Abstract: To provide a manganese-iridium composite oxide, a manganese-iridium composite oxide and a manganese-iridium composite oxide electrode material, having high catalytic activity produced at low cost, to be used as an anode catalyst for oxygen evolution in water electrolysis, and their production methods. A manganese-iridium composite oxide, which has an iridium metal content ratio (iridium/(manganese+indium)) of 0.1 atomic % or more and 30 atomic % or less, and has interplanar spacings of at least 0.243±0.002 nm, 0.214±0.002 nm, 0.165±0.002 nm, 0.140±0.002 nm, and a manganese-iridium composite oxide electrode material comprising an electrically conductive substrate constituted by fibers at least part of which are covered with the above manganese-iridium composite oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water electrolysis method comprising: supplying at least water into an electrolysis cell which includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and an anode and a cathode disposed sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; and providing a potential P between the anode and the cathode to generate oxygen from the anode, wherein an oxidation catalyst containing at least one of first transition metals is present on at least a part of a surface of the anode, and the potential P satisfies P1<P<P2, wherein P1 indicates a lowest potential at which oxygen is generated from the anode, and P2 indicates a lowest potential P2 at which a quantitative index of a dissolved chemical species derived from the oxidation catalyst begins to show potential dependence.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cathode electrode that can stably sustain a catalytic reaction producing an olefinic hydrocarbon such as ethylene and an alcohol such as ethanol by a reduction reaction of carbon dioxide over a long term. A cathode electrode that electrically reduces carbon dioxide, including cuprous oxide, copper, and at least one additional metal element selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, zinc, and cadmium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water electrolysis method comprising: supplying at least water into an electrolysis cell which includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and an anode and a cathode disposed sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; and providing a potential P between the anode and the cathode to generate oxygen from the anode, wherein an oxidation catalyst containing at least one of first transition metals is present on at least a part of a surface of the anode, and the potential P satisfies P1<P<P2, wherein P1 indicates a lowest potential at which oxygen is generated from the anode, and P2 indicates a lowest potential P2 at which a quantitative index of a dissolved chemical species derived from the oxidation catalyst begins to show potential dependence.

Abstract: A manganese oxide, a manganese oxide/carbon mixture and a manganese oxide composite electrode material, having high catalytic activity produced at low cost, to be used as an anode catalyst for oxygen evolution in water electrolysis, and their production methods, are provided. A manganese oxide for an oxygen evolution electrode catalyst in water electrolysis is provided, which is a manganese oxide having a metallic valence of higher than 3.0 and at most 4.0, having an average primary particle size of at most 80 nm and an average secondary particle size of at most 25 ?m, a manganese oxide/carbon mixture for an oxygen evolution electrode catalyst in water electrolysis, having a proportion of manganese oxide to the total of the manganese oxide and electrically conductive carbon of from 0.5 to 40 wt %, and a manganese oxide composite electrode material which includes an electrically conductive substrate constituted by fibers.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst that exhibits a high catalyst activity in a water oxidation reaction within a neutral range. A water splitting catalyst comprises at least one 3d-block transition metal element selected from manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper or a compound containing the element, and a base and/or a carbonate having a pKa of 8 or less.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a hydrothermal fluid well including a drilled hole reaching down to a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present below an ocean floor from an ocean floor surface and a casing installed in the drilled hole through a guide base on the ocean floor surface, an anode provided on a flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, a cathode provided in seawater other than the flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, and an ocean floor device that is connected with the anode and the cathode respectively and extracts generated power so as to operate. Power is easily and stably supplied on the ocean floor.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst that exhibits a high catalyst activity in a water oxidation reaction within a neutral range. A water splitting catalyst comprises at least one 3d-block transition metal element selected from manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper or a compound containing the element, and a base and/or a carbonate having a pKa of 8 or less.

Abstract: A light source unit base material for manufacturing a plurality of light source units includes a board base material formed in substantially a rectangular shape, and a plurality of light sources provided on the board base material in a row direction and in a column direction and connected electrically in series in the row direction and in the column direction.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a hydrothermal fluid well including a drilled hole reaching down to a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present below an ocean floor from an ocean floor surface and a casing installed in the drilled hole through a guide base on the ocean floor surface, an anode provided on a flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, a cathode provided in seawater other than the flow channel for hot water formed by the hydrothermal fluid well, and an ocean floor device that is connected with the anode and the cathode respectively and extracts generated power so as to operate. Power is easily and stably supplied on the ocean floor.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a microbial fuel cell capable of increasing a current density without employing a mediator. The microbial fuel cell 1 includes a 3-dimensionally structured agglomerate formed from conductive fine particles 2 and microorganisms 3. In the agglomerate 4, the conductive fine particles 2 disperse among pieces of Shewanella 3 and the conductive fine particles 2 are coupled to one another to hold Shewanella 3, thus forming the 3-dimensional structure as a whole. Accordingly, with respect to Shewanella 3, conductive fine particles 2 hold Shewanella 3a on a surface of an electrode 103 and even Shewanella 3b positioned vertically away from the surface of the electrode 103. Hence, it becomes possible that more pieces of Shewanella 3 are allowed to transfer electrons.

Abstract: Provided is an edge-light illuminating device in which a deformation is prevented from occurring in a reflection sheet due to thermal expansion of the reflection sheet. An edge-light illuminating device (3) of the present invention is arranged to illuminate a liquid crystal display panel (2) from a back side of the panel, and includes a light guide plate (7), a light source (5) that faces an edge face (72) of the plate and is arranged to project light onto the edge face, a case (4) arranged to house the plate and the light source, and a reflection sheet (6) laid on a bottom face (41) of the case and sandwiched between the bottom face and a back face (71) of the plate housed in the case, wherein the reflection sheet includes a slot portion (61) disposed along a direction that the reflection sheet expands by heat generated by the light source.

Abstract: Provided is an edge-light illuminating device in which a deformation is prevented from occurring in a reflection sheet due to thermal expansion of the reflection sheet. An edge-light illuminating device (3) of the present invention is arranged to illuminate a liquid crystal display panel (2) from a back side of the panel, and includes a light guide plate (7), a light source (5) that faces an edge face (72) of the plate and is arranged to project light onto the edge face, a case (4) arranged to house the plate and the light source, and a reflection sheet (6) laid on a bottom face (41) of the case and sandwiched between the bottom face and a back face (71) of the plate housed in the case, wherein the reflection sheet includes a slot portion (61) disposed along a direction that the reflection sheet expands by heat generated by the light source.

Abstract: A light source unit base material for manufacturing a plurality of light source units includes a board base material formed in substantially a rectangular shape, and a plurality of light sources provided on the board base material in a row direction and in a column direction and connected electrically in series in the row direction and in the column direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a photocatalyst material, which can be produced at low cost without using platinum, particularly a visible light response-type photocatalyst material, a material having a photocatalyst mechanism not possessed by the conventional photocatalyst material, a process for producing the material, and a method for decomposing a contaminant using the material. The photocatalyst material comprises a) an oxide of a first metal and b) an aqua complex salt of a second metal. In this case, for the oxide of a first metal, the redox potential of a conduction band lower end in the oxide is on a rather negative side than 0.2 V (a value as measured at pH=0, vs. reference electrode potential). For the aqua complex salt of a second metal, the redox potential of a second metal ion in the aqua complex salt is on a rather negative side than 3.0 V (a value as measured at pH=0, vs. reference electrode potential).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a microbial fuel cell capable of increasing a current density without employing a mediator. The microbial fuel cell 1 includes a 3-dimensionally structured agglomerate formed from conductive fine particles 2 and microorganisms 3. In the agglomerate 4, the conductive fine particles 2 disperse among pieces of Shewanella 3 and the conductive fine particles 2 are coupled to one another to hold Shewanella 3, thus forming the 3-dimensional structure as a whole. Accordingly, with respect to Shewanella 3, conductive fine particles 2 hold Shewanella 3a on a surface of an electrode 103 and even Shewanella 3b positioned vertically away from the surface of the electrode 103. Hence, it becomes possible that more pieces of Shewanella 3 are allowed to transfer electrons.

Abstract: This invention provides a photocatalyst material, which can be produced at low cost without using platinum, particularly a visible light response-type photocatalyst material, a material having a photocatalyst mechanism not possessed by the conventional photocatalyst material, a process for producing the material, and a method for decomposing a contaminant using the material. The photocatalyst material comprises a) an oxide of a first metal and b) an aqua complex salt of a second metal. In this case, for the oxide of a first metal, the redox potential of a conduction band lower end in the oxide is on a rather negative side than 0.2 V (a value as measured at pH=0, vs. reference electrode potential). For the aqua complex salt of a second metal, the redox potential of a second metal ion in the aqua complex salt is on a rather negative side than 3.0 V (a value as measured at pH=0, vs. reference electrode potential).

Abstract: A new photocatalyst, which is high in visible light response, is great in quantum efficiency, and is more excellent in photocatalytic activity, is provided. A composite metal oxide, prepared combining two photocatalytic systems of TiO2 and BiVO4, including elements of Bi, Ti, and Vi as composition elements, can be a photocatalyst having a high activity under visible light. Particularly, BiTiVO6, which is obtained at a compounding ratio of 1:1, can be a photocatalyst having a remarkably high activity under visible light. Moreover, a composite metal oxide expressed by a general formula BiTiMO6 (in the formula, M represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of V, Nb, and Ta) can be a photocatalyst having a high activity under visible light.