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: A substance-occluding material, an electrochemical device employing same and a method of producing same are provided. The substance-occluding material wherein a substance, for example, a fullerene molecule, different from a substance to be occluded, such as hydrogen gas, is contained in the inside of a tubular material, such as carbon nanotube.

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: An arc electrode structure, for producing carbon nanostructures, which includes a first electrode and two or more second electrodes disposed within a chamber is provided. The electrodes are connected to a voltage potential to produce an arc-plasma region. The first electrode has a sloped surface with a plurality of holes therein for holding catalyst. The first electrode's sloped surface, and the positioning of the plurality of second electrodes allows control of the direction and region of arc-plasma. Further, the first electrode has a central bore which may be either a blind bore, or a through bore. The blind bore collects unwanted deposits that slide off of the sloped surface of the first electrode. The throughbore either allows soot and carbon nanostructures to be removed from the chamber, or allows organic vapor to be introduced into the chamber.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material and a non-aqueous electrolyte cell which uses the positive electrode active material. The cell has a high discharge voltage without lowering the capacity and superior charging/discharging characteristics. To this end, the positive electrode active material contains a compound represented by the general formula LixMnyFe1-yPO4, wherein 0<x≦2 and 0.5<y<0.95, or a compound represented by the general formula LixMnyA1-yPO4, where 0<x≦2 and 0<y<1 and wherein A is a metal element selected from among Ti, Zn, Mg and Co or plural metal elements selected from among Ti, Fe, Zn, Mg and Co.

Abstract: A lithium ion cell less costly than a control lithium ion cell is provided. The lithium ion cell is improved appreciably in operational stability under special conditions, such as high temperatures, and exhibits superior characteristics against over-discharging, while guaranteeing compatibility to the operating voltage of a conventional lithium ion cell and an energy density equivalent to that of the conventional lithium ion cell. To this end, the lithium ion cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, and uses, as a positive electrode active material, a composite material of a first lithium compound represented by the general formula LixMyPO4, where 0<x<2, 0.8<y<1.2 and M contains Fe, and a second lithium compound having a potential holder than the potential of the first lithium compound.

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 is relative with a power generating apparatus including a proton conductor unit (6), containing a fullerene derivative, a hydrogen electrode (4) bonded to one surface of the proton conductor unit (6), an oxygen electrode (5) bonded to the other surface of the proton conductor unit (6), and a hydrogen gas supplying unit (2) for supplying a hydrogen gas at a pressure of approximately 0.2 to approximately 3.5 atm to the hydrogen electrode (4). The present power generating apparatus effectively suppresses transmission of hydrogen and oxygen gases so that it is possible to prevent the hydrogen gas from being emitted to atmosphere due to transmission as well as to prevent the oxygen gas from reaching the hydrogen electrode on transmission to prevent the hydrogen gas from being consumed without contributing to power generation.

Abstract: An arc electrode structure, for producing carbon nanostructures, which includes a first electrode and two or more second electrodes disposed within a chamber. The electrodes are connected to a voltage potential to produce an arc-plasma region. The first electrode has a sloped surface with a plurality of holes therein for holding catalyst. The first electrode's sloped surface, and the positioning of the plurality of second electrodes allows control of the direction and region of arc-plasma. Further, the first electrode has a central bore which may be either a blind bore, or a through bore. The blind bore collects unwanted deposits that slide off of the sloped surface of the first electrode. The throughbore either allows soot and carbon nanostructures to be removed from the chamber, or allows organic vapor to be introduced into the chamber.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery employing a positive electrode active material containing a compound represented by the general formula LixMyPO4, where 0<x≦2 and 0.8≦y≦1.2, with M containing a 3d transition metal, where LixMyPO4 encompasses that with the grain size not larger than 10 &mgr;m. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has superior cyclic characteristics and a high capacity.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery employing a positive electrode active material containing a compound represented by the general formula LixMyPO4, where 0<x≦2 and 0.8≦y≦1.2, with M containing a 3d transition metal, where LixMyPO4 encompasses that with the grain size not larger than 10 &mgr;m. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has superior cyclic characteristics and a high capacity.

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 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 heating apparatus 1 for preventing increase of the temperature difference on the heating surfaces and occurrence of heat spots in a broad temperature range including a high temperature region includes a substrate 2 made of a ceramic material with a heating surface 2A, a plurality of resistance-heating elements 3 and 4 buried in said substance 2, pairs of terminals 5 and 6, each pair of the terminals 6 and 5 being attached to a respective one of the resistance-heating elements to supply alternating current there to, and AC power sources 11A and 11B each connected to respective one of said pairs of the terminals 6 and 5 for the respective resistance-heating elements to supply the alternating current thereto. Insulating transformers 10A and 10B each are interposed between the respective AC power source and the pair of the terminals.

Abstract: A lithium ion cell less costly than a control lithium ion cell is provided. The lithium ion cell is improved appreciably in operational stability under special conditions, such as high temperatures, and exhibits superior characteristics against over-discharging, while guaranteeing compatibility to the operating voltage of a conventional lithium ion cell and an energy density equivalent to that of the conventional lithium ion cell. To this end, the lithium ion cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, and uses, as a positive electrode active material, a composite material of a first lithium compound represented by the general formula LixMyPO4, where 0<x<2, 0.8<y<1.2 and M contains Fe, and a second lithium compound having a potential holder than the potential of the first lithium compound.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material and a non-aqueous electrolyte cell which uses the positive electrode active material. The cell has a high discharge voltage without lowering the capacity and superior charging/discharging characteristics. To this end, the positive electrode active material contains a compound represented by the general formula LixMnyFe1-yPO4, wherein 0<x≦2 and 0.5<y<0.95, or a compound represented by the general formula LixMnyA1-yPO4, where 0<x≦2 and 0<y<1 and wherein A is a metal element selected from among Ti, Zn, Mg and Co or plural metal elements selected from among Ti, Fe, Zn, Mg and Co.

Abstract: A heating apparatus 1 for preventing increase of the temperature difference on the heating surfaces and occurrence of heat spots in a broad temperature range including a high temperature region is disclosed. The heating apparatus 1 comprises a substrate 2 made of a ceramic material with a heating surface 2A, a plurality of resistance-heating elements 3 and 4 buried in said substance 2, pairs of terminals 3 and 4, each pair of the terminals 6 and 5 being attached to a respective one of the resistance-heating elements to supply alternating current there to, and AC power sources 11A and 11B each connected to respective one of said pairs of the terminals 6 and 5 for the respective resistance-heating elements to supply the alternating current thereto. Insulating transformers 10A and 10B each are interposed between the respective AC power source and the pair of the terminals.

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: Disclosed herein is an optical waveguide device of LiNbO.sub.3 which guides efficiently both or either of ordinary ray and extraordinary ray of visible light in the short wavelength region. It is prepared by forming an LiNbO.sub.3 thin film optical waveguide on an LiNbO.sub.3 substrate undoped or doped with MgO, with or without a base layer interposed between them, by liquid phase epitaxy which employs Li.sub.2 O-B.sub.2 O.sub.3 as the flux.

Abstract: An optical waveguide, a dielectric device and method for fabricating such devices in which a substrate is polarized in a first direction and a dielectric thin film is formed on the surface of the substrate and polarized in the opposite direction to the substrate. Parallel grooves may be formed in the substrate. In one embodiment, a first dielectric thin film is formed on the substrate and is formed with grooves and is polarized in the same direction as the substrate. Then, a second dielectric thin film is formed over the first dielectric thin film and it is polarized in a direction which is opposite to the substrate and the first thin film.