Abstract: A photoelectric cell that includes a first insulating base, having on its surface a first electrode layer, which has on its surface a metal oxide semiconductor film, which includes anatase titanium oxide particles, on which a photosensitizer is absorbed and a second insulating base having on its surface a second electrode layer and an electrolyte sealed between the metal oxide semiconductor film and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are arranged opposite from each other. At least one of the first and second insulating bases with an electrode layer is transparent.

Abstract: The electrolyte membrane according to the present invention comprises inorganic oxide particles having proton conductivity, and an organic resin or an inorganic matrix component. The inorganic oxide particles having proton conductivity preferably comprise hydrated antimony oxide particles represented by the following formula (1) and have an average particle diameter of 5 to 50 nm, and the content of the hydrated antimony oxide particles is preferably in the range of 5 to 80% by weight in terms of an oxide (Sb2O5); Sb2O5.nH2O??(1) wherein n is 0.1 to 5. By the use of the electrolyte membrane of the present invention, a fuel cell exhibiting high cell performance even in a prolonged operation and/or an operation at high temperature can be obtained.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a first substrate having on its surface a first electrode layer having on its surface a semiconductor film on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed, and a second substrate having on its surface a second electrode layer. The first and second substrates are arranged so that the first electrode layer overlaid with the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer are opposite each other with an electrolyte disposed therebetween. Spacer particles are interposed between the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer, and at least one of the electrode-layer-having substrates is transparent. A coating liquid for forming the semiconductor film includes both a component for forming the semiconductor film as well as the spacer particles, dispersed in a dispersion medium.

Abstract: The process for preparing tubular titanium oxide particles comprises subjecting a water dispersion sol, which is obtained by dispersing (i) titanium oxide particles and/or (ii) titanium oxide type composite oxide particles comprising titanium oxide and an oxide other than titanium oxide in water, said particles having an average particle diameter of 2 to 100 nm, to hydrothermal treatment in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide. After the hydrothermal treatment, reduction treatment (including nitriding treatment) may be carried out. The tubular titanium oxide particles obtained in this process are useful as catalysts, catalyst carriers, adsorbents, photocatalysts, decorative materials, optical materials and photoelectric conversion materials. Especially when the particles are used for semiconductor films for photovoltaic cells or photocatalysts, prominently excellent effects are exhibited.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a first substrate having on its surface a first electrode layer having on its surface a semiconductor film on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed, and a second substrate having on its surface a second electrode layer. The first and second substrates are arranged so that the first electrode layer overlaid with the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer are opposite each other with an electrolyte disposed therebetween. Spacer particles are interposed between the semiconductor film and the second electrode layer, and at least one of the electrode-layer-having substrates is transparent. A coating liquid for forming the semiconductor film includes both a component for forming the semiconductor film as well as the spacer particles, dispersed in a dispersion medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photovoltaic cell comprising a substrate having an electrode layer (1) on the surface and having a porous metal oxide semiconductor film (2) which is formed on the electrode layer (1) and on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed, a substrate having an electrode layer (3) on the surface, both of said substrates being arranged in such a manner that the electrode layer (1) and the electrode layer (3) face each other, and an electrolyte layer provided between the semiconductor film (2) and the electrode layer (3), wherein the semiconductor film (2) contains an inhibitor of back current, and at least one pair of substrate and electrode layer thereon have transparency. The photovoltaic cell is capable of inhibiting back current and decomposition of a spectrosensitizing dye caused by the ultraviolet rays, has high photoelectric conversion efficiency and is capable of generating high electromotive force.

Abstract: The inorganic compound sol of the present invention comprises a dispersion medium and, dispersed therein, inorganic compound particulates whose surface has been modified by an organic compound exhibiting a molecular polarizability of from 2×10−40 to 850×10−40 C2m2J−1. This inorganic compound sol modified by an organic compound has desirable affinity with dispersion media, so that its dispersion stability in solvents is excellent without aggregation of particulates.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing an integrated circuit, wherein not only can conductive fine particles be deposited efficiently and densely in minute wiring channels and connecting holes but also a circuit of low wiring resistance and high density can be formed and wherein a high-degree integration can be achieved to thereby bring about an economic advantage. In particular, there is provided a process for producing an integrated circuit, comprising coating a substrate provided with wiring channels with a coating liquid for integrated circuit formation containing conductive fine particles to thereby form an integrated circuit on the substrate, wherein the coating liquid for integrated circuit formation while being exposed to ultrasonic waves is applied to the wiring channels.

Abstract: The first photoelectric cell of the present invention comprises: an insulating base having on its surface an electrode layer (1), the electrode layer (1) having on its surface a metal oxide semiconductor film (2) on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed; an insulating base having on its surface an electrode layer (3), the electrode layer (1) and the electrode layer (3) arranged opposite to each other; and an electrolyte sealed between the metal oxide semiconductor film (2) and the electrode layer (3), wherein at least one of the electrode-having insulating bases is transparent; and the metal oxide semiconductor film (2) comprises anatase titanium oxide particles. This first photoelectric cell includes a semiconductor film comprising anatase titanium oxide particles, having a high proportion of photosensitizer adsorbed, so that the electron mobility in the semiconductor film is high to thereby realize excellent photoelectric transfer efficiency.

Abstract: A coating liquid for forming a transparent coating comprising fine particles of an inorganic compound and a hydrolyzate of an organosilicon compound represented by the general formula (I): RnSi(OR′)4−n  (I) wherein R and R′ represent organic groups which may be identical to each other or different from each other, and n is an integer of 1 to 3. This coating liquid ensures excellent substrate wettability and compatibility with various organic solvents so that the printability and applicability thereof are desirable, with the result that a transparent coating film of high uniformity, for example, a flattening coating film, can be formed. The present invention comprises a substrate having a transparent coating film formed on the substrate surface from the above coating liquid.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell including a first substrate having on its surface a first electrode layer having on its surface a semiconductor film on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed, and a second substrate having on its surface a second electrode layer. The first and second substrates are arranged so that the first electrode layer overlaid with the semiconductor film and the second layer are opposite each other with an electrolyte layer disposed therebetween. The electrolyte layer includes an electrolyte and a liquid crystal and at least one of the electrode-layer-having substrates is transparent.

Abstract: A photoelectric cell that includes a first insulating base, having on its surface a first electrode layer, which has on its surface a metal oxide semiconductor film, which includes anatase titanium oxide particles, on which a photosensitizer is adsorbed and a second insulating base having on its surface a second electrode layer and an electrolyte sealed between the metal oxide semiconductor film and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are arranged opposite from each other. At least one of the first and second insulating bases with an electrode layer is transparent.

Abstract: An organopolysiloxane fine particle comprising as a principal component a polysiloxane having a hydrocarbon group (a) directly bonded to a silicon atom and having an OH group (b) directly bonded to a silicon atom, wherein: (i) carbons contained in the hydrocarbon group (a) constitute 5 to 35% of the weight of the organopolysiloxane fine particles, and (ii) the OH group (b) is in an amount of 1 to 8 meq per g of the organopolysiloxane fine particles, the organopolysiloxane fine particles having: (iii) a 10% compressive modulus of elasticity of 150 to 900 Kg/mm2, (iv) an average compressive deformation (Cr)m of 20 to 60%, (v) an average elastic recovery (Rr)m of 60 to 90%, and (vi) an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A coating liquid for forming a transparent coating, comprising fine particles of an inorganic compound, and a hydrolyzate of an organosilicon compound represented by the general formula (I):

Abstract: The present invention relates to spherical laminated particles each comprising a core particle and a laminate part disposed on a surface of the core particle, wherein the laminate part has a compressive modulus which is smaller than that of the core particle. These spherical laminated particles have a large compressive strength and is excellent in the recovery from a deformation by an arbitrary load, when the load is removed afterwward, as compared with conventional elastic particles composed of a single substance. Therefore, the use of these spherical laminated particles as spacers minimizes the difference in extent of displacement of spacer particles attributed to the difference in load on individual spacer particles caused by, for example, the waviness of a substrate for liquid crystal display cell during the manufacturing of the liquid crystal display cell, so that the cell gap uniformity can be ensured.

Abstract: Transparent conductive coatings excellent in transparency are provided on substrates such as glass, plastics, etc. by the use of conductive coating materials obtained by maintaining aqueous solutions of hydrolyzable tin containing or indium containing compounds at pH of 8-12, and gradually hydrolyzing said compounds in the solutions to form sols containing colloidal particles, followed by drying and calcining.

Abstract: In a process for preparing spherical particles of hydroxide having a particle diameter of from 0.1 to 10 .mu.m by adding a corresponding metal alkoxide to a dispersion of water-alcohol system having dispersed therein a metal oxide or hydroxide as a seed, under alkaline conditions and allowing a decomposition product from said metal alkoxide to attach onto said seed to effect particle growth of the seed, the improvement which comprises maintaining said dispersion at a substantially constant pH within the range between 10 and 13 during the addition of the metal alkoxide to said dispersion and the subsequent particle growth of the seed, thereby to prepare mono-dispersed particles substantially free from particle aggregation having a sharp particle size distribution of a standard deviation of not greater than 0.5. The white particles so prepared may be, after separation, heat treated to provide black particles. The white or black particles may be coated with a synthetic resin in the surface.

Abstract: Transparent conductive coatings excellent in transparency are provided on substrates such as glass, plastics, etc. by the use of conductive coating materials obtained by maintaining aqueous solutions of hydrolyzable tin containing or indium containing compounds at pH of 8-12, and gradually hydrolyzing said compounds in the solutions to form sols containing colloidal particles, followed by drying and calcining.

Abstract: In a process for preparing spherical particles of a metal oxide or hydroxide having a particle size of from 0.1 to 10 .mu.m by adding a corresponding metal alkoxide to a dispersion of water-alcohol system having dispersed therein a metal oxide or hydroxide as a seed, under alkaline conditions and allowing a decomposition product from said metal alkoxide to attach onto said seed to effect particle growth of the seed, the improvement which comprises maintaining said dispersion at a substantially constant pH within the range between 10 and 13 during the addition of the metal alkoxide to said dispersion and the subsequent particle growth of the seed, thereby to prepare mono-dispersed particles substantially free from particle aggregation having a sharp particle size distribution of a standard deviation of not greater than 0.5. The white particles so prepared may be, after separation, heat treated to provide black particles. The white or black particles may be coated with a synthetic resin in the surface.

Abstract: The material obtained by coating a small plate substrate with a metal oxide doped with different metals is light permeable as well as conductive, wherein said plate substrate is selected from mica, illite, bravaisite, kaolinite, bentonite, montmorillonite, smectites, calcium phosphate and glass particle and its ratio of major axis to minor axis is 1-30 and its ratio of minor axis to thickness is 5 or more. This material is useful as the additive for providing a transparent film with conductivity.