A method for producing a thin film according to the present disclosure comprises a step of forming the thin film on a substrate using a target. The target is formed of a mixture containing a first material and a second material. The first material has a composition represented by ATiO.sub.3 (where A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ba and Sr). The second material has a composition represented by EH.sub.2 (where E is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti and Zr). The thin film is formed of a first oxide containing A, Ti, and O. Some of oxide ions contained in the first oxide have been replaced by hydride ions.

A method of arranging nanocrystals is provided, which includes a first process of putting barium titanate nanocrystals and/or strontium titanate nanocrystals, and a nonpolar solvent into a container, a second process of collecting a supernatant liquid including the barium titanate nanocrystals and/or the strontium titanate nanocrystals from the container, and a third process of immersing a substrate having an uneven structure into the supernatant liquid, and pulling up the substrate so as to coat the surface of the uneven structure with the supernatant liquid by using a capillary phenomenon, and to arrange the nanocrystals on the uneven structure.

A negative electrode active material according to one embodiment includes a titanium oxide compound having a crystal structure of monoclinic system titanium dioxide. The titanium oxide compound is modified by at least one kind of ion selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal cation, an alkali earth metal cation, a transition metal cation, a sulfide ion, a sulfuric acid ion and a chloride ion.

The present disclosure is directed to new materials, to processes, products, and apparatus for controlling the production of new materials with enhanced properties. Processing, including layering, Nano-infusion, and other methods for combining spider silk proteins with ceramics, metals, graphene, and/or other stiff materials is now feasible using current technologies to provide new materials and/or products with enhanced and controlled properties. Products may be fabricated to control the flexibility of ceramics, metals, graphene, or other materials to specifications not previously attainable based on the presence of proteins, such as man-made spider silk proteins or webbing. Nanoparticles of one or more types of materials and spider silk proteins or webbing, such as nanoparticles of Barium Titanium Oxide (BaTiO.sub.3), aluminum, titanium, graphene, steel, and compounds that include proteins may be combined to create new materials and products via processes that may include heating and/or pressurization at conditions that do not degrade the proteins.

The present invention provides a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high piezoelectric constant and a high mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by Formula (1):
(Ba.sub.1-xCa.sub.x).sub.a(Ti.sub.1-yZr.sub.y)O.sub.3 (1.00≦a≦1.01, 0.125≦x<0.155, and 0.041≦y≦0.074)
as a main component. The metal oxide contains Mn in a content of 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide on a metal basis.

Provided is a lithium titanate powder for an electrode of an energy storage device, the lithium titanate powder comprising Li.sub.4Ti.sub.5O.sub.12 as a main component, wherein, when the volume surface diameter calculated from the specific surface area determined by the BET method is represented as D.sub.BET and the crystallite diameter calculated from the half-peak width of the peak of the (111) plane of Li.sub.4Ti.sub.5O.sub.12 by the Scherrer equation is represented as D.sub.X, D.sub.BET is 0.1 to 0.6 μm, D.sub.X is greater than 80 nm, and (D.sub.BET/D.sub.X (μm/μm)) the ratio of D.sub.BET to D.sub.X is 3 or less. Also provided are an active material including the lithium titanate powder and an energy storage device using the active material.

The invention provides a method for producing barium titanate powder comprising the steps of: adding an aqueous slurry of anatase hydrous titanium oxide having a BET specific surface area in the range of 200 m.sup.2/g to 400 m.sup.2/g and a half width of diffraction peak of (101) plane in the range of 2.3° to 5.0° as measured by X-ray diffraction to an aqueous solution of barium hydroxide while maintaining the aqueous solution of barium hydroxide at a temperature in the range from 80° C. to the boiling point thereof under normal pressure to cause a reaction of the barium hydroxide with the hydrous titanium oxide to provide an aqueous slurry of barium titanate precursor; and subjecting the barium titanate precursor thus obtained to hydrothermal treatment over a period of not less than 24 hours to provide barium titanate particles.

Disclosed herein is a method for preparing ultrafine titanium carbonitride powder under a relatively low temperature condition that obviates a grinding process. This method includes the steps of: a mixing step for contacting titanium dioxide (TiO2), calcium (Ca) and carbon (C) under an inert atmosphere, a synthesis step for reacting the resultant mixture by heating at a temperature of about 600-1500° C. or lower under a nitrogen atmosphere; and a washing step for removing calcium oxide by washing this mixture.

A catalyst material, more specifically a catalyst material based on TiO2/SiO2 in particulate form having a content of metal in the form of the metal oxide or metal oxide precursor, is used in chemical catalysis, especially for removal of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides from combustion gases.

A catalyst material, more specifically a catalyst material based on TiO2/SiO2 in particulate form having a content of metal in the form of the metal oxide or metal oxide precursor, is used in chemical catalysis, especially for removal of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides from combustion gases.