Disclosed herein are compositions comprising zirconium and cerium having a surprisingly small particle sizes. The compositions disclosed herein contain zirconium, cerium, optionally yttrium, and optionally one or more rare earths other than cerium and yttrium The compositions exhibit a particle size characterized by a Dso value of about 20 μm to about 45 μm and a D.sub.99 value of about 55 μm to about 1 00 μm. Further disclosed are processes of producing these compositions using oxalic acid in the process. The compositions can be used as a catalyst and/or part of a catalytic system for automobile exhaust gas.

The present invention provides a method for producing a zirconia particle-containing powder that enables easy production of a zirconia sintered body having both high translucency and high strength. The present invention relates to a method for producing a zirconia particle-containing powder, comprising a drying step of spray drying a slurry containing zirconia particles, wherein the zirconia particles have an average primary particle diameter of 30 nm or less, and the slurry comprises a dispersion medium containing a liquid having a surface tension at 25° C. of 50 mN/m or less. Preferably, the zirconia particles comprise 2.0 to 9.0 mol % yttria. Preferably, wherein the content of the liquid in the dispersion medium is 50 mass % or more.

A zirconia sintered body is provided and includes yttria and zirconia, containing yttria by a content ranging from 4.5 mol % or more to 6.5 mol % or less and zirconia as the remainder, the total light transmittance of a 1-mm thick sample measured in compliance with JIS K 7361-1 being 46.5% or higher, the three-point bending strength being 700 MPa or higher, and a ratio of an integrated value for the total light transmittance to an integrated value for the parallel light transmittance of a 1-mm thick sample measured at the measurement wavelength ranging from 400 to 700 nm being 1.3% or less.

A process may produce mixed oxides including lithium, zirconium, and optionally at least one other than Li and Zr metal, by flame spray pyrolysis. Mixed oxides are obtainable by such a process. Such mixed oxides may be used in lithium ion batteries.

A synthesis method for producing a refractory oxide-ceramic material of CaZrO.sub.3, in particular in the form of a refractory granular material that is preferably mechanically comminuted, in particular crushed and/or ground, as well as to a batch and a coarse ceramic, shaped or unshaped, refractory product containing at least one pre-synthesized refractory calcium zirconate-containing granular material.

A synthesis method for producing a refractory oxide-ceramic material of CaZrO.sub.3, in particular in the form of a refractory granular material that is preferably mechanically comminuted, in particular crushed and/or ground, as well as to a batch and a coarse ceramic, shaped or unshaped, refractory product containing at least one pre-synthesized refractory calcium zirconate-containing granular material.

Disclosed herein are catalyst compositions having improved mercury intrusion volume and surface areas and processes for making these compositions. The enhanced compositions disclosed herein contain zirconium, cerium, optionally yttrium, and optionally one or more rare earths other than cerium and yttrium. Further disclosed are processes of producing these compositions involving supercritical drying after addition of mesitylene. The compositions can be used as a catalyst and/or as part of a catalyst system in an automobile exhaust system.

A zirconia-based porous body including an oxide of a rare earth element, in which when a pore volume in a pore distribution range of 30 nm or more and 200 nm or less after heating at 1150° C. for 12 hours under atmospheric pressure is defined as pore volume A and a pore volume in a pore distribution range of 30 nm or more and 200 nm or less before heating is defined as pore volume B, the pore volume A is 0.10 ml/g or more and 0.40 ml/g or less, and a pore volume retention ratio X in a pore distribution range of 30 nm or more and 200 nm or less represented by a formula [[(pore volume A)/(pore volume B)]×100] is 25% or more and 95% or less.

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.

Nanosized cubic lithium lanthanum zirconate is synthesized by forming a solution including an organic compound and compounds of lithium, lanthanum, and zirconium; drying the solution to yield a solid; and heating the solid in the presence of oxygen to pyrolyze the organic compound to yield a product comprising nanosized cubic lithium lanthanum zirconate.