Abstract: A secondary battery includes a battery case housing a flat electrode body and a sealing plate. The electrode body is housed in the battery case such that a winding axis thereof is parallel with a longitudinal direction of the sealing plate. At an end portion of the electrode body in a winding axis direction thereof, an edge of a positive or negative electrode plate is connected to an external terminal fixed to the sealing plate through a current collector. An insulating pressing member is arranged between the sealing plate and the electrode body. The pressing member presses the electrode body in a direction perpendicular to the winding axis such that a distance between a portion of the electrode body contacting the pressing member and the sealing plate is longer than a distance between the end portion of the electrode body in the winding axis direction thereof and the sealing plate.

Abstract: A battery module comprising: a battery integrated body in which a plurality of rectangular secondary batteries are layered; a pair of end plates that sandwich the battery integrated body: and a pair of side-surface securing members that form a bridge between the end plates, and a top-surface securing member, each secondary battery including a flat wound electrode body in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are wound with a separator interposed therebetween, so that the winding axes are in the transverse direction, and the winding ends of the negative electrodes of at least the secondary batteries adjacent to the end plates face upward, the winding ends being positioned in the gap between half the height of the electrode body and the top part of the curved section of the electrode body in a cross-section orthogonal to the winding axes.

Abstract: A battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode substrate, a positive electrode active material layer formed on the surface of the positive electrode substrate, and a positive tab section having a substrate-exposed portion in which the positive electrode active material layer is not formed on the surface. The positive electrode active material layer has a notch in the end of the positive electrode active material layer. The outer edge of the notch encloses an end of a boundary where the positive tab section and the positive electrode active material layer come into contact.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a secondary battery capable of inhibiting precipitation of metallic lithium is provided. A secondary battery disclosed herein includes a wound electrode body, and a battery case. An insufficiently stacked region is formed in the vicinity of a positive electrode starting end portion in a flat portion of the electrode body. In the insufficiently stacked region, the total number of layers of a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate is smaller than in other regions in the flat portion. In addition, in the secondary battery, a protruding portion protruding toward at least a part of the insufficiently stacked region is formed on an inner surface of the battery case. As a result, it is possible to prevent pressing failure in the insufficiently stacked region and inhibit precipitation of metal Li due to a local increase in an inter-electrode distance.

Abstract: An electrode for a secondary battery that includes a collector and an active material layer formed on the collector. The active material layer is configured of a plurality of layers including at least a first layer formed on the collector, and a second layer formed on the first layer. An end portion of the collector at an edge portion of the electrode is widened in an electrode thickness direction with respect to a plate thickness of the collector.

Abstract: A secondary cell includes an electrode body including a plurality of electrode groups each including a plurality of positive electrodes, a plurality of negative electrodes, and at least one separator, the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes each being alternately stacked on each other with the separator interposed in between; and at least one metal plate disposed between the electrode groups. Electrodes that are disposed at both ends of each of the electrode groups are the negative electrodes. The metal plate is in contact with a mixture layer of a negative electrode constituting at least one of the electrode groups, the metal plate being provided in a noncontact state with conductive members other than the mixture layer.

Abstract: This prismatic non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode is provided with a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer formed on the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer comprises a first layer containing a first carbon active material, a Si active material and a polyacrylic acid or a salt thereof, and a second layer containing a second carbon active material. The nonaqueous solvent configuring the nonaqueous electrolyte contains a cyclic carbonate. The total content of the cyclic carbonate is 20-30 vol % of the total volume of the nonaqueous solvent, and the content of the ethylene carbonate belonging to the cyclic carbonate is less than or equal to 10 vol % of the total volume of the nonaqueous solvent. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains vinylene carbonate.

Abstract: A secondary battery according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a multilayer electrode body obtained by laminating multiple electrode plates with a separator interposed in between, multiple electrode tabs protruding from first ends of the multiple electrode plates, an exterior body having an opening receiving the multilayer electrode body, a sealing plate that closes the opening, a collector disposed on the sealing plate and connected to the multiple electrode tabs with a connector, and a binding member that binds the multiple electrode tabs between the connector and the multilayer electrode body. A secondary battery with this structure prevents damages of electrode tabs due to abrasion between the electrode tabs.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment includes an electrode assembly, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a prismatic battery case accommodating the electrode assembly and the nonaqueous electrolyte. The mass energy density of the secondary battery is not less than 200 Wh/kg. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery further includes a non-cellular elastic sheet disposed between the electrode assembly and the battery case. The ratio (A/B) of the thickness (A) of the elastic sheet at 100% SOC to the thickness (B) of the elastic sheet at 0% SOC is 0.05 to 0.3.

Abstract: A battery electrode which is one example of an embodiment is provided with a core and an active material layer disposed on the surface of the core. The core has a based part where the core surface is covered by the active material layer and a tab part projecting from the based part. Notches are formed on the core from the base of the tab part to the base part, or at positions where the base part adjoins the tab part. The edge of each notch is formed from a first curve comprising a first arc and either a second curve comprising a second arch having a smaller curvature than the first arc or a straight line. This allows a battery electrode to be provided such that the occurrence of cracks at the base of the tab part of the core and in the vicinity thereof can be sufficiently suppressed.

Abstract: An electrode for a secondary battery that includes a collector and an active material layer formed on the collector. The active material layer is configured of a plurality of layers including at least a first layer formed on the collector, and a second layer formed on the first layer. An end portion of the collector at an edge portion of the electrode is widened in an electrode thickness direction with respect to a plate thickness of the collector.

Abstract: A secondary cell includes an electrode body including a plurality of electrode groups each including a plurality of positive electrodes, a plurality of negative electrodes, and at least one separator, the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes each being alternately stacked on each other with the separator interposed in between; and at least one metal plate disposed between the electrode groups. Electrodes that are disposed at both ends of each of the electrode groups are the negative electrodes. The metal plate is in contact with a mixture layer of a negative electrode constituting at least one of the electrode groups, the metal plate being provided in a noncontact state with conductive members other than the mixture layer.

Abstract: A battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode substrate, a positive electrode active material layer formed on the surface of the positive electrode substrate, and a positive tab section having a substrate-exposed portion in which the positive electrode active material layer is not formed on the surface. The positive electrode active material layer has a notch in the end of the positive electrode active material layer. The outer edge of the notch encloses an end of a boundary where the positive tab section and the positive electrode active material layer come into contact.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment includes an electrode assembly, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a prismatic battery case accommodating the electrode assembly and the nonaqueous electrolyte. The mass energy density of the secondary battery is not less than 200 Wh/kg. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery further includes a non-cellular elastic sheet disposed between the electrode assembly and the battery case. The ratio (A/B) of the thickness (A) of the elastic sheet at 100% SOC to the thickness (B) of the elastic sheet at 0% SOC is 0.05 to 0.3.

Abstract: This positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contains: first particles which have an average surface roughness of 4% or less and are mainly configured of a lithium-nickel composite oxide wherein the ratio of Ni relative to the total number of moles of metal elements other than Li is more than 30% by mole; and second particles which are present on the surfaces of the first particles and are mainly configured of at least one hydroxide selected from among hydroxides of lanthanoid elements (excluding La and Ce) and oxyhydroxides.

Abstract: Arnold (13) includes a recessed portion (21) for receiving a melt (2). The recessed portion (21) is constituted by an inner wall surface (29) for converting the melt (2) into a solidified portion when the inner wall surface (29) contacts the melt (2), and opens in a withdrawal direction (D1) of the solidified portion. A curved line formed by a first contour (23p) and a second contour (25p) has a cusp at a position of start points (43 and 45). The distance between the first contour (23p) and the second contour (25p) in a width direction (D2) increases continuously from an upstream side to a downstream side of the withdrawal direction (D1). The shape of the inner wall surface (29) of the recessed portion (21) is determined so that a cast rod (3) can be rotationally displaced clockwise or counterclockwise about an axis passing through a first end point (33) or a second end point (35) and perpendicular to a section of the mold 13.

Abstract: In a purifying method for metal grade silicon, metal grade silicon with a silicon concentration not less than 98 wt % and not more than 99.9 wt % is prepared. The metal grade silicon contains aluminum not less than 1000 ppm and not more than 10000 ppm by weight. The metal grade silicon is heated at a temperature not less than 1500° C. and not more than 1600° C. in an inert atmosphere under pressure not less than 100 Pa and not more than 1000 Pa, and maintained at the temperature in the atmosphere for a predetermined period.

Abstract: Arnold (13) includes a recessed portion (21) for receiving a melt (2). The recessed portion (21) is constituted by an inner wall surface (29) for converting the melt (2) into a solidified portion when the inner wall surface (29) contacts the melt (2), and opens in a withdrawal direction (D1) of the solidified portion. A curved line formed by a first contour (23p) and a second contour (25p) has a cusp at a position of start points (43 and 45). The distance between the first contour (23p) and the second contour (25p) in a width direction (D2) increases continuously from an upstream side to a downstream side of the withdrawal direction (D1). The shape of the inner wall surface (29) of the recessed portion (21) is determined so that a cast rod (3) can be rotationally displaced clockwise or counterclockwise about an axis passing through a first end point (33) or a second end point (35) and perpendicular to a section of the mold 13.

Abstract: Particles coming from an evaporation source 9 are deposited on a substrate 21 at a specified film forming position 33 in a vacuum so as to form a thin film on the substrate 21. A rod-shaped material 32 containing a source material of the thin film is melted above the evaporation source 9 and the melted material is supplied to the evaporation source 9 in the form of droplets 14.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mold 10 for forming cast rods including: a segment assembly 12 including a plurality of segments 14 being placed side by side, and a plurality of cavities 26 extending along a longitudinal direction 16; and clamping means (18 to 21) for clamping the segment assembly 12 in directions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 16. The mold 10 has one or more cavity-forming portions 28 each forming a part of one of the peripheral surfaces of the cavities 26. Each cavity 26 is formed by a combination of two or more segments 14, and at least one of the plurality of segments 14 has two or more cavity-forming portions 28.