Abstract: It is difficult to obtain a glassy, monolithic molded body of an inorganic oxide with a high melting point and softening point. Although molding by sintering is possible, it is hard to obtain a molded body which is transparent and has high barrier properties. Further, producing molded bodies with the sol-gel process is costly, and it is difficult to produce a molded bodies of large size. In this invention, a molded body principally composed of inorganic oxides is produced with a method that involves a step in which an inorganic-organic hybrid compound, formed by an organic polymer having a hydroxyl group chemically bonding with an inorganic oxide or a derivative thereof, is heated in an atmosphere in which oxygen is present, and the organic polymer component of the inorganic-organic hybrid compound is oxidized and removed.

Abstract: Catalytic materials, particularly membranes, exhibiting high activity, high stability and low metal leaching in a variety of chemical reactions, particularly selective hydrogenations of unsaturated organic compounds, are described. These membranes are inorganic/polymeric hybrid materials in which metal complex molecular catalysts are immobilized or metal nano-particle catalysts are embedded. More specifically, the catalytic materials of the present invention exhibit higher activity and selectivity, and can be used in more extensive kinds of organic solvents than the conventional hybrid catalytic materials due to improvement in the affinity to organic solvents by containing the specific polymeric additives.

Abstract: Catalytic materials, particularly membranes, exhibiting high activity, high stability and low metal leaching in a variety of chemical reactions, particularly selective hydrogenations of unsaturated organic compounds, are described. These membranes are inorganic/polymeric hybrid materials in which metal complex molecular catalysts are immobilized or metal nano-particle catalysts are embedded. More specifically, the catalytic materials of the present invention exhibit higher activity and selectivity, and can be used in more extensive kinds of organic solvents than the conventional hybrid catalytic materials due to improvement in the affinity to organic solvents by containing the specific polymeric additives.

Abstract: A method of forming a battery separator to be sandwiched between a positive and a negative electrode of a battery is discussed. A polyethylene resin surface is formed on a surface of a nonwoven fabric, which is made of polypropylene resin as a main component material and structured with bonded pieces of the polypropylene resin. The polyethylene resin surface is then subjected to a hydrophilization treatment, such as a radical reaction treatment or a sulfonation treatment. As a result, a secondary battery separator having a high mechanical strength along with a high hydrophilic nature, and a secondary battery using that secondary battery separator are provided.

Abstract: A polyethylene resin surface is formed on a surface of a nonwoven fabric, which is made of polypropylene resin as a main component material and structured with bonded pieces of the polypropylene resin. The polyethylene resin surface is then subjected to a hydrophilization treatment, such as a radical reaction treatment or a sulfonation treatment. As a result, a secondary battery separator having a high mechanical strength along with a high hydrophilic nature, and a secondary battery using that secondary battery separator are provided.