An object of the present invention is to provide a member and a method for producing a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate with high efficiency. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a carbon nanohorn aggregate production member for producing a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate in which single-walled carbon nanohorns are aggregated radially and are connected in a fibrous form, comprising: a target fixing jig having a target housing section on an upper surface which has a partition and is capable of mounting a plurality of rod-shaped catalyst-containing carbon targets without making a mutual contact, and a jig guide for movement on a side surface; a jig for target fixing jig movement which is slidably engaged with the jig guide for movement; and a target fixing jig guide which is inclined downward, and is equipped with a guide rail which is adapted to an arrangement of the plurality of rod-shaped catalyst-containing carbon targets, wherein the target fixing jig is slidably engaged with the guide rail, and moves in a downward direction by a weight thereof and in a transverse direction along the guide rail by the jig for target fixing jig movement.

A nanocarbon material aggregate excellent as a catalyst in an electrochemical reaction can be provided. The present invention relates to a nanocarbon material aggregate, comprising: a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate constituted by a plurality of carbon nanohorns including a carbon nanohorn having a hole-opening; and a first particle encapsulated in the carbon nanohorn having a hole-opening and partially exposed to the outside from the carbon nanohorn.

A nanocarbon material aggregate excellent as a catalyst in an electrochemical reaction can be provided. The present invention relates to a nanocarbon material aggregate, comprising: a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate constituted by a plurality of carbon nanohorns including a carbon nanohorn having a hole-opening; and a first particle encapsulated in the carbon nanohorn having a hole-opening and partially exposed to the outside from the carbon nanohorn.

A monolithic carbon foam formed of fused onion-like carbon (OLC) nanoparticles, in which the monolithic carbon foam contains interconnected pores, has a volumetric micropore surface area of 200 m.sup.2/cc-600 m.sup.2/cc, and has an electrical conductivity of 20 s/cm-140 s/cm. Also disclosed are electrodes and energy storage devices constructed therefrom.

A monolithic carbon foam formed of fused onion-like carbon (OLC) nanoparticles, in which the monolithic carbon foam contains interconnected pores, has a volumetric micropore surface area of 200 m.sup.2/cc-600 m.sup.2/cc, and has an electrical conductivity of 20 s/cm-140 s/cm. Also disclosed are electrodes and energy storage devices constructed therefrom.

High quality carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes are produced by methods that include mixing a carbon-containing feedstock with a catalyst to form a feedstock/catalyst mixture, or coating a catalyst with a carbon-containing feedstock, and subjecting the feedstock/catalyst mixture or feedstock-coated catalyst to irradiation with a laser to convert the feedstock into carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes in the presence of the catalyst. In some instances, the feedstock is converted to a char by pyrolysis and the char is instead subjected to laser irradiation. The carbon-containing feedstock can be a biomass or a carbonaceous material. In some instances, the catalyst is a metal salt, preferably a transition metal salt. In some instances, the catalyst is an elemental metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof.

High quality carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes are produced by methods that include mixing a carbon-containing feedstock with a catalyst to form a feedstock/catalyst mixture, or coating a catalyst with a carbon-containing feedstock, and subjecting the feedstock/catalyst mixture or feedstock-coated catalyst to irradiation with a laser to convert the feedstock into carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes in the presence of the catalyst. In some instances, the feedstock is converted to a char by pyrolysis and the char is instead subjected to laser irradiation. The carbon-containing feedstock can be a biomass or a carbonaceous material. In some instances, the catalyst is a metal salt, preferably a transition metal salt. In some instances, the catalyst is an elemental metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof.

A cross-linked structure of a carbon material is excellent in mechanical strength, such as tensile strength. The carbon materials such as carbon nanotube, graphite, fullerene, and carbon nanocoil, are cross-linked with each other. The carbon materials are cross-linked through a linking group derived from a nucleophilic compound having two or more nucleophilic groups in the molecule.

A cross-linked structure of a carbon material is excellent in mechanical strength, such as tensile strength. The carbon materials such as carbon nanotube, graphite, fullerene, and carbon nanocoil, are cross-linked with each other. The carbon materials are cross-linked through a linking group derived from a nucleophilic compound having two or more nucleophilic groups in the molecule.

A method for producing a carbon nanohorn aggregate including a fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate, comprising continuously irradiating with laser light a surface of a carbon target containing a metal catalyst such as iron, wherein a laser irradiation position is moved at a constant speed so that a power density of the laser light with which the surface of the carbon target is irradiated is generally constant, and irradiation is moved to a region adjacent to a region previously irradiated with the laser light, in a direction different from a moving and traveling direction of the laser irradiation position at an interval equal to or more than a width of a degradation region formed around the region irradiated with the laser light