Abstract: The present embodiment is a catalyst for a fuel cell including: a catalyst metal; and a carrier that supports the catalyst metal, in which an outer surface area of the carrier to an inner surface area of the carrier, which is a ratio between the inner and outer surface areas of the carrier, is 0.56 to 0.69, and a proportion of the catalyst metal supported on an outer surface of the carrier is 23% to 35%.

Abstract: Porous oxide semiconductor particles have a connected structure in which porous primary particles having an aggregate of crystallites composed of an oxide semiconductor are connected to each other and have a specific surface area of 60 m2/g or more. The porous oxide semiconductor particles have preferably a pore diameter of 1 nm or more and 20 nm or less. The porous oxide semiconductor particles have preferably a tap density of 0.005 g/cm3 or more and 1.0 g/cm3 or less. The oxide semiconductor is preferably SnO2 or SnO2 doped with at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Sb, W, Ta, and Al.

Abstract: To provide a carbon support for catalysts for fuel cells, which increases the power generation performance of fuel cells, a catalyst for fuel cells, a catalyst layer for fuel cells, and a method for producing the carbon support. A carbon support for catalysts for fuel cells, wherein the carbon support includes at least one pore; wherein a thickness of a carbon wall of the carbon support, which is derived from a three-dimensional pore structure of a silica mold obtained by pore volume measurement of the silica mold by nitrogen adsorption analysis, is 3.3 nm or more and 11.2 nm or less; and wherein a carbon wall content is more than 60.3 ml/g and less than 190.8 ml/g.

Abstract: Mesoporous carbon includes a linked structure in which carbon particles are linked. The carbon particles have primary pores and are primary particles. An average entrance diameter of the primary pores is 2.0 nm or more and 3.0 nm or less. An average constriction diameter of the primary pores is 1.6 nm or more and 2.4 nm or less. An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell includes the mesoporous carbon and catalyst particles supported in the primary pores of the mesoporous carbon. A catalyst layer includes the electrode catalyst for a fuel cell and a catalyst layer ionomer.

Abstract: Mesoporous carbon has a connecting structure in which primary particles made of carbon particles having primary pores with a primary pore diameter of less than 20 nm are connected. In the mesoporous carbon, the pore capacity of secondary pores with secondary pore diameters within a range of 20 nm to 100 nm, which is measured by a mercury intrusion method, is 0.42 cm3/g or more and 1.34 cm3/g or less. In addition, the mesoporous carbon has a linearity of 2.2 or more and 2.6 or less. An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell includes the mesoporous carbon and catalyst particles supported in the primary pores in the mesoporous carbon. Furthermore, a catalyst layer includes the electrode catalyst for the fuel cell and a catalyst layer ionomer.

Abstract: Mesoporous carbon has a beaded structure in which primary particles with mesopores are linked. In the mesoporous carbon, an average primary particle size is 7 nm or more and 300 nm or less, a pore diameter is 2 nm or more and 10 nm or less, an average thickness of pore walls is 3 nm or more and 15 nm or less, a pore volume is 0.2 mL/g or more and 3.0 mL/g or less, and a tap density is 0.03 g/cm3 or more and 0.3 g/cm3 or less. In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the mesoporous carbon is used as a catalyst carrier for at least an air electrode catalyst layer. The mesoporous carbon can be obtained by impregnating mesoporous silica satisfying a predetermined condition with a carbon source, performing polymerization and carbonization, and removing a template.

Abstract: Carbon opals, a form of colloidal crystal, are composed of ordered two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrays of Monodispersed Starburst Carbon Spheres (MSCS). Methods for producing such carbon opals include oxidizing as-synthesized MSCS, for example by heating in air, to increase surface charge. Such oxidation is believed to decrease settling rates of a colloidal suspension, enabling formation of an ordered colloidal crystal. Inverse opals, composed of any of a wide variety of materials, and based on a carbon opal template, have a reciprocal structure to a carbon opal. Inverse opals are formed by methods including: forming a carbon opal as described, impregnating a desired material into pores in the carbon opal to produce a hybrid structure, and removing the carbon portion from the hybrid structure.

Abstract: Carbon opals, a form of colloidal crystal, are composed of ordered two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrays of Monodispersed Starburst Carbon Spheres (MSCS). Methods for producing such carbon opals include oxidizing as-synthesized MSCS, for example by heating in air, to increase surface charge. Such oxidation is believed to decrease settling rates of a colloidal suspension, enabling formation of an ordered colloidal crystal. Inverse opals, composed of any of a wide variety of materials, and based on a carbon opal template, have a reciprocal structure to a carbon opal. Inverse opals are formed by methods including: forming a carbon opal as described, impregnating a desired material into pores in the carbon opal to produce a hybrid structure, and removing the carbon portion from the hybrid structure.

Abstract: A self-assembled carbon structure such as a carbon opal is disclosed herein. The structure is composed of hydrophilic carbon spheres oriented in a periodic colloidal crystal structure, wherein the carbon spheres have a porous surface, wherein the carbons spheres have an average particle diameter less than 3000 nm. Also disclosed is an inverse opal structure that includes a plurality of voids in the structural material. The voids are regularly arranged in an ordered periodic structure, the voids having a spherical shape. The inverse opal structure has a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/g and method for making the same together with materials that employ the same.

Abstract: Processes of forming an irreversibly loose packed structure of particulate material useful as a photonic or phononic crystal are provided. Matrix material is infilled between particles and extends above the particles to form a particulate free matrix layer. Removing the matrix layer causes deformation of or exposes the spacing between the particles. The spaces are infilled by additional matrix material that when cured produces a supported and irreversibly loose packed crystalline structure of particles producing differing bandgaps and transmissive properties relative to the original structure. The processes provided allow for economical tuning of the transmissive properties of photonic or phononic crystals.

Abstract: A material for trapping a target substance, which is capable of selectively trapping a target substance such as a sludge or a sludge precursor contained in a liquid organic compound such as an engine oil or in a gas such as a blow-by gas (combustion gas). A material for trapping a target substance, which traps a target substance contained in a liquid organic compound or a gas, the material comprising a mesoporous inorganic material having a plurality of pores.

Abstract: A composition is provided that includes mesoporous starburst carbon domains. Each of the mesoporous starburst carbon domains is incorporated with particles of metal or metal oxide in an amount of from 40 to 85 total weight percent of the composition. The metal or metal oxide particles can include tin, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, iron, or ruthenium, or an oxide thereof. The resulting composition when combined with a binder forms a battery electrode. Such a battery electrode operating as an anode in a lithium ion battery has gravimetric capacity of more than 1000 milliampere hours per gram after 15 galvanostatic cycles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical thermal energy storage material structure, including a granular chemical thermal energy storage material, a clay mineral having a layered ribbon structure, and a complex metal silicate that is generated by a reaction between the above-mentioned chemical thermal energy storage material and the above-mentioned clay mineral and that includes at least one type of alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: A phononic device is provided suitable for attenuating mechanical vibration, as well as acoustic vibration that propagate through a medium. Through the periodic inclusion of domains of a material in a matrix that vary in the ratio of the longitudinal speed of sound (CL) and the transverse speed of sound (CT) between the domains and the matrix of equal to or greater than 2.0 and 40, respectively; improved significant attenuation of vibration is achieved.

Abstract: A composition is provided that includes mesoporous carbon domains. Each of the mesoporous carbon domains is incorporated with particles of metal or metal oxide in an amount of from 40 to 85 total weight percent of the composition. The metal or metal oxide particles can include tin, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, nickel, iron, or ruthenium, or an oxide thereof. The resulting composition when combined with a binder from a battery electrode. Such a battery electrode operating as an anode in a lithium ion battery has specific capacities of more than 1000 miliAmperes-hour per gram after 15 of the galvanostatic cycles.

Abstract: A self-assembled carbon structure such as a carbon opal is disclosed herein. The structure is composed of hydrophilic carbon spheres oriented in a periodic colloidal crystal structure, wherein the carbon spheres have a porous surface, wherein the carbons spheres have an average particle diameter less than 3000 nm. Also disclosed is an inverse opal structure that includes a plurality of voids in the structural material. The voids are regularly arranged in an ordered periodic structure, the voids having a spherical shape. The inverse opal structure has a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/g and method for making the same together with materials that employ the same.

Abstract: A silica structure includes mesoporous silica spheres; and connection portions each of which includes metal oxide, and each of which connects the mesoporous silica spheres to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical thermal energy storage material structure, including a granular chemical thermal energy storage material, a clay mineral having a layered ribbon structure, and a complex metal silicate that is generated by a reaction between the above-mentioned chemical thermal energy storage material and the above-mentioned clay mineral and that includes at least one type of alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: A material for trapping a target substance, which is capable of selectively trapping a target substance such as a sludge or a sludge precursor contained in a liquid organic compound such as an engine oil or in a gas such as a blow-by gas (combustion gas). A material for trapping a target substance, which traps a target substance contained in a liquid organic compound or a gas, the material including a mesoporous inorganic material having a plurality of pores.

Abstract: A silica structure includes mesoporous silica spheres; and connection portions each of which includes metal oxide, and each of which connects the mesoporous silica spheres to each other.