CATALYST AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, CATALYTIC ELECTRODE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, MEMBRANE/ELECTRODE UNION, AND ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE

摘要

In a process for producing an oxygen reduction catalyst constituted of a nitrogenous active carbide, comprising pulverizing a mixture of carbonaceous solid raw material (coal base binder pitch) and nitrogenous organic compound (melamine, etc.), or a nitrogenous organic polymeric compound (polyacrylonitrile, melamine resin, etc.), firing the powder and subjecting the firing product to steam activation, controlling of the ratio of nitrogen presence at surface and the presence ratio of carbon participating in shakeup process and controlling so as to increase the spin concentration of unpaired electron exhibiting Curie paramagnetism are performed by selecting the temperature at which the firing is conducted and selecting the mixing ratio of carbonaceous solid raw material and nitrogenous organic compound or the material of nitrogenous organic polymeric compound. In the incorporation thereof in an electrical device, the catalyst is mixed with an ion conductive polymer and formed into a catalyst layer to thereby smooth the transfer of ions and electrons. In the application thereof to a polymer electrolyte type fuel cell, an MEA is produced. Thus, there can be provided a catalyst constituted of a nitrogenous active carbide and a process for producing the same, and further provided an electrochemical device in which this catalyst is incorporated.