Abstract: An apparatus for producing ultrafine fibers is configured to produce ultrafine fibers by melting and drawing raw filaments. The apparatus for producing ultrafine fibers comprises: a plurality of raw filament passages arranged in a straight row; and a laser irradiation device for irradiating a plurality of raw filaments with a laser beam so as to melt, oscillate and vibrate the plurality of raw filaments after the plurality of raw filaments have passed through the respective raw filament passages together with airstreams. Specifically, the laser irradiation device is configured to output a focused laser beam having a diameter decreasing as distance from the laser irradiation device increases, and having a beam axis parallel to a direction of the row of the plurality of raw filament passages.

Abstract: The apparatus for producing ultrafine fibers includes a nozzle portion, a laser irradiation unit, and a drawing chamber. The nozzle portion has an inlet for feeding a raw fiber, a first jet outlet which communicates with the inlet and jets a first drawing gas stream for delivering and drawing the raw fiber, and a second jet outlet which is arranged in the periphery of the first jet outlet and jets a second drawing gas stream. The laser irradiation unit on which the nozzle portion is installed irradiates a laser light to the raw fiber delivered from first jet outlet to melt the raw fiber. The drawing chamber draws the melted raw fiber by using the first drawing gas stream and the second drawing gas stream which are jetted from the nozzle portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ultrafine fibers having an average diameter of less than 1 ?m is implemented by an apparatus including a feeder and a drawing chamber in communication with the feeder via an orifice having a pressure difference. The method includes introducing a multifilament to the drawing chamber under the condition that the ratio of the cross-section of the multifilament to the cross-section of the orifice rectifier is 50% or less, and irradiating the discharged multifilament such that the center of the multifilament melted thereby is located 1 to 15 mm apart vertically below the orifice outlet to melt the leading portion of the multifilament and cause the multifilament to swing at a maximum angle of 5 to 80 degrees to the central orifice axis within a conical space, such that the melted leading portion of the multifilament is drawn by an air stream generated by the pressure difference.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ultrafine fibers having an average diameter of less than 1 urn is implemented by an apparatus including a feeder and a drawing chamber in communication with the feeder via an orifice having a pressure difference. The method includes introducing a multifilament to the drawing chamber under the condition that the ratio of the cross-section of the multifilament to the cross-section of the orifice rectifier is 50% or less, and irradiating the discharged multifilament such that the center of the multifilament melted thereby is located I to 15 mm apart vertically below the orifice outlet to melt the leading portion of the multifilament and cause the multifilament to swing at a maximum angle of 5 to 80 degrees to the central orifice axis within a conical space, such that the melted leading portion of the multifilament is drawn by an air stream generated by the pressure difference.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprising: at least a photoelectric conversion layer; an electron extraction electrode provided on one major surface side of the photoelectric conversion layer; a hole extraction electrode provided on the other major surface side of the photoelectric conversion layer; and an electron extraction layer that is provided between the photoelectric conversion layer and the electron extraction electrode and includes at least an electron transport layer, wherein the photoelectric conversion element further comprises, between the photoelectric conversion layer and the electron transport layer, a conduction band bottom energy adjustment layer configured to reduce conduction band bottom energy of the electron extraction layer to energy lower than conduction band bottom energy of the electron transport layer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprising: a photoelectric conversion layer; an electron extraction electrode; a hole extraction electrode; and an electron transport layer, wherein the electron transport layer contains a substance represented by the following chemical formula and a reactant thereof: M(X)a??(1) wherein M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, group 2B and 3B metals, and transition metals; X is selected from a halogen, a carboxylate group, an alkoxy group, an alkyl group, and an acetonate group represented by the following formula; and a is a positive integer determined in accordance with the valence of M: wherein R1 and R2 are selected from hydrogen, a C1-20 linear or branched alkyl group, and a C1-20 linear or branched alkoxy group, and R1 and R2 may or may not be the same as each other.