Abstract: A process for producing metallic fine particles is provided by, the reduction of the metallic ions performed in two steps using two types of reducing agents which significantly differ in reducing ability thereof, in which a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is strong is used in the first reduction step, and a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is weak is used in the second reduction step, and the nano-sized metallic fine particles are produced. An aqueous metallic salt solution containing a surfactant is used and a two-step reduction is performed in the same vessel, in which as the reducing agent of the first reduction process, at least one selected from the group consisting of boron hydride, dimethylamine borane, hydrazine, and ascorbic acid is used, and as the reducing agent of the second reduction process, specific alkylamine or alkanolamine is used.

Abstract: The present invention provides metal fine particles which have selective wavelength absorption characteristics in a wavelength region from visible light to near infrared light, and have sharp absorption characteristics, and influences little the surrounding wavelength, and therefore, they yield tones having high chroma. The present invention provides metal fine particles wherein an aspect ratio is in a range from 1.1 to 8.0, a maximum absorption wavelength in plasmon absorption is in a range from 400 nm to 1,200 nm, and an absorption coefficient at a peak position of the maximum absorption wavelength is in a range from 6,000 to 20,000 L/mol·cm (measurement concentration: 1.6×10?4 mol/L, and solvent: water).

Abstract: A composite film for a superstrate solar cell or a substrate solar cell has a transparent conductive film and a conductive reflective film, wherein the transparent conductive film is formed by using a wet coating method to apply a transparent conductive film composition or dispersion containing microparticles of a conductive oxide, the conductive reflective film is formed by using a wet coating method to apply a conductive reflective film composition containing metal nanoparticles, the average diameter of holes occurring at the contact surface of the conductive reflective film on either the side of the photovoltaic layer or the side of the transparent conductive film is not more than 100 nm, the average depth at which the holes are positioned is not more than 100 nm, and the number density of the holes is not more than 30 holes/?m2.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing metal nanorods includes: a step of adding a reducing agent to a metallic salt solution; a step of radiating light into the metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent; and a step of leaving the light-radiated metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent stationary in a dark place so as to grow metal nanorods. Metal nanorods can be also grown by forming a mixed solution by fractionating the above light-radiated metallic salt solution and mixing the fractionated metallic salt solution into a non-radiated metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent, or mixing a non-radiated metallic salt solution and the reducing agent into the above light-radiated metallic salt solution; and leaving the mixed solution stationary in a dark place so as to grow metal nanorods.

Abstract: A conductive reflective film which is formed by calcining a substrate on which a composition containing metal nanoparticles is coated, the conductive reflective film including pores which appear on the film contact surface in the substrate side having an average diameter of 100 nm or less, an average depth of 100 nm or less in terms of position of the pores, and a number density of the pores of 30 pores/?m2 or less.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a dispersion of metal nanoparticles which enables to control the shape and the particle diameter over a wide range, a dispersion of metal nanoparticles having superior dispersion stability, and a method for producing the same. In addition, the present invention further aims to provide a dispersion of metal nanoparticles which has a volume resistivity of 2×10?6 to 6×10?6 ?·cm and is suitable for use as an electrically conductive material, and a method for producing the same. Moreover, the present invention further aims to provide a method for synthesizing metal nanoparticles which can produce metal nanoparticles suitable for use as electrically conductive materials by synthesizing the metal nanoparticles from a insoluble metal salt which is free of corrosive materials.

Abstract: A composition for electrode formation containing metal nanoparticles dispersed in a dispersion medium, wherein the composition also comprises one or more organic polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymers, polyvinyl alcohols, and cellulose ethers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing metal nanorods includes: a step of adding a reducing agent to a metallic salt solution; a step of radiating light into the metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent; and a step of leaving the light-radiated metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent stationary in a dark place so as to grow metal nanorods. Metal nanorods can be also grown by forming a mixed solution by fractionating the above light-radiated metallic salt solution and mixing the fractionated metallic salt solution into a non-radiated metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent, or mixing a non-radiated metallic salt solution and the reducing agent into the above light-radiated metallic salt solution; and leaving the mixed solution stationary in a dark place so as to grow metal nanorods.

Abstract: A process for producing metallic fine particles is provided by, the reduction of the metallic ions performed in two steps using two types of reducing agents which significantly differ in reducing ability thereof, in which a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is strong is used in the first reduction step, and a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is weak is used in the second reduction step, and the nano-sized metallic fine particles are produced. An aqueous metallic salt solution containing a surfactant is used and a two-step reduction is performed in the same vessel, in which as the reducing agent of the first reduction process, at least one selected from the group consisting of boron hydride, dimethylamine borane, hydrazine, and ascorbic acid is used, and as the reducing agent of the second reduction process, specific alkylamine or alkanolamine is used.

Abstract: A composition for manufacturing an electrode of a solar cell, comprising metal nanoparticles dispersed in a dispersive medium, wherein the metal nanoparticles contain silver nanoparticles of 75 weight % or more, the metal nanoparticles are chemically modified by a protective agent having a main chain of organic molecule comprising a carbon backbone of carbon number of 1 to 3, and the metal nanoparticles contains 70% or more in number-average of metal nanoparticles having a primary grain size within a range of 10 to 50 nm.

Abstract: This method for manufacturing metal fine particles includes using an aqueous solution containing an amine having a reducing capacity and an ammonium salt having substantially no reducing capacity so as to reduce metal ions with said amine in a presence of said ammonium salt, thereby manufacturing rod-shaped metal fine particles. This metal fine particles are manufactured by this method for manufacturing metal fine particles, and have a major axis of 400 nm or less, a minor axis of 15 nm or less, and an aspect ratio of more than 1.

Abstract: A backlight unit is capable of preventing optical sheets from experiencing deformation due to thermal expansion and the like. The backlight unit includes a backlight chassis arranged to house a lamp via a diffusion plate and optical sheets, where a thickness of the optical sheets is less than a thickness of the diffusion plate, the backlight chassis including a support surface arranged to support the diffusion plate and the optical sheets, and a frame arranged to hold the diffusion plate and the optical sheets with the support surface, the diffusion plate and the optical sheets being interposed between the frame and the support surface, and the backlight chassis has a positioning piece arranged to position and support the diffusion plate at a predetermined position with respect to the support surface and not to position and support the optical sheets.

Abstract: This method for manufacturing metal fine particles includes using an aqueous solution containing an amine having a reducing capacity and an ammonium salt having substantially no reducing capacity so as to reduce metal ions with said amine in a presence of said ammonium salt, thereby manufacturing rod-shaped metal fine particles. This metal fine particles are manufactured by this method for manufacturing metal fine particles, and have a major axis of 400 nm or less, a minor axis of 15 nm or less, and an aspect ratio of more than 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides metal fine particles which have selective wavelength absorption characteristics in a wavelength region from visible light to near infrared light, and have sharp absorption characteristics, and influences little the surrounding wavelength, and therefore, they yield tones having high chroma. The present invention provides metal fine particles wherein an aspect ratio is in a range from 1.1 to 8.0, a maximum absorption wavelength in plasmon absorption is in a range from 400 nm to 1,200 nm, and an absorption coefficient at a peak position of the maximum absorption wavelength is in a range from 6,000 to 20,000 L/mol·cm (measurement concentration: 1.6×10?4 mol/L, and solvent:water).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing metal nanorods includes: a step of adding a reducing agent to a metallic salt solution; a step of radiating light into the metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent; and a step of leaving the light-radiated metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent stationary in a dark place so as to grow metal nanorods. Metal nanorods can be also grown by forming a mixed solution by fractionating the above light-radiated metallic salt solution and mixing the fractionated metallic salt solution into a non-radiated metallic salt solution containing the reducing agent, or mixing a non-radiated metallic salt solution and the reducing agent into the above light-radiated metallic salt solution; and leaving the mixed solution stationary in a dark place so as to grow metal nanorods.