Abstract: A cuff unit of the present invention includes a first wall and a second wall that face each other with an object which has a rod shape interposed therebetween, an actuator that is capable of moving the first wall and the second wall in parallel with each other in a direction in which the first wall and the second wall relatively approach each other or separate from each other, a pressing fluid bag that is provided on a surface of the first wall on a side facing the object and that receives supply of a fluid from outside to inflate and press the object, and a restraining fluid bag that is provided on a surface of the second wall on a side facing the object and that receives supply of a fluid from outside to inflate along the periphery of the object.

Abstract: A soft gripper that surrounds and grips an outer peripheral surface of an object, the soft gripper includes an elongated first actuator and an elongated second actuator, which are deformed in response to supply of a fluid. The first actuator and the second actuator extend from bases of the first and second actuators toward opposite sides each other. When receiving the supply of the fluid, each of the first and second actuators sequentially surrounds the object from the base toward a side of a leading end of the each of the first and second actuators.

Abstract: Silver nanowires having a thin and long shape that exhibit excellent dispersibility in an aqueous solvent having an alcohol added thereto are provided by silver nanowires having an average diameter of 50 nm or less and an average length of 10 ?m or more, covered with a copolymer of a maleimide-based monomer and vinylpyrrolidone. The silver nanowires can be produced by a method for producing silver nanowires, containing reductively depositing silver in a wire form in an alcohol solvent having dissolved therein a silver compound, the deposition being performed in the solvent having dissolved therein a copolymer of a maleimide-based monomer and vinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: A production method of silver nanowires exhibits a yield enhancement effect for a protective agent other than PVP. The method for producing silver nanowires includes depositing a silver linear structure, which is referred to as silver nanowires, in an alcohol solvent having a silver compound, a halogen compound, and an organic protective agent dissolved therein. A deposition reaction of silver is performed in a state where aluminum nitrate is further dissolved in the solvent, the total amount of aluminum nitrate dissolved in the solvent being from 0.01 to 0.50 in terms of Al/Ag molar ratio with respect to the total amount of the silver compound. The organic protective agent is, for example, one containing one or more kinds of alkylated PVP and a PVP-PVA graft copolymer.

Abstract: A soft gripper that surrounds and grips an outer peripheral surface of an object, the soft gripper includes an elongated first actuator and an elongated second actuator, which are deformed in response to supply of a fluid. The first actuator and the second actuator extend from bases of the first and second actuators toward opposite sides each other. When receiving the supply of the fluid, each of the first and second actuators sequentially surrounds the object from the base toward a side of a leading end of the each of the first and second actuators.