Abstract: An electroconductive film is provided which has a first region constituted of a lamination layer comprising an electroconductive layer and an insulating layer, and a second layer having reduced or eliminated electroconductivity. Another type of electroconductive film is also provided having a first region constituted of a limination layer containing a compound having a polymerizable double bond and comprising an electroconductive layer and an insulating layer, and a second layer which is modified and having changed dissolution characteristics. The layer may be formed of a monomolecular film or monomolecular built-up film. A patterning method by use of the above electroconductive film is also provided.

Abstract: An optical element comprises a pair of plates between which an optical modulation liquid layer is sandwiched, the optical modulation liquid layer exhibiting a light scattering property caused by suspension of fine particle polymer when heated and exhibiting transparency caused by dissolution of fine particle polymer when not heated, the change of such light scattering property to transparency being reversible.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a light absorpiton characteristic of a thin film is provided.The apparatus comprises (1) a liquid container containing a liquid on which surface a thin film is to be spread, (2) exciting light source for supplying an exciting light to be projected from below the liquid surface on to a measurement site of the thin film spread on the liquid surface, at such an incident angle that the exciting light reflects totally at the liquid surface, (3) a chopper for converting the exciting light into an intermittent exciting light before the exciting light reaches the measurement site of the thin film, (4) a probe light source for supplying probe light passing the measurement site or its vicinity, and (5) a detector for detecting an amount of deflection of the probe light having passed the measurement site or its vicinity.

Abstract: A medium for image formation which comprises a monomolecular film or monomolecular built-up film of a metal chelate compound and a process for image formation which comprises (1) manipulating the adsorption of a gas on a metal chelate compound and the desorption of the gas therefrom or (2) reducing metal ions in molecules of a metal chelate compound.

Abstract: A light beam fluctuation compensating device is provided which comprises a light source, a first optical system for splitting a light beam emitted from said light source into two light beams and a second optical system for irradiating the two light beams split by said first optical system onto a target. A light beam fluctuation method utilizing the device is also provided.

Abstract: Optical modulation is effected by heating a monomolecular film or a built-up film of monomolecular layers.

Abstract: A device for measuring optical properties is provided which is equipped with an exciting light source for emitting exciting light to the sites to be measured of a sample, a light intensity modulator for modulating the exciting light, a probe light source for emitting probe light and a detector for receiving the probe light. The device is characterized by comprising an intensity distribution modifying means for bringing the maximum intensity portion of said probe light close to the sample when the probe light emitted from the probe light source reaches the site to be measured or the vicinity thereof. A method for measuring optical properties using the device is also provided. This device is useful particularly for measurement of the light absorption characteristics of a monomolecular film spread on a liquid surface.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer built-up film on a substrate by spreading a group of monomolecular film-forming molecules on a liquid surface and contacting the substrate with the group of the monomolecular film-forming molecules. The apparatus comprises a frame for confining the spread liquid surface and structure for isolating and moving at least two different monomolecular layers on the spread liquid surface within the frame.

Abstract: An optical recording method comprises the steps of:(A) irradiating a radiation corresponding to a recording information on an optical recording medium having a recording layer containing a diacetylene derivative and at least one selected from the group (hereinafter called the group B) consisting of azulenium salt compounds, pyrylium dyes, diene compounds, croconic methine dyes and polymethine compounds, thereby forming a latent image; and(B) irradiating a radiation on the recording medium having said latent image formed thereon to thereby visualizing said latent image.

Abstract: An optical device is provided which comprises a liquid layer containing a liquid-absorbable and releasable polymer that absorbs and releases a liquid under the action of an electric field and at least one pair of electrodes holding the liquid layer therebetween. The liquid may be colored, and alternatively the liquid-absorbable and releasable polymer may be colored.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprises a pair of electrodes and a luminescent layer sandwiched between the electrodes, the luminescent layer comprising:(a) one layer comprising a relatively electron-acceptable organic compound,(b) another layer containing a relatively electron-donative organic compound, and(c) still another layer having an insulating property, the three layers being repeatedly accumulated, and at least one of the three layers having a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer built-up film.

Abstract: A display method comprises applying electrical energy to a display layer formed of a monomolecular film or a monomolecular-layer built-up film of a clathrate complex compound composed of a host molecule having a hydrophilic portion, a hydrophobic portion and a portion to enclose a guest molecule, and a guest molecule on a substrate, thereby making a display.The display may be made by color-forming or light emitting due to reduction of the guest molecules.

Abstract: A film forming method, a recording medium formed thereby, and a recording method therewith are provided. The recording medium comprises a recording layer constituted of a monomolecular film or monomolecular-layer built-up film of a clathrate complex compound comprised of a host molecule and a guest molecule, said host molecule having a hydrophilic portion, a hydrophobic portion, and a portion capable of enclosing said guest molecule.

Abstract: An electroluminecent device comprises a pair of electrodes, two luminescent layers provided between the pair of electrodes, and an electrode provided between the two luminescent layers, at least one of said two luminescent layers having a layer comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or a built-up film thereof.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided which comprises an optical recording layer provided on a support, said optical recording layer containing a compound modifiable under light irradiation and gelled polymer.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprises a luminescent layer and a pair of electrodes between which the luminescent layer is sandwiched, said luminescent layer comprising one layer comprising a relatively electron-acceptable organic compound and a compound capable of being an electron-donor or electron-acceptor to said compound, another layer comprising a relatively electron-donative organic compound and a compound capable of being an electron-acceptor or electron-donor to said compound, and still another layer having electrical insulating property, said three layers being repeatedly accumulated, and at least one of the three layers having a monomolecular film or a monomolecular layer built-up film.

Abstract: A functional optical element comprises a first optical member, a second optical member provided in contact with said first optical member, the interface between said first optical member and said second optical member being non-flat planar, a means for changing the refractive index of said second optical member, said means for changing refractive index being capable of creating selectively a first state in which said first optical member and said second optical member have an equal refractive index and a second state in which said first optical member and said second optical member have different refractive indices by changing the refractive index of said second optical member.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprising a luminescent layer is provided. The luminescent layer comprises a mixed monomolecular film of at least one electroluminescent organic compound and at least one organic compound which is different in electro-negativity from said organic compound or a built-up film thereof.The luminescent layer may be of a double-layer structure wherein a first layer of the luminescent layer comprises a mixed monomolecular film of an electroluminescent organic compound which is electron-acceptable relative to a second layer of the luminescent layer and an organic compound which is electron-acceptable relative to said compound or a built-up film thereof, and the second layer comprises a mixed monomolecular film of an electroluminescent organic compound which is electron-donative relative to the first layer and an organic compound which is electron-donative relative to said compound or a built-up film thereof.

Abstract: A curved surface shaping apparatus has a liquid tank for developing a monomolecular film on the surface of liquid contained in the liquid tank, a jig for holding a base member to be shaped, and moving means for moving the base member held by the jig with the shaped surface of the base member intersecting the liquid surface. A curved surface shaping method comprises a step of moving a base member to be shaped relative to a liquid surface on which a monomolecular film is formed, with the liquid surface and the shaped surface of the base member intersecting each other.

Abstract: A photometric apparatus includes a light source, apparatus for oscillating a light beam spot across a sample, apparatus for measuring secondary light from the sample, and apparatus for determining the specific portion of the sample to be examined by photometry. With this photometric apparatus, each of a plurality of microscopic areas of the sample can be evaluated accurately.