Abstract: A titania nanosheet alignment thin film whose main components are silica and titania, wherein titania nanosheets of layer structure having a nanometer order size are dispersed on a surface thereof. The titania nanosheet alignment thin film not only exhibits high photocatalytic activity but also can maintain excellent ultrahydrophilic and anti-fogging properties for a prolonged period of time. Further, there are provided a process for producing the same and an article including the titania nanosheet alignment thin film.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an optical transparent member capable of maintaining a high-performance antireflection effect for a base over a long period of time, and an optical system using the same, specifically an optical transparent member including on a base a layer containing SiO2 as a main component, a layer containing Al2O3 as a main component, and a plate crystal layer formed from plate crystals containing Al2O3 as a main component, wherein the surface of the plate crystal layer has a shape of irregularities, and an optical system using the same.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element which has excellent heat resistance and adhesion to a substrate. This process comprises applying a liquid composition for forming an optical element to the molding surface of a substrate having a regular pattern surface consisting of areas having high wettability and areas having low wettability as the molding surface and curing the composition to form projections in the areas having high wettability. A solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzable compound which can be hydrolyzed and polycondensed and a hydrolyzed/polycondensed product thereof is used as the liquid composition for forming an optical element.

Abstract: A transparent antireflection film, including fine irregularities mainly composed of alumina, and a transparent thin film layer supporting the fine irregularities, in which the transparent thin film layer contains at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia, silica, titania, and zinc oxide. A production method for the aforementioned transparent antireflection film, including: forming a multicomponent film using an application liquid containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a zirconium compound, a silicon compound, a titanium compound, and a zinc compound, and at least an aluminum compound; and subjecting the multicomponent film to warm water treatment.

Abstract: A water-repellent/oil-repellent material that is decomposed to disappear by light irradiation is used to eliminate a water-repellent/oil-repellent layer on ITO electrodes. By forming light emitting layers in regions subjected to the elimination, patterning is carried out.

Abstract: A method for producing a transparent thin film which comprises forming a gel film containing a composite metal oxide or hydroxide of a titanium compound and a silicon alkoxide from a solution containing a silicon alkoxide and a titanium compound having hydrolizability, and subjecting the gel film to a warm water treatment, to thereby precipitate titania crystallites of anatase-type and/or of a crystal phase having a lattice spacing of about 0.7 nm on the surface of the thin film. The method can be used for producing a novel transparent thin film exhibiting high photocatalyst activity and super hydrophilicity as well as high light transparency, without the need for a high temperature treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing sulfide glass or sulfide glass ceramic each capable of conducting a lithium ion, comprising subjecting metallic lithium, sulfur as a simple substance and phosphorus as a simple substance as starting raw materials, which constitute the sulfide glass and sulfide glass ceramic, to mechanical milling to thereby convert them into sulfide glass or sulfide glass ceramic; and a whole solid type cell using the above-mentioned sulfide glass ceramic as a solid electrolyte. According to the present invention, it is made possible to produce sulfide glass and sulfide glass ceramic which are each capable of conducting a lithium ion and which have high electroconductivity at room temperature by a simple and advantageous process from starting raw materials being easily available and inexpensive.

Abstract: A titania nanosheet alignment thin film whose main components are silica and titania, wherein titania nanosheets of layer structure having a nanometer order size are dispersed on a surface thereof. The titania nanosheet alignment thin film not only exhibits high photocatalytic activity but also can maintain excellent ultrahydrophilic and anti-fogging properties for a prolonged period of time. Further, there are provided a process for producing the same and an article including the titania nanosheet alignment thin film.

Abstract: An article having a predetermined surface configuration comprising a substrate and a gelled film having a high refractive index, excellent heat resistance, high film hardness and excellent transferability formed on the surface of the substrate. A process for producing an article having a gelled film with a transferred surface on the surface of a substrate by arranging a sol-gel material with close contact between the substrate and a mold in the form of a film and heating it. The sol-gel material contains a metal compound represented by M1Xm, a hydrolyzate thereof or a hydrolysis/polycondensation product thereof, and a metal compound represented by R1M2Yn, a hydrolyzate thereof or a hydrolysis/polycondensation product thereof, wherein at least one of M1 and M2 is a metal atom selected from Ti, Zr, Al, Ge, Sn or Sb and the metal atom accounts for at least 10 atom % of the total of M1 and M2.

Abstract: An article with a predetermined surface pattern that is coated with a film which makes possible the complete transfer of the pattern of a patterning die and thick-film patterning having a depth to the order of several tens of micrometers, prevents the occurrence of cracks, has high film hardness, and has a surface pattern which is the inverse of the surface pattern of the patterning die. This article is produced by joining a patterning die closely to a substrate with a sol-gel material containing the silane compound represented by the formula: R1SiX3 (wherein R1 is an alkyl group or hydrogen and X is an alkoxyl group or a halogen atom) and the silane compound represented by the formula: R2SiY3 (wherein R2 is an aryl group or a substituted aryl group and Y is an alkoxyl group or a halogen atom) disposed therebetween in the form of a film and heating them to coat the surface of the substrate with a gel film having a surface pattern which is the inverse of the surface pattern of the patterning die.

Abstract: There can be provided a method for producing a pattern film-coated article which has excellent film formability, can remove unexposed portions of a film completely in the development step after exposing the film to light. and has excellent pattern accuracy; and a photosensitive composition. The method for producing a pattern film-coated article comprises the steps of coating a photosensitive composition comprising an organometallic or organosilicon compound having photosensitivity and a hydrolyzable metal or silicon alkoxide on a substrate, irradiating the coated film on the substrate with light to polymerize the exposed portions of the coated film and then dissolving unexposed portions to remove them, wherein a pattern film-coated article is produced from an allyl group-containing metal or silicon alkoxide as the organometallic or organosilicon compound.

Abstract: An article having a predetermined surface configuration comprising a substrate and a gelled film having a high refractive index, excellent heat resistance, high film hardness and excellent transferability formed on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element which has excellent heat resistance and adhesion to a substrate. This process comprises applying a liquid composition for forming an optical element to the molding surface of a substrate having a regular pattern surface consisting of areas having high wettability and areas having low wettability as the molding surface and curing the composition to form projections in the areas having high wettability. A solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzable compound which can be hydrolyzed and polycondensed and a hydrolyzed/polycondensed product thereof is used as the liquid composition for forming an optical element.

Abstract: There can be provided a method for producing a pattern film-coated article which has excellent film formability, can remove unexposed portions of a film completely in the development step after exposing the film to light. and has excellent pattern accuracy; and a photosensitive composition.

Abstract: An article with a predetermined surface pattern that is coated with a film which makes possible the complete transfer of the pattern of a patterning die and thick-film patterning having a depth to the order of several tens of micrometers, prevents the occurrence of cracks, has high film hardness, and has a surface pattern which is the inverse of the surface pattern of the patterning die. This article is produced by joining a patterning die closely to a substrate with a sol-gel material containing the silane compound represented by the formula: R1SiX3 (wherein R1 is an alkyl group or hydrogen and X is an alkoxyl group or a halogen atom) and the silane compound represented by the formula: R2SiY3 (wherein R2 is an aryl group or a substituted aryl group and Y is an alkoxyl group or a halogen atom) disposed therebetween in the form of a film and heating them to coat the surface of the substrate with a gel film having a surface pattern which is the inverse of the surface pattern of the patterning die.

Abstract: A protonic conductor comprises a silicon oxide doped with a Br.o slashed.nsted acid and a thermoplastic elastomer. It has excellent protonic conductivity, which is not substantially lowered even in a dry atmosphere and thereby ensures excellent working properties.

Abstract: A sulfide-based lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte having a high ion conductivity and a high decomposition voltage contains crosslinking oxygen ions and silicon ions combined with the crosslinking oxygen ions in a structure of ##STR1##