A method for forming a carbon supported catalyst includes a step of providing a first carbon supported catalyst having a platinum-group metal supported on a first carbon support. Characteristically, the first carbon support has a first average micropore diameter and a first average carbon surface area. The first carbon supported catalyst is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature less than about 450 C. for a predetermined period of time to form a second carbon supported catalyst, wherein the first carbon support or the second carbon supported catalyst is acid leached.

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 manufacturing a catalyst support includes heat-treating a crystalline carbon support in a temperature range from 700 C. to 1100 C. under a vapor atmosphere to increase a specific surface area of the carbon support; and applying a magnetic field to the increased specific surface area of the carbon support to remove an impurity.

An orifice plate having orifice openings is interposed between a roller body and a side plate. In a closed region of an outer peripheral surface of the roller body which is covered with a base material, the base material is held on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body under suction by a negative pressure developed in suction holes. In an open region of the outer peripheral surface which is not covered with the base material, the sucking of a gas from an exterior space into the roller body is suppressed because it is difficult for the gas to pass through the orifice openings. This suppresses a reduction in sucking force in the closed region due to the entry of the gas from the open region. The roller body, the orifice plate and the side plate rotate as a unit. This suppresses deterioration of the members due to the slidable movement thereof.

There is provided a metal fine particle association suitably applied to an electrode catalyst to achieve even higher output leading to reduction in amount of the catalyst used, and a process for producing the same, that is, a metal fine particle association including a plurality of metal fine particles that have a mean particle diameter of 1 nm to 10 nm and are associated to form a single assembly, an association mixture including the metal fine particle association and a conductive support; a premix for forming an association, including metal fine particles, a metal fine particle dispersant made of a hyperbranched polymer, and a conductive support; and a method for producing the association mixture.

The present invention relates to an electrode for use in electrochemical cells and systems, such as rechargeable batteries, having a metal substrate and a catalytic coating applied onto the substrate. The catalytic coating has a mixture of noble metals or noble metal oxides and can be used to improve the energy efficiency of the cell.

A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes forming a first sublayer of a first electrode on a first side of a planar solid oxide electrolyte and drying the first sublayer of the first electrode. The method also includes forming a second sublayer of the first electrode on the dried first sublayer of the first electrode prior to firing the first sublayer of the first electrode, firing the first and second sublayers of the first electrode during the same first firing step, and forming a second electrode on a second side of the solid oxide electrolyte.

A method for manufacturing an electrode for a fuel cell includes a mixing step of producing a first mixed solution by mixing a carbon support, a metal catalyst, a binder and a first dispersion solvent, a drying step of producing a first mixed solution dried body by drying the first mixed solution, a heat treatment step of heating the first mixed solution dried body, a second mixed solution production step of producing a second mixed solution by dissolving the heat-treated first mixed solution dried body in a second dispersion solvent, and a release paper coating step of producing an electrode by coating the second mixed solution onto a release paper, and then drying the second mixed solution.

A method of preparing a metal nanoparticle on a surface includes subjecting a metal source to a temperature and a pressure in a carrier gas selected to provide a vapor metal species at a vapor pressure in the range of about 10.sup.4 to about 10.sup.11 atm; contacting the vapor metal species with a heated substrate; and depositing the metal as a nanoparticle on the substrate.

A method of manufacturing a positive electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a water-washing step of washing a lithium-nickel composite oxide containing Li, Ni, and an element M with water, and conducting a filtration to form a washed-cake, a mixing step of mixing, while heating, the washed-cake and a tungsten compound without lithium while heating to obtain a tungsten mixture, and a heat treatment step of heat-treating the tungsten mixture, wherein a water content of the washed-cake is 3.0% by mass or more and 10.0% by mass or less, a ratio of a number of tungsten atoms contained in the tungsten mixture to a total number of nickel and the element M atoms contained in the lithium-nickel composite oxide is 0.05 at. % or more and 3.00 at. % or less, and a temperature of the mixing step is 30 C. or higher and 70 C. or lower.