Abstract: The present invention is to provide a cathode active material used for a lithium ion secondary battery which has a large charge-discharge capacity, and excels in charge-discharge cycle properties, output properties and productivity, and, a lithium ion secondary battery using the same. The cathode active material used for a lithium ion secondary battery comprises a lithium transition metal composite oxide represented by the following Formula (1); Li1+aNibCocMndMeO2+?, where, in the formula (1), M is at least one metal element other than Li, Ni, Co, and Mn; and a, b, c, d, e, and ? satisfy the following conditions: ?0.04?a?0.04, 0.80?b<1.00, 0?c?0.04, 0<d<0.20, b+c+d+e=1, ?0.2<?<0.2, and c and d in the Formula (1) satisfy c/d?0.75.

Abstract: A glass building material according to the present disclosure includes: a first photovoltaic string of a bifacial light-receiving type which has a shape extending in one direction; a second photovoltaic string of a bifacial light-receiving type which is arranged next to the first photovoltaic string in a width direction, and which has a shape extending in the one direction; a first glass substrate which is configured to cover one surface of the first photovoltaic string and one surface of the second photovoltaic string; and a reflective film which is arranged on at least part of another surface side of the first photovoltaic string and another surface side of the second photovoltaic string, which has a transmittance higher than a reflectance in a visible light region, and which has a reflectance higher than a transmittance in a near-infrared region.

Abstract: A glass building material according to the present disclosure includes: a first photovoltaic string of a bifacial light-receiving type which has a shape extending in one direction; a second photovoltaic string of a bifacial light-receiving type which is arranged next to the first photovoltaic string in a width direction, and which has a shape extending in the one direction; a first glass substrate which is configured to cover one surface of the first photovoltaic string and one surface of the second photovoltaic string; and a reflective film which is arranged on at least part of another surface side of the first photovoltaic string and another surface side of the second photovoltaic string, which has a transmittance higher than a reflectance in a visible light region, and which has a reflectance higher than a transmittance in a near-infrared region.

Abstract: There is provided a photovoltaic module including a transparent substrate and hybrid photovoltaic cells arrayed on the substrate and series connected to each other, the cells including a back electrode facing the substrate, a transparent front electrode intervening between the substrate and the back electrode, a first photovoltaic layer intervening between the front and back electrodes and including an amorphous semiconductor layer, a second photovoltaic layer intervening between the first photovoltaic layer and the back electrode and including a crystalline semiconductor layer, and a conductive interlayer with a light-transmitting-and-reflecting property intervening between the first and second photovoltaic layers and having a thickness in a range of 10 nm to 100 nm and a specific resistance in a range of 1×10−3 &OHgr;·cm to less than 1×10−1 &OHgr;·cm.

Abstract: There is provided a photovoltaic module including a transparent substrate and hybrid-type photovoltaic cells arrayed on the substrate and series connected to each other, the cells including a back electrode facing the substrate, a transparent front electrode intervening between the substrate and the back electrode, a first photovoltaic layer intervening between the front and back electrodes and comprising an amorphous semiconductor layer, a second photovoltaic layer intervening between the first photovoltaic layer and the back electrode and comprising a crystalline semiconductor layer, and a conductive interlayer with a light-transmitting-and-reflecting property intervening between the first and second photovoltaic layers and having a thickness in a range of 10 nm to 100 nm and a specific resistance in a range of 1×10−3 &OHgr;·cm to 1×10−1 &OHgr;·cm.

Abstract: A silicon-based thin film photoelectric conversion device includes a substrate 1, a back electrode 10 having a light reflecting metal film 102, at least one silicon-based photoelectric conversion unit 11 and a front transparent electrode 2, wherein at least one of the light reflecting metal film 102 and the front transparent electrode 2 has that surface thereof closer to the silicon-based photoelectric conversion unit provided with convexities and concavities having a level difference therebetween in a range of 0.01 to 2 &mgr;m and a pitch greater than the level difference and no more than 25 times the level difference.

Abstract: A thin film photoelectric converter includes a polycrystalline photoelectric conversion layer (4) and a metal thin film (3) covering one main surface of the polycrystalline photoelectric layer. Polycrystalline photoelectric conversion layer (4) has an average thickness in the range from 0.5 to 20 &mgr;m and at least one of main surfaces of polycrystalline photoelectric conversion layer (4) has a textured surface structure. The textured structure has fine unevenness with level differences smaller than half of the thickness of polycrystalline photoelectric conversion layer (4) and substantially in the range from 0.05 to 3 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A process for the (co)polymerization of a monomer material, which includes at least an acrylonitrile monomer as an essential component, at a temperature of 80.degree. C. or higher by bulk or solution polymerization while allowing said monomer material to evaporate. The (co)polymerization is conducted while providing a vapor phase over a polymerization mixture in a reaction tank. During the (co)polymerization, the temperature of the vapor phase is maintained in a range of from 30.degree. C. to 65.degree. C. so that the polymerization is conducted without substantially releasing vapor, which is evaporated from the polymerization mixture, to outside of the reaction tank. By cooling the vapor phase of the reaction tank and maintaining its temperature in the above specific range in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to avoid mixing of a gelled polymer in a product and also to effectively remove reaction heat at the time of the (co)polymerization.

Abstract: The slide support base 62 protrudes from the supporting wall 56 of the support recess 52 in the casing main body 14 and the tube-shaped support part 122 on the side of the toilet lid 100 is supported by and capable of sliding over its cylindrical surface 65a. The rotational pin 70 of the viscous resistance mechanism 80 protrudes from slide support base 62 and the rotational pin 70 fits in the fitting recess 132 on the side of the toilet lid 100. That is, the toilet lid 100 is pivotably supported to the casing main body 14 by two support structures. To remove the toilet lid 100 from the casing main body 14, the toilet lid is raised to the upright position and then applied with upward force to be pulled out. Since the opening 124 and the opening 136 are formed in the tube-shaped support part 122 and the fitting recess 132, the toilet lid 100 is removed from the casing main body through them.

Abstract: A transparent, rubber-modified styrene resin comprises 70 to 96 parts by weight of a copolymer formed of 20 to 70 wt. % of styrene monomer units and 30 to 80 wt. % of alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer units and 4 to 30 parts by weight of a rubbery polymer. The rubbery polymer is dispersed in the copolymer as particles having an average particle size of 0.1 to 2.0 .mu.m. At least 70 wt. % of the rubbery polymer is a styrene-butadiene block copolymer which is formed of 5 to 50 wt. % of styrene units and 50 to 95 wt. % of butadiene units, has a viscosity in a range of 3 to 60 cps when measured as a 5 wt. % styrene solution at 25.degree. C. and possesses a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight average molecular weight (Mw) to a number average molecular weight (Mn) in a range of 1.0 to 1.8. The copolymer and the rubbery polymer have substantially the same refractive index.

Abstract: A molding of an ABS-based resin is described. Rubber particles located at a depth of 0.5-1.5 .mu.m from a surface of the molding morphologically comprise at least the following two types of particles:(1) A particles having an a/b ratio not greater than 1.5, wherein a and b represent a major axis and a minor axis, respectively, and(2) B particles having an a/b ratio not smaller than 5, wherein a and b have the same meanings as defined abovewhen a section extending at the depth in parallel with the surface of the molding is observed in an electron micrograph taken by the ultrathin sectioning technique. Assuming that the total area of the rubber particles as observed in the electron micrograph is 100%, the total area of the A particles accounts for at least 10% and that of the B particles is in a range of 0.01-90%.

Abstract: A process for continuously preparing rubber modified styrene resins from styrene monomers and acrylonitryle monomers in the presence of a rubbery polymer in accordance with a continuous mass and/or solution polymerization method by the use of serial polymerization device comprising two or more reactors; said process comprising(1) a first step of feeding a polymeric materials to the first reactor to carry out the polymerization of monomers in a condition where the rubbery polymer is not inverted to the dispersed phase, and a second step of adding a polymeric materials to second reactors to carry out the polymerization of the monomers and to thus invert the rubbery polymer to the dispersed phase,(2) a ratio of the added materials to the materials used in the first step being in the range of from 10 to 220% by weight,whereby impact resistance and surface gloss can be remarkably improved.

Abstract: A rubber modified styrenic resin composition which can be obtained by dispersing rubber-like polymer particles in a homopolymer or a copolymer of a styrenic monomer. The rubber modified styrenic resin composition has:(a) a volume-average particle size of the rubber-like polymer particles is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.8 .mu.m,(b) a particle size distribution curve on the basis of the volume of the rubber-like polymer particles has one peak,(c) a ratio of a 5% value to a 95% value of the cumulative distribution of the particle size on the basis of the volume of the rubber-like polymer particles is in the range of from 3 to 45.

Abstract: The invention provides a temperature switch material capable of detecting a very low temperature not higher than 150 K. It also provides a light switch material for detecting light in the ultraviolet region. It further provides a switch material suited for use as a substrate for thin oxide layer formation thereon. The switching material utilizes an abrupt change in photoelectric current as produced upon phase transition of SrTiO.sub.3 at a low temperature. The photoelectric switch or temperature switch utilizes the change in photoconduction spectrum upon irradiation of SrTiO.sub.3 with light in the 3 eV-5 eV ultraviolet region. A switch is available by varying the intensity of irradiating light thereby controlling the transition temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal cell in which a twisted nematic liquid crystal is interposed between a pair of transparent electrodes disposed opposite to each other, a pair of polarizers, an optically compensating element having a maximum refractive index in a direction in the plane thereof, and a thin film having a maximum refractive index in the direction of the thickenss thereof, the optically compensating element and the thin film being interposed between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizer so as to substantially satisfy specific conditions. This liquid crystal display device offers an improved viewing angle and is advantageously used in a black and white liquid crystal display.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photovoltaic device, such as a solar cell or a photosensor, which comprises an amorphous silicon semiconductor photosensitive layer and, as disposed on respective sides thereof, a transparent electrode and a rear electrode. The rear electrode is a multi-layer structure constructed by alternately successive depositions, each in a thickness of 0.3 to 50 nm, of two or more metals selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, and Au. In using such a Cu/Ag multi-layer structure or an Au/Ag multi-layer structure as the rear electrode, the thickness of each Cu or Au layer is controlled at 0.3 to 20 nm and that of each Ag layer at 1 to 50 nm. The total thickness of the rear electrode is 20 nm to 1 .mu.m. This construction insures improved photoelectric conversion efficiency and improved reliability of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method of purifying a high HLB sugar fatty acid ester without using any solvent and giving it as a powdery form, in which a crude sugar ester is neutralized in pH value, and added with water, a neutral salt and sugar to give a sediment; this sediment is washed with acidic water; the washed water containing the high HLB sugar fatty acid ester at higher concentration is added with a fatty acid to separate a deposition; and this deposition is neutralized and spray dried.

Abstract: A process for recovering, in a purified form, sucrose fatty acid esters having a high HLB included in a reaction mixture formed by a reaction of sucrose and a fatty acid alkyl ester in an organic solvent as reaction medium in the presence of a catalyst, which comprises adjusting the reaction mixture from which a part of the organic solvent may be previously removed and to which water is added to form an aqueous solution, to a neutral pH region, adding a neutral salt and sucrose to the solution to precipitate the sucrose fatty acid esters, separating and washing the precipitate with an acidic water, and subjecting the washing liquid to ultrafiltration. The concentrate obtained by ultrafiltration may be spray-dried to form a dry powder of the sucrose esters having high HLB, and the liquid obtained by separating the precipitate may be contacted with a reverse osmosis membrane to recover sucrose.

Abstract: A process for purifying sucrose fatty acid esters included in a reaction mixture formed by a reaction of sucrose and a fatty acid alkyl ester in an organic solvent as reaction medium in the presence of a catalyst, which comprises adjusting the reaction mixture from which a part of the organic solvent as reaction medium may be previously removed and to which water is added to form an aqueous solution, to a neutral pH region, adding a neutral salt and sucrose to the solution to precipitate the sucrose fatty acid ester, filtering off the precipitate, and washing the precipitate with an acidic water. The washed precipitate in the form of slurry is spray-dried to form a dry powder, and the filtrate is contacted with a reverse osmosis membrane to recover sucrose. According to the invention, purified sucrose fatty acid esters can be obtained from the reaction mixture without using an organic solvent as purification solvent, while sucrose can be recovered in high yield.

Abstract: From a reaction mixture obtained by reaction of sucrose and a fatty acid alkyl ester in the presence of a catalyst, a purified sucrose fatty acid ester is prepared without using organic solvents for purification by adding water to the reaction mixture and subjecting the resulting aqueous solution to ultrafiltration, thereby removing the unreacted sucrose, the catalyst or a salt derived from the catalyst, and the volatile component used as the reaction medium together with water. A powder of the purified sucrose fatty acid ester is easily, economically and safely prepared by subjecting the aqueous solution remaining in the ultrafiltration to reverse osmosis and spray-drying the resulting concentrate.