Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst which is not corroded in an acidic electrolyte or at a high potential, is excellent in durability and has high oxygen reduction activity. The catalyst of the present invention comprises an oxycarbonitride of titanium. The oxycarbonitride of titanium is preferably represented by the composition formula TiCxNyOz (wherein x, y and z represent a ratio of the numbers of atoms and are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0<x?1.0, 0<y?1.0, 0.1?z<2.0, 1.0<x+y+z?2.0 and 2.0?4x+3y+2z). The catalyst is preferably a catalyst for a fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst carrier having excellent durability and capable of attaining high catalytic ability without increasing the specific surface area thereof, and a catalyst obtainable by using the catalyst carrier. The catalyst carrier of the present invention comprises a metal oxycarbonitride, preferably the metal contained in the metal oxycarbonitride comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of niobium, tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, cerium, mercury, plutonium, gold, silver, iridium, palladium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and nickel. Moreover, the catalyst of the present invention comprises the catalyst carrier and a catalyst metal supported on the catalyst carrier.

Abstract: Electrocatalyst layers include an electrocatalyst having high oxygen reduction activity that is useful as an alternative material to platinum catalysts. Uses of the electrocatalyst layers are also disclosed. The electrocatalyst layer includes an electrocatalyst that is formed of a metal oxide obtained by thermally decomposing a metal organic compound. The metal element forming the electrocatalyst is preferably one selected from the group consisting of niobium, titanium, tantalum and zirconium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst which is not corroded in an acidic electrolyte or at a high potential, is excellent in durability and has high oxygen reduction ability. The catalyst of the present invention is characterized by including a niobium oxycarbonitride. The catalyst of the invention is also characterized by including a niobium oxycarbonitride represented by the composition formula NbCxNyOz, wherein x, y and z represent a ratio of the numbers of atoms and are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0.01?x?2, 0.01?y?2, 0.01?z?3 and x+y+z?5.

Abstract: Catalyst layers include an electrocatalyst having high oxygen reduction activity that is useful as an alternative material to platinum catalysts. Uses of the catalyst layers are also disclosed. A catalyst layer of the invention includes an electrode substrate and an electrocatalyst on the surface of the electrode substrate, and the electrocatalyst is formed of a metal compound obtained by hydrolyzing a metal salt or a metal complex.

Abstract: A secondary battery comprised of a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode comprises a sodium-cobalt oxide as the main component, the negative electrode is composed of a composite body comprising a sodium alloy such as a sodium/lead or sodium/tin alloy, a carbon material and a binder, and the non-aqueous electrolyte is composed of a sodium salt and an ether compound. The positive electrode and negative electrode is prepared by a process wherein a binder is swollen with or dissolved in an organic solvent, the swollen or dissolved binder is mixed with a carbon material, and the mixture is then mixed with a sodium alloy or a sodium-cobalt oxide directly or after removal of the organic solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous secondary battery having a positive electrode composed of a polymer of aniline or an aniline derivative and a negative electrode composed of (i) and alkali metal, (ii) an alkali metal alloy, (iii) an electroconductive polymer or (iv) an alkali metal or alkali metal alloy/electroconductive polymer composite, wherein the polymer of aniline or an aniline derivative is formed by converting a doped polymer obtained by oxidative polymerization to an undoped state.

Abstract: A battery having electrodes, at least one of which is made of a polymeric compound having conjugated double bonds in the main chain, is described. The organic solvent of an electrolytic solution in the battery is selected from nitrile compounds of the formulae (I) and (II):R--CN (I)wherein R is a C2-7 alkyl, a saturated alicyclic C3-7 hydrocarbon residue, CH.sub.3 --(CH.sub.2).sub.x --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.y or NC--CH.sub.2).sub.z (x, y and z are 0 or a positive integer of up to 5), and ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --CN, --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.q --CN or ##STR2## in which R.sub.3 is a C1-5 alkyl and p, q and r are 0 or a positive integer of up to 5, R.sub.2 is C1-5 alkyl, C1-5 alkoxy or --CH.sub.2).sub.l --CN in which l is 0 or a positive integer of up to 3, and m is a positive integer of up to 3, and n is 0 or a positive integer of up to 3.

Abstract: A second battery, the negative electrode of which or both the negative and positive electrodes of which are made of a polymeric compound having conjugated double bonds in the main chain, is described. The electrolyte used in the battery is an ammonium salt represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 stand for an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the case where all of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same groups is excluded, and X is an anion.