therein. The solid solution is present as crystals growing on the crystal surface of said nickel hydroxide active material and/or crystals independent of crystals of the nickel hydroxide active material. The content of manganese in the solid solution is at least one mole percent on the whole metal ions in the solid solution and not higher than 10 mole percent on the combined total amount of the metal ions in the nickel hydroxide active material and the solid solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen storage alloy electrode high in capacity and exceptional in cycle life characteristic by improving a conventional V-based hydrogen storage alloy of a body-centered cubic structure. The electrode comprises particles of a hydrogen storage alloy represented by the general formula V.sub.1-a-b-c-d Ti.sub.a Cr.sub.b M.sub.c L.sub.d, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Nb, Zn, Zr, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Al, Si, C, N, P and B, and L is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y and rare earth elements, and 0.2.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.5, 0.1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.4, 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.2 and 0<d.ltoreq.0.03, the alloy having a body-centered cubic structure. The alloy particles preferably have their surface disposed with an Ni-diffused layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which employs, as a negative electrode active material, a carbide containing an alkali metal in a charged stage. The carbide used is an ionic bond type carbide, a covalent bond type carbide, or an intermetallic compound type carbide. The ionic bond type carbide is exemplified as Na.sub.2 C.sub.2, K.sub.2 C.sub.2, Cu.sub.2 C.sub.2, VC.sub.2, and the like. The covalent bond type carbide is exemplified as Cr.sub.4 C, and the like. The intermetallic compound type carbide is exemplified as Mn.sub.3 C, Mn.sub.23 C.sub.6, Mn.sub.7 C.sub.3, Fe.sub.2 C, FeC, Ni.sub.3 C, and the like. A highly reliable nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with a high energy density and excellent cycle life characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high performance composite hydroxide active material which facilitates charging at high temperatures. It comprises a solid solution nickel hydroxide material having additive elements incorporated therein. The additive elements comprise at least one element selected from group A consisting of Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Y, La, Ce, Al, and Pb, and at least one element selected from group B consisting of Mn and Co.