Abstract: A freeze vacuum drying apparatus includes: a spraying unit; a pipe unit; a heating unit; and a collection unit. The spraying unit sprays a raw material liquid into a vacuum chamber. The pipe unit has a non-linear shape, includes a first opening end and a second opening end, and traps frozen particles via the first opening end, the frozen particles being formed by self-freezing of liquid droplets formed by spraying the raw material liquid into the vacuum chamber. The heating unit heats the frozen particles in the pipe unit for sublimation drying, the frozen particles moving in the pipe unit from the first opening end toward the second opening end by kinetic energy produced during spraying. The collection unit collects dried particles that are formed by sublimation drying of the frozen particles in the pipe unit and released from the second opening end of the pipe unit.

Abstract: A freeze vacuum drying apparatus includes: a spraying unit; a pipe unit; a heating unit; and a collection unit. The spraying unit sprays a raw material liquid into a vacuum chamber. The pipe unit has a non-linear shape, includes a first opening end and a second opening end, and traps frozen particles via the first opening end, the frozen particles being formed by self-freezing of liquid droplets formed by spraying the raw material liquid into the vacuum chamber. The heating unit heats the frozen particles in the pipe unit for sublimation drying, the frozen particles moving in the pipe unit from the first opening end toward the second opening end by kinetic energy produced during spraying. The collection unit collects dried particles that are formed by sublimation drying of the frozen particles in the pipe unit and released from the second opening end of the pipe unit.

Abstract: A positive electrode for an alkali metal-sulfur battery, the positive electrode including: a porous conductive material layer including a plurality of nanocarbon structures of a conductive material, wherein the conductive material defines a plurality of pores between the plurality of nanocarbon structures of the conductive material; sulfur, which is contained in the plurality of pores of the porous conductive material layer; and a polymer film disposed directly on at least a portion of the porous conductive material layer.

Abstract: Provided are a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery capable of surely covering with sulfur a portion of carbon nanotubes near a current collector and capable of supplying an electrolytic solution up to the vicinity of a base end of the carbon nanotubes efficiently even when sulfur expands in volume during discharge, and a method of forming the same. The positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery includes: a current collector; a plurality of carbon nanotubes which are grown on a surface of the current collector such that the current collector-surface side serves as a base end and so as to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the current collector; and sulfur to cover the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes at a density of the carbon nanotubes of 40 mg/cm3 or less.

Abstract: Provided are a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery and a method of forming the same, the positive electrode being capable of maintaining battery characteristics such as a specific capacity and a cycling characteristic while achieving a high rate characteristic in particular when being applied to a lithium-sulfur secondary battery. A positive electrode of a lithium-sulfur secondary battery includes a positive electrode current collector and carbon nanotubes grown on a surface of the positive electrode current collector and oriented in a direction orthogonal to the surface. At least the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes is covered with sulfur with a certain interstice left between neighboring ones of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium-sulfur secondary battery capable of suppressing diffusion of a polysulfide eluded into an electrolytic solution into a negative electrode and capable of suppressing lowering of a charge-discharge capacity. In the lithium-sulfur secondary battery of this invention, including a positive electrode P containing a positive electrode active material containing sulfur, a negative electrode N containing a negative electrode active material containing lithium, and a separator S disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to hold an electrolytic solution L, a polymer nonwoven fabric F containing a sulfonic group is disposed at least one of between the separator and the positive electrode and between the separator and the negative electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery capable of surely covering a portion of carbon nanotubes near a collector with sulfur and having an excellent strength. In a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery including a collector, a plurality of carbon nanotubes grown on a surface of the collector so as to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the collector with a base end thereof on a side of the surface of the collector, and sulfur covering a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes, a surface of each of the carbon nanotube is covered with sulfur by melting and diffusing sulfur from a growing end side of the carbon nanotubes, and the density per unit volume of the carbon nanotubes is set such that sulfur is present up to an interface between the collector and the base end.

Abstract: Provided are a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery capable of surely covering with sulfur a portion of carbon nanotubes near a current collector and capable of supplying an electrolytic solution up to the vicinity of a base end of the carbon nanotubes efficiently even when sulfur expands in volume during discharge, and a method of forming the same. The positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery includes: a current collector; a plurality of carbon nanotubes which are grown on a surface of the current collector such that the current collector-surface side serves as a base end and so as to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the current collector; and sulfur to cover the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes at a density of the carbon nanotubes of 40 mg/cm3 or less.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium-sulfur secondary battery capable of suppressing diffusion of a polysulfide eluted into an electrolyte, into a negative electrode and capable of suppressing lowering of a charge-discharge efficiency. In a lithium-sulfur secondary battery (B) of the invention, having a positive electrode (P) including a positive electrode active material containing sulfur, a negative electrode (N) including a negative electrode active material containing lithium, and a separator (5) which is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and which allows a lithium ion of an electrolyte (L) to pass therethrough, a cation-exchange membrane (CE) is formed on one of a positive electrode-side surface of the separator and a negative electrode-side surface thereof.

Abstract: A positive electrode for an alkali metal-sulfur battery, the positive electrode including: a porous conductive material layer including a plurality of nanocarbon structures of a conductive material, wherein the conductive material defines a plurality of pores between the plurality of nanocarbon structures of the conductive material; sulfur, which is contained in the plurality of pores of the porous conductive material layer; and a polymer film disposed directly on at least a portion of the porous conductive material layer.

Abstract: Provided are a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur secondary battery and a method of forming the same, the positive electrode being capable of maintaining battery characteristics such as a specific capacity and a cycling characteristic while achieving a high rate characteristic in particular when being applied to a lithium-sulfur secondary battery. A positive electrode of a lithium-sulfur secondary battery includes a positive electrode current collector and carbon nanotubes grown on a surface of the positive electrode current collector and oriented in a direction orthogonal to the surface. At least the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes is covered with sulfur with a certain interstice left between neighboring ones of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A porous silica precursor composition is herein provided and the precursor composition comprises an organic silane represented by the following chemical formula 1: R1m(R2—O)4-mSi (in the formula, R1 and R2 may be the same or different and each represent an alkyl group, and m is an integer ranging from 0 to 3); water; an alcohol; and a quaternary ammonium compound represented by the following chemical formula 2: R3N(R4)3X (in the formula, R3 and R4 may be the same or different and each represent an alkyl group and X represents a halogen atom). The composition is prepared by a method comprising the step of blending the foregoing components. The porous silica precursor composition is coated on a substrate and then fired to thus form a porous silica film. Also disclosed herein include a semiconductor element, an apparatus for displaying an image and a liquid crystal display, each having the foregoing porous silica film.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method by which quantities of water vapor passing through a measured object can be measured with high sensitivity and in a short time period. The apparatus and method measure water vapor permeability of the measured object based on a dew point temperature in a second space measured after introducing water vapor into a first space, wherein the first space and the second space are parted from each other by the measured object, and wherein the first space is maintained at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined humidity under atmospheric pressure, and the second space is maintained in a dry state with a dew point temperature of ?70° C. or less under atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method by which quantities of water vapor passing through a measured object can be measured with high sensitivity and in a short time period. The apparatus and method measure water vapor permeability of the measured object based on a dew point temperature in a second space measured after introducing water vapor into a first space, wherein the first space and the second space are parted from each other by the measured object, and wherein the first space is maintained at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined humidity under atmospheric pressure, and the second space is maintained in a dry state with a dew point temperature of ?70° C. or less under atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A porous silica precursor composition is herein provided and the precursor composition comprises an organic silane represented by the following chemical formula 1: R1m(R2—O)4?mSi (in the formula, R1 and R2 may be the same or different and each represent an alkyl group, and m is an integer ranging from 0 to 3); water; an alcohol; and a quaternary ammonium compound represented by the following chemical formula 2: R3N(R4)3X (in the formula, R3 and R4 may be the same or different and each represent an alkyl group and X represents a halogen atom). The composition is prepared by a method comprising the step of blending the foregoing components. The porous silica precursor composition is coated on a substrate and then fired to thus form a porous silica film. Also disclosed herein include a semiconductor element, an apparatus for displaying an image and a liquid crystal display, each having the foregoing porous silica film.

Abstract: A cathode substrate according to the present invention comprises a cathode electrode layer (12), insulator layer (14) and gate electrode layer (15) formed sequentially on a substrate to be processed (11). The insulator layer includes a hole (14a) formed therethrough. A gate aperture (16) is formed through the gate electrode layer. An emitter (E) is then provided at the bottom of the hole (14a). In this case, the gate aperture comprises a plurality of openings (16a), the total area of which is smaller than the area of top opening of the hole in the insulator layer. The openings are arranged densely at a position opposite to the emitter and just above the hole of the insulator layer.

Abstract: A substrate for the growth of a carbon nanotube having a catalyst layer microparticulated by using an arc plasma gun. CNT is grown on the catalyst layer by thermal CVD or remote plasma CVD. The particle diameter of the catalyst for the growth of CNT is regulated by the number of shots of the are plasma gun. CNT is grown on the catalyst layer having a regulated catalyst particle diameter by thermal CVD or remote plasma CVD to regulate the inner diameter or outer diameter of CNT.

Abstract: In forming a carbon nanotube on the surface of a substrate surface by the plasma CVD method in accordance with the prior art, since the substrate is heated by plasma, it is difficult to suitably control the temperature of substrate and thus impossible to form the carbon nanotube at a low temperature. According to the present invention there is provided a method for forming a carbon nanotube comprising steps of introducing a carbon included feedstock gas into a vacuum chamber; generating plasma so that a substrate is not exposed to plasma during a vapor phase growth of the carbon nanotube on a substrate surface; heating the substrate to a predetermined temperature by using a heater; and promoting the growth of the carbon nanotube on the substrate surface with it being contacted by the feedstock gas decomposed by plasma.

Abstract: A cathode substrate according to the present invention comprises a cathode electrode layer(12), insulator layer(14) and gate electrode layer(15) formed sequentially on a substrate to be processed (11). The insulator layer includes a hole (14a) formed there through. A gate aperture (16) is formed through the gate electrode layer. An emitter (E) is then provided at the bottom of the hole (14a). In this case, the gate aperture comprises a plurality of openings (16a), the total area of which is smaller than the area of top opening of the hole in the insulator layer. The openings are arranged densely at a position opposite to the emitter and just above the hole of the insulator layer.

Abstract: A porous SOG film is formed by preparing an organic silane solution containing an organic silane, water and an alcohol, subjecting the organic silane to acid hydrolysis or alkali hydrolysis and then heat-treating the resulting reaction system in the presence of a surfactant to thus form a porous SiO2 film to use for an interlayer insulating film. Alternatively, a porous SOG film is formed by repeating the foregoing step at least one time; or by forming a hydrophobic film on the porous SiO2 film prepared by the foregoing step by the CVD or sputtering technique to thus cap the surface of the porous film; or repeating the porous film-forming and capping steps at least one time. Moreover, after the preparation of the foregoing porous SiO2 film, it is subjected to either of the oxygen plasma-treatment, electron beam-irradiation treatment and UV light-irradiation treatment to remove the unreacted OH groups remaining on the porous film and to thus form a porous SOG film.