Abstract: A metal-air battery includes: a cathode formed of a co-continuous body having a three dimensional network structure formed by an integrated plurality of nanostructures having branches; a foil- or plate-like anode formed of a metal; a separator that absorbs a liquid, which is to be an electrolytic solution; and a foil- or plate-like current collector formed of a metal. The metal-air battery is formed with a wound structure in which the current collector, the cathode, the separator, the anode, and the separator are superimposed and wound in this order.

Abstract: A method for producing a nitride semiconductor photoelectrode includes: a first step of forming an n-type gallium nitride layer on an electrically insulative or conductive substrate; a second step of forming an indium gallium nitride layer on the n-type gallium nitride layer; a third step of forming a p-type nickel oxide layer on the indium gallium nitride layer; and a fourth step of subjecting a nitride semiconductor in which the p-type nickel oxide layer has been formed to heat treatment.

Abstract: There is provided an air battery including a first housings accommodating a base cell including a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a second housing containing an electrolyte solution or water, in which the first housing and the negative electrode each have a hole leading to the separator, the second housing has a hole that is capable of being sealed, and the first housing and the second housing are disposed to face the hole of the first housing and the hole of the second housing each other.

Abstract: An embodiment communication system includes: one or more slave stations, each of the slave stations including a sensor configured to detect a sensor signal, a controller configured to generate a first electrical signal at a predetermined frequency using the sensor signal, and a sound wave transmitter configured to convert the first electrical signal into a sound wave signal and to emit the sound wave signal; and a master station including a sound wave receiver configured to receive the sound wave signal and to convert the sound wave signal into a second electrical signal, and a controller configured to detect that the sensor of one of the slave stations has detected the sensor signal based on the second electrical signal.

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: A protein template is added to a solution in which metal ions of iron and copper are dissolved to introduce the metal ions into the protein template; the protein template is separated from metal ions that have not been incorporated in the protein template; the metal ions that have been incorporated in the protein template are reduced to obtain a protein containing alloy nanoparticles of iron and copper; a sol or gel in which a co-continuous body is dispersed is frozen; the frozen sol or gel is dried in a vacuum to obtain a porous body; the porous body is allowed to support the alloy nanoparticle containing protein; and the protein is removed.

Abstract: A protein template dispersion solution of the present embodiment includes a protein template containing two or more types of heterogeneous metal ions or alloy nanoparticles; and a solvent in which the protein template is dispersed, wherein alloy nanoparticles are obtained by removing the protein template. A method of producing a protein template dispersion solution according to the present embodiment includes: a step in which a protein template is added to a solution in which heterogeneous metal ions are dissolved and metal ions are introduced into the protein template; and a step in which the protein template and metal ions that are not incorporated into the protein template are separated. A method of producing alloy nanoparticles according to the present embodiment includes a step in which a dispersion solution of heterogeneous metal-ion-containing protein templates is subjected to a heat treatment under a reducing atmosphere to remove a protein template.

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: Provided are an easy-to-handle primary battery capable of spontaneous power generation and a moisture sensor including the same. The primary battery includes a separator that is disposed between a negative electrode and negative electrode current collector (a negative electrode) and a positive electrode and positive electrode current collector (a positive electrode), and sucks up electrolyte solution by the capillary phenomenon with an exposed portion of the separator 5 exposed from battery casings.

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: Provided is a technique for a conductive paste having high conductivity and low cost. The conductive paste includes a conductive filler, a polymer, and a solvent, wherein the conductive filler includes co-continuous fibrous carbon having a three-dimensional network structure in which carbon is branched.

Abstract: Provided is an assembled battery in which a large number of flat batteries can be stacked easily. An assembled battery 1 includes stacked multiple flat batteries A, B, and C in the shape of an N-sided polygon (N is an integer of 3 or more). Each of the multiple flat batteries A, B, and C in the shape of the N-sided polygon has a positive-electrode terminal 21a and a negative-electrode terminal 61a that extend in different directions having 360°/N in between, and the multiple flat batteries A, B, and C are electrically connected in series. The assembled battery 1 also includes multiple N-sided polygonal separating films 71 and 72 disposed between each pair of adjacent ones of the stacked multiple flat batteries A, B, and C to insulate the flat batteries from one another.

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: Provided is a semiconductor photoelectrode which maintains a light energy conversion efficiency for a long time. In the semiconductor photoelectrode, using a conductive substrate including a III-V group compound semiconductor, a semiconductor thin film including a III-V group compound semiconductor having a photocatalytic function is disposed on the substrate, and an oxygen generation co-catalyst layer having an oxygen generation co-catalytic function for the semiconductor thin film is disposed on the semiconductor thin film. Between the semiconductor thin film and the oxygen generation co-catalyst layer, a semiconductor thin film including a III-V group compound semiconductor having a lattice constant smaller than that of the semiconductor thin film in a plane perpendicular to a crystal growth direction is disposed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a nitride semiconductor photoelectrode capable of improving the light energy conversion efficiency. The method for producing a nitride semiconductor photoelectrode includes a first step of forming an n-type gallium nitride layer on an insulating or conductive substrate, a second step of forming an indium gallium nitride layer on the n-type gallium nitride layer, a third step of forming a nickel layer n the indium gallium nitride layer, and a fourth step of heat-treating the nickel layer in an oxygen atmosphere.