A method for forming lithium metal oxides comprised of Ni, Mn and Co useful for making lithium ion batteries comprises providing precursor particulates of Ni and Co that are of a particular size that allows the formation of improved lithium metal oxides. The method allows the formation of lithium metal oxides having improved safety while retaining good capacity and rate capability. In particular, the method allows for the formation of lithium metal oxide where the primary particle surface Mn/Ni ratio is greater than the bulk Mn/Ni. Likewise the method allows the formation of lithium metal oxides with secondary particles having much higher densities allowing for higher cathode densities and battery capacities while retaining good capacity and rate performance.

The present invention relates to a lithium transition metal composite oxide capable of being used as a positive electrode (cathode) active material for non-aqueous electrolyte lithium secondary batteries having a general formula Li.sub.1+a(1−x−y−z)M1.sub.xM2.sub.yM3.sub.(1−a)(1−x−y−z)M3′.sub.a(1−x−y−z)M4.sub.zO.sub.2+a(1−x−y−z), in which 0.7≤x<1, y=(1−x)/2, 0≤z≤0.05 and 0<a(1−x−y−z)≤0.05, and where M1 is Ni having an oxidation state of three, M2 is one or more metal cations having an oxidation state of three, M3′ and M3 are identically one or more metal cations with at least one ion being Mn, wherein the one or more metal cations M3 have an oxidation state of four and the one or more metal cations M3 have an oxidation state of three, and M4 is one or more metal cations selected from of Mg, Al and B. Further, the present invention relates and a method for preparing the lithium transition metal composite oxide and to a non-aqueous electrolyte lithium secondary battery containing the lithium transition metal composite oxide.

Li.sub.1+a(1−x−y−z)M1.sub.xM2.sub.yM3.sub.(1−a)(1−x−y−z)M3′.sub.a(1−x−y−z)M4.sub.zO.sub.2+a(1−x−y−z),  [formula 1]

A metal composite hydroxide represented by a general formula (1): Ni.sub.1−x−yCo.sub.xMn.sub.yM.sub.z(OH).sub.2+α (where 0.02≤x≤0.3, 0.02≤y≤0.3, 0≤z≤0.05, and −0.5≤α≤0.5 are satisfied and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cr, V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, and Zr), in which the metal composite hydroxide contains a first particle having a core portion inside the particle and a shell portion formed around the core portion and [(D90−D10)/MV] is 0.80 or more.

A positive electrode active material and a preparation process thereof, a sodium ion battery (5) and an apparatus containing the sodium ion battery (5) are described, the positive electrode active material satisfying the chemical formula of Na.sub.0.67Mn.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.zO.sub.2±δ, in which A is selected from one or more of Co, Ni and Cr, B is selected from one or more of Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Cu, Zn and Ba, 0.6<x<1, 0<y<0.1, 0.6<x+y<0.8, z>0, x+y+z=1, 0≤δ≤0.1, and (I) $\frac{3.33+2\left(\delta -y-z\right)}{4}<x<\frac{3.33+2\left(\delta -y-z\right)}{3}.$

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sodium ion secondary battery that has high discharge capacity, excellent cycling characteristics, and excellent storage characteristics. The present invention achieves said purpose by means of a carbonaceous material for a sodium ion secondary battery negative electrode. The carbon source of the carbonaceous material is a plant, and the carbonaceous material is characterized by having a BET specific surface area of 100 m.sup.2/g or less.

Focus is on zinc oxide itself, which is a base material for a zinc oxide varistor (laminated varistor), wherein specified quantities of additives are added to a zinc oxide powder having a crystallite size of 20 to 50 nm, grain diameter of 15 to 60 nm found using the specific surface area BET method, untamped density of 0.38 to 0.50 g/cm.sup.3, and tap density of 0.50 to 1.00 g/cm.sup.3. This allows securing of uniformity, high compactness, and high electrical conductivity of a zinc oxide sintered body, and provision of a zinc oxide varistor having high surge resistance.

Focusing on zinc oxide itself, which is a main raw material for a zinc oxide varistor (laminated varistor), a predetermined amount of additive is added to a zinc oxide powder having crystallite size of 20 to 100 nm, particle diameter of 20 to 110 nm found using a specific area BET method, untamped density of 0.60 g/cm.sup.3 or greater, and tap density of 0.80 g/cm.sup.3 or greater. This allows a zinc oxide sintered body to secure uniformity, high density, and high electric conductivity, resulting in a zinc oxide varistor with high surge resistance, capable of downsizing and cost reduction. Moreover, addition of aluminum (Al), as a donor element, to the zinc oxide powder allows control of sintered grain size in conformity with the aluminum added amount and baking temperature, and also allows adjustment of varistor voltage, etc.

Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof. Embodiments include a sulfur-doped cathode material within a lithium-sulfur battery, where the cathode is collector-less and is formed of a binder-free, monolithic, polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes pores that surround elemental sulfur and accommodate expansion of the sulfur during conversion to lithium sulfide. The cathode and underlying carbon aerogel provide optimal properties for use within the lithium-sulfur battery.

In order to provide a hydroxyapatite that can be used without reservation in the food industry, a hydroxyapatite powder is provided composed of primary particles. The median size of the primary particles from which the powder is made is >0.10 μm and the aspect ratio of the primary particles is <5. The specific surface area of the hydroxyapatite powder is ≤10 m.sup.2/g, and the bulk density is >550 g/l. Also disclosed is a method with which such a hydroxyapatite powder can be obtained.

The present invention provides a positive electrode active material precursor for a lithium secondary battery, in which the positive electrode active material precursor is represented by the following composition formula (I), a ratio (α/β) between a half width α of a peak that is present within a range of a diffraction angle 2θ=19.2±1° and a half width β of a peak that is present within a range of 2θ=38.5±1° is equal to or greater than 0.9 in powder X-ray diffraction measurement using a CuKα beam:
Ni.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.zM.sub.w(OH).sub.2  (I)
[0.7≤x<1.0, 0<y≤0.20, 0≤z≤0.20, 0≤w≤0.1, and x+y+z+w=1 are satisfied, and M is one or more selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, W, Fe, Ru, Cu, Zn, B, Al, Ga, Si, Sn, P, and Bi].