A decomposer for an organohalogen compound, containing iron particles comprising iron and iron oxide, wherein the iron particles have a metallic iron content of 15% or more by mass, wherein the metallic iron content is a content of metallic iron in the outermost surface layer of the iron particles to which the ion beam etching has been applied twice under the following etching conditions: degree of vacuum in a chamber: 2.010.sup.2 Pa accelerating voltage of an ion gun: 10 kV emission current: 10 mA etching time: 14 seconds.
The decomposer need not contain copper and has the ability to satisfactorily decompose an organohalogen compound. A method for producing the decomposer is also provided.

A method for manufacturing a photosemiconductor according to the present disclosure includes: forming an oxide on a base material, the oxide containing at least one kind of transition metal; and preparing a photosemiconductor containing the transition metal and a nitrogen element from the oxide by subjecting the oxide to a treatment with a plasma of a nitrogen-containing gas which is generated at a frequency in a VHF range under a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

Provided is a method for preparing boron nitride nanotubes, the method including: injecting a boron-metal catalyst composite into a reaction chamber; injecting a nitrogen precursor into the reaction chamber; producing a decomposition product of the boron-metal catalyst composite in a gas state by irradiating the boron-metal catalyst composite with a carbon dioxide laser or a free electron laser; and forming boron nitride nanotubes by reacting the decomposition product of the boron-metal catalyst composite in the gas state with the nitrogen precursor.

A composite metal membrane for use in hydrogen purification includes a body-centered cubic metal layer, one or more catalyst layers, and one or more hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barriers deposited between the body-centered cubic metal layer and the one or more catalyst layers. The body-centered cubic metal layer can include a group 5 metal. The one or more hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barriers can each include a group 4 nitride, which may be applied via reactive sputtering. The one or more catalyst layers can each include a platinum group metal. The composite metal membrane may be symmetric in configuration, with a first hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barrier between the body-centered cubic metal layer and a first catalyst layer, and a second hydrogen-permeable, intermetallic diffusion barrier between the body-centered cubic metal layer and a second catalyst layer.

The nitric oxide reducing catalyst contains a negatively charged copper cluster.

A catalytically active material is provided. The material includes a mixed oxide having a first metal selected from group 4 of the periodic table of elements and/or a second metal, and at least one further metal selected from group 11 of the periodic table of elements, wherein the macroscopic composition of the material given by the chemical formula corresponds to the composition of the material at a molecular level. A coating made of such a material is also provide, as is an article having such a coating, and a method for producing such a material.

A mixed metal oxide material of tungsten and titanium is provided for use in a fuel cell. The material may comprise less than approximately 30 at. % tungsten. The mixed metal oxide may form the core of a core-shell composite material, used as a catalyst support, in which a catalyst such as platinum forms the shell. The catalyst may be applied as a single monolayer, or up to 20 monolayers.

A semiconductor material of the present invention is a semiconductor material including an oxynitride containing at least one element selected from the Group 4 elements and Group 5 elements. In the oxynitride, part of at least one selected from oxygen and nitrogen is substituted with carbon. Nb is preferable as the Group 5 element.

If a conductive mayenite compound having a large specific surface area is obtained, the usefulness thereof in respective applications is remarkably increased. A conductive mayenite compound powder having a conduction electron density of 10.sup.15 cm.sup.3 or more and a specific surface area of 5 m.sup.2g.sup.1 or more is produced by: the following steps: (1) forming a precursor powder by subjecting a mixture of a starting material powder and water to a hydrothermal treatment; (2) forming a mayenite compound powder by heating and dehydrating the precursor powder; (3) forming an activated mayenite compound powder by heating the compound powder in an inert gas atmosphere or in a vacuum; and (4) injecting electrons into the mayenite compound through a reduction treatment by mixing the activated mayenite compound powder with a reducing agent.

An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gas purification catalyst, and a production method thereof, that improves NOx purification performance in a lean atmosphere. The method of the present invention for producing an exhaust gas purification catalyst comprises preparing fine composite-metal particles, each of which contains W and Rh, by carrying out sputtering on a target material containing W and Rh; and supporting the fine composite-metal particles on a powder carrier.