Abstract: The present invention relates to an amorphous silica-based coating film with a low specific dielectric constant of 2.5 or below and the Young's modulus of 6.0 GPa or more and having excellent hydrophobic property, and to a method of forming the same. A liquid composition containing a silicon compound obtained by hydrolyzing tetraalkyl ortho silicate (TAOS) and specific alkoxysilane (AS) in the presence of tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide (TAAOH) is prepared. The liquid composition is then applied on a substrate, heated and cured to obtain a coating film. The coating film obtained as described has a smooth surface and also has specific micropores therein.

Abstract: A coating liquid for forming a silica-containing film with a low-dielectric constant which enables formation of low-density film having a dielectric constant as low as 3 or less and having excellent resistance to oxygen plasma and process adaptation but also in the adhesion to a substrate and film strength. A substrate coated with the silica-containing film having the above characteristics, obtained by the use of the above coating liquid.

Abstract: Highly transparent alumina hydrate particles having a large pore volume, having a pore diameter which falls in a specified range and, when formed into a high-concentration dispersion sol, exhibiting a low viscosity are provided. Alumina hydrate particles having a composition represented by the general formula xM2O.y(NH4)2O.Al2O3.zH2O (2×10?4?x?25×10?4, 0.1×10?4?y?20×10?4, 0.6?z?2.5, M represents an alkali metal; when the alkali metal is in the form of M2O, x is the number of moles thereof per mol of Al2O3; when ammonia is in the form of (NH4)2O, y is the number of moles thereof per mol of Al2O3; and z is the number of moles of hydration water (H2O) per mol of Al2O3), the alumina hydrate particles having an average particle diameter of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m, a total pore volume of 0.5 to 1.5 ml/g, and a volume of pores whose diameter is from 15 to 30 nm ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 ml/g.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing electrode catalyst fine particles capable of affording formed catalysts such as membranes excellent in uniformity and strength and also employable as catalyst to exhibit high catalytic activity over long periods because fine metal particles are highly distributed on carriers to make particle growth or the like less likely to occur. Electrode catalyst fine particles comprise fine particles which have an average particle diameter of 10 nm to 10 ?m and in which fine metal particles are supported on carrier particles, wherein a potential difference (absolute value of (II) minus (I)) between a flow potential (I) of a water dispersion of the fine metal particles at 1 wt % concentration and a pH of 3 to 8 and a flow potential (II) of a water dispersion of the carrier particles at 1 wt % concentration and a pH of 4 to 10, is in the range of 10 to 3000 mV.

Abstract: A photoelectric cell that includes a first insulating base, having on its surface a first electrode layer, which has on its surface a metal oxide semiconductor film, which includes anatase titanium oxide particles, on which a photosensitizer is absorbed and a second insulating base having on its surface a second electrode layer and an electrolyte sealed between the metal oxide semiconductor film and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are arranged opposite from each other. At least one of the first and second insulating bases with an electrode layer is transparent.

Abstract: Inorganic compound particles constituted of a shell, a porous matter or a cavity enclosed therein, and the porous matter or the cavity being kept unchanged in a subsequently formed transparent coating film.

Abstract: The electrolyte membrane according to the present invention comprises inorganic oxide particles having proton conductivity, and an organic resin or an inorganic matrix component. The inorganic oxide particles having proton conductivity preferably comprise hydrated antimony oxide particles represented by the following formula (1) and have an average particle diameter of 5 to 50 nm, and the content of the hydrated antimony oxide particles is preferably in the range of 5 to 80% by weight in terms of an oxide (Sb2O5); Sb2O5.nH2O??(1) wherein n is 0.1 to 5. By the use of the electrolyte membrane of the present invention, a fuel cell exhibiting high cell performance even in a prolonged operation and/or an operation at high temperature can be obtained.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a first substrate having on its surface a first electrode layer having on its surface a semiconductor film on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed, and a second substrate having on its surface a second electrode layer. The first and second substrates are arranged so that the first electrode layer overlaid with the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer are opposite each other with an electrolyte disposed therebetween. Spacer particles are interposed between the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer, and at least one of the electrode-layer-having substrates is transparent. A coating liquid for forming the semiconductor film includes both a component for forming the semiconductor film as well as the spacer particles, dispersed in a dispersion medium.

Abstract: Amorphous inorganic particles as a dental material includes silica and inorganic oxide(s) other than silica and has high x-ray impermeability. The inorganic particles as a dental material includes silica with the content in the range from 70 to 98 weight % and oxide(s) of one or more elements selected from the group of Zr, Ti, La, Ba, Sr, Hf, Y, Zn, AL, and B, wherein 5 to 70 weight % of the silica is originated from an acidic silicic acid solution and 30 to 95 weight % of the silica is originated from a sol of silica. The inorganic particles as a dental material have an average particle diameter in the range from 1 to 10 ?m, specific surface area in the range from 50 to 350 m2/g, pore volume in the range from 0.05 to 0.5 ml/g, amorphous crystallinity as observed by x-ray diffraction, and the refractive index in the range from 1.47 to 1.60.

Abstract: The process for preparing tubular titanium oxide particles comprises subjecting a water dispersion sol, which is obtained by dispersing (i) titanium oxide particles and/or (ii) titanium oxide type composite oxide particles comprising titanium oxide and an oxide other than titanium oxide in water, said particles having an average particle diameter of 2 to 100 nm, to hydrothermal treatment in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide. After the hydrothermal treatment, reduction treatment (including nitriding treatment) may be carried out. The tubular titanium oxide particles obtained in this process are useful as catalysts, catalyst carriers, adsorbents, photocatalysts, decorative materials, optical materials and photoelectric conversion materials. Especially when the particles are used for semiconductor films for photovoltaic cells or photocatalysts, prominently excellent effects are exhibited.

Abstract: In polishing particles each having a core-shell structure, a polishing rate can be controlled by adjusting a thickness and/or density of a shell portion. The polishing particles have the core-shell structure with an average diameter in the range from 5 to 300 nm, and the shell portion of the polishing particles includes silica with a thickness in the range from 1 to 50 nm. A density of the shell portion is in the from 1.6 to 2.2 g/cc, while the Na content of the shell portion is less than 10 ppm.

Abstract: The transparent film-coated substrate includes a substrate and a transparent coating film formed on the surface of the substrate, the transparent coating film comprising (i) a matrix containing a silicone having a fluorine-substituted alkyl group, and (ii) inorganic compound particles comprising a shell, and a porous matter or a cavity enclosed therein, wherein the porous matter or the cavity remains unchanged in the formed transparent coating film.

Abstract: The invention provides a recording sheet having an ink-receiving layer, which comprises a substrate sheet and an ink-receiving layer formed thereon, said ink-receiving layer comprising oxide particles, wherein the ink-receiving layer has pores having a diameter in the range of 3.4 to 2,000 nm, the pore volume of pores having a diameter of 3.4 to 30 nm is in the range of 0.2 to 1.8 ml/g, and the pore volume of pores having a diameter of 30 to 2,000 nm is in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 ml/g. It is preferable that the oxide particles have an average particle diameter of 2 to 1,000 nm and are a mixture of hydrophobic oxide particles and hydrophilic oxide particles. This recording sheet shows sufficient strength, has excellent printability such that images of uniform density and high sharpness can be printed thereon without bleeding, and is excellent in water resistance, weathering resistance and fading resistance.

Abstract: A coating liquid for forming a silica-containing film with a low-dielectric constant which enables formation of low-density film having a dielectric constant as low as 3 or less and having excellent resistance to oxygen plasma and process adaptation but also in the adhesion to a substrate and film strength. A substrate coated with the silica-containing film having the above characteristics, obtained by the use of the above coating liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coating liquid for forming a transparent conductive film, comprising conductive fine particles having an average particle diameter of 1 to 200 nm, silica particles having an average particle diameter of 4 to 200 nm and a polar solvent. The silica particles are in the form of chain silica particles having 2 to 10 silica particles on an average being connected. The content of an alkali in the silica particles is not more than 1000 ppm in terms of an alkali metal M.

Abstract: The porous composite oxide particle is coated with a porous silica-based inorganic oxide layer, and also a substrate has a coating film with the fine particles thereon, which has a low refractive index and excellent in adhesion with a resin or the like, strength, the ability to reduce reflection and the like. The fine particles include porous composite oxide with silica and an inorganic oxide other than silica, wherein the fine particles are coated with a porous silica-based inorganic oxide layer having a thickness from 0.5 to 20 nm. The fine particles include preferably an organic group directly bonded to silicon, and SR/ST, the ratio of the molar amount of silicon having the organic group directly bonded thereto (SR) vs the molar amount of the total silicon (ST), is preferably in the range from 0.001 to 0.9.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dispersion liquid of silica particles for polishing with a low content of Na ions and also with a content of ions other than Na ions in a prespecified range. This dispersion liquid is a dispersion liquid of silica particles in which the silica particles having the average particle diameter in the range from 5 to 300 nm is dispersed, and a content of Na ions in the silica particle is less than 100 ppm, while a contents of ions other than Na ions is in the range from 300 ppm to 2 weight %.

Abstract: Silica particles for polishing have a three-dimensional polycondensation structure with an average particle diameter in a range from 5 to 300 nm. The silica particles have residual alkoxy groups therein and a carbon content in a range from 0.5 to 5 weight % retained in the residual alkoxy groups.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a first substrate having on its surface a first electrode layer having on its surface a semiconductor film on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed, and a second substrate having on its surface a second electrode layer. The first and second substrates are arranged so that the first electrode layer overlaid with the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer are opposite each other with an electrolyte disposed therebetween. Spacer particles are interposed between the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer, and at least one of the electrode-layer-having substrates is transparent. A coating liquid for forming the semiconductor film includes both a component for forming the semiconductor film as well as the spacer particles, dispersed in a dispersion medium.

Abstract: A coating liquid for forming a silica-containing film with a low-dielectric constant, which enables the formation of a low-density film having a dielectric constant as low as 3 or less and having excellent resistance to oxygen plasma and process adaptation but also in the adhesion to a substrate and film strength, is provided. The coating liquid for forming a silica-containing film with a low-dielectric constant comprises a polymer composition mainly constituted by (i) a polysiloxane and (ii) a readily decomposable resin, said polysiloxane being a reaction product between fine particles of silica and a hydrolyzate of at least one alkoxysilane represented by the following formula (I): XnSi(OR)4−n  (I),  wherein X represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, an unfluorinated or fluorinated alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a vinyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an aryl group or a vinyl group; and n is an integer of 0 to 3.