Abstract: A liquid crystal display element having an improved response speed by using a liquid crystal compound having a high K33, while neither improving nor deteriorating all the characteristics as a liquid crystal display element. The liquid crystal display element 10 of the present invention has a first substrate 15, a second substrate 15?, and a liquid crystal composition layer 5 interposed between the first substrate 15 and the second substrate 15?, wherein at least one of the first substrate 15 and the second substrate 15? has an electrode that controls the liquid crystal composition layer 5 and the bend elastic constant K33 of at least one kind of liquid crystal compounds in the liquid crystal composition constituting the liquid crystal composition layer 5 is 20 pN or more.

Abstract: An agent for searching for protein crystallization conditions, containing a water-swellable layered silicate having a fluorine atom and a hydroxyl group, wherein the fluorine atom is covalently bonded to the silicate by isomorphous substitution with the hydroxyl group. A method of searching for protein crystallization conditions, which comprises a step of mixing the agent for searching for protein crystallization conditions described above and a solution in which a protein is dissolved.

Abstract: An active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte energy storage device contains a lithium-transition metal composite oxide having a crystal structure attributable to space group Fm-3m and represented by the compositional formula (1): Li1+xNbyMezApO2??(1) wherein Me is a transition metal including Fe and/or Mn, 0<x<1, 0<y<0.5, 0.25?z<1, A is an element other than Nb and Me, and 0?p?0.2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sodium-ion secondary battery having excellent charge and discharge efficiencies as well as excellent charge and discharge characteristics, wherein charging and discharging can be repeated without causing problems such as deterioration in battery performance. Specifically disclosed is a sodium ion secondary battery which is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing a nonaqueous solvent. The nonaqueous solvent is substantially composed of a saturated cyclic carbonate (excluding the use of ethylene carbonate by itself), or a mixed solvent of a saturated cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate, and a hard carbon is used as the negative electrode active material.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material excellent in piezoelectricity. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type complex oxide represented by the following General Formula (1). A(ZnxTi(1-x))yM(1-y)O3??(1) wherein A represents at least one kind of element containing at least a Bi element and selected from a trivalent metal element; M represents at least one kind of element of Fe, Al, Sc, Mn, Y, Ga, and Yb; x represents a numerical value satisfying 0.4?x?0.6; and y represents a numerical value satisfying 0.1?y?0.9.

Abstract: An additive for a sodium ion secondary battery of the present invention includes a compound of at least one of a saturated cyclic carbonate having a fluoro group and a chain carbonate having a fluoro group. A sodium ion secondary battery (1) of the present invention includes: a non-aqueous electrolytic solution including the additive for a sodium ion secondary battery and a non-aqueous solvent containing a saturated cyclic carbonate or a non-aqueous solvent containing a saturated cyclic carbonate and a chain carbonate; a positive electrode (11); and a negative electrode (12) that includes a coating formed in a surface of the negative electrode, the coating containing a composite material having carbon, oxygen, fluorine and sodium in the surface and includes a negative-electrode active material containing a hard carbon.

Abstract: A method that manufacturers an optically active carboxylic acid ester at high yield and high enantioselectivity is provided. An optically active carboxylic acid ester is manufactured at high yield and high enantioselectivity by reacting a racemic carboxylic acid and a specific alcohol or phenol derivatives in a polar solvent having a dipole moment of 3.0 or higher in the presence of an acid anhydride and an asymmetric catalyst, esterifying one enantiomer of the racemic carboxylic acid at high selectivity, and increasing the amount of esterified carboxylic acid by racemizing the optically active carboxylic acid which is the other enantiomer not used in esterification.

Abstract: There are provided a battery electrode wherein an active material layer is formed on a collector surface, and the layer contains an active material and a block copolymer having a vinyl alcohol polymer block; and a lithium ion secondary battery having a laminate structure in which a pair of electrodes having an active material layer are disposed in such a manner that the active material layers face each other via a separator, and an electrolyte composition containing a lithium-containing electrolyte salt fills the gaps between the pair of electrodes and the separator, wherein at least one of the pair of electrodes is the above battery electrode. Thus, there can be provided a lithium ion secondary battery which can be easily produced and be less polarized, exhibiting excellent charge/discharge properties and cycle characteristics.

Abstract: Provided are: a composite metal oxide with which it is possible to improve the performance of a sodium secondary battery; a process for producing the composite metal oxide; a positive active material which comprises the composite metal oxide; a positive electrode produced using the positive active material; and a sodium secondary battery including the positive electrode. The composite metal oxide is represented by the following formula: NaxFeyMn1-yO2. The composite metal oxide is constituted of an oxide having a P2 structure and a lamellar oxide, with some extent of stacking faults, having an octahedral structure and/or a triangular-prism structure. The lamellar oxide preferably is an oxide having an O3 structure.

Abstract: A photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells of the present invention includes a light-transmitting substrate including a transparent electroconductive layer formed on a light-transmitting base; an adhesion layer formed on the transparent electroconductive layer, the adhesion layer being configured of an electroconductive portion formed of electroconductive particles and a coating layer formed by applying metal alkoxide thereon to cover the electroconductive particles; and a photoelectric conversion layer formed on the adhesion layer by using a photoelectric conversion material in which a sensitizing dye is supported on a functional semiconductor.

Abstract: Disclosed are: Au—Ag core-shell nanorod particles wherein a cationic surfactant such as CTAB is substituted by an other compound; and a method for producing the Au—Ag core-shell nanorod particles. Specifically disclosed are Au—Ag core-shell nanorod particles which are characterized in that each of the nanorod particles comprises a gold nanorod particle that serves as the core, a shell layer that covers the surface of the gold nanorod particle and is formed from silver, and a copolymer that adsorbs on the surface of the shell layer. The Au—Ag core-shell nanorod particles are also characterized in that the copolymer is a block copolymer or graft copolymer that is obtained by polymerizing at least a polymerizable monomer (A) that has a group represented by general formula (I). In the formula, Ra represents an alkylene group having 2-7 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aluminum-magnesium-silicon composite material that contains an alloy comprising Al, Mg, and Si and can be used favorably as a material for a thermoelectric conversion module, and that has excellent thermoelectric conversion properties. The aluminum-magnesium-silicon composite material contains an alloy comprising Al, Mg and Si, and has an electrical conductivity (?) of 1000-3000 S/cm at 300 K. This aluminum-magnesium-silicon composite material is favorable in the production of a thermoelectric exchange element as a result of having excellent thermoelectric conversion properties.

Abstract: To improve the mass productivity of thermoelectric conversion modules. A thermoelectric conversion module 1 is equipped with a pair of substrates 11 and 12, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 2, each having one end portion electrically connected to a first electrode 3 which is arranged on the substrate 11 and the other end portion electrically connected to a second electrode 4 which is arranged on the substrate 12, and a connection section 5 which electrically connects the first electrode 3 electrically connected to the thermoelectric conversion element 2 to the second electrode 4 electrically connected to an adjacent one of the thermoelectric conversion elements 2. The connection section 5 is separate from at least one of the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4.

Abstract: A counter electrode for a dye sensitized solar cell (20 ) includes a conductive layer (21 ); and a contact preventing layer (23 ) which is formed of an insulating substance, and is formed on one surface of the conductive layer (21 ).

Abstract: Copper(II) acetate, zinc(II) acetate, and tin(IV) acetate are weighed so that the total amount of metal ions is 2.0×10?4 mol and the molar ratio of ions is Cu:Zn:Sn=2:1:1, and 2.0 cm3 of oleylamine is added to prepare a mixed solution. Apart from this, 1.0 cm3 of oleylamine is added to 2.0×10?4 mol of sulfur powder to prepare a mixed solution. These mixed solutions are separately heated at 60° C. and mixed at room temperature. The pressure in a test tube is reduced, followed by nitrogen filling. The test tube is heated at 240° C. for 30 minutes and then allowed to stand until room temperature. The resultant product is separated into a supernatant and precipitates by centrifugal separation. The separated supernatant is filtered, methanol is added to produce precipitates. The precipitates are dissolved by adding chloroform to prepare a semiconductor nanoparticle solution.

Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting glass which is applicable to, e.g., white illuminators including a light-emitting diode as a light source, and which emits light of a warm white color when irradiated with near ultraviolet light and combines long-term weatherability with high heat resistance; a light-emitting device containing same and a process for producing same. The light-emitting glass includes, as the base glass, borosilicate or silicate glass having a separated-phase structure, whereby the base glass is efficiently doped with, for example, transition metal ion clusters which emit light of a warm white color upon irradiation with near ultraviolet light. With this glass, it is possible to attain increases in excitation wavelength and emission wavelength. The glass thus emits, based on a multiple scattering effect, high-intensity light of a warm white color upon irradiation with near ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A photoelectrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell includes, a sensitizer supported in a functional semiconductor layer of a photoelectrode structure provided with the functional semiconductor layer on a transparent conductive layer of a translucent substrate made by forming the transparent conductive layer on a plastic translucent support, in which the functional semiconductor layer includes a roll-pressed layer which is being in contact with the transparent conductive layer and roll-pressing traces extending in parallel with a roll-pressing treatment direction on a surface of the roll-pressed layer, and a surface roughness Ra in a first direction which is in parallel with the roll-pressing treatment direction is smaller than a surface roughness Ra in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction on a surface of the functional semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a non-combustible film having excellent flexibility, excellent moisture resistance, and high mechanical strength. The present invention also aims to provide a dispersion liquid for non-combustible films which is used in production of the non-combustible film, a method for producing a non-combustible film using the above dispersion, and a solar cell back sheet and a flexible board each of which is formed from the above non-combustible film. The present invention further aims to provide a solar cell including the solar cell back sheet. The non-combustible film of the present invention includes a water-insoluble inorganic compound and a heat-resistant synthetic resin, the water-insoluble inorganic compound constituting from 30% by weight to 90% by weight inclusive of the total weight of the non-combustible film, the film exhibiting a flammability of VTM-0 in the UL-94 VTM test.

Abstract: The graft copolymer comprises a polymerizable monomer (A1) represented by general formula (III) and a polymerizable monomer (B1) containing a pyridyl group, and a ligand can be bonded via the functional group at the terminus of R3a. In the formula, R1a represents a polymerizable group, R2a represents an alkylene group having a carbon number of 2-5, R3a represents an organic group having at a terminus a functional group selected from among an azide group, a phenyl azide group, a carboxyl group, a primary to quaternary amino group, an acetal group, an aldehyde group, a thiol group, a disulfide group, an active ester group, a trialkoxysilyl group, and a polymerizable group, and n represents any integer from 5 to 20,000.

Abstract: There are provided a battery electrode wherein an active material layer is formed on a collector surface, and the layer contains an active material and a block copolymer having a vinyl alcohol polymer block; and a lithium ion secondary battery having a laminate structure in which a pair of electrodes having an active material layer are disposed in such a manner that the active material layers face each other via a separator, and an electrolyte composition containing a lithium-containing electrolyte salt fills the gaps between the pair of electrodes and the separator, wherein at least one of the pair of electrodes is the above battery electrode. Thus, there can be provided a lithium ion secondary battery which can be easily produced and be less polarized, exhibiting excellent charge/discharge properties and cycle characteristics.