Abstract: A highly functional material characterized in that a photocatalyst comprising fine particles of rutile type titanium dioxide strongly supporting ultra-fine metal particles selected from the group consisting of Pt, Au, Pd, Rh, Pu and Ag with a particle diameter of 1 nm to 5 nm by firing treatment so as to exhibit a quantum tumbling effect of electron between the metal particles and the rutile type titanium dioxide and the photocatalyst is scattered on a surface of the base material so as to be irradiated by a light with wavelength smaller than about 407 nm.

Abstract: A highly functional base material and a method of manufacturing the same. The highly functional base material is made from a photocatalyst comprising fine particles of rutile type titanium dioxide supporting ultra-fine metal particles selected from the group consisting of Pt, Au, Pd, Rh, Ag and Ru with a particle diameter which manifest a quantum size effect is held on a base material. The method includes applying a layer of fine particles or rutile type titanium dioxide which support ultra-fine metal particles thereon to the surface of the base material.

Abstract: A photocatalytic substance whose photocatalytic efficiency is greatly strengthened by making an improvement over titanium dioxide on which micron-size fine metal particles are supported, a base material which holds this photocatalytic substance, and manufacturing methods therefor. By reducing the mean particle diameter of metal particles from the size of fine metal particles on the micron scale to the size of ultra-fine metal particles on the nano-scale, it was succeeded that the photocatalytic efficiency of photocatalytic substances such as titanium dioxide, etc. was greatly strengthened. In particular, the feature is that the particle diameter of the ultra-fine metal particles used is set in a range which allows the conspicuous manifestation of a quantum size effect, and the mean particle diameter is in the range of 1 to 10 nm.