Abstract: A water electrolyte cell can be used with a high energy efficiency over a long period of time. The water electrolyte cell has a pair of catalytic layers and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the catalytic layers. The catalytic layers includes an anode catalytic layer which contains a catalyst comprising an alloy of ruthenium, iridium, and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, and cobalt, or an oxide of the alloy, or a mixture of the alloy and an oxide thereof. The at least one metal has a molar ratio with respect to ruthenium and iridium in the range from 0.05 to 0.13 mol with respect to 0.8 to 2.2 mols, preferably 1.8 to 2.2 mols, of ruthenium and 0.8 to 1.2 mols of iridium. The electrolyte membrane comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A water electrolyte cell can be used with a high energy efficiency over a long period of time. The water electrolyte cell has a pair of catalytic layers and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the catalytic layers. The catalytic layers includes an anode catalytic layer which contains a catalyst comprising an alloy of ruthenium, iridium, and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, and cobalt, or an oxide of the alloy, or a mixture of the alloy and an oxide thereof. The at least one metal has a molar ratio with respect to ruthenium and iridium in the range from 0.05 to 0.13 mol with respect to 0.8 to 2.2 mols, preferably 1.8 to 2.2 mols, of ruthenium and 0.8 to 1.2 mols of iridium. The electrolyte membrane comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: In a water electrolyzing system of a solar-power-generating type, a low power generated by a photovoltaic generator and not reaching a level required for the operation of a water electrolyzer is utilized effectively. A water electrolyzing system includes a water electrolyzer, a first photovoltaic generator which is a power source of the water electrolyzer, and at least one electric device, for example, an accumulating device and a heater for raising the temperature of water to be electrolyzed. When a power generated by the first photovoltaic generator is lower than a level required for the operation of the water electrolyzer, if the temperature of the water to be electrolyzed is lower than 80°, the generated power is supplied to the temperature-raising heater, or if T≧80°, the generated power is supplied to the accumulating device and accumulated therein.

Abstract: A water electrolytic apparatus includes, and a plurality of water electrolytic cells each having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode, and a cathode, the anode and the cathode being arranged on opposite sides of the electrolyte membrane, respectively. The water electrolytic cells are developed on a hypothetical plane and electrically connected in series to one another. In the water electrolytic apparatus, an increase in electric current can be inhibited.

Abstract: In an article, a binding layer formed through a heating step exists between a permanent magnet and a laminate of steel plates. The binding layer is formed by producing a liquid phase at the heating step from a brazing filler metal made of a rare earth element-based alloy. Diffusion areas exist between a body portion of the permanent magnet and a body portion of the binding layer and between a body portion of the laminate and the body portion of the binding layer, respectively. The thickness t of each of the diffusion areas is in a range of t≧5 &mgr;m. The bond strength in the article is greatly increased by the provision of the diffusion areas.

Abstract: This invention provides a solid polymer electrolyte which is low in water absorption, from which no dopant runs out even in pressing, and which is excellent in stability in the presence of water or methanol, proton conductivity and methanol barrier properties, in which an imidazole ring-containing polymer such as a polybenzimidazole compound is doped with an acid in which at least one hydrogen atom of an inorganic acid such as phosphoric acid is substituted by a functional group having a phenyl group by blending the imidazole ring-containing polymer with the acid in a solution using a solvent such as trifluoroacetic acid, preferably at a rate of 1 to 10 molecules of the acid per repeating structure unit of a molecular chain of the imidazole ring-containing polymer, the solid polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: In producing a rotor for a rotating machine by bonding a rotor body and a plurality of permanent magnets to each other through a heating step and a subsequent cooling step, a rotor body having a larger coefficicient of linear thermal expansion at the cooling step has its joint surface formed by assembling of a plurality of small joint faces. Thus, it is possible to moderate a thermal stress in a brazing filler metal layer between the rotor body and each of the permanent magnets to avoid the generation of cracks in the permanent magnets having a smaller coefficient of linear thermal expansion at the cooling step and to firmly bond the rotor body and each of the permanent magnets to each other.

Abstract: In an article, a binding layer formed through a heating step exists between a permanent magnet and a laminate of steel plates. The binding layer is formed by producing a liquid phase at the heating step from a brazing filler metal made of a rare earth element-based alloy. Diffusion areas exist between a body portion of the permanent magnet and a body portion of the binding layer and between a body portion of the laminate and the body portion of the binding layer, respectively. The thickness t of each of the diffusion areas is in a range of t.gtoreq.5 .mu.m. The bond strength in the article is greatly increased by the provision of the diffusion areas.

Abstract: Quasi-crystalline aluminum alloy ultrafine particles are produced by a gas-phase reaction and consist of at least one alloy element from the group of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Pd, for example palladium (Pd) in an amount represented by 20 atomic %.ltoreq.Pd.ltoreq.30 atomic %, and the balance of aluminum. Palladium has a catalyst power, and the ultrafine particles have a large specific surface area, because they have a particle size d.ltoreq.200 nm. Such ultrafine particles have a high catalytic activity in a methanol decomposing reaction and also have a good retention of catalytic activity.

Abstract: A catalyst for methanol reforming which consists of an alloy represented by the general formula TM, wherein T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Y, Nb and Zn; and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements (Cu, Ag and Au) belonging to group IB of the periodic table and elements (Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt) belonging to group VIII of the periodic table, said alloy having a surface comprising an oxide including the element T and, dispersed therein, fine metal particles composed of the element M. The catalyst is produced by preparing an alloy having an amorphous phase and/or a microcrystalline phase from a molten composition of TM, and subsequently heating the alloy at 50.degree. to 700.degree. C. in an oxidizing atmosphere or an atmosphere like that in which methanol reforming is performed. Using the catalyst, methanol reforming can be efficiently performed at relatively low temperatures.

Abstract: Ultrafine amorphous metal particles which combine the properties of ultrafine particles with those of an amorphous alloy and a method for the production thereof are disclosed. The ultrafine amorphous metal particles are produced by a method which comprises discharging a plasma arc against a raw metal capable of forming a carbide in a reaction gas using an inert gas as a main component thereof and containing a hydrocarbon gas, and allowing the metal which has been consequently vaporized to contact the reaction gas which has been consequently converted into a plasma, thereby inducing formation of a solid solution of carbon atoms in the vaporized metal and quenching the solid solution in the reaction gas to confer an amorphous structure thereon. As the raw metal, at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mo, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr, Al, Si, and Cr is preferably used.

Abstract: Ultrafine whiskery or columnar ceramic particles, a method for producing the ultrafine particles, and a sintered article obtained by sintering the ultrafine ceramic particles are disclosed. The ultrafine ceramic particles are produced by thermally melting a matrix alloy of a composition of Al--M.sup.1, wherein M.sup.1 stands for at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Co, and Fe, or Al--M.sup.1 --M.sup.2, wherein M.sup.2 stands for at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of Au, Cu, Dy, Er, Ga, Ge, Gd, Hf, Ho, Lu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pr, Re, Sb, Sc, Si, Sn, Ta, Tb, Ti, Tm, V, W, Y, Zn, or Zr, in a nitriding atmosphere containing nitrogen and causing the vaporized raw material to react with the nitrogen in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A deformed ultra fine grain is comprised of a spherical body and a tail-like projection projecting from the surface of the spherical body. The tail-like projection exhibits a separating effect on the adjacent deformed ultra fine grains and therefore, aggregation of the ultra fine grains is avoided. Bulk quantities of the deformed ultra fine grains are produced by evaporating a metal by a plasma arc in a controlled atmosphere having a gas that combines with the material of the spherical body to form the tail-like projection.

Abstract: Ultrafine particles of aluminum nitride having a morphologically anisotropic structure of columns, plates, or whiskers such that the ratio of thickness or width to length or the ratio of thickness to width or length of particle is not less than 1 are produced by thermally melting a binary alloy of metallic aluminum and a rare earth element in a nitriding atmosphere containing nitrogen. By this method are produced composite ultrafine particles which substantially comprise ultrafine particles of aluminum nitride having the morphologically anisotropic structure and ultrafine particles of the rare earth nitride which functions as a sintering auxiliary therefor. The composite ultrafine particles or an aggregate thereof are usable as a raw material for the production of a sintered article, a reinforcing material for various metal-based composite materials, a blast powder, and the like.

Abstract: A structural member is produced using starting powder consisting of composite particulates each containing AlN grain within its surface covered by an Al layer of a single crystal structure, and Al alloy particulates of a single crystal structure, and then by sintering the Al layers of the composite particulates with the Al alloy particulates. The Al layers and the Al alloy particulates of the single crystal structure have no dislocation fault, crystal grain boundary. etc., produced therein, and for this reason, they have a low chemical activity. Therefore, the Al layers and the like have a characteristic that they are extremely difficult to oxidize. This ensures that the Al layers and the Al alloy particulates can be reliably sintered to achieve the densification of the resulting structural member.