Disclosed herein is a stabilised Na-ion oxide P3 phase of formula (I): P3-Na.sub.xM.sub.yO.sub.z Where, x>0.66, 0.8≤y≤1.0, z≤2; and M is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a 3d transition metal, a 4d transition metal, Al, Mg, B, Si, Sn, Sr and Ca. The stabilised Na-ion oxide P3 phase of formula (I) may be particularly useful as an active material in a Na-ion battery.

A battery comprising an acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) material, preferably in monodisperse nanoparticulate form 20 nm or less in size, having a pH <7 when suspended in a 5 wt % aqueous solution and a Hammett function H.sub.0 >−12, at least on its surface.

A method of leaching copper from a copper sulfide ore which includes adding a potential adjustment agent for lowering a potential of a leaching solution obtained after leaching copper from the copper sulfide ore by using iodide ion and iron (III) ion, the leaching solution being stored in a tank for storing the leaching solution.

A composite containing phosphorus, lithium, iron, sulfur, and carbon as constituent elements wherein lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S) is present in an amount of 90 mol % or more, and wherein the crystallite size calculated from the half-width of a diffraction peak based on the (111) plane of Li.sub.2S as determined by X-ray powder diffraction measurement is 80 nm or less. The composite exhibits a high capacity (in particular, a high discharge capacity) useful as an electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery (in particular, a cathode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery), without the need for stepwise pre-cycling treatment.

Provided are a biomineralogical method for removing cesium ions. The method for removing cesium ions, the method comprising: adding metal-reducing bacteria, an iron source, and a sulfur source into a solution containing the cesium ions to convert the cesium ions into a solid mineral incorporating cesium. The method for removing cesium ions according to the present invention has advantages in that the cesium ions may be removed with high efficiency and small volume even in the case in which competing ions are present at a high concentration like sea water.

Objects are to provide a ferrite powder having a residual magnetization and a coercive force larger than those of spherical hard ferrite particle, and magnetic permeability μ″ is maximum in a specific frequency range, a manufacturing method thereof, a resin compound containing the ferrite powder, and a molded product made from the resin compound. To achieve the objects, a hexagonal plate shaped ferrite powder containing 7.8 to 9 wt % of Sr, 61 to 65 wt % of Fe, and 0.1 to 0.65 wt % of Mg, a manufacturing method thereof, a resin compound containing the hexagonal plate shaped ferrite powder, and a molded product made from the resin compound are employed.

Objects are to provide a ferrite powder having a residual magnetization and a coercive force larger than those of spherical hard ferrite particle, and magnetic permeability μ″ is maximum in a specific frequency range, a manufacturing method thereof, a resin compound containing the ferrite powder, and a molded product made from the resin compound. To achieve the objects, a hexagonal plate shaped ferrite powder containing 7.8 to 9 wt % of Sr, 61 to 65 wt % of Fe, and 0.1 to 0.65 wt % of Mg, a manufacturing method thereof, a resin compound containing the hexagonal plate shaped ferrite powder, and a molded product made from the resin compound are employed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ferrite particle having a low apparent density, filling a specified volume with a low weight with various properties maintained in a controllable state, a ferrite carrier core material composed of the ferrite particle, and a ferrite carrier using the ferrite core material and an electrophotographic developer. To achieve the object, the ferrite particle having the outer shell structure containing the Ti oxide for the ferrite carrier core material, and the ferrite carrier using the ferrite particle as the ferrite carrier core material and the electrophotographic developer are employed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ferrite particle having a low apparent density, filling a specified volume with a low weight with various properties maintained in a controllable state, a ferrite carrier core material composed of the ferrite particle, and a ferrite carrier using the ferrite core material and an electrophotographic developer. To achieve the object, the ferrite particle having the outer shell structure containing the Ti oxide for the ferrite carrier core material, and the ferrite carrier using the ferrite particle as the ferrite carrier core material and the electrophotographic developer are employed.

An object of the present invention is to provide ferrite particles for a filtering medium excellent in filtration ability having a small apparent density, capable of various properties maintained in the controllable state and filling a specified volume with a small amount, and a filtering medium made from the ferrite particles. In order to achieve the object, ferrite particles provided an outer shell structure containing Ti oxide for a filtering medium, and a filtering medium made from the ferrite particles are employed.