Abstract: The present invention relates to polyvinyl sulfonic acid comprising a vinyl sulfonic acid unit represented by a specific general formula (1), wherein the molar amount of sulfonic acid groups derived from vinyl sulfonic acid monomers with respect to the molar amount of total monomer units is 50.0 to 98.0 mol %, and the polyvinyl sulfonic acid has an absorbance of 0.1 or greater (aqueous solution: 0.2 mass %, cell length: 10 mm) in a wavelength range of 255 to 800 nm.

Abstract: A method for forming a patterned organic electrode includes printing a toner on a surface of a substrate using a laser printer such that a reverse pattern formed of the toner is formed on the substrate, supplying a solution containing PEDOT and PSS onto the substrate having the reverse pattern formed of the toner such that the solution containing PEDOT and PSS is supplied into a region of the surface of the substrate not covered with the reverse pattern, drying the solution containing PEDOT and PSS supplied onto the substrate, and supplying onto the substrate a stripping solution containing a toner removing solvent which removes the toner and a high conductive solvent which selectively removes the PSS such that the reverse pattern formed of the toner is stripped from the substrate.

Abstract: Provided is an oriented piezoelectric material with satisfactory sintering property free of Pb that is a hazardous substance, and a water-soluble alkaline ion, and a production method therefor. To this end, provided is a compound, including a tungsten bronze structure metal oxide, in which: the tungsten bronze structure metal oxide contains at least metal elements of Ba, Bi, Ca, and Nb, the metal elements satisfying the following conditions in terms of molar ratio; and has a C-axis orientation. The compound shows Ba/Nb=a: 0.363<a<0.399, Bi/Nb=b: 0.0110<b<0.0650, and Ca/Nb=c: 0.005<c<0.105. The tungsten bronze structure metal oxide preferably includes (1?x).Ca1.4Ba3.6Nb10O30?x.Ba4Bi0.67Nb10O30 (0.30?x?0.95).

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method for preferentially-oriented oxide ceramics having a high degree of crystal orientation. The manufacturing method includes: obtaining slurry containing an oxide crystal B having magnetic anisotropy; applying a magnetic field to the oxide crystal B, and obtaining a compact of the oxide crystal B; and subjecting the compact to oxidation treatment to obtain preferentially-oriented oxide ceramics including a compact of an oxide crystal C having a crystal system that is different from a crystal system of one of a part and a whole of the oxide crystal B. By (1) reacting raw materials, (2) reducing the oxide crystal A, or (3) keeping the oxide crystal A at high temperature and quenching the oxide crystal A, the oxide crystal B is obtained to be used in the slurry.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material which has satisfactory insulation property and piezoelectric property and which does not contain lead and potassium. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide that is represented by the following general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3??General formula (1) where relationships of 0.80?x?0.95 and 0.85?y?0.95 are satisfied, and y×0.05 mol % or more to y×2 mol % or less of copper with respect to 1 mol of the perovskite-type metal oxide.

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: This thin film forming method for a solar cell forms a thin film that contains a plurality of elements on the surface of an object to be processed. A raw material solution that contains the elements is dispersed in a processing space and microparticles by an electric field, and the microparticles that are dispersed form a thin film that adheres to the surface of the object to be processed. Thus, a thin film for a solar cell element with preferable crystallinity can be formed even in an atmosphere at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A magnetic disk according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base material and a lubricant layer provided on or over a base material. The lubricant layer contains a rod-like ionic liquid crystal compound having a cation group and an anion group.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material that achieves both high piezoelectric performance and high Curie temperature. In addition, provided are a piezoelectric element, a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device, which use the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide that is expressed by the following general formula (1): xBaTiO3-yBiFeO3-zBi(M0.5Ti0.5)O3 (1), where M represents at least one type of element selected from the group consisting of Mg and Ni, x satisfies 0.25?x?0.75, y satisfies 0.15?y?0.70, z satisfies 0.05?z?0.60, and x+y+z=1 is satisfied.

Abstract: A complex orthogonal code in the present invention is one in which each row of a square matrix of N rows and N columns in which an element of an mth row and nth column is exp[2?j(m?1)(n?1)/N] (where j is an imaginary unit) is adopted as a code word. An optical orthogonal code for Optical Code Division Multiplexing/Optical Code Division Multiple Access (OCDM/OCDMA) is realized by a train of N-number of optical pulses corresponding to the argument (phase) of the code elements. An optical transmitter or optical receiver includes an optical correlator provided with a sampled Bragg grating having a plurality of Bragg gratings disposed serially at regular intervals inside an optical waveguide. The optical correlator is allocated any one of the code words. In the optical transmitter, an optical signal to be transmitted is encoded by the optical correlator. In the receiver, a received optical signal is decoded by the optical correlator.

Abstract: To provide a piezoelectric ceramic containing BiFeO3 having a {110} plane orientation in a pseudo-cubic form, which is suited for the domain engineering, the piezoelectric ceramic includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1), and has a {110} plane orientation in a pseudo-cubic form: xBiFeO3-(1?x)ABO3??General Formula (1) where A and B each represent one kind or more of metal ions; A represents a metal ion having a valence of 1, 2 or 3; and B represents a metal ion having a valence of 3, 4, or 5, provided that x is within a range of 0.3?x?1.

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: A microorganism inhibits the growth of various plant pathogens, and is not reduced in its efficacy even when the microorganism is used in combination with a chemical pesticide. The microorganism is Bacillus subtilis KS1 strain (NITE BP-569). The plant disease control agent comprises a culture of the microorganism as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material which includes a compound free of lead and alkali metal and has a good piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric material where tungsten bronze structure oxides being free of lead and alkali metal and represented by AxB10O30 and A?x?B?10O30 are combined to form a morphotropic phase boundary has good piezoelectric property. The AxB10O30 is b(Ba5?5?Bi10?/3Nb10O30)+(1?b)(Ba4Ag2Nb10O30) (0?b?1 and 0<??0.4), and the A?x?B?10O30 is c(Sr5Nb10O30)+d(Ca5Nb10O30)+e(Ba5Nb10O30) (0?c?0.8, 0?d?0.4, 0.1?e?0.9, and c+d+e=1).

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material having good piezoelectric properties and a Curie temperature (Tc) of 150° C. or higher, and a piezoelectric device using the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material includes a sintered body made of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1): xBi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3-(1-x)BaTiO3 (1), where x satisfies 0.17?x?0.8, in which an average grain size of grains contained in the sintered body is 0.5 ?m or larger to 10 ?m or smaller, and the sintered body is polycrystalline. In addition, the piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric material and a pair of electrodes disposed in contact with the piezoelectric material, in which the piezoelectric material is the above-mentioned piezoelectric material.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method for preferentially-oriented oxide ceramics having a high degree of crystal orientation. The manufacturing method includes: obtaining slurry containing an oxide crystal B having magnetic anisotropy; applying a magnetic field to the oxide crystal B, and obtaining a compact of the oxide crystal B; and subjecting the compact to oxidation treatment to obtain preferentially-oriented oxide ceramics including a compact of an oxide crystal C having a crystal system that is different from a crystal system of one of a part and a whole of the oxide crystal B. By (1) reacting raw materials, (2) reducing the oxide crystal A, or (3) keeping the oxide crystal A at high temperature and quenching the oxide crystal A, the oxide crystal B is obtained to be used in the slurry.

Abstract: The tip of an electrically conductive probe 11 is brought into contact with a sample and captures the sample S under atmospheric pressure, a high voltage for electrospray is applied to the probe 11 while a solvent is supplied to the tip of the probe 11 that has captured the sample, and molecules of the sample S at the probe tip are ionized. A miniscule amount of a fine solvent droplet is supplied to the probe tip and slow electrospray is implemented. As a result, the size of the electrically charged droplet can be made extremely small and components within the sample can be analyzed extensively without selectivity. Further, in imaging over an extended period of time, electrospray is possible even in the event that the sample dries.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for fuel reformation that causes carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen gas, which is produced from a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, to react with hydrogen and thereby to be transformed into methane, while inhibiting methanation of carbon dioxide contained in the hydrogen gas. The selective CO methanation catalyst includes at least one of a halogen, an inorganic acid, and a metal oxo-acid adsorbed or bonded as a carbon dioxide reaction inhibitor to a carbon monoxide methanation active component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly safe battery separator, in particular a separator for a lithium ion secondary battery, which reduces internal resistance, achieves good ionic conductivity, prevents passing of electrode active materials, and also prevents electrical short circuit by controlling deposition of lithium metal (dendrite). Also disclosed is a means for stably producing the battery separator with high productivity. Specifically disclosed are: a battery separator which is composed of a porous polyolefin sheet that is formed from a group of polyolefin nanofilaments that have an average filament diameter of less than 1 ?m and a filament size distribution of 0.2 or less; and a means for producing the battery separator.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric ceramics that can achieve both high piezoelectric performance and a high Curie temperature. Also provided are a piezoelectric element, a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device, which use the piezoelectric ceramics. The piezoelectric ceramics include a perovskite-type metal oxide expressed by a general formula (1): xBaTiO3-yBiFeO3-zBi(M0.5Ti0.5)O3, where M represents at least one type of element selected from the group consisting of Mg and Ni, x satisfies 0.40?x?0.80, y satisfies O?y?0.30, z satisfies 0.05?z?0.60, and x+y+z=1 is satisfied, and are oriented in a (111) plane in a pseudocubic expression.