Abstract: A gold-supported carbon catalyst includes gold fine particles supported on carbon black, wherein the gold fine particles are coordinated by an alkanethiol at a coverage of from 10% to 70%, and wherein the gold fine particles have an average particle diameter of from 1.0 nm to 1.5 nm.

Abstract: Provided is a heat-resistant Ir alloy, which is further improved in Vickers hardness while maintaining satisfactory processability. Specifically, provided is a heat-resistant Ir alloy, including: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Pt; 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta; and 0.003 mass % to 0.15 mass % of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of: Sc; Hf; and W, with the balance being Ir.

Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy which is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The Ir alloy consists of: 7 mass % or more, and less than 10 mass % of Rh; 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta; 0 mass % to 5 mass % of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni; and Ir as the balance, wherein a total content of the Ta and the at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni is 5 mass % or less.

Abstract: An iridium alloy includes iridium, platinum, and tantalum. A content of the platinum in the iridium alloy falls within a range from 5 wt % to 30 wt %, and a content of the tantalum in the iridium alloy falls within a range from 0.3 wt % to 5 wt %.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst including carbon and a nanosheet supported on the carbon. The nanosheet includes a metal ruthenium nanosheet, and a platinum atomic layer formed on an entire surface of the metal ruthenium nanosheet. The metal ruthenium nanosheet is a monoatomic layer, and the platinum atomic layer is a monoatomic layer or a monoatomic layer laminated body.

Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy, which is further improved in Vickers hardness. Specifically, provided is a heat-resistant Ir alloy, including: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta; and 0.003 mass % to 0.15 mass % of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of: Sc; Hf; and W, with the balance being Ir.

Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy wire, which is further improved in oxidation wear resistance while ensuring a Vickers hardness. The Ir alloy wire includes: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; and 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta, wherein an average value A for an aspect ratio (crystal grain length/crystal grain width) of a structure of the alloy wire in a range of a depth of 0.05 mm or less from a surface of the alloy wire satisfies 1?A<6.

Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy which is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The Ir alloy consists of: 7 mass % or more, and less than 10 mass % of Rh; 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta; 0 mass % to 5 mass % of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni; and Ir as the balance, wherein a total content of the Ta and the at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni is 5 mass % or less.

Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy, which is further improved in Vickers hardness. Specifically, provided is a heat-resistant Ir alloy, including: 5 mass% to 30 mass% of Rh; 0.5 mass% to 5 mass% of Ta; and 0.003 mass% to 0.15 mass% of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of: Sc; Hf; and W, with the balance being Ir.

Abstract: Provided is an Ir alloy wire, which is further improved in oxidation wear resistance while ensuring a Vickers hardness. The Ir alloy wire includes: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; and 0.5 mass % to 5 mass % of Ta, wherein an average value A for an aspect ratio (crystal grain length/crystal grain width) of a structure of the alloy wire in a range of a depth of 0.05 mm or less from a surface of the alloy wire satisfies 1?A<6.

Abstract: An Ir alloy is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The heat-resistant Ir alloy includes: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; 0.3 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group A made of at least one kind of element selected from among Ta and Re; and 0 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group B made of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni, wherein the heat-resistant Ir alloy includes 5 mass % or less of the element group A and the element group B in total, and wherein, when the at least one kind of element in the element group A includes Re, the at least one kind of element in the element group B is Co alone, Cr alone, or two or more kinds selected from Co, Cr, and Ni.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst including carbon and a nanosheet supported on the carbon. The nanosheet includes a metal ruthenium nanosheet, and a platinum atomic layer formed on an entire surface of the metal ruthenium nanosheet. The metal ruthenium nanosheet is a monoatomic layer, and the platinum atomic layer is a monoatomic layer or a monoatomic layer laminated body.

Abstract: A core-shell structure nanosheet includes a metal ruthenium nanosheet, and a platinum atomic layer provided on a surface of the metal ruthenium nanosheet. An electrocatalyst includes carbon, and the core shell structure nanosheet supported on the carbon. A method for manufacturing an electrocatalyst includes applying a ruthenium oxide nanosheet colloid which comprises a ruthenium oxide nanosheet, on carbon to obtain a carbon-supported ruthenium oxide nanosheet, in which the ruthenium oxide nanosheet is supported on the carbon. The carbon-supported ruthenium oxide nanosheet is reduced to obtain a carbon-supported ruthenium metal nanosheet, in which a ruthenium metal nanosheet is supported on the carbon. A platinum atomic layer is provided on a surface of the metal ruthenium nanosheet to obtain the electrocatalyst.

Abstract: An Ir alloy is excellent in high temperature strength while ensuring oxidation wear resistance at high temperature. The heat-resistant Ir alloy includes: 5 mass % to 30 mass % of Rh; 0.3 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group A made of at least one kind of element selected from among Ta and Re; and 0 mass % to 5 mass % of an element group B made of at least one kind of element selected from among Co, Cr, and Ni, wherein the heat-resistant Ir alloy includes 5 mass % or less of the element group A and the element group B in total, and wherein, when the at least one kind of element in the element group A includes Re, the at least one kind of element in the element group B is Co alone, Cr alone, or two or more kinds selected from Co, Cr, and Ni.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst having enhanced catalytic activity (oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) specific activity). Disclosed is an electrode catalyst containing a catalyst metal particle(s) and a spacer(s) supported on a catalyst support, in which a ratio (dsp/dcat) of an average diameter of the spacer(s) (dsp) with respect to an average diameter of the catalyst metal particle(s) (dcat) is from 3.5 to 10.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst having enhanced catalytic activity (oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) specific activity). Disclosed is an electrode catalyst containing a catalyst metal particle(s) and a spacer(s) supported on a catalyst support, in which a ratio (dsp/dcat) of an average diameter of the spacer(s) (dsp) with respect to an average diameter of the catalyst metal particle(s) (dcat) is from 3.5 to 10.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a platinum group-based alloy capable of producing a sound molten ingot of a platinum group-based alloy in a large amount.

Abstract: A spark plug has a center electrode and an earth electrode. The center electrode is faced to the earth electrode so that a spark discharging gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. An electrode chip is formed on at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode. The electrode chip has a composition containing 40 to 60 mol % of aluminum and iridium as a remainder thereof. In the composition of the electrode chip, it is possible to replace part of the iridium with 1 to 20 mol % of at least one metal selected from nickel, iron, cobalt, platinum and rhodium.

Abstract: This invention provides sputtering target materials having high reflectance and excellent heat resistance, which are formed of Ag base alloys formed by adding a specific, minor amount of P to Ag and alloying them.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine has a center electrode, an earth electrode, and an electrode chip formed on at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode. A spark discharge gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. The electrode chip has a base section, a chromium rich layer formed on at least a part of the base section, and a diffusion layer formed between the base section and the chromium rich layer. The base section contains chromium within a range of 5 to 45 mass %, an element X within a range of 0.5 to 25 mass %, and a remainder composed of tungsten and unavoidable impurity. The chromium rich layer is larger in content of chromium than the base section. The element X contained in the base section is comprised of at least one of molybdenum, silicon, aluminum and lead.