The present invention provides a sequential and efficient method of assembling a battery with a desired number of layers while reliably separating positive and negative electrode sides from each other with one or more separator structures. According to the invention, the method of assembling a battery includes stacking one or multiple combinations each comprising a frame and a positive electrode plate to be disposed in a region defined by the frame and one or multiple combinations each comprising a frame and a negative electrode plate to be disposed in a region defined by the frame, once or alternately, such that the positive and adjacent negative electrode plates are separated from each other by a separator structure and the periphery of the separator structure is held between the adjacent frames. The separator structure includes a separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability.

The present invention provides a sequential and efficient method of assembling a battery with a desired number of layers while reliably separating positive and negative electrode sides from each other with one or more separator structures. According to the invention, the method of assembling a battery includes stacking one or multiple combinations each comprising a frame and a positive electrode plate to be disposed in a region defined by the frame and one or multiple combinations each comprising a frame and a negative electrode plate to be disposed in a region defined by the frame, once or alternately, such that the positive and adjacent negative electrode plates are separated from each other by a separator structure and the periphery of the separator structure is held between the adjacent frames. The separator structure includes a separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability.

An electrode for a battery includes an iron-containing substrate and a cobalt ferrite layer disposed over the iron-containing substrate. Advantageously, the cobalt ferrite layer inhibits corrosion of the iron-containing substrate. A nickel hydroxide layer is disposed over the cobalt ferrite layer. A battery incorporating the electrode is also provided.

An electrode for a battery includes an iron-containing substrate and a cobalt ferrite layer disposed over the iron-containing substrate. Advantageously, the cobalt ferrite layer inhibits corrosion of the iron-containing substrate. A nickel hydroxide layer is disposed over the cobalt ferrite layer. A battery incorporating the electrode is also provided.

In an embodiment, a multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 has a first external electrode 12 and a second external electrode 13 that each contain metal grains MP and dielectric grains DP, where an oxide of the same metal element constituting the metal grain MP, or MO, is present at the interface between the metal grain MP and the dielectric grain DP. The multilayer ceramic capacitor can prevent the hardness of its external electrodes from dropping, even when the external electrodes contain metal grains and dielectric grains.

The invention is directed towards a battery. The battery includes a cathode, an anode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode includes a conductive additive and an electrochemically active cathode material. The electrochemically active cathode material includes a beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide. The beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide has a chemical formula. The chemical formula is Li.sub.xA.sub.yNi.sub.1+a−zM.sub.zO.sub.2.nH.sub.2O where x is from about 0.02 to about 0.20; y is from about 0.03 to about 0.20; a is from about 0 to about 0.2; z is from about 0 to about 0.2; and n is from about 0 to about 1. Within the chemical formula, A is an alkali metal. The alkali metal includes potassium, rubidium, cesium, and any combination thereof. Within the chemical formula, M comprises an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a non-transition metal, and any combination thereof. The anode includes an electrochemically active anode material. The electrochemically active anode material includes zinc, zinc alloy, and any combination thereof.

The invention is directed towards a battery. The battery includes a cathode, an anode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode includes a conductive additive and an electrochemically active cathode material. The electrochemically active cathode material includes a beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide. The beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide has a chemical formula. The chemical formula is Li.sub.xA.sub.yNi.sub.1+a−zM.sub.zO.sub.2.nH.sub.2O where x is from about 0.02 to about 0.20; y is from about 0.03 to about 0.20; a is from about 0 to about 0.2; z is from about 0 to about 0.2; and n is from about 0 to about 1. Within the chemical formula, A is an alkali metal. The alkali metal includes potassium, rubidium, cesium, and any combination thereof. Within the chemical formula, M comprises an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a non-transition metal, and any combination thereof. The anode includes an electrochemically active anode material. The electrochemically active anode material includes zinc, zinc alloy, and any combination thereof.

A battery 2 includes an outer can 10 and an electrode group 22 that is housed in the outer can 10 together with an alkaline electrolytic solution, in which a positive electrode 24 included in the electrode group 22 includes a positive electrode substrate and a positive electrode mixture supported on the positive electrode substrate, the positive electrode mixture includes nickel hydroxide, yttrium oxide serving as a first additive, and niobium oxide or titanium oxide serving as a second additive, a total amount of the first additive and the second additive is 0.1 parts by mass or more and 2.5 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the nickel hydroxide, a mass ratio of the first additive and the second additive is in a relationship of 1:0.2 to 5, and the positive electrode mixture after an activation treatment has a resistivity of 1 Ω.Math.m or more and 10 Ω.Math.m or less.

A battery 2 includes an outer can 10 and an electrode group 22 that is housed in the outer can 10 together with an alkaline electrolytic solution, in which a positive electrode 24 included in the electrode group 22 includes a positive electrode substrate and a positive electrode mixture supported on the positive electrode substrate, the positive electrode mixture includes nickel hydroxide, yttrium oxide serving as a first additive, and niobium oxide or titanium oxide serving as a second additive, a total amount of the first additive and the second additive is 0.1 parts by mass or more and 2.5 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the nickel hydroxide, a mass ratio of the first additive and the second additive is in a relationship of 1:0.2 to 5, and the positive electrode mixture after an activation treatment has a resistivity of 1 Ω.Math.m or more and 10 Ω.Math.m or less.

A battery 2 includes an outer can 10 and an electrode group 22 that is housed in the outer can 10 together with an alkaline electrolytic solution, in which a positive electrode 24 included in the electrode group 22 includes a positive electrode substrate and a positive electrode mixture supported on the positive electrode substrate, the positive electrode mixture includes nickel hydroxide and a positive electrode additive, the positive electrode additive includes a titanium oxide particle having an anatase-type crystal structure, the titanium oxide particle has an average primary particle size of 5 nm or more and 10 nm or less and a BET specific surface area of 230 m.sup.2/g or more and 360 m.sup.2/g or less, and includes 0.1% by mass or more of niobium, and a rate of addition of the titanium oxide relative to the nickel hydroxide is 0.1% by mass or more and 1.0% by mass or less.