The invention relates to Chevrel-phase materials and methods of preparing these materials utilizing a precursor approach. The Chevrel-phase materials are useful in assembling electrodes, e.g., cathodes, for use in electrochemical cells, such as rechargeable batteries. The Chevrel-phase materials have a general formula of Mo.sub.6Z.sub.8 (Z=sulfur) or Mo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y (Z.sup.1=sulfur; Z.sup.2=selenium), and partially cuprated Cu.sub.1Mo.sub.6S.sub.8 as well as partially de-cuprated Cu.sub.1-xMg.sub.xMo.sub.6S.sub.8 and the precursors have a general formula of M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sub.8 or M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y, M=Cu. The cathode containing the Chevrel-phase material in accordance with the invention can be combined with a magnesium-containing anode and an electrolyte.

A lithium ion secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode: a separator; and an electrolytic solution containing lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF.sub.6) as a lithium salt, wherein the cathode includes a current collector and a cathode mixture formed on the current collector, and wherein the cathode mixture contains an aluminum oxide, a part or an entirety of a surface of the aluminum oxide being coated with carbon.

A cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery includes lithium transition metal oxide particles, wherein the lithium transition metal oxide particles may include first lithium transition metal oxide particles (first particles) including an interparticular pore and second lithium transition metal oxide particles (second particles) having an average particle diameter within a range of a diameter of the interparticular pore, measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. By including first particles including an interparticular pore and second particles having an average particle diameter within a range of a diameter of the interparticular pore measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry, the cathode active material may have a reduced interparticular pore present therein. Accordingly, the cathode active material may have an improved pellet density. Consequently, when a lithium secondary battery is manufactured using the cathode active material, the energy density thereof may improve.

An objective is to improve the corrosion resistance of a positive electrode grid for lead acid batteries.

Provided is a positive electrode grid for lead acid batteries, and a lead acid battery including the grid. The grid includes a lead alloy containing calcium and tin. The lead alloy has a calcium content of 0.10 mass % or less, and a tin content of 2.3 mass % or less, and a lattice constant of 4.9470 Å or less.

A macroparticle filter device for cathodic arc evaporation, to be placed between at least one arc evaporation source and at least one substrate exhibiting at least a surface to be coated with material evaporated from a cathode of the arc evaporation source in a vacuum coating chamber. The macroparticle filter device includes one or more filter components that can prevent macroparticles emitted by the cathode during cathodic arc evaporation to arrive the substrate surface to be coated. The at least one component is provided as one or more flexible sheets that block the lineal way of the macroparticles from the cathode to the substrate surface to be coated. Further a method for utilizing the macroparticle filter device is presented.

Disclosed herein are a multilayer electrode and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The multilayer electrode includes an electrode current collector for transmitting electrons between an external wire and an electrode active material and three or more electrode mixture layers sequentially applied to the electrode current collector, wherein each of the electrode mixture layers includes an electrode active material and a conducting agent, and wherein the content of the conducting agent of one of adjacent electrode mixture layers that is relatively close to the current collector in the direction in which the electrode mixture layers are formed is higher than that of the conducting agent of the other of the adjacent electrode mixture layers that is relatively distant from the current collector.

There are provided an assembled battery and a battery pack having excellent cycle characteristics with respect to high rate charging and discharging. An assembled battery according to an embodiment includes at least one first single cell and at least one second single cell that are connected in series. The first single cell includes a positive electrode containing an active material represented by the general formula LiMO.sub.2 (M includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Mn) and a negative electrode including a titanium-containing oxide. The second single cell includes a positive electrode containing an active material represented by the general formula LiM′PO.sub.4 (M′ includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Co, and Ni) and a negative electrode including a titanium-containing oxide. The ratio of a charging resistance of the second single cell to a charging resistance of the first single cell is 1 or more and 1.5 or less if an open circuit voltage when the at least one first single cell and the at least one second single cell are connected in series is 4.5 V.

A single-electrode battery subassembly includes a separator comprising an electrolyte. The separator has a first surface and an opposing second surface. A single electrode is disposed over the first surface of the separator. A removable, electrically inert substrate disposed on the second surface of the separator.

A secondary battery in which heat resistance is excellent and the formation of lithium dendrite is suppressed is provided. The present invention relates to a secondary battery comprising an electrode element comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator, wherein the negative electrode comprises a carbon material (a) capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions and an oxide (b) capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions, and the separator comprises 50% by mass or more of a non-woven fabric having a thermal melting or thermal decomposition temperature of 160° C. or more.

A positive electrode plate (11) includes a current collector (30) and a mixture layer (31) disposed on the current collector (30). The mixture layer (31) has a thin portion (32) with a thickness of less than 200 μm disposed on an inner coil half of the current collector (30) and a thick portion (33) having a larger thickness than the thin portion (32), the thick portion (33) having a yield loop height H measured by a stiffness test of 6 mm<H<15 mm.