Disclosed are stable, active non-precious metal oxide catalysts, such as transition metal antimonates (TMAs), for electrochemical reactions in harsh media conditions, such as the chlorine evolution reaction (CER). A disclosed electrocatalyst includes a metal oxide film containing a crystalline transition metal antimonite (TMA). The crystalline TMA may include NiSb.sub.2O.sub.x, CoSb.sub.2O.sub.x, or MnSb.sub.2O.sub.x. The metal oxide film may be formed on a conductive substrate, for example, a substrate including an antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) film, using an annealing process.

Provided are an intermetallic compound having high stability and high activity, and a catalyst using the same. A hydrogen storage/release material containing an intermetallic compound represented by formula (1): RTX . . . (1) wherein R represents a lanthanoid element, T represents a transition metal in period 4 or period 5 in the periodic table, and X represents Si, Al or Ge.

In a hydrogen reduction catalyst for carbon dioxide of the present invention, catalytic metal nanoparticles and a metal oxide for suppressing grain growth of the catalytic metal nanoparticles are dispersed and supported on a carrier.

A method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen according to the present invention is a method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen, in which using a carbon source containing carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms and being decomposed in a heated state, and a catalyst for producing carbon nanotubes and H.sub.2 from the carbon source, the above carbon nanotubes are synthesized on a support in a heated state, placed in a reactor, and simultaneously, the above H.sub.2 is synthesized from the above carbon source, the method comprising a synthesis step of flowing a source gas comprising the above carbon source over the above support, on which the above catalyst is supported, to synthesize the above carbon nanotubes on the above support and simultaneously synthesize the above H.sub.2 in a gas flow.

There is provided a catalyst with low-temperature activity, high selectivity, high poisoning resistance and high durability, as well as a method for producing it. A cluster-supporting catalyst having a silicon carbide carrier and precious metal clusters supported on the silicon carbide carrier, and a method for producing the cluster-supporting catalyst that includes sputtering with a precious metal target to generate precious metal clusters, and impacting the generated precious metal clusters on the surface of the silicon carbide carrier to support them on it.

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.

Sinter-resistant catalyst systems include a catalytic substrate comprising a plurality of metal catalytic nanoparticles bound to a metal oxide catalyst support, and a coating of oxide nanoparticles disposed on the metal catalytic nanoparticles and optionally on the metal oxide support. The oxide nanoparticles comprise one or more lanthanum oxides and optionally one or more barium oxides, and additionally one or more oxides of aluminum, cerium, zirconium, titanium, silicon, magnesium, zinc, iron, strontium, and calcium. The metal catalytic nanoparticles can include ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, rhenium, copper, silver, and/or gold. The metal oxide catalyst support can include one or more metal oxides selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, CeO2, ZrO2, TiO2, SiO2, La2O3, MgO, and ZnO. The coating of oxide nanoparticles is about 0.1% to about 50% lanthanum and barium oxides. The oxide nanoparticles can further include one or more oxides of magnesium and/or cobalt.

Methods for preparing a catalyst system, include providing a catalytic substrate comprising a catalyst support having a surface with a plurality of metal catalytic nanoparticles bound thereto and physically mixing and/or electrostatically combining the catalytic substrate with a plurality of oxide coating nanoparticles to provide a coating of oxide coating nanoparticles on the surface of the catalytic nanoparticles. The metal catalytic nanoparticles can be one or more of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, rhenium, copper, silver, and gold. Physically combining can include combining via ball milling, blending, acoustic mixing, or theta composition, and the oxide coating nanoparticles can include one or more oxides of aluminum, cerium, zirconium, titanium, silicon, magnesium, zinc, barium, lanthanum, iron, strontium, and calcium. The catalyst support can include one or more oxides of aluminum, cerium, zirconium, titanium, silicon, magnesium, zinc, barium, iron, strontium, and calcium.

Provided is a method of producing a catalyst or adsorbent carrier and a catalyst or adsorbent carrier which can enhance a catalyst or adsorbent function, and prevent fall-off of catalyst particles or adsorbent particles. The surface of a metal base material made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy is subjected to an etching process using an etchant containing iron chloride and an oxide to convert the surface to an uneven and rough surface. The uneven and rough surface of the metal base material is subjected to an anodizing process to form a porous coating along the uneven and rough surface. A large number of catalyst or adsorbent particles are thus carried on the surface of the metal base material on which the porous coating is formed along the uneven and rough surface.

A nanocomposite coating that in turn extract self-replenishing (or -healing), superlubricious carbon film directly from natural gas or hydrocarbon gas in mechanical systems. The coating deposits on sealing and sliding surfaces reducing friction and wear. The result is a reduction in inefficiency, machine breakdown, and adverse environmental impact.