Abstract: A water storage structure includes a water-repellent layer having a water-repellent surface and a water storage section above the water-repellent layer. The water-repellent layer is composed of a collection of small objects having water repellency in surfaces thereof, and the small objects contact each other at multiple points to form a configuration that prevents water from passing through the water-repellent layer.

Abstract: A porous silica material disclosed in the present application is a porous silica material in which a plurality of silica particles are connected to one another three-dimensionally, wherein: a density of the porous silica material is less than 220 kg/m3; a particle diameter of the silica particles is 3.5 nm or more; and the water content of the porous silica material is 8 wt % or less.

Abstract: A water storage structure includes an impermeable layer including a plurality of hydrophobic particles, a water retentive layer provided on the impermeable layer and capable of holding a predetermined volume of liquid, and a pavement layer provided on the water retentive layer and including a tube penetrating from a first surface to a second surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous silica material includes: preparing a raw material solution containing silicon alkoxides including diisobutyldimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane in such a mass ratio that a mass of the diisobutyldimethoxysilane is 0.25 or more and 1 or less per mass of the tetramethoxysilane, and a solvent; obtaining a wet gel by adding, to the raw material solution, an aqueous solution containing a catalyst for promoting hydrolysis and condensation polymerization of the silicon alkoxides, the aqueous solution having a pH of 8.9 or more and 11.3 or less; washing the wet gel; and drying the washed wet gel under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: A desalination device includes a vessel, a breathable sheet, a water-repellent particle layer and a tank layer. The tank layer is positioned at the lower portion inside the vessel and the breathable sheet is interposed between the water-repellent particle layer and the tank layer. The breathable sheet includes a through-hole, the water-repellent particle layer is composed of a plurality of water-repellent particles, and the surface of the respective water-repellent particles includes a water-repellent film. The saltwater is desalted by a step of pouring saltwater into the vessel to dispose the saltwater on the surface of the water-repellent particle layer, a step of heating the saltwater to evaporate the saltwater into vapor; and a step of liquefying the vapor to obtain fresh water in the tank layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous silica material includes: preparing a raw material solution containing silicon alkoxides including diisobutyldimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane in such a mass ratio that a mass of the diisobutyldimethoxysilane is 0.25 or more and 1 or less per mass of the tetramethoxysilane, and a solvent; obtaining a wet gel by adding, to the raw material solution, an aqueous solution containing a catalyst for promoting hydrolysis and condensation polymerization of the silicon alkoxides, the aqueous solution having a pH of 8.9 or more and 11.3 or less; washing the wet gel; and drying the washed wet gel under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: An artificial soil structure includes a water shield layer provided on a soil layer and including water repellent sand processed by water repellent treatment, a water retentive layer provided on the water shield layer and including water retentive sand with no water repellent treatment, and a water repellent soil body provided partially in the water shield layer so as to penetrate the water shield layer and be in contact with the soil layer and the water retentive layer, the soil body including sand processed by water repellent treatment, wherein the water shield layer has water infiltration pressure higher than that of the water repellent soil body.

Abstract: A production method of the present invention is a production method of an organic polymer containing two or more organic ring structures and a chain structure threading through the organic ring structures. This method includes a polymerization step of forming the organic polymer, in which the organic ring structures, which are restricted from moving, are disposed at each of a particular constitutional unit, by polymerizing at least one type of monomers each of which has no ionic functional group that releases a metal ion. The above at least one type of monomers include a monomer (M) containing the organic ring structure and a chain component threading through the organic ring structure.

Abstract: A porous silica material in which silica particles are connected to one another three-dimensionally, wherein: the porous silica material includes a through hole including first pores smaller than a mean free path of an air, and second pores larger than the first pores; the porous silica material has a density of 100 kg/m3 or more and 300 kg/m3 or the silica particles.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for desalinating saltwater with a desalination device. The desalination device comprises inside a vessel, a breathable sheet, a water-repellent particle layer and a tank layer. The tank layer is positioned at the lower portion inside the vessel and the breathable sheet is interposed between the water-repellent particle layer and the tank layer. The breathable sheet comprises a through-hole, the water-repellent particle layer is composed of a plurality of water-repellent particles, and the surface of the respective water-repellent particles comprises a water-repellent film. The saltwater is desalted by a step of pouring saltwater into the vessel to dispose the saltwater on the surface of the water-repellent particle layer, a step of heating the saltwater to evaporate the saltwater into vapor; and a step of liquefying the vapor to obtain fresh water in the tank layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming an organic molecular film structure that can maintain desired functions characteristic to the organic material and that can be realized as a thin film, and the organic molecular film structure. An organic molecular film structure forming method for forming an organic molecular film on a base material comprises the steps of: i) forming a monomolecular film (12) that contains first organic molecules (12a) by chemically bonding a surface of the base material (10) and the first organic molecules (12a); and ii) causing second organic molecules (15) to be present inside the monomolecular film (12) by bringing the second organic molecules (15) into contact with the monomolecular film (12). Accordingly, it is possible to form an organic molecular film that can maintain desired functions characteristic to the organic material and that can be realized as a thin film.

Abstract: Securing water is essential for growth of plants, and a structure that can positively store water is provided. A water storage structure includes a water-repellent layer having a water-repellent surface and a water storage section above the water-repellent layer. The water-repellent layer is composed of a collection of small objects having water repellency in surfaces thereof, and the small objects contact each other at multiple points to form a configuration that prevents water from passing through the water-repellent layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a structure according to the present invention includes the steps of: forming a groove in a substrate, dropping a solution in which microstructures such as nanowires are dispersed into the groove and the step of evaporating the solution to arrange the microstructures in the groove in a self-organizing manner.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor element provided with a semiconductor layer containing a crystal of an organic semiconductor material of the invention includes the steps of (i) forming a frame (12) on a substrate (base) (11), and (ii) forming the semiconductor layer (crystal (13)) inside the frame (12). The step (ii) includes a crystal forming step in which a solution (21) containing the organic semiconductor material and a liquid medium is placed inside the frame (12) and then the crystal (13) is formed from the solution (21).

Abstract: A production method of the present invention is a production method of an organic polymer containing two or more organic ring structures and a chain structure threading through the organic ring structures. This method includes a polymerization step of forming the organic polymer, in which the organic ring structures, which are restricted from moving, are disposed at each of a particular constitutional unit, by polymerizing at least one type of monomers each of which has no ionic functional group that releases a metal ion. The above at least one type of monomers include a monomer (M) containing the organic ring structure and a chain component threading through the organic ring structure.

Abstract: An ink jet head (1), a substrate (13) receiving a liquid drop (2) discharged from the ink jet head (1), a device for irradiating or reflecting light from a nozzle hole or its vicinity of the ink jet head (1) toward the substrate (13), a position moving device (10) for controlling a relative position between the ink jet head (1) and the substrate (13), and a control device (9) for discharging a liquid from the ink jet head (1) are included. A light-receiving element (6) for recognizing a position of the ink jet head (1) is disposed behind the substrate (13), when seen from the ink jet head (1), the substrate (13) has a transparency at least to a degree that the irradiated light or the light reflected from the nozzle hole or its vicinity toward the substrate (13) enters the light-receiving element (6), and the light-receiving element (6) senses the irradiated light or the light reflected from the nozzle hole or its vicinity toward the substrate (13).

Abstract: The electrolyte membrane of the present invention is an electrolyte membrane (1) having ionic conductivity that includes a base material (2) and organic molecules having ion exchange groups, wherein the organic molecules are chemically bonded to the surface of the base material (2) to form an organic layer (3), and ions are conducted via the ion exchange groups in the organic layer (3). By providing this type of electrolyte membrane, it is possible to obtain an electrolyte membrane having ionic conductivity whose configuration is different to that of a conventional electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A substrate for use in crystallization has a base member, and an organic molecular film on a surface of the base member. The organic molecular film has non-affinity to a liquid, and the surface of the base member and the organic molecular film are covalently bound to each other.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor element provided with a semiconductor layer containing a crystal of an organic semiconductor material of the invention includes the steps of (i) forming a frame (12) on a substrate (base) (11), and (ii) forming the semiconductor layer (crystal (13)) inside the frame (12). The step (ii) includes a crystal forming step in which a solution (21) containing the organic semiconductor material and a liquid medium is placed inside the frame (12) and then the crystal (13) is formed from the solution (21).

Abstract: A cell according to the present invention is a fuel cell for generating an electric power by supplying one electrode with a fuel and the other electrode with an oxidant. In the fuel cell, a catalyst layer is formed on at least one surface of at least one of the one electrode and the other electrode. The catalyst layer is a layer including catalyst particles alone, a layer including a mixture of the catalyst particles and other particles, or a layer of a porous film carrying at least the catalyst particles, and a molecule including an ion-conducting functional group serving as an electrolyte is chemically bonded to a surface of at least one selected from the group consisting of the catalyst particles, the other particles and the porous film. At least one of the electrodes has a thin film electrolyte, a catalyst and an electron conducting substance, thereby suppressing the elution of the electrolyte from the catalyst layer in an electrode part and the accompanying voltage drop.