Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: an electrically conductive thin layer; an organic photoelectric conversion layer containing a compound having a partial structure represented by formula (I) and a fullerene or a fullerene derivative; and a transparent electrically conductive thin layer: X represents O, S or N—R10, R10 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, Rx and Ry represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, with at least one representing an electron-withdrawing group, Rx and Ry may combine to form a ring, R represents a bond (—), a hydrogen atom or a substituent, with at least one being the bond, nr represents an integer of 1 to 4, R's may be the same or different when nr is 2 or more, and R's at the 2- and 3-positions or R's at the 5- and 6-positions may combine with each other to form a ring.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising a polymer functionalized with a ligand for binding a transition metal containing compound to form a transition metal complex, wherein said functionalized polymer has a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to 30,000 g/mol and a polydispersity index of about 1.0 to 2.0. The catalyst is used in a hydroformylation reaction, preferably one in which the liquid phase has been volumetrically expanded with a compressed gas, is readily recyclable using nanofiltration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of water-absorbing polymer structures, comprising the following process steps: I) providing an untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure; and II) bringing the untreated, water-absorbing polymer structure into contact with a salt comprising a divalent or higher-valent cation of a metal and at least one organic base as anion. The invention relates also to the water-absorbing polymer structures obtainable by that process, to water-absorbing polymer structures, to a composite comprising a water-absorbing polymer structure and a substrate, to a process for the preparation of a composite, to the composite obtainable by that process, to chemical products, such as foams, molded articles and fibers comprising water-absorbing polymer structures or a composite, to the use of water-absorbing polymer structures or of a composite in chemical products and to the use of a salt in the treatment of the surface of water-absorbing polymer structures.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing of thermochromic material, a target increased luminous transmittance level for the thermochromic material is determined (210). The luminous transmittance level is defined within a predetermined wavelength region. Preferably, this predetermined wavelength region at least partly comprises visible light. A concentration level of a first dopant element is determined (212) for generating the luminous transmittance level of the thermochromic material. The first dopant element is capable of forming an oxide having a high bandgap in its electronic structure, and in a specific embodiment is Al and/or Mg. A VO2-based thermochromic material is doped (214) with the determined concentration level of the first dopant element. At least one second dopant may also be employed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a cellulose-based film from raw material pulp, the method including the steps of: preparing a dope from a composition comprising 5-15 wt % of a pulp having an alpha-cellulose content of more than 90% and 85-95 wt % of an aqueous N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution; extruding the dope from a die onto a running support; casting the extrudate to form a sheet-shaped material; washing the cast sheet with water to remove N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide therefrom; and drying the washed sheet. The method enables the cellulose-based film to be prepared from environmentally friendly wood pulp through an environmentally friendly process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymeric composite comprising a first organic polymer that forms a first organic polymer phase; and a low molecular weight compound that exists in the form of a second crystalline phase; wherein the second crystalline phase is dispersed within the first organic polymer phase. Disclosed herein too is a polymeric composite comprising a first organic polymer that forms a first organic polymer phase; and a second phase that comprises a crystalline organic polymer, wherein the crystalline organic polymer has a different molecular structure from the first organic polymer; wherein the second phase is not covalently bonded to the first organic polymer phase and wherein the second phase has an average particle size of about 1 to about 20 micrometers.

Abstract: A water hardness controlling agent includes a polyacrylic acid or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 50,000 g/mol, an acrylic-maleic acid copolymer or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 100,000 g/mol and a phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof. A ratio of acrylic-maleic acid copolymer or salt thereof to polyacrylic acid or salt thereof to phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof in parts per million is about 1-30:10-80:6-20.

Abstract: Process for preparing precursors for transition metal mixed oxides, wherein (A) an optionally basic transition metal carbonate is treated thermally at temperatures in the range from 200 to 900° C., (B) washed one or more times, and (C) then dried.

Abstract: An ethylene-?-olefin copolymer wherein the copolymer has a monomer unit based on ethylene and a monomer unit based on an ?-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, the density (d) is 860 to 950 kg/m3, the melt flow rate (MFR) is 1 to 100 g/10 min, the ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) is 4 to 30, the ratio (Mz/Mw) of the Z average molecular weight (Mz) to the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is 2 to 5, the swell ratio (SR) is 1.8 or more, and the characteristic relaxation time (?) obtained by linear viscoelasticity measurement is 0.01 to 10 seconds.

Abstract: A photochromic polymer comprising at least one siloxane oligomer and at least two photochromic groups covalently linked to one or both terminuses of the siloxane oligomer and compositions containing photochromic siloxane polymers with narrow polydispersity. The photochromic polymer enhances switching speed in rigid host polymers.

Abstract: A structure having: a molecule of carboxymethyl amylose (CMA) in a super-helical conformation; cyanine molecules on the exterior surface of the CMA arranged in a J-aggregate formation; and a chromophore molecule in the interior space of the CMA.

Abstract: A method for producing high-purity 2-cyanophenylboronic acid, characterized by reacting benzonitrile, lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide, and trialkoxyborane, adding an aqueous acidic solution to a reaction solution containing the obtained 2-cyanophenylboronic acid, carrying out a contact treatment at a pH of below 7 in the presence of a water-immiscible organic solvent, and then obtaining the 2-cyanophenylboronic acid from the organic layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte comprising a eutectic mixture formed of: (a) an amide group-containing compound; and (b) a lithum-free ionizable salt. An electrochemical device comprising the electrolyte is also disclosed. The electrolyte improves the quality of and electrochemical device due to the excellent conductivity of the metal cation contained in the eutectic mixture, a broad electrochemical window and low viscosity. Additionally, since the eutectic mixture has excellent thermal and chemical stability, it is possible to solve the problems of evaporation, exhaustion and ignition of electrolytes, to minimize side reactions between constitutional elements of the device and the electrolyte, and to improve the safety of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one transparent thermoplastic material; at least one inorganic IR absorber which comprises a zinc-doped caesium tungstate; and optionally at least one stabilizer which is based on phosphine. The present invention also relates to a composition which comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, an inorganic IR absorber, at least one phosphine stabilizer, at least one phosphite stabilizer, and at least one phenolic antioxidant stabilizer.

Abstract: When being blended in a toner, a barium titanate external additive for toner enhances, in particular, the toner fluidity, electrical properties, and other relevant performance; concurrently achieves high image density and reduced background fog in a printer using the toner; and further reduces image defects, such as void, fading, and the like. An industrially advantageous producing method of the barium titanate external additive for toner is also provided. The external additive for toner of the present invention includes spherical barium titanate having a specific gravity of 5.6 g/ml or less.

Abstract: An antistatic agent, a water-soluble electroconductive polymer, a solvent and a water-soluble polymer. In preferred embodiments, the water-soluble polymer has a polypeptide bond or a specific polyvinyl structure. Also disclosed is an antistatic film incorporating the antistatic agent, an article coated with an antistatic film and a pattern-forming method using the antistatic film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photoelectric conversion device wherein a methine dye represented by the formula (1) below is supported by a thin film of oxide semiconductor particles arranged on a substrate. Also disclosed is a solar cell manufactured by using such a photoelectric conversion device. (In the formula (1), n represents an integer of 0-5; m represents an integer of 0-5; R1-R4 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted aromatic residue, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon residue or the like; X and Y independently represent a hydrogen atom; an optionally substituted aromatic residue, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon residue or the like; Z represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or the like; A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted aromatic residue, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon residue or the like; and rings a, b and c may be substituted.).

Abstract: The present inventions relate to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have low intrinsic birefringence. These films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). These films are useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films and in molded optical parts, such as lenses. The resins of the present inventions can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, which is uncharacteristic of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods of melt casting films while minimizing birefringence. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to films made from the cellulose esters described herein further comprising a plasticizer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyradical compound which can be used as an electrode active material for at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The polyradical compound has a repeating unit represented by general formula (1) and is crosslinked using a bifunctional crosslinking agent having two polymerizing groups in the molecule represented by general formula (2), wherein R1 to R3 each independently represent hydrogen or methyl group; R4 to R7 each independently represent C1 to C3 alkyl group; X represents single bond, linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C15 alkylenedioxy group, alkylene group, phenylenedioxy group, phenylene group or structure represented by general formula (3); and R8 to R13 each independently represent hydrogen or methyl group, and k represents an integer of 2 to 5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorption cycle comprising a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also provides an absorption cycle that utilizes fluorocarbon gases in fluorinated ionic liquids. The present invention also provides a method of cooling using an absorption cycle comprising a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also provides a method of heating using an absorption cycle comprising a refrigerant pair comprising at least one refrigerant and at least one ionic liquid.