Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a process for easily producing optically active N-aryl-1-amino-2-propanol derivatives which are of value as pharmaceutical intermediates from inexpensive starting materials.

Abstract: In a pattern forming method for selectively forming an oxide layer on a substrate surface, the substrate surface is selectively coated with a coating layer. On the coating layer and an exposed part of the substrate surface, an oxide layer is formed by the use of a predetermined solution. Subsequently, the oxide layer on the coating layer is removed together with the coating layer to selectively leave the oxide layer on the substrate surface. Thus, a pattern is formed. The coating layer is removed in a liquid phase or optically together with the oxide layer on the coating layer. The oxide layer is formed by the use of, as the predetermined solution, an aqueous solution or a hydrofluoric acid solution of a fluoro metal complex compound and/or metal fluoride of at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal, transition metal, gallium, indium, silicon, tin, lead, antimony, and bismuth in the presence of an fluoride ion capturing agent.

Abstract: An electrode material comprising a lithium-containing transition metal oxide having a spinel structure, characterized in that a part of the crystal structure of the metal oxide includes another spinel structure which is formed by the configurations of different metal elements combined which are able to form a spinel structure through a common oxygen configurations. The crystal phase of the metal oxide is stabilized by introduction of such a structure, and thus the metal oxide exhibits improved stability at a high temperature. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the electrode material has improved storage stability at a high temperature and improved high temperature cycle characteristics, and thus keeps its capacity at a high rate even after a storage at a high temperature or after a high temperature cycle.

Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride secondary battery includes positive electrodes including nickel hydroxide, negative electrodes including a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, separators and an alkaline electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a compound silicate. By employing the above construction, the compound silicate reacts with Mn or Al which dissolves out from the negative electrode to inhibit deterioration of electrochemical characteristics of the battery, and thus the life of the battery can be prolonged.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an inexpensive iron sintered substrate used for alkaline storage batteries which has three-dimensionally intercommunicating spaces is improved, and inexpensive alkaline storage batteries using the substrate are provided. The electrode used for the alkaline storage batteries includes an iron powder sintered substrate having three-dimensionally intercommunicating spaces and plated with nickel and an active material powder filled in the space of the substrate, wherein an oxide film obtained by previously oxidizing iron per se is formed on the surface portions of the substrate which are not plated with nickel.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery comprises a positive electrode prepared by filling a nickel hydroxide in a porous plaque as an active material, a negative electrode, a separator and an alkaline electrolyte, the positive electrode containing the nickel hydroxide as a main component and a complex oxide of lithium and cobalt as a conductive agent. The lithium-cobalt complex oxide as a conductive agent is preferably represented by the formula Li.sub.x CoO.sub.2 (x is 0.2-0.9).

Abstract: A method for managing a back-up power source capable of maintaining the discharge capacity of a nickel metal-hydride storage battery for a long-term at a low cost, and is suitable for the management of the back-up power source for the guidance lights, the emergency lights, the information telecommunication systems, and the like is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a titanium oxide thin film, said process comprises soaking a substrate in an aqueous solution containing 10.sup.-9 to 9.times.10.sup.-2 mol/L of a titanium fluoro complex compound in the presence of a fluoride ion capturing agent to form a titanium oxide thin film on the surface of the substrate; and a photocatalyst comprising the titanium oxide thin film thus produced; and can provide a simple process for the formation of a highly homogeneous titanium oxide thin film which is fast and corrosion resistant, and has a high refractive index and a catalytic activity for the photoreaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing metal oxide precipitates, which comprises making a fluoride ion-capturing agent exist in an aqueous solution or hydrofluoric acid solution containing a fluorocomplex compound and/or a fluoride of a rare earth to form precipitates comprising a rare earth oxide or a solid solution containing it as a main component; and a process for producing metal oxide precipitates, which comprises making seed crystal(s) and a fluoride ion-capturing agent exist in an aqueous solution or hydrofluoric acid solution containing a metal fluoro complex compound and/or a metal fluoride of zirconium and/or hafnium to form precipitated crystals comprising said metal oxide crystals or a solid solution containing them as a main component, and is suitable for producing precipitates of a rare earth oxide and crystal precipitates of zirconium oxide and/or hafnium oxide, particularly precipitates such as a thin film, etc.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing metal oxide precipitates, which comprises making a fluoride ion-capturing agent exist in a mixed solution of (1) an aqueous solution or hydrofluoric acid solution containing a fluoro complex compound and/or a metal fluoride each having a rare earth metal and/or an alkaline earth metal atom(s) M.sup.1 ; and (2) an aqueous solution or hydrofluoric acid solution containing a metal fluoro complex compound and/or a metal fluoride each having a transition metal and/or a 3B group metal atom(s) M.sup.2 to form precipitates comprising a perovskite type complex oxide containing M.sup.1 and M.sup.2, and is suitable for producing precipitates of a perovskite type complex oxide, particularly precipitates such as a thin film or the like on the surface of a substrate which has a large area or complicated shape, by using a simple apparatus without requirement of a heating step for crystallization.

Abstract: Provided are alkaline storage batteries which are higher in active material utilization as compared with conventional batteries and which can maintain the high utilization even after long-term charge-discharge cycle. Cobalt hydroxide having a BET specific surface area of 20-30 m.sup.2 /g and obtained by neutralization reaction of a cobalt salt solution and an aqueous alkali solution in the presence of a reducing agent is added to a positive electrode active material.

Abstract: Parallel light rays are applied to a cylinder and true exit positions of the rays from the cylinder are measured, phantom exit positions for the incident rays are calculated by using a mathematical function representing a phantom refractive index profile, and the mathematical function is modified so as to minimize the sum of the squared differences between the true and phantom exit positions.