Sulfate ester modified cellulose nanofibers having an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and having sulfate ester modified hydroxyl groups on surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers that are nanosized, that have a high crystallinity degree, and that have large aspect ratios, the method being a chemical method that does not require any physical pulverization, that is energy-saving, and that can be performed under mild reaction conditions. A method of producing modified cellulose nanofibers including modifying the surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers through esterification or urethanization. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers includes impregnating cellulose with a fibrillation solution containing dimethylsulfoxide, at least one carboxylic acid anhydride selected from acetic anhydride and propionic anhydride, and sulfuric acid to fibrillate the cellulose.

Sulfate ester modified cellulose nanofibers having an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and having sulfate ester modified hydroxyl groups on surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers that are nanosized, that have a high crystallinity degree, and that have large aspect ratios, the method being a chemical method that does not require any physical pulverization, that is energy-saving, and that can be performed under mild reaction conditions. A method of producing modified cellulose nanofibers including modifying the surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers through esterification or urethanization. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers includes impregnating cellulose with a fibrillation solution containing dimethylsulfoxide, at least one carboxylic acid anhydride selected from acetic anhydride and propionic anhydride, and sulfuric acid to fibrillate the cellulose.

[Object] An object is to provide a sulfonated fine cellulose fiber having excellent transparency a sulfonated pulp fiber suitable for the sulfonated fine cellulose fiber, a method for producing these fibers, and a derivative pulp containing the sulfonated pulp fiber.

[Means for achieving the object] The sulfonated pulp fiber of the present invention is a pulp fiber comprising a plurality of cellulose fibers, wherein a part of hydroxyl groups of the cellulose fibers of the pulp fiber is substituted with sulfo groups, an introduction amount of sulfur attributable to the sulfo groups is adjusted to be higher than 0.42 mmol/g while maintaining a fiber shape, and a water retention value of the pulp fiber is adjusted to 150% or more. Since the sulfonated pulp fiber has a predetermined water retaining property or more while maintaining the fiber shape, the degree of flexibility in handling can be improved.

[Object] An object is to provide a sulfonated fine cellulose fiber having excellent transparency a sulfonated pulp fiber suitable for the sulfonated fine cellulose fiber, a method for producing these fibers, and a derivative pulp containing the sulfonated pulp fiber.

[Means for achieving the object] The sulfonated pulp fiber of the present invention is a pulp fiber comprising a plurality of cellulose fibers, wherein a part of hydroxyl groups of the cellulose fibers of the pulp fiber is substituted with sulfo groups, an introduction amount of sulfur attributable to the sulfo groups is adjusted to be higher than 0.42 mmol/g while maintaining a fiber shape, and a water retention value of the pulp fiber is adjusted to 150% or more. Since the sulfonated pulp fiber has a predetermined water retaining property or more while maintaining the fiber shape, the degree of flexibility in handling can be improved.

Sulfate ester modified cellulose nanofibers having an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and having sulfate ester modified hydroxyl groups on surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers that are nanosized, that have a high crystallinity degree, and that have large aspect ratios, the method being a chemical method that does not require any physical pulverization, that is energy-saving, and that can be performed under mild reaction conditions. A method of producing modified cellulose nanofibers including modifying the surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers through esterification or urethanization. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers includes impregnating cellulose with a fibrillation solution containing dimethylsulfoxide, at least one carboxylic acid anhydride selected from acetic anhydride and propionic anhydride, and sulfuric acid to fibrillate the cellulose.

Sulfate ester modified cellulose nanofibers having an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and having sulfate ester modified hydroxyl groups on surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers that are nanosized, that have a high crystallinity degree, and that have large aspect ratios, the method being a chemical method that does not require any physical pulverization, that is energy-saving, and that can be performed under mild reaction conditions. A method of producing modified cellulose nanofibers including modifying the surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers through esterification or urethanization. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers includes impregnating cellulose with a fibrillation solution containing dimethylsulfoxide, at least one carboxylic acid anhydride selected from acetic anhydride and propionic anhydride, and sulfuric acid to fibrillate the cellulose.

[Object] The present invention provides a sulfonated fine cellulose fiber having excellent viscosity and the like, as well as a sulfonated fine cellulose fiber production method capable of efficiently producing the sulfonated fine cellulose fibers.

[Method for Achieving the Object] A fine cellulose fiber obtained by fibrillating a cellulose fiber wherein a part of the hydroxyl groups of the fine cellulose fiber is substituted with sulfo groups, and an introduction amount of sulfur attributable to the sulfo groups is higher than 0.42 mmol/g. The fine cellulose fiber comprises a plurality of unit fibers and has an average fiber width of 30 nm or less. A dispersion liquid in which the fine cellulose fiber is dispersed in a water-soluble solvent at a solid concentration of 0.5% by mass has a viscosity of 5,000 mPa.Math.s or more at 25° C. This makes it possible to obtain the desired viscosity when the fine cellulose fibers are dispersed in a dispersion liquid.

[Object] The present invention provides a sulfonated fine cellulose fiber having excellent viscosity and the like, as well as a sulfonated fine cellulose fiber production method capable of efficiently producing the sulfonated fine cellulose fibers.

[Method for Achieving the Object] A fine cellulose fiber obtained by fibrillating a cellulose fiber wherein a part of the hydroxyl groups of the fine cellulose fiber is substituted with sulfo groups, and an introduction amount of sulfur attributable to the sulfo groups is higher than 0.42 mmol/g. The fine cellulose fiber comprises a plurality of unit fibers and has an average fiber width of 30 nm or less. A dispersion liquid in which the fine cellulose fiber is dispersed in a water-soluble solvent at a solid concentration of 0.5% by mass has a viscosity of 5,000 mPa.Math.s or more at 25° C. This makes it possible to obtain the desired viscosity when the fine cellulose fibers are dispersed in a dispersion liquid.

The present invention provides a binder for positive electrode of lithium ion battery which is excellent in workability at the time of producing a positive electrode, is excellent in charge and discharge characteristics such as cycle characteristics and rate characteristics, and enables to possible to produce a positive electrode having an extended cycle life, as well as the present invention provides a slurry for forming positive electrode mixture layer of lithium ion battery, a positive electrode for lithium ion battery, and a lithium ion battery, using the same. As a binder for binding a positive electrode active material, a conductive aid and a current collector at a positive electrode of a lithium ion battery, by using one containing a polysaccharide introduced with at least one ion exchange group selected from the group consisting of sulfate groups and alkali metal sulfate groups, it is possible to provide a lithium ion battery with excellent charge and discharge characteristics and an extended cycle life.

Provided is a method for producing a chemically modified cellulose fiber with which fibrillation can be performed along with sulfation reaction. The method for producing a chemically modified cellulose fiber includes a step (a) of treating a cellulose fiber with sulfamic acid to allow a cellulose fine fiber which is a constituent of the cellulose fiber to react with the sulfamic acid, thereby substituting some of hydroxyl groups of cellulose with a substituent represented by a structural formula (1) below (where M represents a monovalent to trivalent cation), and a step (b) of performing fibrillation simultaneously with the step (a). ##STR00001##