Abstract: A hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material is provided. The present invention relates to a hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material obtained by storing hydrogen in a carbonaceous material heated at more than about 230° C. under pressure in a reducing atmosphere, a battery and a fuel cell using same. The carbonaceous material is heated at more than about 230° C. under pressure in a reducing atmosphere so that its surface can be efficiently cleaned and an area where the surface of the carbonaceous material comes into contact with hydrogen atoms or hydrogen molecules is increased.

Abstract: A hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material is provided. The hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material is obtained by heating a carbonaceous material in a gas atmosphere including hydrogen gas and substantially including no reactive gas as impurity gas to store hydrogen. According to the present invention, since the surface of the carbonaceous material can be cleaned and hydrogen can be stored in the carbonaceous material in the same gas atmosphere and a hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material can be produced by controlling a heating process time in the gas atmosphere including the hydrogen gas and substantially including no reactive gas as the impurity gas. This can facilitate the use of the hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material as applied to devices, systems, processes and/or the like.

Abstract: A hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material is provided. The present invention provides a hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material obtained by heating a carbonaceous material at more than about 50° C. under the atmosphere of reducing gas, a hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material obtained by hydrogen storage in the carbonaceous material heated at more than about 50° C. under the atmosphere of reducing gas, and a battery or a fuel cell using the hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A charge separation heterojunction structure which uses a fullerene polymer film as a part of its constituent materials and which may be used to produce a solar cellor a light emitting diode superior in durability, physical properties of electrons and economic merits. The heterojunction structure is such a structure in which an electron-donating electrically conductive high-polymer film and an electron-accepting fullerene polymer film are layered between a pair of electrodes at least one of which is light transmitting. In forming the layers, the fullerene polymer film is identified using in particular the Raman and Nexafs methods in combination so that upper layers are formed after identifying the polymer film.

Abstract: A memory element wherein a spin conduction layer having a sufficient spin coherence length and a uniform spin field can be obtained, and thereby practical use is attained and a memory device are provided. A spin conduction layer (paramagnetic layer) (24) is a fullerene thin film being from 0.5 nm to 5 ?m thick, for example. The fullerene has a hollow sized, for example, from 0.1 nm to 50 nm. A paramagnetic material is included in this hollow. A fermi vector of the fullerene thin film well laps over small number of spin band or plenty of spin band of a ferromagnetic fixed layer (23) and a ferromagnetic free layer (25). Further, spin orientations of the included paramagnetic material are random. Further, electron spin in the fullerene is in a quantized state in a pseudo zero dimensional space. Thereby, a spin coherence length becomes long in the fullerene thin film, and scatteration of spin-polarized conduction electrons goes away.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas pressure regulator including an electrochemical cell (4) having a first electrode (1) for decomposing gas into ions, a second electrode (2) for converting the ions generated in the first electrode (1) into the gas again and an ion conductor (3) sandwiched in between both the electrodes (1) and (2); and a high pressure vessel (5) disposed in one side of the electrochemical cell (4). In this device, the gas is decomposed into the ions in the first electrode (1). The decomposed ions are allowed to pass through the ion conductor (3) sandwiched in between the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (2) and conducted to the second electrode (2) side. The conducted ions are reconverted into the gas in the second electrode (2).

Abstract: Reflux systems and methods for purifying carbon nanostructures using same are provided. The reflux system includes a solvent flask, an extraction tube connected to the solvent flask by a siphon tube and a vapor tube each extending between the extraction tube and the solvent flask, and an energy application disposed around the bottom portion of the extraction tube. The reflux systems can be used in a one-step method of purifying carbon nanostructures that includes placing a soot sample that contains the carbon nanostructures and amorphous carbon in a filter and disposing the filter in the extraction tube.

Abstract: Methods and devices for producing fullerene are provided. The present invention includes a pair of electrodes spaced apart to define a region wherein an arc discharge can be conducted between the electrode pair and a gas containing carbon can be supplied to the region such that fullerene can be easily and readily produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrogen-containing carbonaceous material which has a new structure to supersede endohedral fullerenes and will find use in a broad range of applications, and a process capable of producing the same easily. The nitrogen-containing carbonaceous material comprises a plurality of spherical carbon molecules represented by Cn (where n denotes an integer which permits carbon atoms to form a geometrically spherical compound) and nitrogen atoms (or ions or radicals thereof) added to at least a portion of said spherical carbon molecules inside or outside. Also, the nitrogen-containing carbonaceous material comprises a plurality of spherical carbon molecules joined together through a nitrogen atom or its ion or radical.

Abstract: A proton conductor mainly contains a carbonaceous material derivative, such as, a fullerene derivative, a carbon cluster derivative, or a tubular carbonaceous material derivative in which groups capable of transferring protons, for example, —OH groups or —OSO3H groups are introduced to carbon atoms of the carbonaceous material derivative. The proton conductor is produced typically by compacting a powder of the carbonaceous material derivative. The proton conductor is usable, even in a dry state, in a wide temperature range including ordinary temperature. In particular, the proton conductor mainly containing the carbon cluster derivative is advantageous in increasing the strength and extending the selection range of raw materials. An electrochemical device, such as, a fuel cell, that employs the proton conductor is not limited by atmospheric conditions and can be of a small and simple construction.

Abstract: A carbonaceous complex structure in which a fullerene thin film is used as a part of the constituent material to improve adhesion between neighboring layers to enable a solar cell or a sensor to be produced to high strength, and a method for manufacturing the carbonaceous complex structure, are disclosed. The carbonaceous complex structure includes a substrate 1 of quartz or glass, on which are layered a carbonaceous thin film 2 and a fullerene thin film 3. Thermal decomposition of an organic compound is used for forming the carbonaceous thin film 2, while a method for vapor-depositing or polymerizing fullerene is used for forming the fullerene thin film 3.

Abstract: A fuel cell usable as a small-sized secondary cell such as a button type cell and a fuel cell system including the fuel cells are provided. The fuel cell has a first electrode, an electrolyte membrane, a second electrode, and a hydrogen storing material. The electrolyte membrane has polyfullerene hydroxide as a proton conductor. When a negative voltage is applied to the first electrode and a positive electrode is applied to the second electrode, protons, electrons, and oxygen are generated from water at the second electrode, and hydrogen is generated from the electrons and the protons at the first electrode. The hydrogen thus generated is stored in the hydrogen storing material, thus performing so-called charging. At the time of power generation, protons and electrons are generated, at the first electrode, from hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storing material, and the generated protons are conducted to the second electrode via the electrolyte membrane and water is generated at the second electrode.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbonaceous complex struture including forming an adherent carbonaceous thin film on a smooth surface of a substrate and forming an adherent fullerine thin film on the thus formed carbonaceous thin film.

Abstract: A proton conductor mainly contains a carbonaceous material derivative, such as, a fullerene derivative, a carbon cluster derivative, or a tubular carbonaceous material derivative in which groups capable of transferring protons, for example, —OH groups or —OSO3H groups are introduced to carbon atoms of the carbonaceous material derivative. The proton conductor is produced typically by compacting a powder of the carbonaceous material derivative. The proton conductor is usable, even in a dry state, in a wide temperature range including ordinary temperature. In particular, the proton conductor mainly containing the carbon cluster derivative is advantageous in increasing the strength and extending the selection range of raw materials. An electrochemical device, such as, a fuel cell, that employs the proton conductor is not limited by atmospheric conditions and can be of a small and simple construction.

Abstract: A hydrogen storing and desorbing apparatus is adapted to store hydrogen by a hydrogen storage material and desorb the stored hydrogen from a hydrogen storage material. The hydrogen storing and desorbing apparatus comprises a pressure-proof vessel (2), a cartridge (3) having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the pressure-proof vessel and an outer peripheral wall part (3a) and a bottom wall part (3b) made of a porous material and capable of providing a carbonaceous material therein, legs (6) for holding the cartridge (3) in the pressure-proof vessel (2) so that the bottom wall part is spaced from the bottom surface (2b) of the pressure-proof vessel (2) and the outer peripheral wall part is spaced from the inner side surface (2a) of the pressure-proof vessel (2), gas passages (11a) and (11b) connected to the pressure-proof vessel (2), valves (12a) and (12b) provided in the gas passages and a hydrogen gas supply source (14) connected to the pressure-proof vessel (2) by the gas passage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material obtained by heating a carbonaceous material at more than 50° C. under the atmosphere of reducing gas, a hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material obtained by hydrogen storage in the carbonaceous material heated at more than 50° C. under the atmosphere of reducing gas, and a battery or a fuel cell using the hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A method for producing carbon nanostructures using a chemical vapor deposition process. A carbon source and a mixture catalyst are used wherein the mixture catalyst includes at least one element, from a group A including Fe, Co and Ni, and at least one supporting element, from a group B including lanthanides. The lanthanide elements can be used to lower the melting point of the catalyst by forming alloys so that the carbon nanostructures can be grown at lower temperatures. Further, the lanthanide elements also enhance catalyst activity of Ni, Co or Fe by changing the catalyst surface electronic properties. Also, the lanthanide elements also scavenger excess carbon so that carbon nanostructures can be grown without contamination.

Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen flow rate control system is provided. The system has an electrochemical cell and a hydrogen flow rate control unit. The electrochemical cell includes a first electrode for generating protons (H+), a second electrode for converting the protons generated by said first electrode into hydrogen gas, and a proton conductive solid electrolyte membrane held between said first and second electrodes. The hydrogen flow rate control unit is adapted to generate a specific amount of hydrogen gas on the second electrode side. The proton conductive solid electrolyte membrane is made from a fullerene derivative obtained by introducing proton dissociative groups in carbon atoms of fullerene molecules. Such a control system is operable even in a non-humidified atmosphere and at room temperature and is configurable as lightweight and compact in system design.

Abstract: A charge separation heterojunction structure which uses a fullerene polymer film as a part of its constituent materials and which may be used to produce a solar cellor a light emitting diode superior in durability, physical properties of electrons and economic merits. The heterojunction structure is such a structure in which an electron-donating electrically conductive high-polymer film and an electron-accepting fullerene polymer film are layered between a pair of electrodes at least one of which is light transmitting. In forming the layers, the fullerene polymer film is identified using in particular the Raman and Nexafs methods in combination so that upper layers are formed after identifying the polymer film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material obtained by storing hydrogen in a carbonaceous material heated at more than 230° C. under a pressure reducing atmosphere, a battery and a fuel cell using this hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material. The carbonaceous material is heated at more than 230° C. under the pressure reducing atmosphere so that its surface can be efficiently cleaned and an area where the surface of the carbonaceous material comes into contact with hydrogen atoms or hydrogen molecules is increased.