Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube is an Ag layer having Nb dispersed therein, the content of Nb being 0.1 at % to 31.8 at %.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer is an Ag layer in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, and a method for producing the solar heat collector tube wherein the infrared reflective layer that is an Ag layer, in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, is formed by sputtering in the presence of a gas including nitrogen gas, with Ag and silicon being used as targets.

Abstract: This invention provides a solar heat-collecting pipe that includes, in the stated order from the inner side on the outer surface of a ferrous material pipe through the interior of which a heat transfer medium is allowed to flow, at least a first diffusion-preventing layer, a second diffusion-preventing layer, an infrared radiation-reflecting layer, a sunlight-to-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer. The first diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and chromium oxide. The second diffusion-preventing layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of tantalum nitride, tantalum oxynitride, titanium nitride, titanium oxynitride, niobium nitride, and niobium oxynitride.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube has a multilayer structure in which an Ag layer, having dispersed therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ta, Nb and Al, is sandwiched between two metal protective layers.

Abstract: This invention is a sunlight-to-heat converting member containing chromium silicide having an element ratio of Cr to Si from 1:1.6 to 1:4.7. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting stack including a layer of the sunlight-to-heat converting member and a metal layer. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting device including a light collecting part, either or both of a container and a flow path where sunlight is collected by the light collecting part, and a heating medium housed in either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member or the sunlight-to-heat converting stack is formed on a surface of either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member, the sunlight-to-heat converting stack, and the sunlight-to-heat converting device of this invention can convert light to heat efficiently.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube is an Ag layer having Nb dispersed therein, the content of Nb being 0.1 at % to 31.8 at %.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer in the solar heat collector tube has a multilayer structure in which an Ag layer, having dispersed therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ta, Nb and Al, is sandwiched between two metal protective layers.

Abstract: A solar heat collector tube in which at least an infrared reflective layer, a sunlight-heat conversion layer and an anti-reflection layer are provided on the outer surface of a tube, through the interior of which a heat medium can flow, wherein the infrared reflective layer is an Ag layer in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, and a method for producing the solar heat collector tube wherein the infrared reflective layer that is an Ag layer, in which silicon, silicon nitride or a mixture thereof is dispersed, is formed by sputtering in the presence of a gas including nitrogen gas, with Ag and silicon being used as targets.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the issue of providing an optical selective film that contributes to efficiently converting light into heat. This optical selective film is characterized in that: the optical selective film includes at least an Ag-containing layer, and an Ag diffusion prevention layer that is disposed adjacent to the Ag-containing layer; and the Ag diffusion prevention layer contains FeSix (X=1 to 2).

Abstract: A solar heat collection tube 1 of the present invention has: a tube 3 in which a heat medium 2 can flow; an infrared reflective layer 4 formed on an outer surface of the tube 3; a sunlight-to-heat conversion layer 5 formed on the infrared reflective layer 4 and containing manganese silicide; and an anti-reflection layer 6 formed on the sunlight-to-heat conversion layer 5. Preferably, the manganese silicide used in the sunlight-to-heat conversion layer 5 is a semiconductor. The solar heat collection tube 1 of the present invention allows sunlight to be converted into heat efficiently.

Abstract: A solar-thermal conversion member includes a ?-FeSi2 phase material. The solar-thermal conversion member exhibits a high absorptance for visible light at wavelengths of several hundred nm and a low absorptance for infrared light at wavelengths of several thousand nm and, as a consequence, efficiently absorbs visible light at wavelengths of several hundred nm and converts the same into heat and exhibits little thermal radiation due to thermal emission at temperatures of several hundred ° C. The solar-thermal conversion member may therefore efficiently absorb sunlight, provide heat, and prevent thermal radiation due to thermal emission.

Abstract: This invention is a sunlight-to-heat converting member containing chromium silicide having an element ratio of Cr to Si from 1:1.6 to 1:4.7. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting stack including a layer of the sunlight-to-heat converting member and a metal layer. This invention is also a sunlight-to-heat converting device including a light collecting part, either or both of a container and a flow path where sunlight is collected by the light collecting part, and a heating medium housed in either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member or the sunlight-to-heat converting stack is formed on a surface of either or both of the container and the flow path. The sunlight-to-heat converting member, the sunlight-to-heat converting stack, and the sunlight-to-heat converting device of this invention can convert light to heat efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the issue of providing an optical selective film that contributes to efficiently converting light into heat. This optical selective film is characterized in that: the optical selective film includes at least an Ag-containing layer, and an Ag diffusion prevention layer that is disposed adjacent to the Ag-containing layer; and the Ag diffusion prevention layer contains FeSix (X=1 to 2).

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a heat conversion member capable of efficiently converting light to heat. This heat conversion member is characterized in that it includes a composite material of at least one type of semiconductor and at least one type of metal material.

Abstract: The solar-thermal conversion member includes a ?-FeSiz phase material. The solar-thermal conversion member exhibits a high absorptance for visible light at wavelengths of several hundred nm and a low absorptance for infrared light at wavelengths of several thousand nm and as a consequence efficiently absorbs visible light at wavelengths of several hundred nm and converts the same into heat and exhibits little thermal radiation due to thermal emission at temperatures of several hundred ° C. The solar-thermal conversion member can therefore efficiently absorb sunlight and provide heat and can prevent thermal radiation due to thermal emission.

Abstract: A platen for electrostatic wafer clamping apparatus comprising a platen body of dielectric material and grains of electrically conductive material diffused in the dielectric material so that the platen has a relatively large electrostatic capacitance due to the diffusion of the conductive grains with the result that the platen provides an increased clamping force regardless of humidity. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the thickness of the platen body can be decreased by an amount sufficient to maintain a constant clamping force with reduced applied voltage, to eliminate any residual voltage on the platen and to increase the speed of wafer release. The grains of electrically conductive material are present in an amount of from about 2.5 percent to about 15.0 percent of the volume of the platen body, and the grains of electrically conductive material are selected from the group consisting of carbonated transition metals, nitrified transition metals and carbonated grains.

Abstract: A platen for electrostatic wafer clamping apparatus comprising a platen body of dielectric material and grains of electrically conductive material diffused in the dielectric material so that the platen has a relatively large electrostatic capacitance due to the diffusion of the conductive grains with the result that the platen provides an increased clamping force regardless of humidity. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the thickness of the platen body can be decreased by an amount sufficient to maintain a constant clamping force with reduced applied voltage, to eliminate any residual voltage on the platen and to increase the speed of wafer release. The grains of electrically conductive material are present in an amount of from about 2.5 percent to about 15.0 percent of the volume of the platen body, and the grains of electrically conductive material are selected from the group consisting of carbonated transition metals, nitrified transition metals and carbonated grains.