Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer for fuel cells capable of effectively preventing reduction of cell voltage in a high current density region. The electrode catalyst layer contains a catalyst-on-support composed of a support made of a conductive inorganic oxide having a catalyst supported thereon and a hydrophilic material. The hydrophilic material is an agglomerate including hydrophilic conductive particles. The content of the hydrophilic material in the catalyst layer is 2 mass % or higher and lower than 20 mass % relative to the sum of the support and the hydrophilic material. The ratio of the particle size d1 of the hydrophilic particles to the particle size D of the catalyst-on-support is 0.5 to 3.0. The ratio of the particle size d2 of the hydrophilic material to the thickness T of the catalyst layer is 0.1 to 1.2.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer for electrochemical cells includes a first catalyst layer and a second catalyst layer. The first catalyst layer has a cell resistance measured at 80° C. and 40% RH lower than that of the second catalyst layer. The electrode catalyst layer for electrochemical cells is used with the first catalyst layer being disposed on an electrolyte membrane side relative to the second catalyst layer. It is preferable that a first catalytically active component contained in the first catalyst layer and a second catalytically active component contained in the second catalyst layer each independently contain at least one element selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and iridium.

Abstract: Provided is a method with which it is possible to easily produce an electrode catalyst having excellent catalytic performance such as kinetically controlled current density. The method involves: a dispersion liquid preparation step of preparing a dispersion liquid by mixing (i) at least one type of solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfoxide compounds and amide compounds, (ii) a catalyst carrier powder constituted by a metal oxide, (iii) a platinum compound, (iv) a transition metal compound, and (v) an aromatic compound including a carboxyl group; and a loading step of heating the dispersion liquid to thereby load a platinum alloy of platinum and a transition metal on a surface of the catalyst carrier powder.

Abstract: This method for producing an electrode catalyst includes: a dispersion liquid preparation step wherein a dispersion liquid is prepared by mixing (i) at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfoxide compounds and amide compounds, (ii) a catalyst carrier powder composed of a metal oxide, (iii) a platinum compound, (iv) a transition metal compound and (v) an aromatic compound that contains a carboxyl group; a loading step wherein the dispersion liquid is heated so that a platinum alloy of platinum and a transition metal is loaded on the surface of the catalyst carrier powder; a solid-liquid separation step wherein a dispersoid is separated from the dispersion liquid after the loading step, thereby obtaining a catalyst powder wherein the catalyst carrier powder is loaded with the platinum alloy; and a heat treatment step wherein the catalyst powder is heated under vacuum or in a reducing gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer for fuel cells capable of effectively preventing reduction of cell voltage in a high current density region. The electrode catalyst layer contains a catalyst-on-support composed of a support made of a conductive inorganic oxide having a catalyst supported thereon and a hydrophilic material. The hydrophilic material is an agglomerate including hydrophilic conductive particles. The content of the hydrophilic material in the catalyst layer is 2 mass % or higher and lower than 20 mass % relative to the sum of the support and the hydrophilic material. The ratio of the particle size d1 of the hydrophilic particles to the particle size D of the catalyst-on-support is 0.5 to 3.0. The ratio of the particle size d2 of the hydrophilic material to the thickness T of the catalyst layer is 0.1 to 1.2.

Abstract: In this fuel cell electrode catalyst layer, a catalyst is supported on a carrier comprising inorganic oxide particles. The fuel cell electrode catalyst layer is provided with a porous structure. When a mercury penetration method is used to measure the pore size distribution of the porous structure, a peak is observed in the range spanning from 0.005 ?m to 0.1 ?m inclusive, and a peak is also observed in the range spanning from over 0.1 ?m to not more than 1 ?m. When P1 represents the peak intensity in the range spanning from 0.005 ?m to 0.1 ?m inclusive, and P2 represents the peak intensity in the range spanning from over 0.1 ?m to not more than 1 ?m, the value of P2/P1 is 0.2-10 inclusive. It is preferable that the inorganic oxide be tin oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tin oxide containing antimony and at least one element A selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, niobium, and bismuth. The antimony and the at least one element A selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, niobium, and bismuth are preferably dissolved in a solid state in tin oxide. The ratio of the number of moles of the element A to the number of moles of antimony, i.e., [(the number of moles of the element A/the number of moles of antimony)], is preferably 0.1 to 10.

Abstract: In an aerospace vehicle in which a satellite is detachably adapted to the first stage rocket and the second stage rocket, an electronic device 65 is installed in the satellite 60, wherein the electronic device 65 controls the first stage rocket 10 and the second stage rocket 20 before the satellite is detached from the first stage rocket 10 and the second stage rocket 20. Thereby, it is unnecessary to provide sensors, radio devices and electronic devices for exclusive use with respect to the first stage rocket 10 and the second stage rocket 20 so that a manufacturing cost of the rockets 10 and 20 can be reduced and a total weight of the rockets 10 and 20 can become lighter by omitting these equipments. Thus, an aerospace vehicle system within the rockets 10 and 20 can be simplified and a launch of the aerospace vehicle can be prepared within a short period.

Abstract: This method for producing an electrode catalyst includes: a dispersion liquid preparation step wherein a dispersion liquid is prepared by mixing (i) at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfoxide compounds and amide compounds, (ii) a catalyst carrier powder composed of a metal oxide, (iii) a platinum compound, (iv) a transition metal compound and (v) an aromatic compound that contains a carboxyl group; a loading step wherein the dispersion liquid is heated so that a platinum alloy of platinum and a transition metal is loaded on the surface of the catalyst carrier powder; a solid-liquid separation step wherein a dispersoid is separated from the dispersion liquid after the loading step, thereby obtaining a catalyst powder wherein the catalyst carrier powder is loaded with the platinum alloy; and a heat treatment step wherein the catalyst powder is heated under vacuum or in a reducing gas atmosphere.

Abstract: Provided is a method with which it is possible to easily produce an electrode catalyst having excellent catalytic performance such as kinetically controlled current density. The method involves: a dispersion liquid preparation step of preparing a dispersion liquid by mixing (i) at least one type of solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfoxide compounds and amide compounds, (ii) a catalyst carrier powder constituted by a metal oxide, (iii) a platinum compound, (iv) a transition metal compound, and (v) an aromatic compound including a carboxyl group; and a loading step of heating the dispersion liquid to thereby load a platinum alloy of platinum and a transition metal on a surface of the catalyst carrier powder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tin oxide containing antimony and at least one element A selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, niobium, and bismuth. The antimony and the at least one element A selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, niobium, and bismuth are preferably dissolved in a solid state in tin oxide. The ratio of the number of moles of the element A to the number of moles of antimony, i.e., [(the number of moles of the element A/the number of moles of antimony)], is preferably 0.1 to 10.

Abstract: In this fuel cell electrode catalyst layer, a catalyst is supported on a carrier comprising inorganic oxide particles. The fuel cell electrode catalyst layer is provided with a porous structure. When a mercury penetration method is used to measure the pore size distribution of the porous structure, a peak is observed in the range spanning from 0.005 ?m to 0.1 ?m inclusive, and a peak is also observed in the range spanning from over 0.1 ?m to not more than 1 ?m. When P1 represents the peak intensity in the range spanning from 0.005 ?m to 0.1 ?m inclusive, and P2 represents the peak intensity in the range spanning from over 0.1 ?m to not more than 1 ?m, the value of P2/P1 is 0.2-10 inclusive. It is preferable that the inorganic oxide be tin oxide.

Abstract: An electrode foil which has both the functions of a supporting base material and a reflective electrode and also has superior thermal conductivity; and an organic device using the same are provided. The electrode foil comprises a metal foil and a reflective layer provided directly on the metal foil.

Abstract: A tantalum-containing tin oxide for a fuel cell electrode material, comprising tin oxide containing tantalum. The tantalum content is 0.001-30 mol %. When the tantalum-containing tin oxide is measured by x-ray diffraction, the value for [ITa205/ISnO2]DOPE is smaller than the value for [ITa205/ISnO2]MIX. In addition to the tin oxide particles containing tantalum, ideally a tantalum oxide is present on the surface of the particles. Also, ideally the tantalum oxide is crystalline.

Abstract: An electrode foil which has both the functions of a supporting base material and a reflective electrode and also has superior thermal conductivity; and an organic device using the same are provided. The electrode foil comprises a metal foil and a reflective layer provided directly on the metal foil.

Abstract: There are provided an electrode foil which has all the functions of a supporting base material, an electrode and a reflective layer and also has a superior thermal conductivity; and an organic device using the same. The electrode foil comprises a metal foil, wherein the electrode foil has at least one outermost surface which is an ultra-smooth surface having an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 10.0 nm or less as measured in accordance with JIS B 0601-2001.

Abstract: An electrode foil, which has both the functions of a supporting base material and a reflective electrode, and also has superior thermal conductivity, and an organic device using the same are provided. The electrode foil comprises a metal foil and a reflective layer provided directly on the metal foil.

Abstract: There are provided an electrode foil which has all the functions of a supporting base material, an electrode and a reflective layer and also has a superior thermal conductivity; and an organic device using the same. The electrode foil comprises a metal foil, wherein the electrode foil has at least one outermost surface which is an ultra-smooth surface having an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 10.0 nm or less as measured in accordance with JIS B 0601-2001.

Abstract: There are provided an electrode foil which has all the functions of a supporting base material, an electrode and a reflective layer and also has a superior thermal conductivity; and an organic device using the same. The electrode foil comprises a metal foil, wherein the electrode foil has at least one outermost surface which is an ultra-smooth surface having an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 10.0 nm or less as measured in accordance with JIS B 0601-2001.

Abstract: There are provided an electrode foil which has both the functions of a supporting base material and a reflective electrode and also has a superior thermal conductivity; and an organic device using the same. The electrode foil comprises a metal foil and a reflective layer provided directly on the metal foil.