Abstract: A solar cell is configured to include: a substrate (21); a conductive film (22) formed on the substrate (21); a compound semiconductor layer (23) formed on the conductive film (22), including a p-type semiconductor crystal containing an element of Group Ib, an element of Group IIIb, and an element of Group VIb; a n-type window layer (24) formed on the compound semiconductor layer (23), having apertures (29); and a n-type transparent conductive film formed on the n-type window layer (24) and on portions of the compound semiconductor layer (23) at the apertures of the n-type window layer (24). The compound semiconductor layer (23) includes high-resistance parts (23B), in portions of the compound semiconductor layer (23) in the vicinity of a surface thereof on a side opposite to the conductive film (22), and the high-resistance parts (23B) contain a n-type impurity doped in the p-type semiconductor crystal.

Abstract: A solar cell is configured to include: a substrate (21); a conductive film (22) formed on the substrate (21); a compound semiconductor layer (23) formed on the conductive film (22), including a p-type semiconductor crystal containing an element of Group Ib, an element of Group IIIb, and an element of Group VIb; a n-type window layer (24) formed on the compound semiconductor layer (23), having apertures (29); and a n-type transparent conductive film formed on the n-type window layer (24) and on portions of the compound semiconductor layer (23) at the apertures of the n-type window layer (24). The compound semiconductor layer (23) includes high-resistance parts (23B), in portions of the compound semiconductor layer (23) in the vicinity of a surface thereof on a side opposite to the conductive film (22), and the high-resistance parts (23B) contain a n-type impurity doped in the p-type semiconductor crystal.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell exhibits an excellent performance with an efficient electrode reaction: by providing a layer containing an electroconductive fine particle between the catalytic reaction layer and the gas diffusion layer in the electrodes; by providing a hydrogen ion diffusion layer on at least either surface of the catalyst particle or the carrier, which carries the catalyst particle in the catalytic reaction layer; or by constituting the catalytic reaction layer with at least a catalyst comprising a hydrophilic carbon material with catalyst particles carried thereon and a water repellent carbon material.

Abstract: The polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention exhibits an excellent performance with an efficient electrode reaction; by providing a layer comprising an electroconductive fine particle between the catalytic reaction layer and the gas diffusion layer in the electrodes; by providing a hydrogen ion diffusion layer on at least either surface of the catalyst particle or the carrier, which carries the catalyst particle in the catalytic reaction layer; or by constituting the catalytic reaction layer with at least a catalyst comprising a hydrophilic carbon material with catalyst particles carried thereon and a water repellent carbon material.

Abstract: The specification discloses a fuel cell comprising stacked unit cells, each of the unit cells including a pair of electrodes having a catalytic reaction layer and a gas diffusion layer, an electrolyte layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, a separator having a flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one electrode and a separator having a flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other electrode, the separators being placed on the outer side of the electrodes and the unit cells being stacked with the separators placed therebetween, wherein at least the catalytic reaction layer, the gas diffusion layer or the flow path has water-repelling properties. Thereby, a fuel cell having a superior cell performance is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention, relating to a method for removing dimethyl sulfide and tertiary butyl mercaptan present in city gas as the odorants, is aimed at removal of the sulfur compounds from city gas. The present invention removes dimethyl sulfide and tertiary butyl mercaptan in city gas in the presence of a sulfur compound adsorbent containing one of faujasite, &bgr;, L and MFI type zeolite. The adsorbent, being composed of zeolite and an inorganic binder, can be regenerated under heating.

Abstract: A porous material made of a dry gel of a polyimide resin having an apparent density of 800 kg/m3 or less and a mean pore size of 1 &mgr;m or less is disclosed. The porous material exhibits high heat resistance and is low in density and mean pore size. The use of the porous material provided by the present invention can produce not only a heat insulator with a low thermal conductivity and high heat insulation but also an insulating material having a low dielectric constant and exhibiting excellent dielectric characteristics at high frequencies. The present invention can also provide a semiconductor circuit including the insulating material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic porous material having equivalent thermal insulating properties to those of a porous material of a silica material and improved brittleness. The organic porous material of the present invention is an aggregate of organogel fine particles having a particle diameter of 10 to 300 nm, wherein inter-particle crosslinking is formed between adjoining organogel fine particles.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for recycling a cured phenolic resin by (a) heating a cured phenolic resin to form a thermal decomposition product having a residue, (b) separating said residue from said thermal decomposition product, (c) pulverizing said separated residue to obtain a carbide powder and molding said carbide powder alone or in combination with a binder into a molded article, and/or (d) gelling and drying said separated thermal decomposition product thereby molding it into a molded article. By the method, the present invention realizes efficient recycling of a cured phenolic resin which can become a massive waste into a useful material.

Abstract: A catalyst 1 is provided in a gas passage 4 for communicating between a gas flow-in unit 12 and a gas flow-out unit 13, and the catalyst 1 is heated by a heater 2, and a temperature sensor 3 for detecting the temperature of the heater 2 is provided inside the heater 2. By feeding power to the heater 2, the wall temperature of the heater 2 is raised to heat the catalyst 1, and then malodorous gas containing odor substances is passed in from the gas flow-in unit 12. The malodorous gas passes through the catalyst 1 in the gas passage 4 to be oxidized to be harmless and odorless, and is discharged from the gas flow-out unit 13.

Abstract: A heating element for deodorization contains a metallic substrate, an enamel layer formed on the surface of the metallic substrate, a catalyst layer comprising at least an active alumina, a platinum group metal and a zeolite and formed on the enamel layer, and an electric resistor; the electric resistor being insulated from the environment; and the metallic substrate, the enamel layer, the catalyst layer and the electric resistor being arranged so that heat generated when electric power is applied to the electric resistor is conducted to the catalyst layer through the enamel layer. It can remove unpleasant odor and harmful gases.

Abstract: A method for producing a honeycomb shaped ceramic having a predetermined shape made of a flat honeycomb molding formed from a composition containing a heat-resistant inorganic material is disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: forming a honeycomb molding from a composition containing heat-resistant inorganic materials, a binder which is gelled when coming in contact with hot water, and a plasticizer; providing the honeycomb molding with flexibility by immersing the honeycomb molding in hot water at a temperature high enough to gel the binder; and sintering the honeycomb molding.

Abstract: A catalytic body contains a base material and, formed on the surface thereof, a catalytic coating layer containing activated alumina, zeolite, a platinum group metal and an inorganic binder.By alternately repeating the step of adsorption of odor components with zeolite and alumina under non-heating condition and the step of heat-regeneration of the zeolite and alumina and catalytic decomposition of odor components under heating condition, offensive odors can be continuously removed over a long period and without excessively raising the temperature in the surroundings of the catalytic body.

Abstract: A method for producing a honeycomb shaped ceramic having a predetermined shape made of a flat honeycomb molding formed from a composition containing a heat-resistant inorganic material is disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: forming a honeycomb molding from a composition containing heat-resistant inorganic materials, a binder which is gelled when coming in contact with hot water, and a plasticizer; providing the honeycomb molding with flexibility by immersing the honeycomb molding in hot water at a temperature high enough to gel the binder; and sintering the honeycomb molding.

Abstract: A heat generator comprising a quartz tube containing an electric resistor and a catalyst coating layer comprising at least active alumina, silica and a platinum group metal, formed on the surface of the quartz tube can heat a material to be heated and the catalyst coating layer itself because of the catalyst coating layer being provided on the surface of the quartz tube. The catalyst coating layer surrounds the quartz tube and thus efficiently absorbs heat from the electric resistor by radiation and heat conductance, whereby the catalyst coating layer can be heated to the activation temperature within a short time. Furthermore, the heat generator also heats air around the heat generator to circulate the air as a convection air stream around the heat generator.

Abstract: A ceramic having improved thermal shock resistance is produced by a method comprising firing a mixture comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, oxide, hydroxide, acetate and oxalate of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, titanium oxide, rehydratable alumina, optionally silica and optionally a rare earth element compound at a temperature in the range of 1,000.degree. C. to 1,300.degree. C.

Abstract: Catalysts of reduced cost, for purifying exhaust gases, having smaller thermal expansion coefficients than conventional catalysts, good mechanical strength and large specific surface area are provided at low temperatures. The composition composed of at least re-hydrable alumina, an alkali or alkaline earth metal titanate and fused silica is thermally processed at comparatively low temperatures so as to provide ceramic catalyst carriers which have superior properties.

Abstract: A burner has a combustion body supporting a platinum-group catalyst. An air-fuel mixture is supplied to the combustion body and combusted primarily on the upstream surface of the combustion body. A heat-transmissive body is disposed for discharging heat radiation from the upstream surface of the combustion body. The burner has a greater heat radiation efficiency and a wider range in which the amount of combustion is variable than conventional catalytic combustion burners.