Abstract: An aerogel with excellent thermal insulation performance, average particle size of 1 to 20 ?m and globular shape; and a method of manufacturing it efficiently, is provided. The aerogel has specific surface area by BET method of 400 to 1000 m2/g; pore volume and peak pore radius by BJH method of 3 to 8 mL/g and 10 to 30 nm, respectively; average particle size and average circularity by image analysis method of 1 to 20 ?m and no less than 0.8, respectively. The method includes the steps of: preparing an aqueous silica sol; dispersing the sol into a hydrophobic solvent, thereby forming a W/O emulsion; causing gelation of the sol, thereby converting the emulsion into a dispersion of a gel; replacing water in the gel with a solvent having a small surface tension; treating the gel with a hydrophobing agent; and removing the solvent used in the solvent replacement.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid developer-preparing apparatus preparing a liquid developer obtained by dispersing toner particles in a liquid, the apparatus including, a tank that stores a dispersion including a liquid and toner particles, a pulverizing device that pulverizes the toner particles in the dispersion sent from the tank; a liquid-sending route in which the dispersion circulates between the tank and the pulverizing device, a liquid-sending device that is provided to the liquid-sending route and sends the dispersion, a pressure gauge that is provided to the liquid-sending route and measures a liquid-sending pressure of the dispersion, and a determination device that determines whether or not the toner particles in the dispersion have been pulverized to a target volume average particle size.

Abstract: A micro fluidic device comprises a micro channel in which a plurality of fluids form laminar flows and are supplied, wherein an inner wall of the micro channel comprise a protruding part that is substantially parallel to the flows of the fluids and protrudes in directions substantially vertical to interfaces formed by the plurality of fluids.

Abstract: A microchannel device is provided, the microchannel device containing a microfluidic channel including a sub fluidic channel in which at least one filtration diaphragm is provided, wherein the microfluidic channel has at least a supply port, a first discharge port and a second discharge port, the supply port and the first discharge port are connected through the filtration diaphragm, the supply port and the second discharge port are connected without the filtration diaphragm, and the filtration diaphragm is provided parallel to a fluidic channel direction of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a laminated structure includes (i) preparing a first substrate having electroconductivity, (ii) forming a first electroconductive film having a prescribed hardness on the first substrate by an electroforming, (iii) forming a second electroconductive film having a hardness that is lower than the prescribed hardness on the first electroconductive film by an electroforming, (iv) patterning the first electroconductive film and the second electroconductive film to a prescribed pattern to form a plurality of electroconductive film patterns, and (v) subjecting the first substrate and a second substrate repeatedly to pressure contact and release to transfer sequentially the plurality of electroconductive film patterns on the first substrate onto the second substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid developer-preparing apparatus preparing a liquid developer obtained by dispersing toner particles in a liquid, the apparatus including, a tank that stores a dispersion including a liquid and toner particles, a pulverizing device that pulverizes the toner particles in the dispersion sent from the tank; a liquid-sending route in which the dispersion circulates between the tank and the pulverizing device, a liquid-sending device that is provided to the liquid-sending route and sends the dispersion, a pressure gauge that is provided to the liquid-sending route and measures a liquid-sending pressure of the dispersion, and a determination device that determines whether or not the toner particles in the dispersion have been pulverized to a target volume average particle size.

Abstract: An aerogel with excellent thermal insulation performance, average particle size of 1 to 20 ?m and globular shape; and a method of manufacturing it efficiently, is provided. The aerogel has specific surface area by BET method of 400 to 1000 m2/g; pore volume and peak pore radius by BJH method of 3 to 8 mL/g and 10 to 30 nm, respectively; average particle size and average circularity by image analysis method of 1 to 20 ?m and no less than 0.8, respectively. The method includes the steps of: preparing an aqueous silica sol; dispersing the sol into a hydrophobic solvent, thereby forming a W/O emulsion; causing gelation of the sol, thereby converting the emulsion into a dispersion of a gel; replacing water in the gel with a solvent having a small surface tension; treating the gel with a hydrophobing agent; and removing the solvent used in the solvent replacement.

Abstract: A microchannel device includes; a microchannel that forms two or more different fluids as a multiphase flow, and a section shape of the multiphase flow having in at least one portion a first shape in which plural polygons are two-dimensionally arranged, and adjacent to one another, a second shape in which a polygon is inscribed in one of a circle and an ellipse, or circumscribes one of a circle and an ellipse, or a third shape in which at least plural circles and polygons are two-dimensionally arranged, and adjacent to one another.

Abstract: A liquid transporting apparatus includes: a microchannel; a transporting liquid supply port through which transporting liquid is supplied to the microchannel; a partition wall as defined herein, and that has an opening; a first split channel that is provided on an upper side of the partition wall; a second split channel that is provided on a lower side of the partition wall; a particle dispersion supply port through which a particle dispersion is supplied to a middle portion of a width direction of the first split channel; and at least one drain port through which the fluid is discharged from downstreams of the first and second split channels, and a pattern that generates an upward-directed flow with respect to a vertical direction in a middle portion of a section of the microchannel is formed in an inner wall of the microchannel or in the partition wall.

Abstract: A microreactor device comprises: a microchannel that sends one or more fluids; and a section that isolates vibrations to a first portion of the microchannel.

Abstract: A reaction method using a microreactor, comprises: forming, in a microchannel, an at least two-layered laminar flow in n kinds (n is an integer of 3 or more) of a fluid 1, a fluid 2, . . . , and a fluid n at least two kinds of which are mutually incompatible; and pulsating at least one kind of the fluids.

Abstract: A micro-nano bubble generating method comprises: introducing a liquid into a microchannel, in which the microchannel is defined by a microchannel wall an entirety or a portion of which is formed by a porous wall having through pores with radii of 10 to 1,000 nm; and supplying a gas directly into the microchannel from outside the porous wall by a pressurized-gas supplying section, to allow micro-nano bubbles to be contained in the liquid.

Abstract: A liquid transporting apparatus includes: a microchannel; a transporting liquid supply port through which transporting liquid is supplied to the microchannel; a partition wall as defined herein, and that has an opening; a first split channel that is provided on an upper side of the partition wall; a second split channel that is provided on a lower side of the partition wall; a particle dispersion supply port through which a particle dispersion is supplied to a middle portion of a width direction of the first split channel; and at least one drain port through which the fluid is discharged from downstreams of the first and second split channels, and a pattern that generates an upward-directed flow with respect to a vertical direction in a middle portion of a section of the microchannel is formed in an inner wall of the microchannel or in the partition wall.

Abstract: A laminated structure includes: a plurality of first electroconductive films each having a prescribed hardness; and a plurality of second electroconductive films each having a hardness that is lower than the prescribed hardness. The first and second electroconductive films are laminated alternately.

Abstract: A laminated structure includes: a plurality of first electroconductive films each having a prescribed hardness; and a plurality of second electroconductive films each having a hardness that is lower than the prescribed hardness. The first and second electroconductive films are laminated alternately.

Abstract: A classifying device for classifying particles using a centrifugal force contains a microchannel includes a curved portion including a first tubular channel and a second tubular channel; and a diaphragm that is provided within the curved portion, and that is located at a position between the first tubular channel and the second tubular channel; and wherein the diaphragm has at least a first apertured group formed in a central region of the diaphragm and a second apertured group formed in a first end region and a second end region of the diaphragm, the first apertured group and the second apertured group communicate the first tubular channel with the second tubular channel along a direction of the centrifugal force, the first apertured group has a mesh, and the second apertured group has a mesh that is different in size from the mesh of the first apertured group.

Abstract: A microchannel device is provided, the microchannel device containing a microfluidic channel including a sub fluidic channel in which at least one filtration diaphragm is provided, wherein the microfluidic channel has at least a supply port, a first discharge port and a second discharge port, the supply port and the first discharge port are connected through the filtration diaphragm, the supply port and the second discharge port are connected without the filtration diaphragm, and the filtration diaphragm is provided parallel to a fluidic channel direction of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a processing layer and a temperature control layer. The processing layer applies a predetermined process to a subject fluid. The temperature control layer is disposed adjacent to the processing layer to give a predetermined temperature environment to the processing layer.

Abstract: A classifying device for classifying particles using a centrifugal force contains a microchannel includes a curved portion including a first tubular channel and a second tubular channel; and a diaphragm that is provided within the curved portion, and that is located at a position between the first tubular channel and the second tubular channel; and wherein the diaphragm has at least a first apertured group formed in a central region of the diaphragm and a second apertured group formed in a first end region and a second end region of the diaphragm, the first apertured group and the second apertured group communicate the first tubular channel with the second tubular channel along a direction of the centrifugal force, the first apertured group has a mesh, and the second apertured group has a mesh that is different in size from the mesh of the first apertured group.

Abstract: A microstructure includes first and second plates. The first plate defines a recess. The second plate is bonded to the first plate to block an opening of the recess to thereby form a closed vacuum space or a closed space filled with inert gas.