Abstract: A method capable of inexpensively recovering valuable metals is provided. The method for recovering a valuable metal includes: a preparation step of preparing a charge containing at least lithium (Li) and a valuable metal; an oxidation and reductive melting step of subjecting the charge to an oxidation treatment and a reductive melting treatment to produce a reduced product containing a molten alloy and a slag, the molten alloy containing the valuable metal; and a slag separation step of separating the slag from the reduced product to recover the molten alloy, in which the mole ratio of lithium (Li) to aluminum (Al) (Li/Al ratio) in the slag is 0.15 or more and less than 0.40, and the mole ratio of calcium (Ca) to aluminum (Al) (Ca/Al) in the slag is 0.15 or more.

Abstract: Provided is a method which allows for strict control of an oxygen partial pressure required for the heating and melting of a raw material, and thereby more efficient recovery of a valuable metal. The method for recovering a valuable metal (Cu, Ni, and Co) includes the steps of: preparing a charge comprising at least phosphorus (P) and a valuable metal as a raw material; heating and melting the raw material to form a molten body and then converting the molten body into a molten product comprising an alloy and a slag; and separating the slag from the molten product to recover the alloy comprising the valuable metal, wherein the heating and melting of the raw material comprises directly measuring an oxygen partial pressure in the molten body using an oxygen analyzer, and regulating the oxygen partial pressure based on the obtained measurement result.

Abstract: Provided are: an alloy powder that can be obtained from a waste lithium ion battery, wherein the alloy powder can be dissolved in an acid solution and enables recovery of metals contained in the alloy powder; and a method for producing the alloy powder. This alloy powder contains Cu and at least one of Ni and Co as constituent components, wherein a portion having a higher concentration of the at least one of Ni and Co than the average concentration in the entire alloy powder is distributed on at least the surface, and the phosphorus grade is less than 0.1% by mass. The method for producing the alloy powder includes a powdering step for powdering a molten alloy using a gas atomization method, the molten alloy containing Cu and at least one of Ni and Co as constituent components and having a phosphorus grade of less than 0.1% by mass.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which is capable of more strictly controlling the oxygen partial pressure required during the melting of a starting material, thereby being capable of recovering a valuable metal more efficiently. A method for recovering valuable metals (Cu, Ni, Co), said method comprising the following steps: a step for preparing, as a starting material, a charge that contains at least phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn) and valuable metals; a step for heating and melting the starting material into a melt, and subsequently forming the melt into a molten material that contains an alloy and slag; and a step for recovering the alloy that contains valuable metals by separating the slag from the molten material. With respect to this method for recovering valuable metals, the oxygen partial pressure in the melt is directly measured with use of an oxygen analyzer when the starting material is heated and melted.

Abstract: A resin producing method is a method of producing a resin with which an insulating structure formed on an outer peripheral portion of a conductor is impregnated. The resin producing method includes a dispersion liquid mixing step of mixing an epoxy resin and a dispersion liquid in which a nanofiller is dispersed in a reactive diluent that reduces a viscosity of the epoxy resin by reacting with the epoxy resin, and a curing agent mixing step of mixing a composition produced by the dispersion liquid mixing step, with a curing agent that cures the epoxy resin. The epoxy resin includes, for example, an alicyclic epoxy resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which is capable of more strictly controlling the oxygen partial pressure required during the melting of a starting material, thereby being capable of recovering a valuable metal more efficiently. A method for recovering valuable metals (Cu, Ni, Co), said method comprising the following steps: a step for preparing, as a starting material, a charge that contains at least phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and valuable metals; a step for heating and melting the starting material into a melt, and subsequently forming the melt into a molten material that contains an alloy and slag; and a step for recovering the alloy that contains valuable metals by separating the slag from the molten material. With respect to this method for recovering valuable metals, the oxygen partial pressure in the melt is directly measured with use of an oxygen analyzer when the starting material is heated and melted.

Abstract: A hydrogen production system according to an embodiment includes an evaporator that evaporates seawater to generate water vapor, an electrolytic device that electrolyzes the water vapor supplied from the evaporator to produce hydrogen, and a removal mechanism that is provided between the evaporator and the electrolytic device and removes a seawater component from the water vapor.

Abstract: Provided is a method which allows for strict control of an oxygen partial pressure required for the heating and melting of a raw material, and thereby more efficient recovery of a valuable metal. The method for recovering a valuable metal (Cu, Ni, and Co) includes the steps of: preparing a charge comprising at least phosphorus (P) and a valuable metal as a raw material; heating and melting the raw material to form a molten body and then converting the molten body into a molten product comprising an alloy and a slag; and separating the slag from the molten product to recover the alloy comprising the valuable metal, wherein the heating and melting of the raw material comprises directly measuring an oxygen partial pressure in the molten body using an oxygen analyzer, and regulating the oxygen partial pressure based on the obtained measurement result.

Abstract: Provided is a method that allows for efficient removal of an impurity metal, and further, the recovery of a valuable metal with high efficiency. The method for recovering a valuable metal (Cu, Ni, and Co) includes the steps of: preparing a charge comprising at least a valuable metal as a raw material; heating and melting the raw material to form an alloy and a slag; and separating the slag to recover the alloy containing the valuable metal, wherein the heating and melting of the raw material comprises charging the raw material into a furnace of an electric furnace equipped with an electrode therein, and further melting the raw material by means of Joule heat generated by applying an electric current to the electrode, or heat generation of an arc itself, and thereby separating the raw material into a molten alloy and a molten slag present over the alloy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which is capable of more strictly controlling the oxygen partial pressure required during the melting of a starting material, thereby being capable of recovering a valuable metal more efficiently. A method for recovering valuable metals (Cu, Ni, Co), said method comprising the following steps: a step for preparing, as a starting material, a charge that contains at least phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and valuable metals; a step for heating and melting the starting material into a melt, and subsequently forming the melt into a molten material that contains an alloy and slag; and a step for recovering the alloy that contains valuable metals by separating the slag from the molten material. With respect to this method for recovering valuable metals, the oxygen partial pressure in the melt is directly measured with use of an oxygen analyzer when the starting material is heated and melted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which is capable of more strictly controlling the oxygen partial pressure required during the melting of a starting material, thereby being capable of recovering a valuable metal more efficiently. A method for recovering valuable metals (Cu, Ni, Co), said method comprising the following steps: a step for preparing, as a starting material, a charge that contains at least phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn) and valuable metals; a step for heating and melting the starting material into a melt, and subsequently forming the melt into a molten material that contains an alloy and slag; and a step for recovering the alloy that contains valuable metals by separating the slag from the molten material. With respect to this method for recovering valuable metals, the oxygen partial pressure in the melt is directly measured with use of an oxygen analyzer when the starting material is heated and melted.

Abstract: Provided is a conductor material having high conductivity. The conductor material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a configuration in which a conjugated polymeric compound having an electron donating group containing a heteroatom in a side chain is doped with a dopant containing an anion selected from a nitrogen anion, a boron anion, a phosphorus anion and an antimony anion, and a counter cation. The anion is preferably an anion represented by Formula (1) below: where R1 and R2 are identical or different, and each represent an electron withdrawing group; and R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring with an adjacent nitrogen atom.

Abstract: The purpose is to provide a method for recovering a valuable metal at low cost. The present invention is a method for recovering a valuable metal, the method comprising a step of preparing a burden material containing at least a valuable metal to obtain a raw material, a step of subjecting the raw material to an oxidation treatment and a reductive melting treatment to produce a reduced product containing an alloy and a slag, and a step of separating the slag from the reduced product to collect the alloy, in which the copper grade, which is a ratio of the mass of copper (Cu) to the total mass of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) contained in the alloy (i.e., a Cu/(Ni+Co+Cu) ratio), is adjusted to 0.250 or more.

Abstract: A resin producing method is a method of producing a resin with which an insulating structure formed on an outer peripheral portion of a conductor is impregnated, the method including: a filler mixing step of mixing a nanofiller at a ratio of 15 wt % or more with an epoxy resin to form a mixture; a shear mixing step of causing the mixture to be subjected to shear mixing; a diluent mixing step of mixing a reactive diluent that reduces a viscosity of the epoxy resin, with the mixture after the shear mixing step; and a curing agent mixing step of mixing an acid anhydride curing agent with the mixture after the diluent mixing step.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a bubble ejection method based on a new principle that is different from conventional bubble ejection methods and a bubble ejecting device. To solve the problem, provided is a bubble ejection method using a bubble ejecting device, wherein the bubble ejecting device comprises a substrate formed of a dielectric, at least one bubble ejection hole formed so as to penetrate through a first face and a second face, which is a face opposite to the first face, of the substrate, a first opening formed at a position of the first face at which the bubble ejection hole penetrates, and a second opening formed at a position of the second face at which the bubble ejection hole penetrates, the bubble ejection method comprising: a substrate-conductive liquid contact step; a conductive liquid-electrode contact step; a voltage application step; and a bubble ejection step.

Abstract: The method for producing an electrically conductive polymer material includes: a preparing step of providing a polymer film formed from an oriented polymeric semiconductor; and a doping step of introducing a first ion into the polymer film, in the doping step, a treatment liquid, which is obtained by dissolving, in an ionic liquid including the first ion having the opposite polarity to carriers to be injected into the polymeric semiconductor by doping in the form of a cation and an anion or an organic solvent having dissolved therein a salt including the first ion, a dopant which has the same polarity as that of the first ion and which oxidizes or reduces the polymeric semiconductor, is allowed to be in contact with the surface of the polymer film to form an intermediate of a second ion formed by ionization of the dopant and the polymeric semiconductor by a redox reaction, and to replace the second ion in the intermediate with the first ion.

Abstract: Provided is a more efficient dry refining process for improving the recovery rate of phosphorus-free valuable metals from waste lithium ion batteries. The present invention provides a method for recovering valuable metals from waste lithium ion batteries, said method comprises a melting step S4 for melting the waste lithium ion batteries and obtaining a molten substance and a slag separation step S5 for separating slag from the molten substance and recovering an alloy containing valuable metals, wherein in the melting step, flux containing a calcium compound is added to the waste lithium ion batteries such that the mass ratio between silicon dioxide and calcium oxide in the slag becomes 0.50 or less and the mass ratio between calcium oxide and aluminum oxide falls in the range of 0.30 to 2.00.

Abstract: An organic semiconductor element of the present invention includes: an organic semiconductor film formed from single crystal of an organic semiconductor, and a doped layer formed in a surface of the organic semiconductor film. A strain sensor of the present invention includes: the organic semiconductor element, a pair of electrodes which are electrically connected through the doped layer, and a substrate which is deformable, and which has the organic semiconductor element formed on one surface thereof. A vibration sensor of the present invention includes: the organic semiconductor element, a pair of electrodes which are electrically connected through the doped layer, and a substrate which has flexibility, and which is fixed at one end or both ends thereof, the substrate having the organic semiconductor element formed on the surface of the flexible portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Provided are: an alloy powder that can be obtained from a waste lithium ion battery, wherein the alloy powder can be dissolved in an acid solution and enables recovery of metals contained in the alloy powder; and a method for producing the alloy powder. This alloy powder contains Cu and at least one of Ni and Co as constituent components, wherein a portion having a higher concentration of the at least one of Ni and Co than the average concentration in the entire alloy powder is distributed on at least the surface, and the phosphorus grade is less than 0.1% by mass. The method for producing the alloy powder includes a powdering step for powdering a molten alloy using a gas atomization method, the molten alloy containing Cu and at least one of Ni and Co as constituent components and having a phosphorus grade of less than 0.1% by mass.

Abstract: Provided is a copper powder which can be suitably utilized in applications such as an electrically conductive paste and an electromagnetic wave shield. A copper powder according to the present invention has a dendritic shape having a linearly grown main stem and a plurality of branches separated from the main stem, the main stem and the branches are constituted as flat plate-shaped copper particles having a cross-sectional average thickness of from 0.02 ?m to 5.0 ?m to be determined by scanning electron microscopic SEM observation gather, the average particle diameter D50 of the copper powder is from 1.0 ?m to 100 ?m, and the maximum height in the vertical direction with respect to the flat plate-shaped surface of the copper particles is 1/10 or less with respect to the maximum length in the horizontal direction of the flat plate-shaped surface of the copper particles.