Abstract: The hydrogen production device of the present invention includes: a first electrode (120) including a conductive substrate (101) and a photocatalytic semiconductor layer (102); a second electrode (103) that is electrically connected to the first electrode (120) and disposed in a second region (123) opposite to a first region (122) relative to the first electrode (120), when the first region (122) is defined as a region on a side of a surface of the first electrode (120) in which the photocatalytic semiconductor layer (102) is provided; a water-containing electrolyte solution (106); and a housing (105) containing these. The first electrode (120) is provided with a through-hole (131) at a position and the second electrode (103) is provided with a through-hole (132) at a position corresponding to the position, and the through-holes form a communicating hole (130) for allowing the first region (122) and the second region (123) to communicate with each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a stator includes the steps of: (1) forming substantially planar electric wires each of which includes in-slot portions to be received in slots of a stator core and turn portions to be located outside the slots to connect adjacent pairs of the in-slot portions; (2) rolling each of the planar electric wires by more than one turn into a spiral shape; (3) forming a stator coil by assembling the rolled electric wires through elastic deformation thereof; and (4) assembling the stator core and the stator coil to form the stator. Further, in the rolling step, each of the planar electric wires is rolled by plastically deforming the turn portions into circumferentially-extending sections each having a predetermined curvature. Furthermore, a curvature ratio of a radially-outermost one of the circumferentially-extending sections is set to be greater than that of a radially-innermost one of the same.

Abstract: Provided are a photocatalytic material that improves a decomposition performance and a decomposition rate, as well as a photocatalytic member and a purification device in which the photocatalytic material is used. The photocatalytic member is a photocatalytic member (1) that includes a substrate (10) and a photocatalyst layer (11) formed on a surface of the substrate (10), wherein the photocatalyst layer (11) contains a titanium oxide photocatalyst and zeolite, the titanium oxide photocatalyst containing at least an anatase-type titanium oxide and fluorine, in which a content of the fluorine in the titanium oxide photocatalyst is 2.5 wt % to 3.5 wt %, and 90 wt % or more of the fluorine is chemically bonded to the anatase-type titanium oxide.

Abstract: A hydrogen generation device (100) of the present invention includes: a transparent substrate (1); a photocatalytic electrode (4) formed of a transparent conductive layer (2) and a photocatalytic layer (3) disposed on the transparent substrate (1); a counter electrode (8) connected electrically to the transparent conductive layer (2); a water-containing electrolyte solution layer provided between the photocatalytic electrode (3) and the counter electrode (8); a separator (6) that separates the electrolyte solution layer into a first electrolyte solution layer (5) in contact with the photocatalytic electrode (4) and a second electrolyte solution layer (7) in contact with the counter electrode (8); a first gas outlet (14) for discharging a gas generated in the first electrolyte solution layer (5); and a second gas outlet (15) for discharging a gas generated in the second electrolyte solution layer (7).

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell (100) includes: a semiconductor electrode (120) including a conductor (121), a first n-type semiconductor layer (122) having a nanotube array structure, and a second n-type semiconductor layer (123); a counter electrode (130) connected to the conductor (121); an electrolyte (140) in contact with the second n-type semiconductor layer (123) and the counter electrode (130); and a container (110) accommodating the semiconductor electrode (120), the counter electrode (130) and the electrolyte (140).

Abstract: The method for producing the optical semiconductor of the present disclosure includes a mixing step of producing a mixture containing a reduction inhibitor and a niobium compound that contains at least oxygen in its composition; a nitriding step of nitriding the mixture by the reaction between the mixture and a nitrogen compound gas; and a washing step of isolating niobium oxynitride from the material obtained through the nitriding step by dissolving chemical species other than niobium oxynitride with a washing liquid. The optical semiconductor of the present disclosure substantially consists of niobium oxynitride having a crystal structure of baddeleyite and having a composition represented by the composition formula, NbON.

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell (100) includes: a semiconductor electrode (120) including a conductor (121) and an n-type semiconductor layer (122); a counter electrode (130) connected electrically to the conductor (121); an electrolyte (140) in contact with the surfaces of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) and the counter electrode (130); and a container (110) accommodating the semiconductor electrode (120), the counter electrode (130) and the electrolyte (140). The photoelectrochemical cell (100) generates hydrogen by irradiation of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) with light.

Abstract: A titanium oxide photocatalyst that is capable of improving a decomposition rate, and a method for producing the same are provided. The titanium oxide photocatalyst of the present invention is a titanium oxide photocatalyst containing at least an anatase-type titanium oxide and fluorine, wherein a content of the fluorine is 2.5 wt % to 3.5 wt %, and 90 wt % or more of the fluorine is chemically bonded to the anatase-type titanium oxide.

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell (100) includes: a semiconductor electrode (120) including a conductor (121) and semiconductor layers (122, 123) disposed on the conductor (121); a counter electrode (130) connected electrically to the conductor (121); an electrolyte (140) in contact with surfaces of the semiconductor layer (123) and the counter electrode (130); and a container (110) accommodating the semiconductor electrode (120), the counter electrode (130) and the electrolyte (140). A band edge level ECS of a conduction band, a band edge level EVS of a valence band, and a Fermi level EFS in a surface near-field region of the semiconductor layer, and a band edge level ECJ of a conduction band, a band edge level EVJ of a valence band, and a Fermi level EFJ in a junction plane near-field region of the semiconductor layer with the conductor satisfy, relative to a vacuum level, ECS-EFS>ECJ-EFJ, EFS-EVS<EFJ-EVJ, ECJ>?4.44 eV, and EVS<?5.67 eV.

Abstract: A novel method for storing a photocatalytic member containing fluorine-containing anatase-type titanium oxide is provided, which is capable of suppressing the decrease in content of fluorine during storage in a photocatalytic member containing fluorine-containing anatase-type titanium oxide. The storage method of the present invention is a method for storing a photocatalytic member containing fluorine-containing anatase-type titanium oxide including storing the photocatalytic member in a surrounding environment with a relative humidity of 30% or less. According to the storage method of the present invention, for example, the elimination of fluorine from the surface of fluorine-containing titanium oxide can be suppressed, and the decrease in content of fluorine during storage in a photocatalytic member can be suppressed.

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell (1) includes: an optical semiconductor electrode (first electrode) (3) including a conductive substrate (3a) and an n-type semiconductor layer (3b) as an optical semiconductor layer disposed on the conductive substrate (3a); a counter electrode (second electrode) (4) disposed to face the surface of the optical semiconductor electrode (3) on the conductive substrate (3a) side and connected electrically to the conductive substrate (3a); an electrolyte solution (11) containing water and disposed in contact with the surface of the n-type semiconductor layer (3b) and the surface of the counter electrode (4); a container (2) in which the optical semiconductor electrode (3), the counter electrode (4), and the electrolyte solution (11) are disposed; an inlet (5) for supplying water into the container; and an ion passing portion (12) that allows ions to move between the electrolyte solution in a region A on the surface side of the n-type semiconductor layer (3b) and the electrolyte solution

Abstract: A titanium oxide photocatalyst that is capable of improving a decomposition rate, and a method for producing the same are provided. The titanium oxide photocatalyst of the present invention is a titanium oxide photocatalyst containing at least an anatase-type titanium oxide and fluorine, wherein a content of the fluorine is 2.5 wt % to 3.5 wt %, and 90 wt % or more of the fluorine is chemically bonded to the anatase-type titanium oxide.

Abstract: A hydrogen generation system (2A) includes a hydrogen generation unit (201) that holds a first liquid containing water and that allows a part of the water contained in the first liquid to be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, and at least a part of the first liquid to be heated, by being irradiated with sunlight, a first heat exchanger (207) that cools the first liquid heated in the hydrogen generation unit (201) and heats the second liquid by heat exchange between the first liquid and the second liquid, and a mechanism (for example, a circulation line (204) and a pump (205)) that introduces the first liquid cooled in the first heat exchanger (207) into the hydrogen generation unit (201).

Abstract: A hydrogen generating device (100) includes: a housing (1) that is capable of holding a liquid therein, and that is at least partially transmissive to light; an electrolyte that is held in the housing (1) and that contains water; a photoelectrode (2) that is arranged in the housing (1), that has a first surface in contact with the electrolyte, and that generates gas through decomposition of the water by being irradiated with light transmitted through the housing (1); and a conductor (3) that is arranged in a region on the second surface side opposite to the first surface side with respect to the photoelectrode (2) inside the housing (1), that has a surface in contact with the electrolyte, and that is connected electrically with the photoelectrode (2). The conductor (3) has a groove portion (3a) that is provided on the surface in contact with the electrolyte, and that extends along the flow direction of the generated gas.

Abstract: The optically pumped semiconductor according to the present invention is an optically pumped semiconductor that is a semiconductor of a perovskite oxide. The optically pumped semiconductor has a composition represented by a general formula: BaZr1-xMxO3-?, where M denotes at least one element selected from trivalent elements, x denotes a numerical value more than 0 but less than 0.8, and ? denotes an amount of oxygen deficiency that is a numerical value more than 0 but less than 1.5. The optically pumped semiconductor has a crystal system of a cubic, tetragonal, or orthorhombic crystal. When lattice constants of the crystal system are referred to as a, b, and c, provided that a?b?c, conditions that 0.41727 nm?a, b, c?0.42716 nm and a/c?0.98 are satisfied.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for rolling a substantially planar electric wire by more than one turn into a spiral shape. The apparatus includes an inner pressing member having an outer surface, an intermediate pressing member having radially inner and outer surfaces, and an outer pressing member having an inner surface. The inner and intermediate pressing members together press a first part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the inner pressing member and the inner surface of the intermediate pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the first part to extend along the outer surface of the inner pressing member. The intermediate and outer pressing members together press a second part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member and the inner surface of the outer pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the second part to extend along the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member.

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell (1) is a photoelectrochemical cell for decomposing water by irradiation with light so as to produce hydrogen.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a stator includes the steps of: (1) forming substantially planar electric wires each of which includes in-slot portions to be received in slots of a stator core and turn portions to be located outside the slots to connect adjacent pairs of the in-slot portions; (2) rolling each of the planar electric wires by more than one turn into a spiral shape; (3) forming a stator coil by assembling the rolled electric wires through elastic deformation thereof; and (4) assembling the stator core and the stator coil to form the stator. Further, in the rolling step, each of the planar electric wires is rolled by plastically deforming the turn portions into circumferentially-extending sections each having a predetermined curvature. Furthermore, a curvature ratio of a radially outermost one of the circumferentially-extending sections is set to be greater than that of a radially innermost one of the same.

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell (100) includes: a semiconductor electrode (120) including a conductor (121) and an n-type semiconductor layer (122); a counter electrode (130) connected electrically to the conductor (121); an electrolyte (140) in contact with the surfaces of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) and the counter electrode (130); and a container (110) accommodating the semiconductor electrode (120), the counter electrode (130) and the electrolyte (140). The photoelectrochemical cell (100) generates hydrogen by irradiation of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) with light.

Abstract: An electric wire shaping apparatus is disclosed for shaping an electric wire for a stator coil. The electric wire includes a turn portion that is to be located outside of slots of a stator core and a pair of straight portions that are connected by the turn portion and to be respectively received in two of the slots. The interval between the straight portions defines a coil pitch. The apparatus includes a shaping mechanism and a pair of coil pitch keeping mechanisms. The shaping mechanism presses the turn portion of the electric wire in its width-wise direction, thereby shaping the turn portion to have a desired shape. The coil pitch keeping mechanisms respectively press the straight portions of the electric wire toward the inside space between the straight portions, thereby preventing the interval between the straight portions from being changed by the pressing of the turn portion.