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.

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: 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 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: The efficiency of a carbon dioxide reduction reaction at a reduction electrode is improved. An oxidation tank including an oxidation electrode, a reduction tank which is adjacent to the oxidation tank and to which carbon dioxide is supplied, and a gas reduction sheet located between the oxidation tank and the reduction tank are included, the gas reduction sheet is a sheet in which an ion exchange membrane and a reduction electrode are laminated, the ion exchange membrane is located on the oxidation tank side, the reduction electrode is located on the reduction tank side, is connected to the oxidation electrode by a lead, and conduct conducts a reduction reaction of the carbon dioxide by a current flowing through the lead.

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: 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.

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: 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: 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: A lithium air secondary battery is allowed to operate as a high-capacity secondary battery, thereby implementing high output and a large discharge capacity. A lithium air secondary battery 100 includes an air electrode 102 using oxygen in the air as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode 104 using metallic lithium or a lithium-containing material as a negative electrode active material, and an organic electrolyte 106 placed between the air electrode 102 and the negative electrode 104, and including a lithium salt. The organic electrolyte 106 includes a crown ether compound having an azo group as an additive.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery improved in characteristics by reducing resistance of an electrode-electrolyte interface. The lithium secondary battery includes: a positive electrode made of a solid capable of intercalation and deintercalation of a lithium ion; a lithium ion-conductive electrolyte including a quinone which is an organic compound; and a negative electrode made of a solid capable of occlusion and release of a lithium metal or a lithium ion. The organic compound includes any one or more of anthraquinone (AQ), 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DHBQ), 7,7,8,8-tetracyanodimethane (TCNQ), 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), tetrahydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (THBQ), and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DBBQ).

Abstract: Improvement in the efficiency of carbon dioxide reduction reaction is achieved. A gas supply unit having a plurality of pores is established in a lower portion of a reduction chamber, and carbon dioxide is supplied as bubbles into an aqueous solution. This can elevate a concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the aqueous solution without stirring the aqueous solution using a stirring bar, and render the concentration uniform in the aqueous solution. Therefore, the efficiency of reduction reaction of carbon dioxide in a reduction electrode can be improved.

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: To improve the efficiency of a reduction reaction. A power source applies a voltage to an oxidation electrode immersed in an aqueous solution in an oxidation tank and a reduction electrode immersed in an aqueous solution in a reduction tank, the voltage having a voltage value that changes with a predetermined cycle to be a voltage value at which ions can be desorbed from a surface of the oxidation electrode and a surface of the reduction electrode during one cycle of the voltage change. The frequency of the voltage is set within a range of 10 Hz to 1 kHz.

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: To improve light energy conversion efficiency of a semiconductor photoelectrode. A semiconductor photoelectrode in which an oxidation reaction of water proceeds on a surface by irradiation with light includes a first semiconductor layer laminated on an insulating or conductive substrate, and a transparent conductive polymer layer laminated on the first semiconductor layer, made of a transparent conductive polymer, and having an activity function of promoting the oxidation reaction of water. Due to the transparency of the transparent conductive polymer layer, light transmittance is improved, and the transparent conductive polymer layer can be laminated on the entire surface of the semiconductor layer, allowing the light energy conversion efficiency of the semiconductor photoelectrode to be improved.

Abstract: Proved is a method for manufacturing a bacterium-produced cellulose carbon having a sufficient specific surface area, and a high mechanical strength. The method is a method for manufacturing a bacterium-produced cellulose carbon by carbonizing cellulose produced by bacterium by thermally treating, and the method includes a cellulose forming step S1 of forming bacterium-produced cellulose that cellulose nanofibers are dispersed using a bacterium; an impregnating step S2 of 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 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.