Composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particle and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles comprising vapor grown carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber having a structure with hollow space extending along its axis, a diameter of 0.001 to 1 μm and an aspect ratio of 5 to 15,000; and inorganic fine particles having a particle size of 0.0001 to 5 μm, the particles being deposited onto the surface of the carbon fiber, wherein the ratio of the average diameter of the vapor grown carbon fiber to the average particle size of the inorganic fine particles is 1:0.01 to 1:5, wherein the inorganic fine particles are formed of an element belonging to groups 2 to 15 of the periodic table, or a compound containing the element.

1 . A composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles comprising vapor grown carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber having a structure with hollow space extending along its axis, a diameter of 0.001 to 1 μm and an aspect ratio of 5 to 15,000; and inorganic fine particles having a particle size of 0.0001 to 5 μm, the particles being deposited onto the surface of the carbon fiber, wherein the ratio of the average diameter of the vapor grown carbon fiber to the average particle size of the inorganic fine particles is 1:0.01 to 1:5, wherein the inorganic fine particles are formed of an element belonging to groups 2 to 15 of the periodic table, or a compound containing the element. 
     
     
         2 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the element belonging to groups 2 to 15 of the periodic table is magnesium, calcium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, aluminum, gallium, indium, silicon, germanium, tin, phosphorus or bismuth. 
     
     
         3 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound containing the element belonging to groups 2 to 15 of the periodic table is in the form of an oxide, a carbonate, a sulfate, a nitrate, a complex or a halide. 
     
     
         4 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound containing the element belonging to groups 2 to 15 of the periodic table is in the form of an oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio by mass of the vapor grown carbon fiber to the inorganic fine particles is 1:0.005 to 1:50. 
     
     
         6 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic fine particles are formed of at least one species selected from the group consisting of silica, calcium carbonate, alumina, titanium oxide and iron oxide. 
     
     
         7 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor grown carbon fiber contains boron in an amount of 0.01 to 5 mass %. 
     
     
         8 . A paste comprising the composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles as recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A catalyst comprising the composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles as recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 2 , wherein the compound containing the element belonging to groups 2 to 15 of the periodic table is in the form of an oxide, a carbonate, a sulfate, a nitrate, a complex or a halide. 
     
     
         11 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 2 , wherein the compound containing the element belonging to groups 2 to 15 of the periodic table is in the form of an oxide. 
     
     
         12 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic particles according to  claim 2 , wherein the ratio by mass of the vapor grown carbon fiber to the inorganic fine particles is 1:0.005 to 1:50. 
     
     
         13 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 2 , wherein the inorganic fine particles are formed of at least one species selected from the group consisting of silica, calcium carbonate, alumina, titanium oxide and iron oxide. 
     
     
         14 . The composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles according to  claim 2 , wherein the vapor grown carbon fiber contains boron in an amount of 0.01 to 5 mass %. 
     
     
         15 . A paste comprising the composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles as recited in  claim 2 . 
     
     
         16 . A catalyst comprising the composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles as recited in  claim 2 .