Abstract: To provide nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds with excellent oxygen reduction activity, metal complexes containing them, and catalysts and electrodes employing the same, the present invention provides an aromatic compound satisfying the following conditions (a) and (b): (a) It has 2 or more structures surrounded by at least 4 coordinatable nitrogen atoms (which structures may be the same or different), (b) At least one of the nitrogen atoms composing the structure is a nitrogen atom in a 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring.

Abstract: (i) A cathode catalyst for air secondary batteries comprising an oxyhydroxide of a metal, (ii) A cathode catalyst for air secondary batteries comprising the oxyhydroxide of a metal and a metal complex, (iii) A cathode catalyst layer for air secondary batteries comprising the catalyst and (iv) An air secondary battery comprising them.

Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1): wherein Y1 to Y4 each independently represent any one of the following groups: in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; P1 to P4 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with each Y1 to Y4 and the two carbon atoms adjacent to Y1 to Y4, respectively; P5 and P6 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a cyclic skeleton together with the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds; P1 and P2, P2 and P6, P6 and P4, P4 and P3, P3 and P5, and P5 and P1 may further combine with each other to form a ring; Q1 and Q2 each independently represents a connecting group or a direct binding; and Z1 and Z2 each independently represent any one of the following groups; —NR?2, —OR?, —SR?, —PR?2 in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and when plural R?s are present, these plural R?s may be the same or different from each oth

Abstract: The present invention provides a cathode catalyst for an air secondary cell having both excellent oxygen reduction activity and excellent water oxidation activity, and an air secondary cell that uses the catalyst. The present invention relates to a cathode catalyst for an air secondary cell in which the catalyst contains a polynuclear metal complex.

Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1): wherein Y1 to Y4 each independently represent any one of the following groups: in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; P1 to P4 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with each Y1 to Y4 and the two carbon atoms adjacent to Y1 to Y4, respectively; P5 and P6 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a cyclic skeleton together with the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds; P1 and P2, P2 and P6, P6 and P4, P4 and P3, P3 and P5, and P5 and P1 may further combine with each other to form a ring; Q1 and Q2 each independently represents a connecting group or a direct binding; and Z1 and Z2 each independently represent any one of the following groups; —NR?2, —OR?, —SR?, —PR?2 in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and when plural R?s are present, these plural R?s may be the same or different from each other.

Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1): wherein Y1 to Y4 each independently represent any one of the following groups: in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; P1 to P4 each independently represent a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with each of Y1 to Y4 and the two carbon atoms adjacent to each of Y1 to Y4, respectively; P5 and P6 each independently represent a group of atoms necessary for forming a cyclic skeleton together with the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds and the two carbon atoms adjacent to the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds; P1 and P2, P2 and P6, P6 and P4, P4 and P3, P3 and P5, and P5 and P1 may further combine with each other to form a ring; Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a connecting group or a direct binding; and Z1 and Z2 each independently represent any one of the following groups; —NR?2, —OR?, —SR?, —PR?2 in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group,

Abstract: A modified metal complex obtained by subjecting a metal complex containing an organic compound having one nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycle and four or more structures of a phenol, thiophenol, aniline or nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring or an organic compound having two or more phenol rings and three or more nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycles, in its molecule as a ligand, to a heating, radiation irradiation or discharge treatment until a mass reduction rate after the treatment becomes from 1 to 90 mass %, thereby the complex shows a carbon content after the treatment of 5 mass % or more.

Abstract: A metal complex represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Y1 and Y2 each independently represent any one of the following groups: wherein R? represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; P1 and P2 each represent a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with Y1 or Y2 and the two carbon atoms at a position adjacent to Y1 or Y2; P1 and P2 may be linked to each other to form a ring; M represents a transition metal element or typical metal element; m represents 1 or 2; X represents a counter ion or a neutral molecule; n represents the number of X's in the complex, and an integer of 0 or more; and Q1 and Q2 each independently represent an aromatic heterocyclic group.

Abstract: To provide nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds with excellent oxygen reduction activity, metal complexes containing them, and catalysts and electrodes employing the same, the present invention provides an aromatic compound satisfying the following conditions (a) and (b): (a) It has 2 or more structures surrounded by at least 4 coordinatable nitrogen atoms (which structures may be the same or different), (b) At least one of the nitrogen atoms composing the structure is a nitrogen atom in a 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly having catalyst layers containing an electrode catalyst disposed on the both sides of an electrolyte membrane, wherein at least one of the above-described catalyst layers contains a non-precious metal electrode catalyst and an ionomer having an ion exchange capacity of 1.2 meq/g or more.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein, Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 represent a group represented by any of the above formulae; P1, P2, P3 and P4 are an atomic group required for forming an aromatic heterocyclic ring; P5 and P6 are an atomic group required for forming an aromatic ring; Z1 and Z2 represent OR?, —SR? or —NR?2, wherein R? represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; Q1 and Q2 represent a direct bond or a linking group; a P1-containing ring and a P2-containing ring are bonded to form Q1-containing fused structure; a P3-containing ring and a P4-containing ring are bonded to form Q2-containing fused structure; can be used as a ligand of a metal complex, and the metal complex is useful for a catalyst.

Abstract: A compound represented by formula (1): wherein Y1 to Y4 each independently represent any one of the following groups: in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; P1 to P4 each independently represent a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with each of Y1 to Y4 and the two carbon atoms adjacent to each of Y1 to Y4, respectively; P5 and P6 each independently represent a group of atoms necessary for forming a cyclic skeleton together with the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds and the two carbon atoms adjacent to the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds; P1 and P2, P2 and P6, P6 and P4, P4 and P3, P3 and P5, and P5 and P1 may further combine with each other to form a ring; Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a connecting group or a direct binding; and Z1 and Z2 each independently represent any one of the following groups; —NR?2, —OR?, —SR?, —PR?2 in which R? represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and whe

Abstract: An electrode catalyst for fuel cell, containing a multinuclear complex, in which the multinuclear complex contains 2 to 4 transition metal atoms coordinated with a ligand having 5 to 15 coordination atoms in its molecule; and an electrode catalyst for fuel cell, comprising a mononuclear metal complex containing, as a ligand, an organic compound containing two or more phenol rings and three or more aromatic heterocycles.

Abstract: A modified metal complex obtained by subjecting a metal complex containing an organic compound having one nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycle and four or more structures of a phenol, thiophenol, aniline or nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring or an organic compound having two or more phenol rings and three or more nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycles, in its molecule as a ligand, to a heating, radiation irradiation or discharge treatment until a mass reduction rate after the treatment becomes from 1 to 90 mass %, thereby the complex shows a carbon content after the treatment of 5 mass % or more.

Abstract: A metal complex represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Y1 and Y2 each independently represent any one of the following groups: wherein R? represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; P1 and P2 each represent a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with Y1 or Y2 and the two carbon atoms at a position adjacent to Y1 or Y2; P1 and P2 may be linked to each other to form a ring; M represents a transition metal element or typical metal element; m represents 1 or 2; X represents a counter ion or a neutral molecule; n represents the number of X's in the complex, and an integer of 0 or more; and Q1 and Q2 each independently represent an aromatic heterocyclic group.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly, containing an electrode catalyst containing a base metal complex, in which exchange current density i0 obtained from a Tafel plot, which is related to current density and voltage, is 5.0×10?4 Acm?2 or more, and in which a Tafel slope obtained from the Tafel plot is 450 mV/decade or less; and a membrane-electrode assembly, containing catalyst layers each containing an electrode catalyst on both sides of an electrolyte membrane, in which at least one of the catalyst layers comprises a non-noble metal-based electrode catalyst, and in which the electrolyte membrane is a hydrocarbon-based electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: Provided is a metal complex represented by the following formula (A-1) or (B-1) as a metal complex useful for a redox reaction catalyst or some other article that is excellent in heat resistance and acid resistance:

Abstract: A polynuclear metal complex having in each molecule not only at least one large cyclic ligand having 5 to 15 coordinating atoms but also multiple metal atoms is subjected to any of heating treatment, radiation exposure treatment and electric discharge treatment, thereby providing a polynuclear metal complex exhibiting a ratio of weight loss by the treatment of 5 to 90 wt. % and a carbon content after the treatment of 5 wt. % or more.