Abstract: A catalyst carrier production process includes a step (a) of mixing a transition metal compound (1), a nitrogen-containing organic compound (2), and a solvent to provide a catalyst carrier precursor solution; a step (b) of removing the solvent from the catalyst carrier precursor solution; and a step (c) of thermally treating a solid residue obtained in the step (b) at a temperature of 500 to 1100° C. to provide a catalyst carrier; wherein the transition metal compound (1) is partly or wholly a compound including a transition metal element (M1) selected from the group 4 and 5 elements of the periodic table as a transition metal element; and at least one of the transition metal compound (1) and the nitrogen-containing organic compound (2) includes an oxygen atom.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell catalyst layer which has a catalytic performance equivalent to or higher than fuel cell catalyst layers containing platinum alone and which is inexpensive. The fuel cell catalyst layer of the present invention includes a metal oxycarbonitride-containing layer (I) and a platinum-containing layer (II). It is preferable that the mass ratio per unit area of the metal oxycarbonitride in the layer (I) to platinum in the layer (II) (metal oxycarbonitride/platinum) is 2 to 500. It is preferable that the mass per unit area of platinum in the layer (II) is 0.005 to 0.2 mg/cm2.

Abstract: A redox flow battery includes: first carbon nanotubes having an average diameter of 100 nm or r core, and second carbon nanotubes having an average diameter of 30 nm or less, in which the second carbon nanotubes are adhered to surfaces of the first carbon nanotubes such that the second carbon nanotubes bridge between the plural first carbon nanotubes. Since the redox flow battery includes an electrode material and an electrode including the electrode material, the electromotive force and the charging capacity are high.

Abstract: Electrocatalyst layers include an electrocatalyst having high oxygen reduction activity that is useful as an alternative material to platinum catalysts. Uses of the electrocatalyst layers are also disclosed. The electrocatalyst layer includes an electrocatalyst that is formed of a metal oxide obtained by thermally decomposing a metal organic compound. The metal element forming the electrocatalyst is preferably one selected from the group consisting of niobium, titanium, tantalum and zirconium.

Abstract: Catalysts of the present invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalyst includes a metal oxycarbonitride containing two metals M selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, titanium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, vanadium, cobalt, cerium, aluminum and nickel, and containing zirconium and/or titanium. Also disclosed is a process for producing the catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst carrier production process includes a step (a) of mixing a transition metal compound (1), a nitrogen-containing organic compound (2), and a solvent to provide a catalyst carrier precursor solution; a step (b) of removing the solvent from the catalyst carrier precursor solution; and a step (c) of thermally treating a solid residue obtained in the step (b) at a temperature of 500 to 1100° C. to provide a catalyst carrier; wherein the transition metal compound (1) is partly or wholly a compound including a transition metal element (M1) selected from the group 4 and 5 elements of the periodic table as a transition metal element; and at least one of the transition metal compound (1) and the nitrogen-containing organic compound (2) includes an oxygen atom.

Abstract: In a direct-liquid fuel cell supplied directly with a liquid fuel, a process for producing an electrode catalyst for a direct-liquid fuel cell is provided which is capable of suppressing decrease in cathode potential caused by liquid fuel crossover and providing an inexpensive and high-performance electrode catalyst for a direct-liquid fuel cell. The process for producing an electrode catalyst for a direct-liquid fuel cell includes Step A of mixing at least a transition metal-containing compound with a nitrogen-containing organic compound to obtain a catalyst precursor composition, and Step C of heat-treating the catalyst precursor composition at a temperature of from 500 to 1100° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst, wherein part or entirety of the transition metal-containing compound includes, as a transition metal element, at least one transition metal element M1 selected from Group IV and Group V elements of the periodic table.

Abstract: An oxygen reduction catalyst which includes composite particles including a portion including an inorganic metal compound and a portion containing carbon. The composite particles include a metal element M1, carbon, and oxygen as constituent elements; the amount of carbon atoms is 1 to 10 mol, and the amount of oxygen atoms is 1 to 3 mol, assuming that the total amount of atoms in the metal element M1 is 1 mol; a G-band and a D-band are present in a Raman spectrum, and a V/G ratio defined in an expression described below is 0.10 to 0.35: V/G ratio=(minimum value of spectral intensity in region V which is a region between G-band and D-band)/(peak intensity in G-band).

Abstract: A method for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst including a metal element selected from aluminum, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, strontium, yttrium, tin, tungsten, and cerium and having high catalytic activity through heat treatment at comparatively low temperature. The method including: a step (1) of mixing at least a certain metal compound (1), a nitrogen-containing organic compound (2), and a solvent to obtain a catalyst precursor solution, a step (2) of removing the solvent from the catalyst precursor solution, and a step (3) of heat-treating a solid residue, obtained in the step (2), at a temperature of 500 to 1100° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst; a portion or the entirety of the metal compound (1) being a compound containing, as the metal element, a metal element M1 selected from aluminum, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, strontium, yttrium, tin, tungsten, and cerium.

Abstract: A catalyst carrier production process includes a step (a) of mixing a transition metal compound (1), a nitrogen-containing organic compound (2), and a solvent to provide a catalyst carrier precursor solution; a step (b) of removing the solvent from the catalyst carrier precursor solution; and a step (c) of the thermally treating a solid residue obtained in the step (b) at a temperature of 500 to 1100° C. to provide a catalyst carrier; wherein the transition metal compound (1) is partly or wholly a compound including a transition metal element (M1) selected from the group 4 and 5 elements of the periodic table as a transition metal element; and at least one of the transition metal compound (1) and the nitrogen-containing organic compound (2) includes an oxygen atom.

Abstract: Catalysts of the present invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalyst includes a metal oxycarbonitride containing two metals M selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, titanium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, vanadium, cobalt, cerium, aluminum and nickel, and containing zirconium and/or titanium. Also disclosed is a process for producing the catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides catalysts that are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalyst includes a metal element M, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, wherein the catalyst shows peaks at 1340 cm?1 to 1365 cm?1 and at 1580 cm?1 to 1610 cm?1 as analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and the metal element M is one selected from titanium, iron, niobium, zirconium and tantalum. The catalysts of the invention are stable and are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential, have high oxygen reducing ability and are inexpensive compared to platinum. Fuel cells having the catalysts are therefore relatively inexpensive and have high performance.

Abstract: A process for producing fuel cell catalysts includes a step (I) of heating a carbonitride of a transition metal in an inert gas containing oxygen, and a step (II) of heating the product from the step (I) in an inert gas that does not substantially contain oxygen.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst having high catalytic activity which uses a transition metal, e.g., titanium, which process comprises thermal treatment at relatively low temperature, i.e., not including thermal treatment at high temperature (calcining) step. The process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst comprises a step (1) of mixing at least a transition metal-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing organic compound and a solvent to provide a catalyst precursor solution; a step (2) of removing the solvent from the catalyst precursor solution; and a step (3) of thermally treating a solid residue obtained in the step (2) at a temperature of 500 to 1100° C. to provide an electrode catalyst; wherein the transition metal-containing compound is partly or wholly a compound comprising at least one transition metal element (M1) selected from the group 4 and 5 elements of the periodic table as a transition metal element.

Abstract: A method for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst, including: a step (1) of mixing at least a metal compound (1), a nitrogen-containing organic compound (2), a compound (3) containing fluorine and at least one element A selected from the group consisting of boron, phosphorus, and sulfur, and a solvent to obtain a catalyst precursor solution, a step (2) of removing the solvent from the catalyst precursor solution, and a step (3) of heat-treating a solid residue, obtained in the step (2), at a temperature of 500 to 1100° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst; a portion or the entirety of the metal compound (1) being a compound containing, as a metal element, at least one transition metal element M1 selected from the elements of group 4 and group 5 of the periodic table; and at least one of the compounds (1), (2), and (3) having an oxygen atom.

Abstract: Catalysts of the present invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalyst includes a metal oxycarbonitride containing two metals M selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, titanium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, vanadium, cobalt, cerium, aluminum and nickel, and containing zirconium and/or titanium.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst having high catalytic activity which uses a transition metal, e.g., titanium, which process comprises thermal treatment at relatively low temperature, i.e., not including thermal treatment at high temperature (calcining) step. The process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst comprises a step (1) of mixing at least a transition metal-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing organic compound and a solvent to provide a catalyst precursor solution; a step (2) of removing the solvent from the catalyst precursor solution; and a step (3) of thermally treating a solid residue obtained in the step (2) at a temperature of 500 to 1100° C. to provide an electrode catalyst; wherein the transition metal-containing compound is partly or wholly a compound comprising at least one transition metal element (M1) selected from the group 4 and 5 elements of the periodic table as a transition metal element.

Abstract: [Object] The invention provides catalysts that are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. [Solution] A catalyst of the invention includes a metal oxycarbonitride that contains titanium and at least one metal (hereinafter, also referred to as “metal M” or simply “M”) selected from silver, calcium, strontium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell electrode catalyst with which high durability and a high maximum output density are obtained even when a fuel cell is continuously operated for long time; a method for producing the fuel cell electrode catalyst; a fuel cell in which the catalyst is used; and the like. A method for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst is provided, the method including: a step of preparing a catalyst precursor comprising each atom of a metal element, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, and comprising copper as the metal element; and a contact step of bringing the catalyst precursor and an acid solution into contact with each other to obtain a catalyst.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress flooding phenomenon in an electrode catalyst for fuel cells containing a metal atom, a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom. A production process of an electrode catalyst for fuel cells is provided which includes a fluorination step of bringing a catalyst body into contact with fluorine, the catalyst body having an atom of at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of zinc, titanium, niobium, zirconium, aluminum, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, strontium, yttrium, tin, tungsten, cerium, samarium and lanthanum, a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom.