Abstract: The present invention provides: a light absorption layer for forming a photoelectric conversion element and an intermediate-band solar cell which have excellent two-step light absorption quantum yield; and a photoelectric conversion element and an intermediate-band solar cell having the light absorption layer. In addition, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a light absorption layer that includes an intermediate-band and that has few voids. This light absorption layer: is configured so that quantum dots are scattered in the matrix of a bulk semiconductor having band gap energy of 2.0 to 3.0 eV; includes an intermediate-band; and has a void rate of no more than 10%.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a light absorption layer for forming a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell having an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency, and a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell having the light absorption layer. This light absorption layer contains a perovskite compound and quantum dots, and the quantum dots have a circularity of 0.50 to 0.92. The present invention is a light absorption layer, a photoelectric conversion element, and a solar cell containing a perovskite compound and quantum dots, wherein the particle shape of the quantum dots is controlled, the surface of the quantum dots is covered by a compound having a specific energy level, or the above features are combined, whereby it is made possible to obtain a light absorption layer, a photoelectric conversion element, and a solar cell having an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a light absorption layer for forming a solar cell and a photoelectric conversion element having excellent durability and photoelectric conversion efficiency in the near infrared region, and a solar cell and a photoelectric conversion element having the light absorption layer. This light absorption layer contains a perovskite compound having a band gap energy of 1.7-4.0 eV, and a quantum dot having a band gap energy equal to or higher than 0.2 eV and equal to or lower than the band gap energy of the perovskite compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light absorption layer for forming a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell that have excellent photoelectric conversion efficiencies; and a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell that include the light absorption layer. This light absorption layer comprises quantum dots dispersed in a matrix of one or more perovskite compounds selected from a compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a compound represented by the following general formula (2): RMX3??(1) wherein R is two or more of monovalent cations, M is a divalent metal cation, and X is a halogen anion, R1R2R3n?1MnX3n+1??(2) wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently a monovalent cation, at least two of R1, R2, and R3 are different monovalent cations, and at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is a monovalent inorganic cation, M is a divalent metal cation, X is a halogen anion, and n is an integer of 1 or more and 10 or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light absorption layer for forming a photoelectric conversion element and an intermediate-band solar cell excellent in quantum efficiency of two-step light absorption, a photoelectric conversion element having the light absorption layer, and an intermediate-band solar cell. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a light absorption layer having an intermediate-band, using a “wet process”, which method can be expected to greatly reduce costs and expand to use for flexible substrates. The light absorption layer of the present invention has an intermediate-band, wherein quantum dots are dispersed in a matrix of a bulk semiconductor having a band gap energy of 2.0 eV or more and 3.0 eV or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light absorption layer that makes it possible to perform photoelectric conversion in both the visible light region and the near-infrared light region and that is for forming a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell having high conversion efficiency. The present invention also relates to a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell comprising the light absorption layer. This light absorption layer comprises a perovskite compound and quantum dots containing a halogen element and an organic ligand. The molar ratio of the organic ligand with respect to the metal element constituting the quantum dot is 0.01 or more and 0.4 or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light absorption layer that makes it possible to perform photoelectric conversion in both the visible light region and the near-infrared light region and that is for forming a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell having high conversion efficiency. The present invention also relates to a photoelectric conversion element and a solar cell comprising the light absorption layer. This light absorption layer comprises a perovskite compound and quantum dots containing Cl element.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a light absorption layer for forming a solar cell and a photoelectric conversion element having excellent durability and photoelectric conversion efficiency in the near infrared region, and a solar cell and a photoelectric conversion element having the light absorption layer. This light absorption layer contains a perovskite compound having a band gap energy of 1.7-4.0 eV, and a quantum dot having a band gap energy equal to or higher than 0.2 eV and equal to or lower than the band gap energy of the perovskite compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing mesoporous silica particles including a silica-containing outer shell portion with a mesoporous structure. The method includes the steps of: (I) pressurizing a mixed solution containing a hydrophobic organic compound, a surfactant, and an aqueous solvent by a high-pressure emulsification method so as to form an emulsion that includes emulsion droplets containing the hydrophobic organic compound; (II) adding a silica source to the emulsion so as to form a silica-containing outer shell portion with a mesoporous structure on a surface of the emulsion droplets, and precipitating composite silica particles including the outer shell portion and the emulsion droplets on an inner side relative to the outer shell portion; and (III) removing the emulsion droplets from the composite silica particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing mesoporous silica particles including a silica-containing outer shell portion with a mesoporous structure. The method includes the steps of: (I) pressurizing a mixed solution containing a hydrophobic organic compound, a surfactant, and an aqueous solvent by a high-pressure emulsification method so as to form an emulsion that includes emulsion droplets containing the hydrophobic organic compound; (II) adding a silica source to the emulsion so as to form a silica-containing outer shell portion with a mesoporous structure on a surface of the emulsion droplets, and precipitating composite silica particles including the outer shell portion and the emulsion droplets on an inner side relative to the outer shell portion; and (III) removing the emulsion droplets from the composite silica particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to (1) a transparent coating film containing a layered titanate containing an organic cation derived from amines having a boiling point of 300° C. or lower as measured under an ambient pressure, and having an atomic ratio of nitrogen to titanium of 0.01 to 0.3; and (2) a process for producing a transparent coating film having an atomic ratio of nitrogen to titanium of 0.01 to 0.3, containing the steps of applying a solution containing an organic cation derived from amines having a boiling point of 300° C. or lower as measured under an ambient pressure, and a layered titanate onto a substrate; and heat-treating the thus applied solution at a temperature less than 450°C. The coating film exhibits a high hardness, an excellent transparency, a low photocatalytic activity and an excellent stability as well as a good adhesion property to a substrate.

Abstract: To provide a coating agent capable of forming a coating film having high hardness, high rubbing resistance, and strong adhesibility, without necessitating a high-temperature treatment as in a conventional method, even when titanium oxide having a high refractive index is used and a process for producing the coating agent; a coating film formed by applying the above-mentioned coating agent and a process for producing the coating film; and an optical instrument comprising the above-mentioned coating film and a process for producing the optical instrument.

Abstract: A process for efficiently preparing fine zeolite particles comprising synthesizing zeolite in the presence of an alkaline earth metal-containing compound and/or with controlling the preparation process of zeolite, thereby giving fine zeolite particles being composed of crystalline aluminosilicate, the fine zeolite particles having a fine average primary particle size, being excellent in the cationic exchange properties and the oil-absorbing ability, having a fine average aggregate particle size, and being excellent in the dispersibility; fine zeolite particles obtainable by the above process; and a detergent composition comprising the fine zeolite particles, the detergent composition being excellent in the detergency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to (1) a transparent coating film containing a layered titanate containing an organic cation derived from amines having a boiling point of 300° C. or lower as measured under an ambient pressure, and having an atomic ratio of nitrogen to titanium of 0.01 to 0.3; and (2) a process for producing a transparent coating film having an atomic ratio of nitrogen to titanium of 0.01 to 0.3, containing the steps of applying a solution containing an organic cation derived from amines having a boiling point of 300° C. or lower as measured under an ambient pressure, and a layered titanate onto a substrate; and heat-treating the thus applied solution at a temperature less than 450° C. The coating film exhibits a high hardness, an excellent transparency, a low photocatalytic activity and an excellent stability as well as a good adhesion property to a substrate.

Abstract: Base particles for supporting a surfactant, obtainable by a step of spray-drying a slurry comprising (A) a zeolite having an average aggregate particle diameter of 15 ?m or less and a variation coefficient of a distribution of an aggregate particle diameter of 29% or less, (B) a water-soluble polymer; (C) a water-soluble salt, and (D) a surfactant in an amount of 5% by weight or less of the slurry; detergent particles comprising the base particles; and a zeolite for a laundry detergent, wherein the zeolite has an average aggregate particle diameter of 15 ?m or less and a variation coefficient of a distribution of an aggregate particle diameter of 29% or less; and a process for preparing base particles for supporting a surfactant, comprising a step of spray-drying a slurry comprising a zeolite (A) having an average aggregate particle diameter of 15 ?m or less and a variation coefficient of a distribution of an aggregate particle diameter of 29% or less, a water-soluble polymer (B), a water-soluble salt (C), an

Abstract: A process for efficiently preparing fine zeolite particles comprising synthesizing zeolite in the presence of an alkaline earth metal-containing compound and/or with controlling the preparation process of zeolite, thereby giving fine zeolite particles being composed of crystalline aluminosilicate, the fine zeolite particles having a fine average primary particle size, being excellent in the cationic exchange properties and the oil-absorbing ability, having a fine average aggregate particle size, and being excellent in the dispersibility; fine zeolite particles obtainable by the above process; and a detergent composition comprising the fine zeolite particles, the detergent composition being excellent in the detergency.

Abstract: A process for efficiently preparing fine zeolite particles comprising synthesizing zeolite in the presence of an alkaline earth metal-containing compound and/or with controlling the preparation process of zeolite, thereby giving fine zeolite particles being composed of crystalline aluminosilicate, the fine zeolite particles having a fine average primary particle size, being excellent in the cationic exchange properties and the oil-absorbing ability, having a fine average aggregate particle size, and being excellent in the dispersibility; fine zeolite particles obtainable by the above process; and a detergent composition comprising the fine zeolite particles, the detergent composition being excellent in the detergency.

Abstract: A fine A-type zeolite particle having an average primary particle size of 0.1 &mgr;m or less and a variation coefficient of 90% or less, wherein a ratio of a peak area above a background level to all peak are in the range of 2&thgr;=20° to 40° in a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum of said fine A-type zeolite particle is 30% or more; a process for preparing the fine A-type zeolite particle, comprising reacting a silica source with an aluminum source in the presence of an organic compound having an oxygen-containing functional group and a molecular weight of 100 or more; and a detergent composition comprising a surfactant and the fine A-type zeolite particle. The fine zeolite particle is suitably used for detergent builders, water treatment agents, fillers for paper, resin fillers, oxygen-nitrogen separating agents, adsorbents, catalyst carriers, soil improvers for gardening, polishing agents, and the like.

Abstract: A fine A-type zeolite particle having an average primary particle size of 0.1 &mgr;m or less and a variation coefficient of 90% or less, wherein a ratio of a peak area above a background level to all peak are in the range of 2&thgr;=20° to 40° in a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum of said fine A-type zeolite particle is 30% or more; a process for preparing the fine A-type zeolite particle, comprising reacting a silica source with an aluminum source in the presence of an organic compound having an oxygen-containing functional group and a molecular weight of 100 or more; and a detergent composition comprising a surfactant and the fine A-type zeolite particle. The fine zeolite particle is suitably used for detergent builders, water treatment agent, fillers for paper, resin fillers, oxygen-nitrogen separating agents, adsorbents, catalyst carriers, soil improvers for gardening, polishing agents, and the like.

Abstract: Base particles for supporting a surfactant, obtainable by a step of spray-drying a slurry comprising (A) a zeolite having an average aggregate particle diameter of 15 &mgr;m or less and a variation coefficient of a distribution of an aggregate particle diameter of 29% or less, (B) a water-soluble polymer; (C) a water-soluble salt, and (D) a surfactant in an amount of 5% by weight or less of the slurry; detergent particles comprising the base particles; and a zeolite for a laundry detergent, wherein the zeolite has an average aggregate particle diameter of 15 &mgr;m or less and a variation coefficient of a distribution of an aggregate particle diameter of 29% or less; and a process for preparing base particles for supporting a surfactant, comprising a step of spray-drying a slurry comprising a zeolite (A) having an average aggregate particle diameter of 15 &mgr;m or less and a variation coefficient of a distribution of an aggregate particle diameter of 29% or less, a water-soluble polymer (B), a water-soluble