Abstract: A battery performance of a metal-air battery is improved while still maintaining a low environmental burden. A metal-air battery includes an air electrode formed from a co-continuous substance having a three-dimensional network structure in which a plurality of nanostructures are integrated by noncovalent bonds; an anode; and an electrolyte disposed between the air electrode and the anode, in which the electrolyte is a gel electrolyte obtained by gelling an aqueous solution containing an ion conductor with a gelling agent, and the gelling agent is constituted of at least one of a plant-derived polysaccharide, a seaweed-derived polysaccharide, a microbial polysaccharide, an animal-derived polysaccharide, and a group of acetic acid bacteria that produce the polysaccharides.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery having a higher capacity and a longer life. The lithium secondary battery includes: a positive electrode including a material capable of intercalation and deintercalation of a lithium ion; a lithium ion-conductive electrolyte including a salen-based metal complex; and a negative electrode including a material capable of occlusion and release of a lithium metal or a lithium ion. The salen-based metal complex is selected from (R,R)-(?)-N,N?-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminotitanium chloride (TiSl), VSl, CrSl, MnSl, FeSl, CoSl, and RuSl.

Abstract: A method includes a freezing process in which a solution or gel containing cellulose nanofibers is frozen to obtain a frozen component, a drying process in which the frozen component is dried in a vacuum to obtain a dry component, and a carbonizing process in which the dry component is heated and carbonized in a non-combustible atmosphere, and in the carbonizing process, the dry component is heated together with a reducing catalyst and also a material that generates a reducing gas by thermal decomposition.

Abstract: The sheet mask includes multiple battery parts arranged such that electric currents flow along mimic muscles or flows of lymph. This allows an active ingredient to penetrate into in-body tissues more effectively and also allows the mimic muscles and the lymphatic vessels to be electrically stimulated. Forming the battery parts by using materials with low environmental load allows easy disposal of the sheet mask in everyday life.

Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a bacterium-produced cellulose carbon having a sufficient specific surface area, and a high mechanical strength. The method manufactures a bacterium-produced cellulose carbon by carbonizing cellulose produced by thermally treating, and the method includes a cellulose forming step S1 of forming bacterium- produced cellulose whereby cellulose nanofibers are dispersed using a bacterium; an impregnating step S2 for impregnating the bacterium-produced cellulose with a supercritical fluid; a drying step S3 of vaporizing the supercritical fluid from the bacterium-produced cellulose containing the supercritical fluid and obtaining a dry product; and a carbonizing step S4 of heating and carbonizing the dry product in an atmosphere not causing combustion of the dry product.

Abstract: Provided is a rechargeable lithium-air battery that improves charge-discharge energy efficiency and has good charge-discharge cycle performance. The rechargeable lithium-air battery includes: an air electrode including carbon; a negative electrode including metallic lithium or a lithium-containing substance; and an electrolyte in contact with the air electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte includes a salen-based metal complex and a quinone. The quinone includes any one or more of anthraquinone, 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone, 7,7,8,8-tetracyanodimethane, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone, and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone.

Abstract: To improve design of a lighting device. A lighting device includes optically transparent glass plates provided on side faces and placed on an optical path of light emitted from a light source, where some or all of the optically transparent glass plates contain an optically transparent battery adapted to drive the light source; and an optically transparent glass plate that contains a transparent conductive film by being provided on a bottom face, wherein the optically transparent battery is placed in contact with a pair of transparent conductive film layers, which are connected to the light source. The pair of transparent conductive film layers are formed in a pair of parallel linear grooves formed in a surface of the optically transparent glass plate on the bottom face, and a tabular positive tab and negative tab of the optically transparent battery fit in respective ones of the pair of grooves.

Abstract: A method includes a freezing process in which a solution or gel containing cellulose nanofibers is frozen to obtain a frozen component, a drying process in which the frozen component is dried in a vacuum to obtain a dry component, and a carbonizing process in which the dry component is heated and carbonized in a non-combustible atmosphere, and in the carbonizing process, the dry component is heated together with a reducing catalyst and also a material that generates a reducing gas by thermal decomposition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the performance of a metal-air battery. The metal-air battery includes an air electrode, an anode, and an electrolyte sandwiched between the air electrode and the anode. The air electrode includes a co-continuous body having a three dimensional network structure formed by an integrated plurality of nanostructures having branches. A magnesium alloy is used for the anode, and a weak acidic salt containing no chloride ion or a salt considered to have a buffering capacity is used for the electrolyte. Consequently, the present invention can efficiently utilize electrons and suppress passivation and self corrosion of the anode, thereby improving the performance of the metal-air battery.

Abstract: Cellulose-nanofiber carbon which can achieve a large specific surface area, and a method of producing the same are provided. The method for heat treating a cellulose nanofiber for carbonization includes: a freezing step of freezing a solution or gel containing the cellulose nanofiber to obtain a frozen product a drying step of drying the frozen product in a vacuum to obtain a dried product and a carbonizing step of heating and carbonizing the dried product in an atmosphere which does not burn the dried product to obtain the cellulose-nanofiber carbon.

Abstract: Provided are cellulose nanofiber carbon having elasticity, high mechanical strength, and capable of increasing its specific surface area, and a method for producing the same. A method for producing cellulose nanofiber carbon by carbonizing cellulose nanofibers, includes a semi-carbonization step S2 of semi-carbonizing a dispersion liquid or gel containing cellulose nanofibers with a heat medium to obtain a semi-carbonized body, and a carbonization step S3 of heating and carbonizing the semi-carbonized body in an atmosphere that does not burn the semi-carbonized body to obtain cellulose nanofiber carbon.

Abstract: The performance of a bipolar type metal air battery is improved while a low environmental load is maintained. The bipolar type metal air battery includes a plurality of cells including air electrodes composed of a co-continuous component having a 3D network structure in which a plurality of nanostructures are integrated by non-covalent bonds, negative electrodes, and an electrolyte disposed between the air electrode and the negative electrode, and a current collector disposed between the plurality of cells, and the plurality of cells are electrically connected in series, and the current collector is in close contact with the negative electrode using a biodegradable material.

Abstract: A battery performance of a metal-air battery is improved while still maintaining a low environmental burden. A metal-air battery includes an air electrode formed from a co-continuous substance having a three-dimensional network structure in which a plurality of nanostructures are integrated by noncovalent bonds; an anode; and an electrolyte disposed between the air electrode and the anode, in which the electrolyte is a gel electrolyte obtained by gelling an aqueous solution containing an ion conductor with a gelling agent, and the gelling agent is constituted of at least one of a plant-derived polysaccharide, a seaweed-derived polysaccharide, a microbial polysaccharide, an animal-derived polysaccharide, and a group of acetic acid bacteria that produce the polysaccharides.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a higher capacity and a longer life. The lithium secondary battery includes: a cathode containing a material that is capable of inserting and desorbing lithium ions; a lithium ion conductive electrolyte; and an anode containing a material that is capable of occluding and releasing lithium metal or lithium ions, wherein the electrolyte contains indigo or indigo carmine, which is an organic compound.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery having both visible light transparency and flexibility. A lithium secondary battery includes: a positive electrode film formed on a flexible transparent film substrate and capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions; a transparent electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity; and a negative electrode film formed on a flexible transparent film substrate, the negative electrode film being a metal capable of forming an alloy with lithium or capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions. When the positive electrode film contains a lithium source, the negative electrode film is made to have a thickness of 50 nm to 300 nm by using, as a negative electrode material, any of tin oxide, silicon oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, niobium oxide, molybdenum oxide, metal phosphide, metal sulfide, metal nitride, metal fluoride, or metal titanium composite oxide.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a higher capacity and a longer life. The lithium secondary battery includes: a cathode containing a material that is capable of inserting and desorbing lithium ions; a lithium ion conductive electrolyte; and an anode containing a material that is capable of occluding and releasing lithium metal or lithium ions, wherein the electrolyte contains a metal 6,6?-bis(benzoylamino)-2,2?-bipyridine (babp) complex, which is a metal complex.

Abstract: To improve design of a lighting device. A lighting device includes optically transparent glass plates provided on side faces and placed on an optical path of light emitted from a light source, where some or all of the optically transparent glass plates contain an optically transparent battery adapted to drive the light source; and an optically transparent glass plate that contains a transparent conductive film by being provided on a bottom face, wherein the optically transparent battery is placed in contact with a pair of transparent conductive film layers, which are connected to the light source. The pair of transparent conductive film layers are formed in a pair of parallel linear grooves formed in a surface of the optically transparent glass plate on the bottom face, and a tabular positive tab and negative tab of the optically transparent battery fit in respective ones of the pair of grooves.

Abstract: Provided is a light-transmissive battery that transmits visible light. A light-transmissive battery includes a positive electrode including an insulating transparent cover body and a positive-electrode current collector layer and a positive electrode layer sequentially stacked over the insulating transparent cover body; a negative electrode including an insulating transparent cover body and a negative-electrode current collector layer and a negative electrode layer sequentially stacked over the insulating transparent cover body; and a transparent electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer that are opposed to each other. Each of the positive-electrode current collector layer, the negative-electrode current collector layer, the positive electrode layer, and negative electrode layer is formed to a thickness that allows the layer to transmit visible light.

Abstract: Provided is a sodium secondary battery that has visible light transparency and is excellent in flexibility. A sodium secondary battery includes: a positive electrode film that contains a material formed on a flexible transparent film substrate, the material being capable of intercalating and deintercalating sodium ions; a transparent electrolyte having sodium ion conductivity; and a negative electrode film that if formed of a material formed on a flexible transparent film substrate, the material being capable of dissolving and depositing sodium or intercalating and deintercalating sodium ions. When the positive electrode film contains a sodium source, the negative electrode film is made to have a thickness of 30 nm to 200 nm by using, as a negative electrode material, any of tin oxide, silicon oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, niobium oxide, molybdenum oxide, metal phosphide, metal sulfide, metal nitride, metal fluoride, or metal titanium composite oxide.

Abstract: A battery is appropriately housed in a transparent body. A transparent body includes: a transparent body main part; a defogger that removes fog on the transparent body main part; and a battery that supplies electric power to the defogger. The battery includes: a positive electrode where a transparent positive electrode conductive film and a transparent positive electrode layer are laminated on an insulating transparent positive electrode side housing; a negative electrode where a transparent negative electrode conductive film and a transparent negative electrode layer are laminated on an insulating transparent negative electrode side housing; and a transparent electrolyte layer that is arranged between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer which face each other.