Patent ID: 6884548

Claim:
A nonaqueous electrolyte battery comprising: a positive electrode; a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material that inserts and de-inserts an alkali metal, the negative electrode active material being a compound that is expressed by Formula (1): A z MX y (1) where A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of the alkali metals, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V. Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt and Mg, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As, In, Sn, Sb, Pb and Bi, 0≦z≦20, and 0.2≦y≦6; and wherein said compound has an average crystal particle diameter that is greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to a value given by Formula (2): 3.0/(V 1 −V 0 /V 0 ) 2 [nm] (2) wherein V 0 and V 1 are volumes of the compound before and after charging, respectively; and a nonaqucous electrolyte.