Abstract: A composition containing an extremely poorly water-soluble drug and obtained by treating, with a supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid of carbon dioxide, a mixture comprising a porous silica material and the extremely poorly water-soluble drug; and its production process. The porous silica material has an average pore diameter in a range of from 1 to 20 nm, pores having diameters within ±40% of the average pore size account for at least 60% of a total pore volume of the porous silica material, and in X-ray diffractometry, the porous silica material has at least one peak at a position of diffraction angle (2?) corresponding to a d value of at least 1 nm. The composition according to the present invention, which contains the extremely poorly water-soluble drug, is excellent in the dissolution of the extremely poorly water-soluble drug.

Abstract: A paint composition includes a layer organic-inorganic composite, and titanium alkoxide in an amount of from 1 to 50 parts by weight with respect to the layer organic-inorganic composite taken as 100 parts by weight. The layer organic-inorganic composite is composed of a laminated substance. The laminated substance includes a tetrahedral structural layer and an octahedral structural layer. The tetrahedral structural layer is made of tetrahedral structures whose central atom M? is Si or a first metallic atom substituting for a part the Si, at least a part of the central atom M? covalent-bonded to an organic group R involving or free from a polymerizable functional group. The octahedral structural layer is made of octahedral structures whose central atom M is a second metallic atom.

Abstract: A pressure container is filled with a base material having at least part of the surface coated with an organic matrix including at least one member selected from the specific functional groups, and a material solution containing a carbonate material as a material for carbonate film and an organic polymer including at least one member selected from the specific groups. In succession, by supplying CO2 into the pressure container at 2 atm or higher, a carbonate film is deposited on the surface of the organic matrix.

Abstract: A paint composition includes a layer organic-inorganic composite, and titanium alkoxide in an amount of from 1 to 50 parts by weight with respect to the layer organic-inorganic composite taken as 100 parts by weight. The layer organic-inorganic composite is composed of a laminated substance. The laminated substance includes a tetrahedral structural layer and an octahedral structural layer. The tetrahedral structural layer is made of tetrahedral structures whose central atom M′ is Si or a first metallic atom substituting for a part the Si, at least a part of the central atom M′ covalent-bonded to an organic group R involving or free from a polymerizable functional group. The octahedral structural layer is made of octahedral structures whose central atom M is a second metallic atom.

Abstract: The invention features a photocatalytic body including: a porous medium 12 formed on a substrate 10; and photocatalytic material 14 supported on the porous medium. Supporting the photocatalytic material 14 on the porous medium 12 enables enhancement of its catalytic activity.

Abstract: The membrane electrode assembly 1 has an anode 10, a cathode 20, and an electrolyte membrane 30 disposed between the anode and cathode; the anode and cathode are gas diffusion electrodes; the electrolyte membrane contains a solid electrolyte in which a plurality of pores with mean pore diameters of 1 to 30 nm are formed; and the solid electrolyte has a backbone comprising organic groups having one or more metal atoms, oxygen atoms bonded to the metal atoms, and carbon atoms bonded to the metal atoms or oxygen atoms, and also has functional groups with ion-exchange capabilities that are bonded to the organic groups in the pores.

Abstract: Porous materials having a metal oxide skeleton are taught that have various water vapor adsorption capacities defined by the amount of adsorbed water vapor at a specific relative vapor pressure in a water vapor adsorption isotherm. A preferred porous material has a water vapor adsorption capacity that is less than or equal to 0.1 g/g at a relative vapor pressure of 10%, and greater than or equal to 0.2 g/g at a relative vapor pressure of 28%. Methods of making such porous materials are also taught. A preferred method for forming a porous material includes condensing a skeleton starting material for the porous material, in the presence of a surfactant, in a solution which has a concentration of the skeleton starting material in the solution that is less than or equal to 0.4 mol/L and a molar ratio of the surfactant to the skeleton starting material that is greater than or equal to 0.05 and less than or equal to 50, to form a condensate and removing the surfactant from the condensate.

Abstract: In an adsorption-type refrigerating apparatus, an adsorber includes therein an adsorbent having a temperature-dependent characteristic in which an amount adsorbed in an adsorption step is larger than an amount adsorbed in a desorption step, even when a vapor pressure rate in the adsorption step is equal to or lower than a vapor pressure rate in the desorption step. Therefore, even when the cooling temperature of outside air for cooling the adsorbent increases, a sufficient cooling capacity can be obtained. In addition, a difference between the amount adsorbed in the adsorption step and the amount adsorbed in the desorption step can be made larger.

Abstract: The invention features a photocatalytic body including: a porous medium 12 formed on a substrate 10; and photocatalytic material 14 supported on the porous medium. Supporting the photocatalytic material 14 on the porous medium 12 enables enhancement of its catalytic activity.

Abstract: Organic/inorganic complex porous materials are disclosed having a main skeletal chain containing metal atoms, oxygen atoms, and organic groups. Preferably, the metal atoms, oxygen atoms and organic groups are bound by ionic bonds and/or covalent bonds, and the organic group is bound to at least two metal atoms in the main chain of the skeleton of the porous material. More preferably, 60% or more of the total pore volume in the porous material has a pore diameter in a range of ±40% of the pore diameter, as determined from the maximum peak in a pore size distribution curve. Alternatively, at least one peak is present at a diffraction angle that preferably corresponds to a d value of at least 1 nm in an x-ray diffraction pattern. Method of making such organic/inorganic complex materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: Micropipe defects existing in a silicon carbide single crystal are closed within the single crystal. At least a portion of the micropipe defects opened on the surface of the silicon carbide single crystal (SiC substrate) is sealed up with a coating material. Then heat treatment is performed so as to saturate the inside of the micropipe defects with silicon carbide vapors. By this, the micropipe defects existing in the SiC substrate can be closed within the SiC substrate, not in a newly grown layer. Further, the micropipe defects can be efficiently closed by filling the micropipe defects with a silicon carbide material by preliminarily using super critical fluid and the like.

Abstract: A coated material comprising a substrate which has micropores and a reaction product coated thereon along the surface configuration of the substrate and an inner wall of the micropores thereof. The coated material is preferably produced by performing a supercritical coating step wherein a reaction precursor is dissolved in a supercritical fluid to form a precursor fluid and then the precursor fluid is brought into contact with a substrate in the presence with a reaction initiator to allow a reaction between the reaction precursor and the reaction initiator, thereby coating a reaction product onto the substrate.

Abstract: The present cluster-included material characterized by utilizing a porous host material for clusters having a pore larger in size than that of zeolite. The cluster-included material is obtained by forming a cluster in a pore of a mesoporous material having a pore size of 1.3 to 10 nm. When the mesoporous material is particularly a mesoporous material having a pore volume of not less than 60% of a total pore volume within a pore size range of -40 to +40% of a pore size which shows a maximum peak in a pore size distribution curve, a granular cluster having a uniform particle size or a fine-linear cluster having a uniform diameter is obtained. The cluster-included material performs the various quantum effects.

Abstract: Provided is a mesopore material and the manufacturing method thereof characterized by having uniform diameter of each pore as well as a high crystallographic regularity, comprising primary particles having a small axe with uniformity, allowing for synthesizing the primary particles with the size freely controlled, and allowing for simple manufacturing at a reduced cost. The mesopore material comprising: pores having a diameter in a range of 2 to 10 nm; and a primary particle having a major axe in a range of 10 nm to 1 .mu.m. The diameter range is defined at a maximum peak in a pore distribution curve, and 75% or more of the pores is in a diameter range of -40% to +40% of the pore diameter at the maximum peak. Further provided is a laminar silicic acid composed of the uninvertible tetrahedral sheet and has a uniform shape and size. Also provided is a laminar silicic acid salt composed of the uninvertible tetrahedral sheet and has a uniform shape and size.

Abstract: The method for producing a bulk silica porous material is presented. The obtained material has a large crystal size serving to reduce light scattering, and uniform and adjustable pore size. This can be utilized for optical and electronic functional materials. The method comprises the steps of:forming a silica/surfactant composite by mixing starting materials containing an alkoxysilane, water and a surfactant and allowing to the starting materials to react;maturing said silica/surfactant composite by allowing the same to stand in a closed container to effect the development of a silica network structure and the formation of porous structure in said composite;drying said matured silica/surfactant composite for removing the solvent and for condensation of said matured silica/surfactant composite; and,sintering said condensed silica/surfactant composite to remove the surfactant to obtain a silica porous material.

Abstract: A silicon dioxide tetrahedron sheet having a specific morphology with the pseudomorphs of the starting raw material of clay minerals for the sheet is prepared, and this is reacted with an alkylonium salt whereby a desired number of the silicon dioxide tetrahedrons are removed from the sheet by the action of the micelles of the alkylonium salt formed on the surface of the sheet to thereby form mesopores in the sheet. The mesopore material of the sheet has phyllo-structured 6-membered skeletons as connected to each other, in which each one phyllo-structured 6-membered skeleton is formed by connecting 6 silicon dioxide tetrahedrons together, and its mesopores are formed by removing a desired number of the silicon dioxide tetrahedrons from the sheet.

Abstract: The graphite is a composite between graphite particles and other fine, solid element particles, in which the graphite particles account for at least 40 atomic % and the other element particles have particle sizes of 900 nm or smaller and are dispersed in said graphite particles. The other elements may be Li and Si. Preferably, a part of said other elements forms an intercalation compound with graphite. The composite is suitable for a negative electrode of lithium secondary batteries having large discharging capacity, and as adsorbent materials of adsorbing various substances.

Abstract: An adsorption heat pump includes a working fluid, an adsorption-desorption unit, and an evaporation-condensation unit connected with the adsorption-desorption unit. The adsorption-desorption unit adsorbs and desorbs vapor resulting from the working fluid, and includes an adsorbent being a porous substance. The porous substance has pores, and exhibits a pore diameter distribution curve having a maximum peak falling in a pore diameter range of from 1 to 10 nm. The pores in the diameter range of .+-.40% of pore diameter at the maximum peak have pore volume not less than 60% of a whole volume of the porous substance. The evaporation-condensation unit evaporates and condenses the working fluid. The adsorption heat pump can be operated by a low-temperature heat source, and can exhibit a large pumping temperature difference regardless of its small size.

Abstract: This invention provides liquid crystal compositions for light controlling materials of light scattering type having both memory and high speed response characteristics. The composition neither needs a temperature controlling device nor a device for imparting a shear stress as a memory erasing device, because the composition comprises a two-frequency addressing liquid crystal or such liquid crystal with an ionic component.The two-frequency addressing liquid crystal responds to an electric field and exhibits a positive dielectric anisotropy or a negative dielectric anisotropy depending on the frequency region of the electric field. Because the flat shaped particles of the present invention exhibit an affinity with the liquid crystal, the particles are dispersed in the liquid crystal and form liquid crystal domains effectively.

Abstract: Composite material with high mechanical strength and excellent high-temperature characteristics comprising a polymer matrix containing polyamide and layers of a silicate uniformly dispersed in the order of molecules in the polymer matrix, each of said silicate layers being 7 to 12 Å thick and the interlayer distance being at least 20 Å; and a process for manufacturing such composite material.