| abstract |
A process by which a conductive mayenite compound having satisfactory properties can be easily, stably, and inexpensively obtained without the need of expensive equipment, high-temperature or long-term reaction, or complicated reaction control. The process for producing a conductive mayenite compound comprises the step of heating a precursor and is characterized in that the precursor contains calcium and/or strontium and further contains aluminum, the proportion of the sum of the calcium and strontium to the aluminum in terms of oxide proportion by mole, (CaO+SrO)/Al2O3, being from 12.6/6.4 to 11.7/7.3 and the total content of CaO, SrO, and Al2O3 in the precursor being 50 mol % or higher, and is vitreous or crystalline. The process is further characterized in that the heating comprises mixing the precursor with a reducing agent and holding the resultant mixture at 600-1,415 °C in an inert-gas or vacuum atmosphere having a partial oxygen pressure of 10 Pa or lower. |