Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided wherein the positive electrode is made from a lithium-metal composite oxide represented by the general formula Lix(Ni1-y, Coy)1-zMzO2 (0.98≦x≦1.10, 0.05≦y≦0.4, 0.01≦z≦0.2, in which M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Mn, Ti, Fe, Cu, Zn and Ga), and having an average particle diameter of 5 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m a C-amount of 0.14 wt % or less measured by way of the high-frequency heating-IR absorption method, and a Karl Fischer moisture content of 0.2 wt % or less when heated to 180° C. and the method comprising the steps of applying a paste of active material for positive electrode to electrode plate to make an electrode, then drying the electrode, and pressing and then installing the electrode in a battery, in a work atmosphere having an absolute moisture content of 10 g/m3 or less.

Abstract: There is provided a lithium secondary battery having a high capacity and excellent high-rate discharge characteristic and charge/discharge cycle characteristic. The lithium secondary battery comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an ionic conductor, wherein the positive electrode comprises lithium metal composite oxide particles; the lithium metal composite oxide particles comprise a plurality of secondary particles in an elongated shape each comprised of a plurality of primary particles with an average particle size of 0.1 to 1 &mgr;m so aggregated as to form a void therebetween; and the secondary particle is columnar or planar and has an average size in a long length direction of 5 to 15 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A perovskite feedstock (powder or preform) is placed in a high-pressure cell of a high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) apparatus and subjected to pressures in excess of about 2 kbar and temperatures above about 800° C. for a time adequate to increase the density of the preform.

Abstract: A lithium-nickel complex oxide material for active material for positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery is provided and expressed by the general formula Lix(Ni1-yCoy)1-zMzO2 (where, 0.98≦x≦1.10, 0.05≦y≦0.4, 0.01≦z≦0.2, M=at least one element selected from the group of Al, Zn, Ti and Mg), wherein according to Rietveld analysis, the Li site occupancy rate for the Li site in the crystal is 98% or greater, and the average particle size of the spherical secondary particles is 5 &mgr;m to 15 &mgr;m, and wherein the difference in specific surface area between before and after the washing process is 1.0 m2/g or less.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material which is low toxic and can be used at a high temperature of 500° C. or higher without variation in performance, and a thermoelectric conversion device containing the material. The thermoelectric conversion material is formed of an oxide represented by (Ca3-xMx)Co4O9 (M: Sr or Ba, 1.2>x>0.5).

Abstract: Metal oxides having a perovskite or perovskite-like crystal structure are prepared by a process comprising subjecting a mixture of starring powders to a high energy milling sufficient to induce chemical reaction of the components and thereby directly mechanosynthesize said metal oxide in the form of a perovskite or a perovskite-like material having a nanocrystalline structure as determined by X-ray diffractometry. The process according to the present invention is simple, efficient, not expensive and does not require any heating step for producing a perovskite that may easily show a very high specific surface area. Another advantage is that the perovskite obtained according to the present invention also has a high density of lattice defects thereby showing a higher catalytic activity, a characteristic which is highly desirable in their eventual application as catalysts and electronic conductors.

Abstract: A composite oxide suitable for an active material of a positive electrode for a lithium secondary cell which can be used in a wide range of voltage, has a large electric capacity and excellent low temperature performance and is excellent in the durability for charge-discharge cycles and highly safe, a process for its production, and a positive electrode and a cell employing it, are presented.

Abstract: A cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having a c-axis length of lattice constant of 14.080 to 14.160 Å, an average particle size of 0.1 to 5.0 &mgr;m, and a composition represented by the formula: LiCo(1−x−y)MnxMgyO2 wherein x is a number of 0.008 to 0.18; and y is a number of 0 to 0.18. This cathode active material is capable of maintaining an initial discharge capacity required for secondary cells and showing improved charge/discharge cycle characteristics under high temperature conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. The active material includes a cobalt-based compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the formulas 1 to 4. The active material has a structure of secondary particles with a size of 10 to 30 &mgr;m and the secondary particle is gathered with primary particles with a size of 1 to 5 &mgr;m. The active material includes a metallic oxide coated on the cobalt-based compound. LiCoA2  (1) LiCoO2-xBx  (2) LiCo1-xMxA2  (3) LiCo1-xMxO2-yBy  (4) where A is selected from the group consisting of O, S, F and P, B is selected from the group consisting of S, F and P, M is a transition metal selected from Al, Mg, Cr or Mn; Sr; or lanthanide metal selected from La or Ce; 0<x<1 and 0<y<1.

Abstract: A positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery, which is high in safety, high in capacity, excellent in cycle performance, and high in charge/discharge efficiency, is provided. The positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery is a powder containing a Li—Ni—Co—O or Li—Ni—Co—Ba—O system component as a main component and having an amorphous phase of an oxide mixed in each of particles or formed at the surface of the particle.

Abstract: A positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which is high in safety, high in capacity, excellent in rate performance and high temperature storage performance and high in charge/discharge efficiency is provided. The positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery is obtained by adding Al to a Li—Ni—Co—Ba—O system raw material or preferably by adding Al and an amorphous phase of an oxide thereto.

Abstract: It is the object of the invention to provide a cathode material capable of improving charge-and-discharge cycle characteristics and a battery using the cathode material. A rolled electrode body (20) is provided, the rolled electrode body being comprised of a strip-shaped cathode (21) and a strip-shaped anode (22) with a separator (23) sandwiched in-between. Lithium metal precipitates on the anode (22) in the middle of charge, and a capacity of the anode (22) is expressed by a sum of a capacity component obtained through insertion and extraction of lithium and a capacity component obtained through precipitation and dissolution of lithium. The cathode (21) includes lithium-containing oxide as the cathode material capable of insertion and extraction of lithium, which is expressed in a chemical formula LixMI1−yMIIyO2. MI corresponds to Co or Ni, and MII corresponds to a transition metal element except for MI. Therefore, charge-and-discharge cycle characteristics can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of lithium cobaltate by a solid state thermal one step process comprising mixing lithium oxide (Li2O) and cobalt nitrate (Co(NO3)2) in solid state uniformly, adding a heat generating material to the mixture and grinding the mixture and heating the ground mixture at a temperature in the range of 650 to 700° C. to obtain the desired lithium cobaltate.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material, which gives a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery capable of high input/output where resistance due to a battery reaction in a low temperature environment is suppressed, is produced by a method comprising: (a)providing a nickel hydroxide which is represented by the general formula Ni1−(x+y)CoxMy(OH)2, (b)heating the nickel hydroxide at a temperature not lower than 600° C. and not higher than 1000° C. to produce a nickel oxide which is represented by the general formula Ni1−(x+y)CoxMyO; and (c)mixing the nickel oxide and a lithium compound to obtain a mixture and heating the mixture at a temperature not lower than 700° C. and not higher than 850° C. to produce a lithium-containing composite oxide which is represented by the general formula LiNi1−(x+y)CoxMyO2, where 0.1≦x≦0.35 and 0.03≦y≦0.2 are satisfied and M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Ti and Sn.

Abstract: A number of materials with the composition Li1+xNi&agr;Mn&bgr;Co&ggr;M′&dgr;O2−zFz (M′=Mg,Zn,Al,Ga,B,Zr,Ti) for use with rechargeable batteries, wherein x is between about 0 and 0.3, &agr;is between about 0.2 and 0.6, &bgr; is between about 0.2 and 0.6, &ggr; is between about 0 and 0.3, &dgr; is between about 0 and 0.15, and z is between about 0 and 0.2. Adding the above metal and fluorine dopants affects capacity, impedance, and stability of the layered oxide structure during electrochemical cycling.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes: a positive electrode containing a positive active substance capable of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium; a negative electrode containing a negative active substance capable of reversibly occluding and releasing lithium; and an electrolyte having lithium conductivity, wherein the positive active substance contains an oxide including lithium and transition metal, and a composition ratio among the lithium, the transition metal and oxygen in the oxide is in at least one selected from the following states:

Abstract: LiCoO2 nano powder of a high-temperature polymorph having a small and uniform size of grains which is obtained by modifying a surface of a precursor by mixing inert soluble salt on a Li-Co acetate precursor, and by heating the surface-modified precursor is provided, and a battery manufactured by using the powder as the cathode material has very excellent charging/discharging characteristics.

Abstract: A modified lithium cobalt oxide is useful as a cathode of a lithium ion battery for increasing a charge voltage to 4.4 V. The modified lithium cobalt oxide includes a lithium cobalt oxide particle and an oxide of ZrO2.TiO2.B2O3. Al2O3 or Ga2O3 deposited on a surface of the particle. The modified lithium cobalt oxide is prepared by impregnating the lithium cobalt oxide particle in an aqueous solution containing ions of Zr, Ti, B, Al or Ga, and calcining the impregnated particle.

Abstract: The positive electrode active material in accordance with the present invention is used for a positive electrode for a lithium-ion secondary battery, includes Li, Mn, Ni, Co, and O atoms, and has a substantially halite type crystal structure. Specifically, it is preferably expressed by LiaMnbNicCodOe, where a is 0.85 to 1.1, b is 0.2 to 0.6, c is 0.2 to 0.6, d is 0.1 to 0.5, and e is 1 to 2 (the sum of b, c, and d being 1). Because of such composition and crystal structure, the positive electrode active material of the present invention reduces the amount of elution of the battery into the liquid electrolyte and enhances the stability at a high temperature.

Abstract: A process method for producing a lithium based mixed oxide of the formula LiM′x . . . Oy through the steps of combining a lithium oxide with a second oxide having the base metal element (M′) at room temperature; and applying to the combination, a high energy milling process, wherein the high energy milling process obtains, without the addition of substantial external heat being added to the synthesis, a chemical synthesis of a composite oxide of the above formula, having crystallites of nanometer dimension.

Abstract: In an active material of a positive electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery where lithium cobaltate represented by the formula LiCoO2 is used, which comprises a mixture of primary particles of small crystals falling in the range of 0.4 to 10 &mgr;m in Feret's diameter in a projection chart by SEM observation and having an average diameter of 5 &mgr;m or less and secondary particles formed by gathering of a number of said small crystals and having an average particle size falling in the range of 4 to 30 &mgr;m where the molar ratio of Co to Li is 0.97 or more to 1.03 or less, at least part of the small crystals constituting the secondary particles are jointed by sintering and furthermore, the secondary particles are preferably spherical or elliptical.

Abstract: Provided are a cathode material capable of achieving a higher discharge capacity and a higher discharge voltage, and obtaining superior charge-discharge characteristics, and a battery using the cathode material. A separator (15) is disposed between a cathode (12) and an anode (14). The cathode (12) comprises a lithium composite oxide represented by LiaMIbMIIcOd. MI represents at least two kinds selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ni and Co, and MII represents at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Al, Ti, Mg and B. Further, a, b, c and d are within a range satisfying 1.0<a<1.5, 0.9<b+c<1.1, a>b+c, 1.8<d<2.5, respectively. When lithium is excessively included, the charge capacity can be improved, and even after charge, a certain amount of lithium remains in the crystalline structure of the lithium composite oxide, so the stability of the crystalline structure can be improved.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising an anode (12) capable of reversible occlusion and release of lithium ions, and a cathode (13) also capable of reversible occlusion and release of lithium ions, the anode (12) containing as an active substance a complex oxide containing lithium. An anode active substance in a fully charged state has a maximum heating peak of at least 270° C. at differential scanning calorie measuring. The secondary battery can restricts thermal runaway even in an abnormal status and is high in safety. A production method for an active substance suitably used for the anode of the non-aqueous electrolyte is provided.

Abstract: A method for producing a positive electrode material of Li-ion secondary batteries is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process based on solid state thermal reaction for the preparation of cathode materials for lithium secondary batteries such as rocking chair and intercalated batteries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of lithium cobaltate by a solid state thermal one step process comprising mixing lithium oxide (Li2O) and cobalt nitrate (Co(NO3)2) in solid state uniformly, adding a heat generating material to the mixture and grinding the mixture and heating the ground mixture at a temperature in the range of 650 to 700° C. to obtain the desired lithium cobaltate.

Abstract: Lithium metal oxide compounds of nominal formula Li2MO2, in which M represents two or more positively charged metal ions, selected predominantly and preferably from the first row of transition metals are disclosed herein. The Li2MO2 compounds have a layered-type structure, which can be used as positive electrodes for lithium electrochemical cells, or as a precursor for the in-situ electrochemical fabrication of LiMO2 electrodes. The Li2MO2 compounds of the invention may have additional functions in lithium cells, for example, as end-of-discharge indicators, or as negative electrodes for lithium cells.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell or battery in which the positive electrode comprising a LiMn2−xMxO4 spinel structure in which M is one or more cations with an atomic number less than 52, such that the average oxidation state of the manganese ions is equal to or greater than 3.5, and in which 0≦x≦0.15, having one or more lithium spine oxide LiM′2O4 or lithiated spinel oxide Li1+yM′2O4 compounds in which the M′ cations are selected from one or more of lithium, cobalt, titanium or manganese and in which 0<y≦1.

Abstract: The present invention includes substantially single-phase lithium metal oxide compounds having hexagonal layered crystal structures that are substantially free of localized cubic spinel-like structural phases. The lithium metal oxides of the invention have the formula Li&agr;M&bgr;A&ggr;O2, wherein M is one or more transition metals, A is one or more dopants having an average oxidation state N such that +2.5≦N≦+3.5, 0.90≦&agr;≦1.10, and &bgr;+&ggr;=1. The present invention also includes dilithiated forms of these compounds, lithium and lithium-ion secondary batteries using these compounds as positive electrode materials, and methods of preparing these compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-capacity and low-cost non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising: a negative electrode containing, as a negative electrode active material, a ssubstance capable of absorbing/desorbing lithium ions and/or metal lithium; a separator; a positive electrode; and an electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode active material contained in the positive electrode is composed of crystalline particles of an oxide containing two kinds of transition metal elements, the crystalline particles having a layered crystal structure, and oxygen atoms constituting the oxide forming a cubic closest packing structure.

Abstract: A method of treating a hollandite compound to improve its adsorption of nitrogen monoxide, which comprises subjecting a hollandite compound having a hollandite-type crystal structure and represented by a chemical formula AxMyN8-yO16, wherein A is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal K, Na, Rb or Ca, M is a bivalent or trivalent metal element Fe, Ga, Zn, In, Cr, Co, Mg, Al or Ni, N is a tetravalent metal element Sn or Ti, 0<x≦2 and 0<y≦2, to a heat treatment in a stream of an oxygen-nitrogen mixture having oxygen gas and nitrogen gas mixed in a volume ratio of 3:97 to 50:50, at a temperature of from 50 to 1,500° C. for from 5 minutes to 1 hour.

Abstract: A positive active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which has a higher capacity and improved thermal stability in a charged state and is less expensive compared to the current active material of LiCoO2 is provided by a lithium compound oxide having the formula:

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery, including lithium-transition metal composite oxide of a layer crystal structure, in which the lithium-transition metal composite oxide contains an element that improves conductivity of electrons in the lithium-transition metal composite oxide. Use of this positive electrode active material can improve cycle characteristics, high rate characteristics and thermal stability of lithium ion secondary batteries. Furthermore, by use of this positive electrode active material, gas generation in batteries can be decreased.