Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

The School Corporation Kansai University

Japan Science and Technology Agency

A School Corporation Kansai University

A School of Corporation Kansai University

Takashi Miyata

Nobuki Sakikawa

Tadashi Uragami

Yoshihiro Uramoto

Kazuya Matsumoto

Kaori Okawa

Yasumasa Suzuki

Akihiro Yamaguchi

Uragami Tadashi

An excellent hygroscopic material containing a temperature responsive polymer, which can efficiently conduct heat, and hence has water release properties of absorbed water is realized. The hygroscopic material containing a polymer gel containing a temperature responsive polymer whose affinity with water reversibly changes in response to temperature stimulation and a thermally conductive filler is used.

Hygroscopic material

To provide a dehumidifying device and dehumidifying method each of which allows absorbed water to be efficiently extracted from a stimuli-responsive polymeric moisture absorbing material or a polymeric moisture absorbing material containing a stimuli-responsive polymeric moisture absorbing material, a dehumidifying device of an embodiment of the present invention includes (i) a stimulus providing section configured to provide an external stimulus to a stimuli-responsive polymeric moisture absorbing material or a polymeric moisture absorbing material containing a stimuli-responsive polymeric moisture absorbing material and (ii) a transfer section configured to transfer water released by the polymeric moisture absorbing material.

Dehumidification device and dehumidification method

The present invention achieves a moisture absorbing material which enables efficient dehumidification without supercooling or large heat quantity; and a dehumidifier in which the moisture absorbing material is used. The moisture absorbing material can be a dried product of a polymer gel in which an interpenetrating polymer network structure or a semi-interpenetrating polymer network structure is formed by (a) a stimuli-responsive polymer whose affinity with water changes reversibly in response to an external stimulus and (b) a hydrophilic polymer.

Hygroscopic material and dehumidifier using same

A moisture absorbing material (i) having has (a) a first state in which the moisture absorbing material is capable of absorbing moisture, and (b) a second state in which the moisture absorbing material releases the moisture absorbed in the first state, and (ii) has a property of changing from the first state to the second state in response to an external stimulus and returning from the second state to the first state when the external stimulus disappears, the moisture absorbing material includes: first through fourth moisture absorbing bodies which have respective different stimulus response levels and are provided in order of stimulus response level so as to be in contact with one another.

Water absorbent material, dehumidification device, and dehumidification method

Provided is a dehumidification apparatus with good energy efficiency. A moisture absorbing material (polymeric moisture absorbing material), which absorbs moisture and swells at a temperature not higher than a predetermined temperature sensitive point, while shrinking and releasing condensed water at a temperature higher than the temperature sensitive point as a result of phase transition, is formed so as to be divided into a plurality of segments which are made apart from each other during dehydration. A rotation motor () is used to move the moisture absorbing material (polymeric moisture absorbing material) between a moisture absorption region () and a dehydration region (). In the dehydration region (), the moisture absorbing material (polymeric moisture absorbing material) is heated by the heater ().

Dehumidification device

A humidity controlling apparatus comprises: a moisture absorbent (1) made of a macromolecular gelated moisture absorbing material which takes a first state being capable of absorbing moisture and a second state releasing in a liquid state the moisture absorbed in the first state, and which has a nature to change from the first state to the second state when a definite level of temperature or higher is attained, and return to the first state when the definite level of temperature or higher is no longer attained; and an energy converting particle (2) which is disposed so as to be buried inside the moisture absorbent and has a nature to generate heat when it is exposed to an external stimulus factor which is at least one of light, electric waves and a high frequency magnetic field.

Humidity controlling apparatus

In one embodiment of the present application, a stimulus-responsive gel is disclosed with optical characteristic molecule introduced therein that is capable of easily and securely converting a volume change responding to external stimulus to optical data being easy to handle in the construction of sensor system; an external stimulus measuring apparatus making use of the same; and a method of measuring external stimulus therewith. A molecule having fluorescent chromophore or a molecule or a molecule capable of absorbing visible light or ultraviolet light is introduced in a stimulus-responsive gel so that the content of the molecule having fluorescent chromophore or the molecule or a molecule capable of absorbing visible light or ultraviolet light falls within such a range that the concentration of the molecule having fluorescent chromophore or a molecule or the molecule capable of absorbing visible light or ultraviolet light in the stimulus-responsive gel with optical characteristic molecule introduced therein is substantially proportional to the fluorescence intensity or absorbance of the visible light or ultraviolet light of the stimulus-responsive gel with optical characteristic molecule introduced therein.

Method of measuring external stimulus and volume change using stimulus-responsive gel comprising EDANS

The present invention provides a nucleic-acid-responsive gel which allows (i) a larger volumetric change through structural design, (ii) adjustment of its recognition ability to recognize a nucleic acid, (iii) improvement of sensitivity, and (iv) flexible design according to, e.g., a sequence of target DNA. The nucleic-acid-responsive gel includes a probe formed of two single-stranded nucleic acids which are hybridized with each other. The probe is fixed within a network structure of a polymer gel. The two single-stranded nucleic acids are bound reversibly with each other.

Nucleic-acid-responsive gel, method for producing same, and use of same

A multiple-substance-responsive substance is disclosed, which is capable of simultaneously detecting a plurality of detection target substances by a single measurement. By a multiple-substance-responsive gel including: a plurality of kinds of complexes including (i) specifically binding substances, and (ii) binding partners each specifically and reversibly binding to a corresponding one of the specifically binding substances; and a polymer gel to which the plurality of kinds of complexes are immobilized so as to form cross-links, the plurality of kinds of complexes each being formed by binding between (i) a specifically binding substance among the specifically binding substances and (ii) a corresponding binding partner among the binding partners, a plurality of detection target substances can be simultaneously detected by a single measurement.

Multiple substances-responsive gel, method for producing same, and utilization of same

The invention provides molecule-responsive gel particles which change in size in response to specific molecules and a method of production of the same. A polymer gel particle with a crosslinked structure has fixed thereto a plurality of clathrate compound-forming host molecules. Two or more of the plurality of host molecules clathrate different atomic groups in a target molecule so that the two or more host molecules and the target molecule can form a crosslink in the molecule-responsive gel particle.

Growing community of inventors

Suita, Japan

Takashi Miyata