Abstract: A solar cell in which performance degradation caused by an alkali component is suppressed. A solar cell is a back-contact solar cell that comprises a semiconductor substrate; a p-type semiconductor layer, and a first electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on one part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on another part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate. One part of the n-type semiconductor layer lies directly atop one part of the adjacent p-type semiconductor layer. The first electrode layer is separate from the n-type semiconductor layer and covers the p-type semiconductor layer. The second electrode layer covers the entirety of an overlapping portion where the n-type semiconductor layer lies atop the p-type semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of incident light, including a photoelectric conversion substrate provided with two main surfaces, and multiple first sensitivity sections and second sensitivity sections arranged in a prescribed direction. When sensitivity regions on the respective main surfaces of the multiple first sensitivity sections are defined as first sensitivity regions, and sensitivity regions that appear on the main surfaces of the second sensitivity sections are defined as second sensitivity regions, each of the first sensitivity regions receives at least a part of light incident on the main surfaces, and has a pattern in which, in accordance with enlargement of an irradiation region irradiated with incident light on the main surface, the proportion of the first sensitivity regions in the irradiation region with respect to the first sensitivity regions other than those in the irradiation region and the second sensitivity regions is decreased.

Abstract: A solar cell, such as a back contact solar cell that can be cut into an arbitrary shape, includes a semiconductor substrate; a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, disposed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate; first electrode layers corresponding to the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer corresponding to the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer. The second electrode layer and the plurality of first electrode layers form a sea-island structure in which the first electrode layers are in the form of islands, while the second electrode layer is in the form of sea. This solar cell also includes a plate electrode which is arranged to face the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and which is connected to the plurality of first electrode layers, while being not connected to the second electrode layer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device for detecting the spot size of incident light, includes a photoelectric conversion element having a photoelectric conversion substrate with two main surfaces, and first and second sensitivity section sections; and scanners that relatively scan incident light on the main surfaces of the photoelectric conversion element. When a sensitivity region on a main surface of the first sensitivity section is defined as a first sensitivity region and sensitivity regions that appear on a main surface of the second sensitivity sections are defined as second sensitivity regions, the first sensitivity region receives at least part of the light incident on the main surface during scanning, and has a pattern in which, in accordance with enlargement of an irradiation region irradiated with incident light on the main surface, the proportion of the first sensitivity region with respect to the second sensitivity regions in the irradiation region is decreased.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of incident light. The photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion substrate having two principal surfaces, and the substrate includes a first sensitivity part and a second sensitivity part that are separated from each other. When a sensitivity area appearing on the principal surface of the first sensitivity part is defined as a first sensitivity area and a sensitivity area appearing on the principal surface of the second sensitivity part is defined as a second sensitivity area, the first sensitivity area receives at least a portion of incident light incident on a light receiving surface, and a pattern is formed such that an increase in an irradiation area of the principal surface irradiated with the incident light reduces the ratio of the first sensitivity area to the second sensitivity area in the irradiation area.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of input light. The photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion substrate having two main surfaces; a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and a first electrode layer, which are sequentially laminated on the light receiving surface side, i.e., one main surface, of the photoelectric conversion substrate; and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer and a second electrode layer, which are sequentially laminated on the rear surface side, i.e., the other main surface, of the photoelectric conversion substrate. The photoelectric conversion element is also provided with an insulating layer that is provided between the photoelectric conversion substrate and the second electrode layer, and the insulating layer has a plurality of through holes that are two-dimensionally provided along the main surface of the photoelectric conversion substrate.

Abstract: A patterning sheet, or the like, is suitable when a complex etching target is to be etched in a simple manner to produce an etched structure. This patterning sheet comprises a base sheet formed from an etching-solution permeable first polymer, and particles dispersed in the base sheet and formed from a second polymer, which absorbs and holds the etching solution.

Abstract: A mold for use in producing an in-vivo indwelling member having a linear primary coil formed in a three-dimensional shape includes a transformable member transformable between an assembled state and an unfolded state, the transformable member has, in the assembled state, an outer portion that is arranged at an outer side and an inner portion that is arranged at an inner side of the outer portion, with being connected to the outer portion, and the outer portion and the inner portion have holding portions for holding the primary coil. The mold makes it possible to easily produce an in-vivo indwelling member having a three-dimensional shape that allows the in-vivo indwelling member to be stably arranged within a bulge such as an aneurysm.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination device in which an organic EL panel is detachable from a mounting member; the panel has a panel body and a fixing member. The panel body has an emission surface on its front and a circuit board on its rear. The fixing member has a main body and a raised part that is disposed on a rear of the panel and raised with respect to the main body to circumvent the circuit board and to protect the circuit board. The raised part includes a raised-side engagement part protruding in a direction crossing a raised direction. The mounting member has an attachment side main body and an attachment side engagement part. The attachment side engagement part extends from the attachment side main body to form a step. The engagement parts engage together when the panel is attached to the mounting member.

Abstract: Provided are a resin composition containing poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), the resin composition enabling a film or a sheet to be stably produced under practical processing conditions by inflation molding; and a method for producing the resin composition. The resin composition includes 100 parts by weight of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) and 5 to 15 parts by weight of an ester compound, and having a ratio of 3.5×10?2 to 4.8×10?2 (sec/[Pa·s]) between a melt viscosity (Pa·s) and a drawdown time (sec).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a production method in which melting and kneading is performed to obtain a resin composition containing at least an aliphatic polyester, silica and a dispersion aid, the method being capable of stably ensuring favorable dispersibility of silica and improving the tear strength of the resin composition.

Abstract: A power storage device has a secondary battery which has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte disposed between the positive and negative electrodes; in the secondary battery, metal ions are movable between the positive and negative electrodes through the nonaqueous electrolyte, and the positive and negative electrodes are charged/discharged when insertion/extraction reactions of the metal ions are carried out through the nonaqueous electrolyte; the positive and negative electrodes each contain an active-material layer with an average thickness of 0.3 mm or greater; the charging device is electrically connected to the secondary battery, and charges the secondary battery only at a constant current; and when the secondary battery is charged to its end-of-charge voltage by the charging device, its capacity is set to be 80% to 97% of the design capacity calculated from the inherent capacity per unit weight of the positive and negative electrodes.

Abstract: A transparent curable composition includes 100 parts by weight of a polyoxyalkylene-based polymer (A); and 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of a weathering stabilizer (B). The polyoxyalkylene-based polymer (A) has a reactive silicon group that can be crosslinked by forming a siloxane bond, and the weathering stabilizer (B) is a hindered-amine-based photostabilizer (B1).

Abstract: A method for producing a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material and/or a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material. The method includes a process for producing an electrode slurry including: a first process in which a positive or negative electrode active material, a conductive additive, and a nonaqueous solvent are mixed to obtain a slurry; and a second process in which the slurry is diluted or concentrated and then mixed to obtain the electrode slurry. In the first process, the mixing is performed such that the obtained slurry has a water content of 1000 ppm or less and a viscosity of 500 cP or more and 8000 cP or less, and, in the second process, the mixing is performed such that a water content of the obtained electrode slurry is maintained at the water content of the slurry after the first process is completed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acrylic fiber uses a spinning solution in which an acrylic polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent, the method including reducing an amount of organic solvent by repeatedly spraying water onto coagulated filaments obtained by solidifying the spinning solution and pressing the coagulated filaments with nip rolls. The nip rolls may apply a nip pressure of 0.2 MPa or higher. Thus, a method for manufacturing an acrylic fiber with which an organic solvent in the acrylic fiber can be removed within a short period of time without using a water bath is provided.

Abstract: This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40° C.

Abstract: Expandable polystyrene-based resin particles may include a styrene-based monomer, a polysiloxane-containing macro monomer, and a coating composition having a melting point of 40° C. or greater. A coefficient of static friction of a foamed molded product, obtained by pre-expanding the expandable polystyrene-based resin particles and molding the pre-expanded expandable polystyrene-based resin particles, may be 4.0 or less. The expandable polystyrene-based resin particles may have a surface layer part that contains polysiloxane as a main component.

Abstract: A method for producing expandable polystyrene-based resin particles, the method including producing polystyrene-based resin particles that comprise a styrene-based monomer and a polysiloxane-containing macro monomer, and impregnating an expanding agent into the polystyrene-based resin particles to produce the expandable polystyrene-based resin particles. The production of the polystyrene-based resin particles comprises the simultaneous addition of an initiator and the polysiloxane-containing macro monomer. The initiator causes the generation of one or more of an alkoxy radical and a carbonate radical.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element for detecting the spot size of incident light. The photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion substrate having two principal surfaces, and comprises a first sensitive part and a second sensitive part that have mutually different photoelectric conversion characteristics. When a sensitive region appearing in the principal surface of the first sensitive part is defined as a first sensitive region, and a sensitive region appearing in the principal surface of the second sensitive part is defined as a second sensitive region, the first sensitive region is configured to receive at least a portion of light incident on a light-receiving surface and to decrease, proportionally to enlargement in an irradiation region of the principal surface irradiated with the incident light, the ratio of the first sensitive region to the second sensitive region in the irradiation region.

Abstract: A solar cell module, which is easily coordinated with the color of an exterior member at the installation position, comprises a solar cell; a light receiving side sealing material and a light receiving side protection member laminated and disposed in this order on a light receiving side with reference to the solar cell; and a back-side sealing material and a back-side protection member laminated and arranged in this order on a back side on the opposite side from the light receiving side. A value computed from a measured value of the color of reflected light combining positive reflected light and diffused reflected light which are based on light that has become incident on an object to be measured, and a measured value of the color only of the diffused reflected light based on the light that has become incident on the object to be measured, satisfies a specific condition.