Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst which is not corroded in an acidic electrolyte or at a high potential, is excellent in durability and has high oxygen reduction ability. The catalyst of the present invention is characterized by including a niobium oxycarbonitride. The catalyst of the invention is also characterized by including a niobium oxycarbonitride represented by the composition formula NbCxNyOz, wherein x, y and z represent a ratio of the numbers of atoms and are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0.01?x?2, 0.01?y?2, 0.01?z?3 and x+y+z?5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst carrier having excellent durability and capable of attaining high catalytic ability without increasing the specific surface area thereof, and a catalyst obtainable by using the catalyst carrier. The catalyst carrier of the present invention comprises a metal oxycarbonitride, preferably the metal contained in the metal oxycarbonitride comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of niobium, tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, cerium, mercury, plutonium, gold, silver, iridium, palladium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and nickel. Moreover, the catalyst of the present invention comprises the catalyst carrier and a catalyst metal supported on the catalyst carrier.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an oxygen reducing catalyst having high catalytic activity and high durability using a transition metal (such as titanium); and a method for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst using the oxygen reducing catalyst. The present invention provides the oxygen reduction catalyst including titanium, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen as constituent elements at a specific ratio, wherein in XRD measurement using a Cu—K? ray, peaks are each present in at least regions A and B among regions A to D which occupy 2? ranges of 42° to 43°, B: 36.5° to 37°, 25° to 26°, and 27° to 28°, respectively; and each of maximum peak intensities IA, IB, IC, and ID in the regions A to D satisfies both relationships of IA>IB and 0.3?(IA/(IA+IC+ID))?1.

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: Provided is a process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst with high catalytic activity that is alternative to a noble metal catalyst, through a heat treatment at a relatively low temperature. A process for producing a fuel cell electrode catalyst includes a step (I) of obtaining a catalyst precursor, including a step (Ia) of mixing at least a metal compound (1), a nitrogen-containing organic compound (2), and a fluorine-containing compound (3), and a step (II) of heat-treating the catalyst precursor at a temperature of 500 to 1300° C. to obtain an electrode catalyst, a portion or the entirety of the metal compound (1) being a compound containing an atom of a metal element M1 selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, niobium and zirconium, and at least one of the compounds (1), (2) and (3) containing 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: [Problem] To provide a catalyst which has high oxygen reduction activity, also has excellent durability, and is inexpensive and excellent in electric power generation cost as compared with noble metal catalysts such as platinum. [Solution to problem] A catalyst for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, including a graphitized carbon powder and a niobium oxycarbonitride or a titanium oxycarbonitride as an active substance, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the catalyst.

Abstract: Catalysts of the invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. A catalyst includes a metal oxycarbonitride containing niobium and at least one metal M selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, cerium, mercury, plutonium, gold, silver, iridium, palladium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium and nickel. A process for making the catalyst involves a heat treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides catalysts which are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalysts include a niobium-containing oxycarbonitride having I2/(I1+I2) of not less than 0.25 wherein I1 is the maximum X-ray diffraction intensity at diffraction angles 2? of 25.45 to 25.65 degrees and I2 is the maximum X-ray diffraction intensity at diffraction angles 2?=2? of 25.65 to 26.0 degrees according to X-ray powder diffractometry (Cu—K? radiation).

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst carrier having excellent durability and capable of attaining high catalytic ability without increasing the specific surface area thereof, and a catalyst obtainable by using the catalyst carrier. The catalyst carrier of the present invention comprises a metal oxycarbonitride, preferably the metal contained in the metal oxycarbonitride comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of niobium, tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, cerium, mercury, plutonium, gold, silver, iridium, palladium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and nickel. Moreover, the catalyst of the present invention comprises the catalyst carrier and a catalyst metal supported on the catalyst carrier.

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: 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 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: The present invention provides a catalyst carrier having excellent durability and capable of attaining high catalytic ability without increasing the specific surface area thereof, and a catalyst obtainable by using the catalyst carrier. The catalyst carrier of the present invention comprises a metal oxycarbonitride, preferably the metal contained in the metal oxycarbonitride comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of niobium, tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, cerium, mercury, plutonium, gold, silver, iridium, palladium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and nickel. Moreover, the catalyst of the present invention comprises the catalyst carrier and a catalyst metal supported on the catalyst carrier.

Abstract: Catalysts of the invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalysts include a niobium oxycarbonitride represented by a compositional formula NbCxNyOz (wherein x, y and z represent a ratio of the numbers of the atoms, 0.05?x<0.7, 0.01?y<0.7, 0.4?z<2.5, 1.0<x+y+z<2.56, and 4.0?4x+3y+2z).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a production process which can produce a fuel cell catalyst having excellent durability and high oxygen reducing activity. The process for producing a fuel cell catalyst including a metal-containing oxycarbonitride of the present invention includes a grinding step for grinding the oxycarbonitride using a ball mill, wherein the metal-containing oxycarbonitride is represented by a specific compositional formula; balls in the ball mill have a diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 mm; the grinding time using the ball mill is 1 to 45 minutes; the rotating centrifugal acceleration in grinding using the ball mill is 2 to 20 G; the grinding using the ball mill is carried out in such a state that the metal-containing oxycarbonitride is mixed with a solvent containing no oxygen atom in the molecule; and when the ball mill is a planetary ball mill, the orbital centrifugal acceleration mill is 5 to 50 G.

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: It is an object of the present invention to provide a production process which can produce a fuel cell catalyst having excellent durability and high oxygen reducing activity. The process for producing a fuel cell catalyst including a metal-containing oxycarbonitride of the present invention includes a grinding step for grinding the oxycarbonitride using a ball mill, wherein the metal-containing oxycarbonitride is represented by a specific compositional formula; balls in the ball mill have a diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 mm; the grinding time using the ball mill is 1 to 45 minutes; the rotating centrifugal acceleration in grinding using the ball mill is 2 to 20 G; the grinding using the ball mill is carried out in such a state that the metal-containing oxycarbonitride is mixed with a solvent containing no oxygen atom in the molecule; and when the ball mill is a planetary ball mill, the orbital centrifugal acceleration mill is 5 to 50 G.

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: [Problem] To provide a catalyst which has high oxygen reduction activity, also has excellent durability, and is inexpensive and excellent in electric power generation cost as compared with noble metal catalysts such as platinum. [Solution to problem] A catalyst for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, including a graphitized carbon powder and a niobium oxycarbonitride or a titanium oxycarbonitride as an active substance, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the catalyst.