Abstract: A method of producing a material capable of electrochemically storing and releasing a large amount of lithium ions is provided. The material is used as an electrode material for a negative electrode, and includes silicon or tin primary particles composed of crystal particles each having a specific diameter and an amorphous surface layer formed of at least a metal oxide, having a specific thickness. Gibbs free energy when the metal oxide is produced by oxidation of a metal is smaller than Gibbs free energy when silicon or tin is oxidized, and the metal oxide has higher thermodynamic stability than silicon oxide or tin oxide. The method of producing the electrode material includes reacting silicon or tin with a metal oxide, reacting a silicon oxide or a tin oxide with a metal, or reacting a silicon compound or a tin compound with a metal compound to react with each other.

Abstract: A method of producing a material capable of electrochemically storing and releasing a large amount of lithium ions is provided. The material is used as an electrode material for a negative electrode, and includes silicon or tin primary particles composed of crystal particles each having a specific diameter and an amorphous surface layer formed of at least a metal oxide, having a specific thickness. Gibbs free energy when the metal oxide is produced by oxidation of a metal is smaller than Gibbs free energy when silicon or tin is oxidized, and the metal oxide has higher thermodynamic stability than silicon oxide or tin oxide. The method of producing the electrode material includes reacting silicon or tin with a metal oxide, reacting a silicon oxide or a tin oxide with a metal, or reacting a silicon compound or a tin compound with a metal compound to react with each other.

Abstract: A powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions rapidly in a large amount is provided. In addition, an electrode structure for an energy storage device which can provide a high energy density and a high power density and has a long life, and an energy storage device using the electrode structure are provided. In a powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions, the surface of particles of one of silicon metal and tin metal and an alloy of any thereof is coated by an oxide including a transition metal element selected from the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, and V as a main component. The electrode structure includes the powder material. The battery device includes a negative electrode having the electrode structure, a lithium ion conductor, and a positive electrode, and utilizes an oxidation reaction of lithium and a reduction reaction of lithium ion.

Abstract: A pigment ink composition has high transparency and good color characteristics such as a high OD that are not inferior to those of dyes, even though pigment particles are used, and also has good weatherability and remaining ability on the coating and printing medium surface that are inherent to pigment particles. The pigment ink composition contains pigment particles including at least needle pigment particles, a dispersant, and a solvent. The needle pigment particles have a needle shape with an aspect ratio of at least 3, an average aspect ratio of at least 5 and at most 7, an average short dimension of at least 20 nm and at most 30 nm, and a distribution of short dimension with a standard deviation of 2.0 nm or less. The needle pigment particles are covered with the dispersant.

Abstract: A powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions rapidly in a large amount is provided. In addition, an electrode structure for an energy storage device which can provide a high energy density and a high power density and has a long life, and an energy storage device using the electrode structure are provided. In a powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions, the surface of particles of one of silicon metal and tin metal and an alloy of any thereof is coated by an oxide including a transition metal element selected from the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, and V as a main component. The electrode structure includes the powder material. The battery device includes a negative electrode having the electrode structure, a lithium ion conductor, and a positive electrode, and utilizes an oxidation reaction of lithium and a reduction reaction of lithium ion.

Abstract: An enzyme electrode that enables to enhance the rate of charge transfer from a redox center of an enzyme and catalytic current is provided. An enzyme electrode capable of increasing catalytic current by increasing the rate of charge transfer from an enzyme using an enzyme/metal fine particle complex in which part of a metal fine particle is incorporated into the enzyme can be provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a cross section evaluating apparatus capable of analyzing the cross sectional structure in a state where the temperature of the specimen is regulated. There is disclosed an information acquisition apparatus comprising a stage for placing the specimen, temperature regulation means for regulating the temperature of the specimen, exposure means for exposing a surface, of which information is desired, of the specimen, and information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the surface exposed by the exposure means.

Abstract: A method of producing a material capable of electrochemically storing and releasing a large amount of lithium ions is provided. The material is used as an electrode material for a negative electrode, and includes silicon or tin primary particles composed of crystal particles each having a specific diameter and an amorphous surface layer formed of at least a metal oxide, having a specific thickness. Gibbs free energy when the metal oxide is produced by oxidation of a metal is smaller than Gibbs free energy when silicon or tin is oxidized, and the metal oxide has higher thermodynamic stability than silicon oxide or tin oxide. The method of producing the electrode material includes reacting silicon or tin with a metal oxide, reacting a silicon oxide or a tin oxide with a metal, or reacting a silicon compound or a tin compound with a metal compound to react with each other.

Abstract: A pigment ink composition has high transparency and good color characteristics such as a high OD that are not inferior to those of dyes, even though pigment particles are used, and also has good weatherability and remaining ability on the coating and printing medium surface that are inherent to pigment particles. The pigment ink composition contains pigment particles including at least needle pigment particles, a dispersant, and a solvent. The needle pigment particles have a needle shape with an aspect ratio of at least 3, an average aspect ratio of at least 5 and at most 7, an average short dimension of at least 20 nm and at most 30 nm, and a distribution of short dimension with a standard deviation of 2.0 nm or less. The needle pigment particles are covered with the dispersant.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for observing a substance having a stable morphology in a liquid medium such as water.

Abstract: A powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions rapidly in a large amount is provided. In addition, an electrode structure for an energy storage device which can provide a high energy density and a high power density and has a long life, and an energy storage device using the electrode structure are provided. In a powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions, the surface of particles of one of silicon metal and tin metal and an alloy of any thereof is coated by an oxide including a transition metal element selected from the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, and V as a main component. The electrode structure includes the powder material. The battery device includes a negative electrode having the electrode structure, a lithium ion conductor, and a positive electrode, and utilizes an oxidation reaction of lithium and a reduction reaction of lithium ion.

Abstract: Provided is an electron-emitting device with high electron emission efficiency and with stable electron emission characteristics over a long period. The electron-emitting device has a substrate, first and second carbon films laid with a first gap in between on the surface of the substrate, and first and second electrodes electrically connected to the first carbon film and to the second carbon film, respectively. In the electron-emitting device, a narrowest gap portion between the first carbon film and the second carbon film in the first gap is located above a surface of the substrate and the substrate has a depressed portion, at least, in the first gap.

Abstract: An enzyme electrode that enables to enhance the rate of charge transfer from a redox center of an enzyme and catalytic current is provided. An enzyme electrode capable of increasing catalytic current by increasing the rate of charge transfer from an enzyme using an enzyme/metal fine particle complex in which part of a metal fine particle is incorporated into the enzyme can be provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a cross section evaluating apparatus capable of analyzing the cross sectional structure in a state where the temperature of the specimen is regulated. There is disclosed an information acquisition apparatus comprising a stage for placing the specimen, temperature regulation means for regulating the temperature of the specimen, exposure means for exposing a surface, of which information is desired, of the specimen, and information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the surface exposed by the exposure means.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for observing a substance having a stable morphology in a liquid medium such as water.

Abstract: The invention provides a cross section evaluating apparatus capable of analyzing the cross sectional structure in a state where the temperature of the specimen is regulated. There is disclosed an information acquisition apparatus comprising a stage for placing the specimen, temperature regulation means for regulating the temperature of the specimen, exposure means for exposing a surface, of which information is desired, of the specimen, and information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the surface exposed by the exposure means.

Abstract: An ink composition contains particles having a solid coloring material substantially enclosed by a block polymer, and a solvent. The solid coloring material is enclosed in a micelle formed of the block polymer, and preferably 90 wt % or more of the solid coloring material are enclosed by the block polymer. The average particle size of the particles is 200 nm or less. A method for producing an ink composition includes forming the particles by insolubilizing the coloring material and the block polymer in a state of both being dissolved in a solution. The above described ink composition has an adequate dispersibility of the coloring material and is suitable for an ink composition for an ink-jet device.

Abstract: An electron-emitting device includes a substrate, first and second carbon films disposed so as to have a first gap between the first and second carbon films on a surface of the substrate, and first and second electrodes electrically connected with the first and the second carbon films respectively, wherein the carbon film has a region showing orientation, and a direction of the orientation is in an approximately parallel direction along the substrate surface. Thereby, it is possible to improve thermal and chemical stability of a carbon film and stabilize good electron emission characteristics over a long period.

Abstract: Provided is an electron-emitting device with high electron emission efficiency and with stable electron emission characteristics over a long period. The electron-emitting device has a substrate, first and second carbon films laid with a first gap in between on the surface of the substrate, and first and second electrodes electrically connected to the first carbon film and to the second carbon film, respectively. In the electron-emitting device, a narrowest gap portion between the first carbon film and the second carbon film in the first gap is located above a surface of the substrate and the substrate has a depressed portion, at least, in the first gap.

Abstract: Electrophoretic displaying particles are provided. The particle is comprised of a resin and pigment granules enclosed therein. The pigment granules have an average particle size ranging from 0.1 ?m to 20 ?m, and the granule diameter distribution has two or more frequency maximums. This electrophoretic displaying particulate has high masking performance, improving the displaying contrast of the displaying device.