A method of producing a positive-electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided. The method includes obtaining a precipitate containing nickel and manganese from a solution containing nickel and manganese, heat-treating the resulting precipitate at a temperature of from 850° C. to less than 1100° C. to obtain a first heat-treated product, mixing the first heat-treated product and a lithium compound, and heat-treating the resulting lithium-containing mixture at a temperature of from 550° C. to 1000° C. to obtain a second heat-treated product. The second heat-treated product contains a group of lithium transition metal composite oxide particles having an average particle diameter D.sub.SEM of from 0.5 μm to less than 3 μm and D.sub.50/D.sub.SEM of 1 to 2.5. The lithium transition metal composite oxide particles have a spinel structure based on nickel and manganese.

Provided is a surface-treated spinel particle (B) including a spinel particle (A) including a magnesium atom, an aluminum atom, and an oxygen atom and a surface treatment layer disposed at least a portion of the surface of the spinel particle (A). The surface treatment layer includes a surface-treating agent including an organic compound or a cured product of the surface-treating agent. The spinel particle (A) further includes molybdenum. The crystallite diameter of the [111] plane of the spinel particle (A) is 220 nm or more. Also provided are a method for producing the surface-treated spinel particle (B), a resin composition including the surface-treated spinel particle (B), and a molded article.

A method of producing a positive-electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided. The method includes obtaining a precipitate containing nickel and manganese from a solution containing nickel and manganese, heat-treating the resulting precipitate at a temperature of from 850° C. to less than 1100° C. to obtain a first heat-treated product, mixing the first heat-treated product and a lithium compound, and heat-treating the resulting lithium-containing mixture at a temperature of from 550° C. to 1000° C. to obtain a second heat-treated product. The second heat-treated product contains a group of lithium transition metal composite oxide particles having an average particle diameter D.sub.SEM of from 0.5 μm to less than 3 μm and D.sub.50/D.sub.SEM of 1 to 2.5. The lithium transition metal composite oxide particles have a spinel structure based on nickel and manganese.

A method of preparing a positive electrode active material for a secondary battery includes preparing a positive electrode active material precursor containing 60 mol % or more of nickel (Ni) among total metals, mixing the positive electrode active material precursor and a lithium raw material source and performing primary pre-sintering in an oxidizing atmosphere to form a pre-sintered product, and performing secondary main sintering on the pre-sintered product in an air atmosphere to form a lithium transition metal oxide.

A method for preparing a positive electrode active material for a lithium battery consisting of a lithiated oxide comprising titanium and optionally one or more other metal elements comprising the following successive steps: a) a step of forming a precipitate comprising titanium and the optional other metal element(s) by contacting a titanium coordination complex and, if necessary, at least one salt of the other metal element(s) with an aqueous medium; b) a step of recovering the precipitate thus formed; c) a step of calcining the precipitate in the presence of a lithium source.

The present invention provides a method for forming a lithium ion cathode material. The method comprises reacting elemental metal with a multi-carboxylic acid to form an oxide precursor and heating the oxide precursor to form the lithium ion cathode material. In a preferred embodiment the elemental mixture comprises at least two of Ni, Mn, Co and Al.

High-temperature thermochemical energy storage materials using doped magnesium-transition metal spinel oxides are provided. —transition metal spinel oxides, such as magnesium manganese oxide (MgMn).sub.3O.sub.4, are promising candidates for high-temperature thermochemical energy storage applications. However, the use of these materials has been constrained by the limited extent of their endothermic reaction. Embodiments described herein provide for doping magnesium-transition metal spinel oxides to produce a material of low material costs and with high energy densities, creating an avenue for plausibly sized modules with high energy storing capacities.

An antimicrobial material including a substrate and an antimicrobial mixed metal oxide, mixed metal sulfide, or mixed metal oxysulfide in and/or on the substrate is described, as well as antimicrobial coating materials and coatings formed therefrom. The antimicrobial material may be constituted in an antimicrobial surface of a surface-presenting substrate, to combat transmission and spread of microbial disease, e.g., disease mediated by microbial pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Antimicrobial mixed metal oxide, mixed metal sulfide, or mixed metal oxysulfide as described may be contacted with microorganisms to effect inactivation thereof.

According to one embodiment, an active material includes a lithium-titanium composite oxide. The lithium-titanium composite oxide includes a lithium compound including at least one of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. A lithium amount of the lithium compound is within a range of 0.017 to 0.073 mass %.

A method for manufacturing a sputtering target with which an oxide semiconductor film with a small amount of defects can be formed is provided. Alternatively, an oxide semiconductor film with a small amount of defects is formed. A method for manufacturing a sputtering target is provided, which includes the steps of: forming a polycrystalline In-M-Zn oxide (M represents a metal chosen among aluminum, titanium, gallium, yttrium, zirconium, lanthanum, cesium, neodymium, and hafnium) powder by mixing, sintering, and grinding indium oxide, an oxide of the metal, and zinc oxide; forming a mixture by mixing the polycrystalline In-M-Zn oxide powder and a zinc oxide powder; forming a compact by compacting the mixture; and sintering the compact.