Abstract: Provided is a thin film which has an infrared absorbance of at least 0, but less than 0.100, as measured using a p-polarized light method.

Abstract: This undercoat layer for an energy storage device has a thickness of 1-200 nm. An undercoat foil provided with the undercoat layer is capable of being ultrasonically welded efficiently. An energy storage device exhibiting low resistance can be obtained by using an electrode provided with the undercoat foil.

Abstract: Provided is an agent for dispersing an electrically conductive carbon material, in which the agent consists of a polymer which has an oxazoline group in a side chain and which is obtained by using an oxazoline group-containing monomer such as that represented by formula (1) for example, and in which the agent exhibits excellent dispersion of an electrically conductive carbon material and produces a thin film that exhibits excellent adhesion to a current collection substrate when formed into a thin film together with the electrically conductive carbon material. (In the formula, X denotes a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group, and R1-R4 each independently denote a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group optionally having a branched structure having 1-5 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7-20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode for energy storage devices, which is provided with a collector substrate, an undercoat layer that is formed on at least one surface of the collector substrate and contains carbon nanotubes, and an active material layer that is formed on the surface of the undercoat layer, and wherein the active material layer does not contain a conductive assistant.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode for energy storage devices, which is provided with: a collector substrate; an undercoat layer that is formed on at least one surface of the collector substrate and contains carbon nanotubes; and an active material layer that is formed on the surface of the undercoat layer and contains an active material which contains a titanium-containing oxide.

Abstract: A highly branched polymer comprising repeating units which each have an acid group such as sulfo group, said repeating units being represented by formula [1] or the like, and a dispersant for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which comprises the highly branched polymer can disperse CNTs in a medium such as an organic solvent to the individual sizes and can yield thin films having improved conductivity. In formula [1], any one of A1 to A5 is a sulfo group, and the others are each a hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary cell provided with: a positive electrode provided with a positive-electrode current-collecting substrate and a positive-electrode active material layer formed thereon, the positive-electrode active material layer being able to absorb or discharge lithium; a negative electrode provided with a negative-electrode current-collecting substrate and a negative-electrode active material layer formed thereon, the negative-electrode active material layer being able to absorb or discharge lithium; a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The nonaqueous electrolyte solution contains a sulfonyl imide electrolyte and a nonaqueous organic solvent. An electroconductive protective layer obtained by dispersing an electroconductive carbon material in a binder resin is formed on one or both surfaces of the positive-electrode current-collecting substrate and/or the negative-electrode current-collecting substrate.

Abstract: This undercoat foil for an energy storage device electrode comprises a collector base plate, and an undercoat layer formed on at least one surface of the collector base plate, the undercoat layer containing carbon nanotubes, and the coating amount per collector base plate surface being 0.1 g/m2 or less. Since this undercoat foil can be effectively welded by ultrasound, the use thereof allows a low-resistance energy storage device and a simple and effective production method therefor to be provided.

Abstract: A conductive composition containing carbon nanotubes, a carbon nanotube dispersant, and a dopant precursor, wherein the dispersant is a non-conjugated polymer compound having an aromatic ring as the repeating unit, and the dopant precursor is an acid-generating agent which generates cation by being subjected to light and/or heat. The aforementioned conductive composition is capable of stably dispersing carbon nanotubes and of efficiently doping same without damaging the conductive properties of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Provided is an agent for dispersing an electrically conductive carbon material, in which the agent consists of a polymer which has an oxazoline group in a side chain and which is obtained by using an oxazoline group-containing monomer such as that represented by formula (1) for example, and in which the agent exhibits excellent dispersion of an electrically conductive carbon material and produces a thin film that exhibits excellent adhesion to a current collection substrate when formed into a thin film together with the electrically conductive carbon material. (In the formula, X denotes a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group, and R1-R4 each independently denote a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group optionally having a branched structure having 1-5 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7-20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbon nano-tube dispersant comprising a highly branched polymer having a repeating unit represented by, for example, formula (12) or (13), wherein the highly branched polymer is produced by the polycondensation of a triarylamine compound and an aldehyde compound and/or a ketone compound in the presence of an acid catalyst. The carbon nano-tube dispersant enables the dispersion of CNTs in a medium such as an organic solvent until the CNTs are so decomposed as to have an individual size. (In the formula, Z1 and Z2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, a thienyl group, or the like.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode catalyst substrate is provided herein, which comprises a carbon film forming step of forming a porous carbon film on a base, a hydrophilization step of hydrophilizing the porous carbon film, an immersion step of immersing the base in a solution prepared by dissolving catalytic metal ions in a polar solvent, and a reduction step of adding a reducing agent to the solution and thus reducing the catalytic metal ions. An electrode catalyst substrate obtained by the method and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which the electrode catalyst obtained by the method is used for anodes and/or cathodes are also provided herein. In the electrode catalyst of the present invention, fine catalyst particles are loaded in a uniform and highly dispersed manner.

Abstract: A conductive composition containing carbon nanotubes, a carbon nanotube dispersant, and a dopant precursor, wherein the dispersant is a non-conjugated polymer compound having an aromatic ring as the repeating unit, and the dopant precursor is an acid-generating agent which generates cation by being subjected to light and/or heat. The aforementioned conductive composition is capable of stably dispersing carbon nanotubes and of efficiently doping same without damaging the conductive properties of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A highly branched polymer comprising repeating units which each have an acid group such as sulfo group, said repeating units being represented by formula [1] or the like, and a dispersant for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which comprises the highly branched polymer can disperse CNTs in a medium such as an organic solvent to the individual sizes and can yield thin films having improved conductivity. In formula [1], any one of A1 to A5 is a sulfo group, and the others are each a hydrogen atom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbon nano-tube dispersant comprising a highly branched polymer having a repeating unit represented by, for example, formula (12) or (13), wherein the highly branched polymer is produced by the polycondensation of a triarylamine compound and an aldehyde compound and/or a ketone compound in the presence of an acid catalyst. The carbon nano-tube dispersant enables the dispersion of CNTs in a medium such as an organic solvent until the CNTs are so decomposed as to have an individual size. (In the formula, Z1 and Z2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, a thienyl group, or the like.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode catalyst substrate is provided herein, which comprises a carbon film forming step of forming a porous carbon film on a base, a hydrophilization step of hydrophilizing the porous carbon film, an immersion step of immersing the base in a solution prepared by dissolving catalytic metal ions in a polar solvent, and a reduction step of adding a reducing agent to the solution and thus reducing the catalytic metal ions. An electrode catalyst substrate obtained by the method and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which the electrode catalyst obtained by the method is used for anodes and/or cathodes are also provided herein. In the electrode catalyst of the present invention, fine catalyst particles are loaded in a uniform and highly dispersed manner.

Abstract: To provide a tomato juice-containing alcoholic drink that has improved flavor qualities and shows regulated sedimentation and color change and a method of the production of the same. Provided is a method of the production of a tomato juice-containing alcoholic drink that comprises the following steps (a) to (c): (a) a step of producing a lactic acid-fermented tomato liquid that comprises fermenting a tomato juice-containing liquid by using a lactic acid bacterium and thus increasing lactic acid in the liquid; (b) a step of producing a clear tomato juice that comprises enzymatically treating a tomato juice and filtering the same; and (c) a step of mixing the lactic acid-fermented tomato liquid, the clear tomato juice and an alcohol; optionally followed, if desired, by the following step (d), (d) a step of adding stabilized lycopene.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell wherein deterioration of fuel cell performance due to dry up phenomenon and flooding phenomenon is suppressed. Specifically disclosed is an assembly for fuel cells or a fuel cell wherein a catalyst layer contains a first composite catalyst particle containing a catalyst supporting particle and a solid polymer electrolyte and a second composite catalyst particle having a larger volume average particle diameter than the first composite catalyst particle and arrangement of the first composite catalyst particle and the second composite catalyst particle is controlled in the thickness direction of the catalyst layer. Consequently, deterioration of fuel cell performance due to dry up phenomenon or flooding phenomenon can be suppressed, thereby realizing a fuel cell with high efficiency.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes: producing a gas diffusion layer powder that is used to form a gas diffusion layer; forming a catalyst layer on an electrolyte membrane; and forming the gas diffusion layer on the catalyst layer by depositing the gas diffusion layer powder on the catalyst layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, in which a catalyst layer is disposed between an electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer, includes producing a catalyst powder that is used to form the catalyst layer; and forming the catalyst layer by unevenly depositing the catalyst powder on at least one of the electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer.