A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body including an internal electrode therein and at least two external electrodes provided on an outer surface of the ceramic body. The external electrode includes an underlying electrode layer provided on the outer surface of the ceramic body, a first Ni plated layer provided on an outer side of the underlying electrode layer, and a second Ni plated layer provided on an outer side of the first Ni plated layer. Ni oxide is present between the first Ni plated layer and the second Ni plated layer.

A casing material for a power storage device, including a laminate that includes, in order, at least a base material layer, a barrier layer, and a heat-fusible resin layer. The heat-fusible resin layer includes a single layer or a plurality of layers. The heat-fusible resin layer includes at least one layer having a hardness of at least 70 MPa from a cross-section in the lamination direction of the laminate, measured using a nanoindentation method using an indentation load of 100 μN.

A film production method for producing a layer containing a metal oxide, the film production method including: a heating step of heating a metal foil containing a first metal by bringing a part of the metal foil into contact with at least one heat generator; a first contact step of letting first gas containing a second metal to be in contact with both surfaces of the metal foil in a state where the part of the metal foil is supported; and a second contact step of letting second gas containing an oxidant to be in contact with the both surfaces of the metal foil in a state where the part of the metal foil is supported.

A film production method for producing a layer containing a metal oxide, the film production method including: a heating step of heating a metal foil containing a first metal by bringing a part of the metal foil into contact with at least one heat generator; a first contact step of letting first gas containing a second metal to be in contact with both surfaces of the metal foil in a state where the part of the metal foil is supported; and a second contact step of letting second gas containing an oxidant to be in contact with the both surfaces of the metal foil in a state where the part of the metal foil is supported.

The electrode manufacturing system comprises a cutting device. The cutting device cuts an electrode material along one direction of the electrode material to manufacture electrodes. The electrode material comprises first sections and a second section. The first section includes an active material doped with alkali metal, and extends in the one direction. The second section is located between two adjacent first sections of the first sections. In the second section, the active material doped with alkali metal is absent. The cutting device cuts the second section.

Provided is a process for providing a flake powder characterized by a particle size of −40 mesh to +200 mesh; a Scott density of at least 1.458 g/cm.sup.3; and a flow of at least 1 g/s. The process includes introducing a milled flake powder in a solvent to a first dryer; removing the solvent at a temperature below a melting point of the solvent under a reduced atmosphere to obtain a partially dry flake powder; and introducing the partially dry flake powder to a second dryer to form flake powder wherein particles of partially dry flake powder are heated and simultaneously subjected to an uncorrelated motion relative to adjacent particles.

Provided is a process for providing a flake powder characterized by a particle size of −40 mesh to +200 mesh; a Scott density of at least 1.458 g/cm.sup.3; and a flow of at least 1 g/s. The process includes introducing a milled flake powder in a solvent to a first dryer; removing the solvent at a temperature below a melting point of the solvent under a reduced atmosphere to obtain a partially dry flake powder; and introducing the partially dry flake powder to a second dryer to form flake powder wherein particles of partially dry flake powder are heated and simultaneously subjected to an uncorrelated motion relative to adjacent particles.

An electronic component includes an element body, an external electrode, and a resin film having electrical insulation properties. The element body includes a principal surface and a side surface adjacent to the principal surface. The external electrode includes a first electrode portion disposed on the principal surface and a second electrode portion disposed on the side surface. The resin film is disposed on the principal surface and is in contact with the principal surface. Each of the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion includes a conductive resin layer disposed on the element body. A conductive resin layer included in the first electrode portion is disposed on the resin film and is in contact with the resin film.

There is provided an electrode manufacturing apparatus configured to manufacture an electrode in which an active material layer is formed on at least one surface of a metal foil, the electrode manufacturing apparatus including: a press unit configured to press, by a function surface of a press roller, the metal foil on which the active material layer is formed. The press unit includes the press roller having: a base material; and the functional surface that is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the base material and that is formed with a fine structure imparting a liquid repellency.

A winder includes a winding mechanism, a chamber, a vacuum pump, a conveying route and a product case. The winding mechanism winds a belt-shaped raw film around a winding core, the belt-shaped raw film being composed of a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of separating films. The chamber houses the winding mechanism. The vacuum pump sucks air into the chamber. The conveying route has a sealed outer space outside the chamber, an inner space of the chamber leading to the outer space in the conveyance route. The product case is disposed in the conveying route to house a plurality of winding products each formed by winding the raw film with use of the winding mechanism.