The invention relates to a porous zirconia article in particular for use in the dental or orthodontic field, the porous zirconia article comprising ZrO.sub.2: 80 to 87 wt. %, Y.sub.2O.sub.3: 3 to 5 wt. %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3: 10 to 14 wt. %, wt. % with respect to the weight of the porous zirconia article, the porous zirconia article being characterized by a BET surface from 15 to 100 m.sup.2/g. The invention also relates to a sintered zirconia article in particular for use in the dental or orthodontic field, the sintered zirconia article comprising ZrO.sub.2: 80 to 87 wt. %, Y.sub.2O.sub.3: 3 to 5 wt. %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3: 10 to 14 wt. %, wt. % with respect to the weight of the porous zirconia article, the sintered zirconia article being characterized by a corundum crystal phase content of 7 to 12 wt. % and a flexural strength of at least 2,000 MPa.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an oxygen storage and release material comprising a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide improved in ability to remove HC and NOx and a three-way catalyst able to reduce an amount of NOx emission. Further, to solve this problem, an oxygen storage and release material comprising a ceria-zirconia-based complex oxide containing Gd.sub.2O.sub.3 in 0.1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol % and having an ion conductivity of 2×10.sup.−5 S/cm or more at 400° C. is provided. Further, in addition to the above, an oxygen storage and release material having a molar ratio of cerium and zirconium of 0.2 or more and 0.6 or less by cerium/(cerium+zirconium) and an speed of oxygen storage and release “Δt.sub.50” of 20.0 seconds or more or amount of oxygen storage and release of 300 μmol-O.sub.2/g or more etc. was obtained. Further, by applying the oxygen storage and release material to the catalyst, it is possible to assist the purification of exhaust gas as it changes every instant in accordance with the driving conditions and possible to obtain a catalyst with a higher ability to remove harmful components of catalytic precious metals than before. In particular, it is possible to obtain an automotive exhaust gas purification system excellent in ability to remove CO, NOx, and HC.

This invention relates to a process for preparing nanoparticles of zirconium dioxide, ZrO.sub.2, by hydrothermal treatment of a zirconium IV compound in the presence of water, at a pH below 7, and at least one amino acid comprising at least 4 carbon atoms, said amino acid exhibiting an acid function to amine function ratio greater than or equal to 1. The invention also relates to zirconium dioxide nanoparticles having a visible transmittance greater than or equal to 20% at 400 nm and greater than or equal to 95% at 800 nm measured in water at a concentration of 40% by weight

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, are compounds, methods, tools, and abrasive materials comprising mixed transition metal dodecaborides.

The present disclosure provides a cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide with a core-shell structure and a preparation method thereof, a catalyst system using the cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide, a catalytic converter for purifying tail gas by using the catalyst system, and application of the catalyst system or the catalytic converter in motor vehicle exhaust purification, industrial waste gas treatment or catalytic combustion. In the present invention, the cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide with a core-shell structure oxygen storage material is prepared by a step-by-step precipitation method. On the one hand, yttrium and a part of zirconium and cerium are precipitated on a cerium-zirconium surface, where the post-precipitation of yttrium is to segregate yttrium ions (Y.sup.3+) on a grain boundary surface, thus reducing lattice surface energy, pinning the grain boundary surface, making the migration of the grain boundary surface difficult, controlling the growth of grains.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a solid-state lithium ion conductor material in which the use of water and/or steam is a medium when the obtained intermediate product is cooled or quenched and, if needed, comminution of the intermediate product and/or carrying out of a cooling process with the production of a powder in one comminution step or in a plurality of comminution steps leads or lead to especially advantageous production products. The subject of the disclosure is also the solid-state lithium ion conductor material that has an ion conductivity of at least 10.sup.−5 S/cm at room temperature as well as a water content of <1.0 wt %. The disclosure further relates to the use of the solid-state lithium ion conductor material in the form of a powder in batteries or rechargeable batteries, preferably lithium batteries or rechargeable lithium batteries, in particular, separators, cathodes, anodes, or solid-state electrolytes.

A method of forming a composition having exfoliated nanoplatelets functionalized with covalently bound surface-modifiers, includes exfoliating a layered nanoclay is exfoliated with a surfactant. The method also includes reacting the exfoliated layered nanoclay with a surface modifier comprising one or more of an epoxide, a silane, or an isocyanate.

A method of forming a composition having exfoliated nanoplatelets functionalized with covalently bound surface-modifiers, includes exfoliating a layered nanoclay is exfoliated with a surfactant. The method also includes reacting the exfoliated layered nanoclay with a surface modifier comprising one or more of an epoxide, a silane, or an isocyanate.

A component for a lithium battery including a first layer including a lithium garnet having a porosity of 0 percent to less than 25 percent, based on a total volume of the first layer; and a second layer on the first layer and having a porosity of 25 percent to 80 percent, based on a total volume of the second layer, wherein the second layer is on the first layer and the second layer has a composition that is different from a composition of the first layer.