Provided is a catalyst for solid polymer fuel cell that exhibits excellent initial activity and favorable durability and a method for manufacturing the same. The invention is a catalyst for solid polymer fuel cell which is formed by supporting catalyst particles including platinum, cobalt and manganese on a carbon powder carrier, wherein a composition ratio (molar ratio) among platinum, cobalt and manganese in the catalyst particles is Pt:Co:Mn=1:0.06 to 0.39:0.04 to 0.33, a peak intensity ratio of a CoMn alloy appearing in the vicinity of 2=27 is 0.15 or less with respect to a main peak appearing in the vicinity of 2=40 in X-ray diffraction analysis of the catalyst particles, and a fluorine compound having a CF bond is supported at least on the surface of the catalyst particles. The amount of the fluorine compound supported is preferably from 3 to 20% with respect to the entire mass of the catalyst.

A method of operating a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, includes feeding the anode with an impure hydrogen stream having low levels of carbon monoxide up to 5 ppm, wherein the anode includes an anode catalyst layer including a carbon monoxide tolerant catalyst material, wherein the catalyst material includes: (i) a binary alloy of PtX, wherein X is a metal selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta, and wherein the atomic percentage of platinum in the alloy is from 45 to 80 atomic % and the atomic percentage of X in the alloy is from 20 to 55 atomic %; and (ii) a support material on which the PtX alloy is dispersed; wherein the total loading of platinum in the anode catalyst layer is from 0.01 to 0.2 mgPt/cm.sup.2.

A method of operating a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, includes feeding the anode with an impure hydrogen stream having low levels of carbon monoxide up to 5 ppm, and wherein the anode includes an anode catalyst layer including a carbon monoxide tolerant catalyst material, wherein the catalyst material includes: (i) a binary alloy of PtX, wherein X is a metal selected from the group consisting of rhodium and osmium, and wherein the atomic percentage of platinum in the alloy is from 45 to 80 atomic % and the atomic percentage of X in the alloy is from 20 to 55 atomic %; and (ii) a support material on which the PtX alloy is dispersed; wherein the total loading of platinum group metals (PGM) in the anode catalyst layer is from 0.01 to 0.2 mgPGM/cm.sup.2.

The present invention provides a method for producing metal-supported carbon, which includes supporting metal microparticles on the surface of carbon black, by a liquid-phase reduction method, in a thin film fluid formed between processing surfaces arranged to be opposite to each other so as to be able to approach to and separate from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other, as well as a method for producing crystals comprising fullerene molecules and fullerene nanowhisker/nanofiber nanotubes, which includes uniformly stirring and mixing a solution containing a first solvent having fullerene dissolved therein, and a second solvent in which fullerene is less soluble than in the first solvent, in a thin film fluid formed between processing surfaces arranged to be opposite to each other so as to be able to approach to and separate from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other.

A method for uniformly forming a nickel-metal alloy catalyst in a fuel electrode of a solid oxide electrolysis cell is provided.

Specifically, before the nickel-metal alloy catalyst is formed, a metal oxide is uniformly distributed on nickel oxide contained in the fuel electrode through infiltration of a metal oxide precursor solution and hydrolysis of urea.

The present invention is to provide a method for producing a fuel cell catalyst that is configured to be able to increase the power generation performance of a membrane-electrode assembly. Disclosed is a method for producing a fuel cell catalyst, wherein the method comprises: a mixing step in which, by mixing a platinum-containing solution, a titanium-containing solution and an electroconductive support in a solvent, a catalyst precursor in which a platinum ion compound and a titanium ion compound are supported on the electroconductive support, is formed; a solvent removing step in which, by removing the solvent from a mixture thus obtained after the mixing step, the catalyst precursor is obtained; a firing step in which, by firing the catalyst precursor at a temperature of 500 to 900 C. in a hydrogen gas atmosphere after the solvent removing step, a fired product in which a composite containing the platinum and the titanium oxide is supported on the electroconductive support, is obtained; and a washing step in which, by washing the fired product with hydrofluoric acid after the firing step, a catalyst in which the composite containing the platinum and the titanium oxide is supported on the electroconductive support, is obtained.

A particulate precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal oxide powder for use as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor having the general formula Ni.sub.xMn.sub.yCo.sub.zA.sub.aO.sub.v(OH).sub.w, wherein 0.15<v<0.30, v+w=2, 0.30x0.75, 0.10y0.40, 0.10z0.40, A being a dopant with a0.05, and x+y+z+a=1, the precursor consisting of a crystal structure having an XRD pattern with twin peaks at 2=380.5, the twin peaks having a left peak having a peak intensity I.sub.L and a right peak having a peak intensity I.sub.R, and a peak intensity ratio R=I.sub.R/I.sub.L with R>0.7, and the XRD pattern being free of peaks belonging to either one or both of a spinel and an oxyhydroxide compound.

A positive electrode for an air battery that can remarkably improve the battery performance is provided by uniformly dispersing fine Nb (Nb oxide) therein. An air battery using the positive electrode as well as a method of manufacturing the positive electrode is also provided.

A positive electrode for an air battery includes an expanded graphite sheet containing expanded graphite and Nb dispersed within the sheet. It is desirable that the Nb be contained in a weight proportion of from 5 ppm to 50000 ppm with respect to the expanded graphite.

The present invention refers to highly sinter-stable metal nanoparticles supported on mesoporous graphitic spheres, the so obtained metal-loaded mesoporous graphitic particles, processes for their preparation and the use thereof as catalysts, in particular for high temperature reactions in reducing atmosphere and cathode side oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEM fuel cells.

The present invention relates to the use of mesoporous graphitic particles having a loading of sintering-stable metal nanoparticles for fuel cells and further electrochemical applications, for example as constituent of layers in electrodes of fuel cells and batteries.