Abstract: Disclosed is a novel structured body of carbon in the form of a particle having electric conductivity comparable with graphite, which has a frustum-formed protrusion formed from a top flat consisting of a single carbon pentagon and a lateral surface consisting of a plurality of carbon hexagons. The structured body of carbon is prepared by a two-stage heat treatment of a carbonaceous material having a carbon pentagon to form a crystalline structure, such as a fullerene compound, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The first stage heat treatment is conducted at 800 to 1200° C. to effect complete degradation of the crystalline structure of the starting material into an amorphous state and the second stage heat treatment is conducted at 1800 to 2500° C. to effect re-crystallization but not to cause graphitization.

Abstract: A novel carbonaceous material having a unique periodical annular electronic surface structure as examined by means of a scanning tunnel microscopy can be obtained by the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a layer of a carbonaceous material having a curved configuration by the method of vapor-phase deposition of a carbonaceous material; and (b) subjecting the vapor-phase deposited layer of the carbonaceous material to a heat treatment at a temperature of 1500 K or higher in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The novel carbonaceous material is useful for carbon electrodes of various batteries.

Abstract: A vessel for holding the atmosphere in which a test piece is tested has a test atmosphere chamber and an auxiliary chamber intercommunicably formed in a casing and a piston disposed freely slidably in the casing with the upper portion inside the auxiliary chamber and the lower portion protruding into the test atmosphere chamber. A test piece has one end thereof connected to the lower portion of the piston and the other end thereof fastened to a stay fixed in the test atmosphere chamber. A test gas is introduced under pressure into the test atmosphere chamber. The interior of the test atmosphere chamber and that of the auxiliary chamber are placed under an identical pressure. The surface areas of the piston are equal so that the strength of the test piece under a specific atmospheric condition can be accurately measured without subjecting the loading shaft to the otherwise possible effect of the pressure of the test atmosphere.