Abstract: Provided is a catalyst that exhibits a high catalyst activity in a water oxidation reaction within a neutral range. A water splitting catalyst comprises at least one 3d-block transition metal element selected from manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper or a compound containing the element, and a base and/or a carbonate having a pKa of 8 or less.

Abstract: An electrically conductive hybrid material includes: a covalent organic framework having pores; and a conductor material, wherein the covalent organic framework is supported on the conductor material. The covalent organic framework that does not have electron conductivity is supported on the conductor material such as a carbon material, thereby can be given the electron conductivity, and becomes usable as such a catalyst material and such an electrode material, which involve the electron transfer, these materials including an electrode catalyst material of a fuel cell, and the like.

Abstract: A nitrate reduction method includes the step of reducing at least one type selected from a group of nitrates and nitrites at an active site included in a defect of graphene in a reduction reaction, wherein the graphene is a reduced product of graphene oxide, and the defect of the graphene is derived from a defect of the graphene oxide.

Abstract: An agent for virus inactivation capable of exhibiting inactivation action based on structural destruction such as degradation and decomposition against viruses, which comprises a monovalent copper compound such as cuprous oxide, cuprous sulfide, cuprous iodide, and cuprous chloride as an active ingredient, and a virus inactivation material, which contains the agent for virus inactivation on a surface of a substrate and/or inside of the substrate.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a hydrothermal fluid well including a drilled hole reaching down to a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present below an ocean floor from an ocean floor surface and a casing installed in the drilled hole through a guide base on the ocean floor surface, an anode provided on a flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, a cathode provided in seawater other than the flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, and an ocean floor device that is connected with the anode and the cathode respectively and extracts generated power so as to operate. Power is easily and stably supplied on the ocean floor.

Abstract: A medium for culturing Euglena includes a cell membrane-permeable electron mediator that includes a biocompatible moiety and a redox-active moiety. A method for culturing Euglena includes culturing Euglena in a medium including a cell membrane-permeable electron mediator that includes a biocompatible moiety and a redox-active moiety. The medium is placed in a fermenter system that includes a device for extracting electrons from the medium. A method for reducing photoinhibition in Euglena includes electrochemically culturing Euglena in a medium including a cell membrane-permeable electron mediator that includes a biocompatible moiety and a redox-active moiety. The medium is placed in a fermenter system that includes a device for extracting electrons from the medium.

Abstract: A copper compound-carried titanium oxide photocatalyst which is excellent in a photocatalytic activity and a viral inactivation property and a production process for the same can be provided by a copper compound-carried titanium oxide photocatalyst comprising titanium oxide in which a content of rutile type titanium oxide is 50% by mole or more and a monovalent copper compound and a divalent copper compound which are carried on a surface of the titanium oxide described above and a production process for a copper compound-carried titanium oxide photocatalyst, comprising a step of carrying a monovalent copper compound and a divalent copper compound on a surface of titanium oxide in which a content of rutile type titanium oxide is 50% by mole or more.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst that exhibits a high catalyst activity in a water oxidation reaction within a neutral range. A water splitting catalyst comprises at least one 3d-block transition metal element selected from manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper or a compound containing the element, and a base and/or a carbonate having a pKa of 8 or less.

Abstract: Object of the present invention is to provide visible light-responsive photocatalyst coating material which can form a coating film exhibiting superior allergen inactivation property through irradiation of visible light. The visible light-responsive photocatalyst coating material comprises: photocatalyst material having visible light-activity composed of metal oxide particle with divalent copper salt supported on the surface thereof, said metal oxide particle having optical semiconductor-characteristics and potential of valence band of said metal oxide particle being 3[V] or more (vs. SHE, pH=0); binder component including component having siloxane bond or component forming siloxane bond through reaction; and chloride ionic compound. When visible light is irradiated to the coating film, the metal oxide particle exhibits photocatalyst activity in the presence of the copper-divalent ion and chloride ion, thereby significantly high allergen inactivation property is exhibited.

Abstract: A titanium oxide particle that can develop non-conventional and novel physical properties, a method for manufacturing the same, and a magnetic memory, an optical information recording medium, and a charge accumulation type memory using the same are provided. A silica-coated titanium hydroxide compound particle is directly produced through a sol-gel technique and not through a reverse micelle technique, and the silica-coated titanium hydroxide compound particle is subjected to a calcination process. Hence, a titanium oxide particle 1 can be provided which can develop non-conventional and novel physical properties such that it does not perform phase transition at a room temperature and a Ti3O5 particle body can always maintain the characteristic as a paramagnetic metal in all temperature ranges unlike conventional bulk bodies that perform phase transition between a non-magnetic semiconductor and a paramagnetic metal at a temperature near about 460 K.

Abstract: A microstructure that can develop non-conventional and novel physical properties and a method for producing the same are provided. Ethanol is added to a mixture solution produced by adding a surfactant solution to a peroxotitanic acid aqueous solution to produce precipitates, and the precipitates collected from the mixture solution are let dried to produce precursor powders 5. The precursor powders 5 are calcined at a predetermined temperature. Accordingly, a microstructure 2 can be produced which is formed of monophasic Ti4O7 in nano size. The microstructure 2 of monophasic Ti4O7 produced in this fashion can be fine-grained in nano size unlike prior-art crystals.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a hydrothermal fluid well including a drilled hole reaching down to a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present below an ocean floor from an ocean floor surface and a casing installed in the drilled hole through a guide base on the ocean floor surface, an anode provided on a flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, a cathode provided in seawater other than the flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, and an ocean floor device that is connected with the anode and the cathode respectively and extracts generated power so as to operate. Power is easily and stably supplied on the ocean floor.

Abstract: A carbon-based material in accordance with the present invention includes graphene doped with metal atoms and at least one type of non-metal atoms selected from a group consisting of nitrogen atoms, boron atoms, sulfur atoms, and phosphorus atoms. A diffraction pattern obtained by X-ray diffraction measurement of the carbon-based material by use of CuK? radiation showing that a proportion of the highest of intensities of peaks derived from an inactive metal compound and a metal crystal to an intensity of a (002) peak is 0.1 or less.

Abstract: An antimicrobial and antiviral composition, a method of producing the same, and the like are provided, which are capable of exhibiting an excellent antimicrobial and antiviral properties over a long time in the application for various uses. The antimicrobial and antiviral composition contains cuprous oxide particles having a BET specific surface area of 5 to 100 m2/g and a saccharide having an aldehyde group, in which the content of the saccharide with an aldehyde group is 0.5 to 10 mass part based on the cuprous oxide particles of 100 mass part. The method produces this composition.

Abstract: The carbon dioxide permeation device in accordance with the present invention includes a first gas diffusion electrode, a second gas diffusion electrode, an electrolyte membrane which is between the first gas diffusion electrode and the second gas diffusion electrode, and a DC power source. The carbon dioxide permeation device accelerates absorption of carbon dioxide into the electrolyte membrane from gas in a vicinity of the first gas diffusion electrode so as to decrease a carbon dioxide concentration of the gas in the vicinity of the first gas diffusion electrode, and accelerates emission of carbon dioxide from the electrolyte membrane to gas in a vicinity of the second gas diffusion electrode by causing an oxidation reaction of water in the electrolyte membrane so as to enrich carbon dioxide in the gas in the vicinity of the second gas diffusion electrode.

Abstract: A nitrate reduction method in accordance with the present invention reduces at least one type of nitrates and nitrites in a presence of a carbon-based material containing at least one selected from a group consisting of graphite, graphene, and amorphous carbon.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a microbial fuel cell capable of increasing a current density without employing a mediator. The microbial fuel cell 1 includes a 3-dimensionally structured agglomerate formed from conductive fine particles 2 and microorganisms 3. In the agglomerate 4, the conductive fine particles 2 disperse among pieces of Shewanella 3 and the conductive fine particles 2 are coupled to one another to hold Shewanella 3, thus forming the 3-dimensional structure as a whole. Accordingly, with respect to Shewanella 3, conductive fine particles 2 hold Shewanella 3a on a surface of an electrode 103 and even Shewanella 3b positioned vertically away from the surface of the electrode 103. Hence, it becomes possible that more pieces of Shewanella 3 are allowed to transfer electrons.

Abstract: An antimicrobial and antiviral composition, a method of producing the same, and the like are provided, which are capable of exhibiting an excellent antimicrobial and antiviral properties over a long time in the application for various uses. The antimicrobial and antiviral composition contains cuprous oxide particles having a BET specific surface area of 5 to 100 m2/g and a saccharide having an aldehyde group, in which the content of the saccharide with an aldehyde group is 0.5 to 10 mass part based on the cuprous oxide particles of 100 mass part. The method produces this composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photocatalytic material having a visible light activity which includes a tungsten-doped titanium oxide or a tungsten/gallium-codoped titanium oxide, and a divalent copper salt and/or a trivalent iron salt supported on a surface of the doped or codoped titanium oxide, and a process for producing the photocatalytic material.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide enrichment device includes first and second gas diffusion electrodes; an anion exchange membrane; and an electrolytic solution partitioned by the anion exchange membrane. The electrolytic solution contains solvent and solute, and the solute is dissolved to form a dissolved inorganic carbon containing carbonic acid, hydrogen carbonate ions, or carbonic acid ions. The oxygen is consumed by an oxygen reduction reaction on the first gas diffusion electrode, whereby, a dissolved inorganic carbon is formed by a dissolution and ionization reaction of carbon dioxide in the solvent. The dissolved inorganic carbon from the solute or the dissolved inorganic carbon is transported to the second gas diffusion electrode through the anion exchange membrane, and oxygen is formed from the solvent near the second gas diffusion electrode by an oxidation reaction of the solvent on the second gas diffusion electrode, and carbon dioxide is formed from the dissolved inorganic carbon.