Material for contact components or battery components, and battery using the same

A lithium battery comprising:

• a positive electrode case;
• a positive electrode housed in said positive electrode case;
• a negative electrode case;
• a negative electrode housed in said negative electrode case;
• a separator interposed between said positive electrode and said negative electrode;
• and a non-aqueous electrolyte with lithium ion conductivity,
• said positive electrode case comprising a metal sheet having a surface layer portion containing a first metal element,
• said metal sheet comprising a Cr-containing steel plate or a surface-treated steel plate,
• said surface layer portion being in contact with said positive electrode, and
• at least a part of said first metal element on an outermost surface of said surface layer portion being substituted by a second metal element having a nobler standard electrode potential than said first metal element,
• said second metal element being deposited on said outermost surface in a state of a particulate metal, oxide or hydroxide,
• an amount of the second metal element deposited on the outermost surface of the metal sheet is 5 to 50 mg/m2,
• said second metal element contains:
• a first group element, being at least one selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Ag, and Au;
• and
• a second group element, being at least one selected from the group consisting of In, Co, and Cu, and
• the first group and second group elements are both deposited on and in direct contact with the outermost surface of the metal sheet.

A method for producing a material for contact components or battery components,

• comprising the step of bringing a surface layer portion of a metal sheet having said surface layer portion containing a first metal element into contact with an aqueous solution containing an ion of a second metal element, so that at least a part of said first metal element existing on said surface layer portion is substituted by said second metal element,
• wherein said metal sheet comprises a Cr-containing steel plate or a surface-treated steel plate,
• said second metal element has a nobler standard electrode potential than said first metal element,
• an amount of the second metal element deposited on the outermost surface of the metal sheet is 5 to 50 mg/m2,
• said second metal element contains:
• a first group element, being at least one selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Ag, and Au;
• and
• a second group element, being at least one selected from the group consisting of In, Co, and Cu, and
• the first group and second group elements are both deposited on and in direct contact with the outermost surface of the metal sheet.