Patent ID: 7351271

Claim:
Niobium comprising: a primary particle which is evenly distributed with a particle diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 μm and wherein the ratio of the oxygen content in ppm to the BET specific surface area expressed in m 2 /g is up to 3100, wherein the niobium powder is manufactured in accordance with the following method steps: (1) a first-stage reduction process of reducing niobium with at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals to obtain low-grade oxide powder represented by Nb Ox, where x=0.06 to 0.35, wherein the at least one member is turned to an oxide, (2) a process of removing the oxide of at least one member generated in the first-stage reduction process, and (3) a second-stage reduction process of reducing the low-grade oxide powder obtained in the first-stage reduction process, with a melt solution of at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals in a temperature range of 400 to 1200° C., to obtain said niobium powder.