Abstract: An ionic conductor, such as a proton conductor, a process for production thereof, and an electrochemical device, such as fuel cell, that includes the ionic conductor is provided. The ionic conductor of the present invention is formed from a polymer in which carbon clusters having ion dissociating functional groups are bonded to each other through connecting groups which can also include one or more ion dissociating functional groups. In this regard, the polymer is less water-soluble and more chemically stable than a derivative composed solely of carbon clusters, thus displaying enhanced ionic conduction properties.

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-storing carbonaceous material 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.

Abstract: A hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material is obtained by heating a carbonaceous material before hydrogen is stored under the pressure of hydrogen lower than 50 atmospheric pressure. A hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material is obtained by hydrogen storage in the hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material under the pressure of hydrogen lower than 50 atmospheric pressure. This hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material is used for a battery or a fuel cell. The hydrogen-stored carbonaceous material is heated before the hydrogen is stored under the pressure of hydrogen lower than 50 atmospheric pressure, so that the hydrogen-storing carbonaceous material whose hydrogen storage capacity is extremely improved is produced.

Abstract: An arc discharge is generated between a pair of carbon rod electrodes 1 and 2 and gas containing carbon is supplied to a part between the pair of carbon electrodes 1 and 2 from a gas supply pipe 8 or a through bole 16, so that a large amount of fullerenes, especially carbon nanotubes is simply produced with high yield.

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 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 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 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 photocatalyst having superior durability; a manufacturing method for the photocatalyst and a method and apparatus for decomposing a gas, where a film which is fullerene-based but different from the evaporated fullerene film is used. The photocatalyst has a fullerene polymer film layered on a substrate. There may be carried fine metal particles on the fullerene polymer film. These fine metal particles are carried by sputtering, evaporation or coating on the fullerene polymer film. The apparatus for decomposing the gas includes a light source and a fullerene polymer film. In effecting gas decomposition, the gas to be processed is contacted with the fullerene polymer film under light illumination.

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 non-aqueous electrolyte cell equipped with an anode made of a carbonaceous material capable of intercalating and deintercalating light metal ions and imparted with high capacity characteristics and favorable cyclic properties, wherein the carbonaceous material is obtained by irradiating the carbonaceous material, in a gaseous atmosphere, with an electron beam, accelerated in high vacuum.

Abstract: A carbonaceous material for hydrogen storage capable of storing hydrogen in the form of protons is provided. The carbonaceous material is composed of molecules having structural curvatures and has a work function of 4.9 eV or more. The carbonaceous material can be produced by an arc discharge process using a carbon based electrode. Examples of these carbonaceous materials include a baked body composed of a polymer produced from fullerenes by baking thereof, a polymer produced from fullerenes by electrolytic polymerization, a carbonaceous derivative produced by introducing groups allowing hydrogen bonding with protons to a carbonaceous material, and a carbonaceous material composed of molecules having structural bending portions. The carbonaceous materials for hydrogen storage are used for electrochemical devices, such as an alkali battery, air cell, and a fuel cell.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte cell equipped with an anode made of a carbonaceous material capable of intercalating and deintercalating light metal ions and imparted with high capacity characteristics and favorable cyclic properties, wherein the carbonaceous material is obtained by irradiating, in a gaseous atmosphere, an electron beam accelerated in high vacuum. The anode made of a carbonaceous material is subjected to electron beam irradiation at a dose ranging from 300 kGy to 1000 kGy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder dispersed in a binder so as to exhibit an excellent electromagnetic property.The magnetic recording medium has a magnetic layer formed on a non-magnetic body, from a magnetic paint mainly consisting of a ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent. This magnetic layer also contains a metal chelate compound of a diketone shown in Chemical Formula given below: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 are selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl group, nitro group, carboxyl group, carbonyl group, amino group, amide group, and sulfonic acid group as well as alkyl group, aryl group, hetero-aromatic group replaced therewith and wherein the metal of the chelate compound is Ti, Zr, Ni, Sn, Co, or Cr.

Abstract: A novel bi-nuclear metal complex with greater luminescence and higher electron transfer potency and an optical device such as organic EL devices using therein the metal complex, are provided, together with a method for producing the novel complex at a higher efficiency. The complex containing specific ligands is represented by the following general formula:General formula ?I!:M.sub.2 (L.sup.l -O).sub.m (L.sup.2 -0).sub.n (L.sup.3 -0).sub.3-m-n Xp(wherein M represents a divalent metal atom or Zn; L.sup.1, L.sup.2 and L.sup.3 are ligands, individually different from each other;X represents an anion;"m" and "n" represent independently an integer of 0 to 3; and"p" represents an integer of 0 to 4.).

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic base layer and an magnetic layer provided thereon which comprises a magnetic powder and a binder cured with a curing agent, wherein said binder has the hydroxyl group and said curing agent is a mixed polyvalent isocyanate compound comprising oligomers made of a diisocyanate monomer, wherein 50% by weight or more of said mixed compound comprises said oligomers which have polymerization degrees of 7 or less. The curing agent improves curing properties of the binder, and the magnetic recording medium produced therewith is excellent in sliding durability.

Abstract: A light yet highly workable magnetic substance is disclosed which consists mainly of a wholly novel material, fine crystal spherical carbon represented by C.sub.n X.sub.m where n is an integer selected from the group consisting of 60, 70, 76, 84, etc., m represents a positive number not more than n and not zero, and X represents at least one of hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

Abstract: A developer for electrostatic electrophotography which comprises a composition of colorant particles, an electric charge supplying agent and a resin binder dispersed in a dispersion medium. The resin binder is a copolymer which has a polyoxyethylene units at side chains thereof, so that the interaction with the electric charge supplying agent is improved. The resultant developer ensures good resolution, gradation and fixing property and is suitable for wet development to give high-quality images. When the copolymer used as the resin binder has styrene units therein, its solubility in the dispersion medium is improved. The developer is either liquid or solid depending on the type of dispersion medium.