The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 10, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1996
Hiroshi Kawase, Kariya, JP;
Shin-ichi Towata, Nagoya, JP;
Kazuhiko Itoh, Seto, JP;
Shunsuke Yamakawa, Aichi-ken, JP;
Katsushi Abe, Aichi-ken, JP;
Yutaka Ohya, Nagoya, JP;
Shinya Morishita, Nagoya, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
Steam is contacted with a hydrogen absorbing alloy in a temperature range from 200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. With a contact catalytic reaction of water, a metal contained in the hydrogen absorbing alloy is changed to an oxide or a hydroxide. Hydrogen produced causes the Ni compound to be reduced and thereby the Ni metal that is catalytically active is produced. Thus, the surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy is activated. The steam is contained in an inert gas or a reductive gas. This treatment method is suitable as an activation treatment for a hydrogen absorbing alloy used as an active material of a negative electrode of a secondary battery.