Abstract: Disclosed are an inorganic nanofiber characterized in that the average fiber diameter is 2 ?m or less, the average fiber length is 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length is 0.7 or less; and a method of manufacturing the same. In the manufacturing method, an inorganic nanofiber sheet consisting of inorganic nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 2 ?m or less is formed by electrospinning, and then, the inorganic nanofiber sheet is pressed using a press machine and crushed so that the average fiber length becomes 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length becomes 0.7 or less.

Abstract: A composite polymer electrolyte membrane has a high proton conductivity even under low-humidity, low-temperature conditions, a reduced dimensional change rate, a high mechanical strength and high chemical stability, and produces a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell with a high output and high physical durability, a membrane electrode assembly, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell containing the same. This composite polymer electrolyte membrane contains a composite layer composed mainly of a polyazole-containing nanofiber nonwoven fabric (A) and an ionic group-containing polymer electrolyte (B), the polyazole-containing nanofiber nonwoven fabric (A) being basic.

Abstract: A composite polymer electrolyte membrane has a high proton conductivity even under low-humidity, low-temperature conditions, a reduced dimensional change rate, a high mechanical strength and high chemical stability, and produces a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell with a high output and high physical durability, a membrane electrode assembly, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell containing the same. This composite polymer electrolyte membrane contains a composite layer composed mainly of a polyazole-containing nanofiber nonwoven fabric (A) and an ionic group-containing polymer electrolyte (B), the polyazole-containing nanofiber nonwoven fabric (A) being basic.

Abstract: Disclosed are an inorganic nanofiber characterized in that the average fiber diameter is 2 ?m or less, the average fiber length is 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length is 0.7 or less; and a method of manufacturing the same. In the manufacturing method, an inorganic nanofiber sheet consisting of inorganic nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 2 ?m or less is formed by electrospinning, and then, the inorganic nanofiber sheet is pressed using a press machine and crushed so that the average fiber length becomes 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length becomes 0.7 or less.

Abstract: Disclosed are an inorganic nanofiber characterized in that the average fiber diameter is 2 ?m or less, the average fiber length is 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length is 0.7 or less; and a method of manufacturing the same. In the manufacturing method, an inorganic nanofiber sheet consisting of inorganic nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 2 ?m or less is formed by electrospinning, and then, the inorganic nanofiber sheet is pressed using a press machine and crushed so that the average fiber length becomes 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length becomes 0.7 or less.

Abstract: Disclosed are an inorganic nanofiber characterized in that the average fiber diameter is 2 ?m or less, the average fiber length is 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length is 0.7 or less; and a method of manufacturing the same. In the manufacturing method, an inorganic nanofiber sheet consisting of inorganic nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 2 ?m or less is formed by electrospinning, and then, the inorganic nanofiber sheet is pressed using a press machine and crushed so that the average fiber length becomes 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length becomes 0.7 or less.

Abstract: The base material for a gas diffusion electrode of the present invention comprises a nonwoven fabric containing conductive fibers that contain conductive particles at least in the inside of an organic resin, and is characterized in that a specific apparent Young's modulus of the base material for a gas diffusion electrode is 40 [MPa/(g/cm3)] or more. Since the base material contains conductive fibers that contain conductive particles at least in the inside of an organic resin, it is flexible, and as a result, a polymer electrolyte membrane is not directly damaged. Further, since the specific apparent Young's modulus is 40 [MPa/(g/cm3)] or more, which indicates a high rigidity, and swelling and shrinkage of the polymer electrolyte membrane can be inhibited, cracking of the polymer electrolyte membrane can be avoided.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a conductive porous material that has a large specific surface area, that is not easily damaged by pressure, and that can be applied to a variety of applications; a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and a method of manufacturing a conductive porous material. The conductive porous material is one which is an aggregate of fibrous substances comprising first conductive materials, and second conductive materials that connect between the first conductive materials, and its specific surface area is 100 m2/g or more, and its thickness retention rate after pressing at 2 MPa is 60% or more. Such a conductive porous material can be manufactured by spinning a spinning solution containing a first conductive material and a carbonizable organic material to form a precursor fiber porous material in which precursor fibers are aggregated, and carbonizing the carbonizable organic material to convert it into a second conductive material.

Abstract: The base material for a gas diffusion electrode of the present invention comprises a nonwoven fabric containing conductive fibers that contain conductive particles at least in the inside of an organic resin, and is characterized in that a specific apparent Young's modulus of the base material for a gas diffusion electrode is 40 [MPa/(g/cm3)] or more. Since the base material contains conductive fibers that contain conductive particles at least in the inside of an organic resin, it is flexible, and as a result, a polymer electrolyte membrane is not directly damaged. Further, since the specific apparent Young's modulus is 40 [MPa/(g/cm3)] or more, which indicates a high rigidity, and swelling and shrinkage of the polymer electrolyte membrane can be inhibited, cracking of the polymer electrolyte membrane can be avoided.

Abstract: Disclosed are an inorganic nanofiber characterized in that the average fiber diameter is 2 ?m or less, the average fiber length is 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length is 0.7 or less; and a method of manufacturing the same. In the manufacturing method, an inorganic nanofiber sheet consisting of inorganic nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 2 ?m or less is formed by electrospinning, and then, the inorganic nanofiber sheet is pressed using a press machine and crushed so that the average fiber length becomes 200 ?m or less, and the CV value of the fiber length becomes 0.7 or less.

Abstract: An inorganic fiber structure comprising inorganic nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 3 ?m or less, in which an entirety including the inside thereof is adhered with an inorganic adhesive, and the porosity thereof is 90% or more, is disclosed.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing inorganic nanofibers, without using an organic polymer, using a highly reactive metal alkoxide such as titanium alkoxide or zirconium alkoxide, in particular, a process in which inorganic nanofibers can be stably produced over a long period, is provided. It is a process of manufacturing inorganic nanofibers by electrospinning using a sol solution containing an inorganic component as a main component, characterized in that the sol solution contains a metal alkoxide having a high reactivity and a salt catalyst, and that the salt catalyst is an amine compound having an N—N bond, an N—O bond, an N—C?N bond, or an N—C?S bond.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing organic fibers containing an inorganic component comprising the steps of: (1) preparing an inorganic spinnable sol solution; (2) mixing the inorganic spinnable sol solution, a solvent capable of dissolving the inorganic spinnable sol solution, and an organic polymer capable of being dissolved in the solvent to prepare a spinning solution; and (3) spinning the spinning solution to form the organic fibers containing an inorganic component composed of an inorganic gel and the organic polymer, is disclosed. The inorganic spinnable sol solution preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 or more, and the inorganic spinnable sol solution is preferably prepared from a material containing a metal alkoxide having an organic substituent.

Abstract: An inorganic fiber structure comprising inorganic nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of 3 ?m or less, in which an entirety including the inside thereof is adhered with an inorganic adhesive, and the porosity thereof is 90% or more, is disclosed.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing inorganic nanofibers, without using an organic polymer, using a highly reactive metal alkoxide such as titanium alkoxide or zirconium alkoxide, in particular, a process in which inorganic nanofibers can be stably produced over a long period, is provided. It is a process of manufacturing inorganic nanofibers by electrospinning using a sol solution containing an inorganic component as a main component, characterized in that the sol solution contains a metal alkoxide having a high reactivity and a salt catalyst, and that the salt catalyst is an amine compound having an N—N bond, an N—O bond, an N—C?N bond, or an N—C?S bond.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing organic fibers containing an inorganic component comprising the steps of: (1) preparing an inorganic spinnable sol solution; (2) mixing the inorganic spinnable sol solution, a solvent capable of dissolving the inorganic spinnable sol solution, and an organic polymer capable of being dissolved in the solvent to prepare a spinning solution; and (3) spinning the spinning solution to form the organic fibers containing an inorganic component composed of an inorganic gel and the organic polymer, is disclosed. The inorganic spinnable sol solution preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 or more, and the inorganic spinnable sol solution is preferably prepared from a material containing a metal alkoxide having an organic substituent.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an inorganic material-based article comprising the steps of

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an inorganic material-based article comprising the steps of (1) forming a sol solution mainly composed of an inorganic component, (2) producing inorganic material-based gel fine fibers by extruding the resulting sol solution from a nozzle, and at the same time, applying an electrical field to the extruded sol solution to thin the extruded sol solution, and then, collecting inorganic material-based gel fine fibers on a support, (3) drying the collected inorganic material-based gel fine fibers to produce inorganic material-based article containing inorganic material-based dried gel fine fibers, and then, (4) sintering the inorganic material-based article containing inorganic material-based dried gel fine fibers to produce inorganic material-based article containing inorganic material-based sintered fine fibers.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an inorganic material-based article comprising the steps of

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric prepared from fibers which are not substantially fibrillated and have a diameter of less than 20 &mgr;m, by fusing a fiber web comprising fine fibers having a diameter of 4 &mgr;m or less, and adhesive fibers having a diameter ranging from 8 &mgr;m to less than 20 &mgr;m, wherein a maximum pore size in the nonwoven fabric is not more than twice a mean flow pore size of the nonwoven fabric is disclosed.