Mayenite-type compound and process for production of same

1. A mayenite compound in which a part of Ca of a mayenite compound containing Ca, Al and oxygen is substituted by an atom M, wherein M is Mg;

wherein said mayenite compound has an atom number ratio represented by M/(Ca+M) of from 0.2 to 0.45, and at least a part of free oxygen ions in a mayenite crystal structure are substituted by anions of an atom having electron affinity smaller than that of an oxygen atom.

2. The mayenite compound according to claim 1 , wherein a composition before the free oxygen ions are substituted by the anions is represented by (Ca 1-X M X ) 12 Al 14 O 33 wherein x is from 0.2 to 0.45.

3. The mayenite compound according to claim 1 , wherein the anion is at least one selected from the group consisting of H − , H 2− , F − , Cl − , Br − , I − , S 2− and Au − .

4. The mayenite compound of claim 1 , wherein M/(Ca+M) is from 0.25 to 0.45.

5. The mayenite compound according to claim 1 , wherein the mayenite compound has an electron concentration of 1.0×10 17 /cm 3 or more after irradiation with an ultraviolet ray of 330 nm.

6. A process for producing a mayenite compound as claimed in claim 1 , said process comprising:

a calcination step comprising mixing a calcium compound, an M-containing compound and an aluminum compound in such a manner that a molar ratio in terms of CaO, MO wherein M is Mg and Al 2 O 3 becomes substantially CaO:MO:Al 2 O 3 =12(1−Y):12Y:7 wherein Y is from 0.01 to 0.90, and firing the resulting mixture at 900 to 1,300° C. in air, followed by pulverizing to obtain a calcined powder;

a reduction step comprising subjecting the calcined powder to a reducing treatment at a temperature of 850° C. to less than 1,415° C. to obtain a reduced product having a mayenite structure, in which at least a part of free oxygen ions of the calcined powder are substituted by electrons; and

a substitution step comprising treating the reduced product at 400 to 1,200° C. in an atmosphere containing an atom having electron affinity smaller than that of an oxygen atom.

7. A mayenite compound in which a part of Ca of a mayenite compound containing Ca, Al and oxygen is substituted by an atom M, wherein M is Mg;

wherein said mayenite compound has an atom number ratio represented by M/(Ca+M) of from 0.2 to 0.45, and at least a part of free oxygen ions in a mayenite crystal structure are substituted by anions of an atom having electron affinity smaller than that of an oxygen atom, and electrons.

8. The mayenite compound according to claim 7 , wherein a composition before the free oxygen ions are substituted by the anions is represented by (Ca 1-X M X ) 12 Al 14 O 33 wherein x is from 0.2 to 0.45.

9. The mayenite compound according to claim 7 , wherein the anion is at least one selected from the group consisting of H − , H 2− , F − , Cl − , Br − , I − , S 2− and Au − .

10. The mayenite compound of claim 7 , wherein M/(Ca+M) is from 0.25 to 0.45.

11. The mayenite compound according to claim 7 , wherein the mayenite compound has an electron concentration of 1.0×10 17 /cm 3 or more.

12. A process for producing a mayenite compound as claimed in claim 7 , said process comprising:

a calcination step comprising mixing a calcium compound, an M-containing compound and an aluminum compound in such a manner that a molar ratio in terms of CaO, MO wherein M is Mg and Al 2 O 3 becomes substantially CaO:MO:Al 2 O 3 =12(1−Y):12Y:7 wherein Y is from 0.01 to 0.90, and firing the resulting mixture at 900 to 1,300° C. in air, followed by pulverizing to obtain a calcined powder;

a reduction step comprising subjecting the calcined powder to a reducing treatment at a temperature of 850° C. to less than 1,415° C. to obtain a reduced product having a mayenite structure, in which at least a part of free oxygen ions of the calcined powder are substituted by electrons;

a substitution step comprising treating the reduced product at 400 to 1,200° C. in an atmosphere containing an atom having electron affinity smaller than that of an oxygen atom; and

an irradiation step comprising irradiating the product of the substitution step with any one of an ultraviolet ray having a wavelength of 140 to 380 nm, an electron beam and plasma.