There is provided a ferrite powder for bonded magnets capable of producing ferrite bonded magnets with high BH.sub.max, excellent in MFR when converted to a compound, with high p-iHc, wherein an average particle size of particles obtained by a dry laser diffraction measurement is 5 m or less, a specific surface area is 1.90 m.sup.2/g or more and less than 3.00 m.sup.2/g, a compression density is 3.40 g/cm.sup.3 or more and less than 3.73 g/cm.sup.3, and a compressed molding has a coercive force of 2800 Oe or more and less than 3250 Oe.

A simple one pot sol-gel method for the synthesis of bi-metal nanostructures is based on non-noble metals (Fe, Co and Sn) and titanium. The method involves the synthesis of mixed metal nanoscale composites using low cost precursors which allow for the synthesis of desired nanocomposite materials with self-scarifying titanium or silica supports. The procedure does not require any surfactant or any need for pH controlled step. Applicants' method involves the in-situ generation of precursors and their simultaneous entrapment in a gel. This simple one pot synthesis allows for the synthesis of homogenous size, shape and distribution of targeted nanostructures. Further, this method can be applied for the preparation of various nanocomposite materials using different choices of metals and self-scarifying supports. Applicants also show that Pd, the noble metal based nanocomposite is feasible.

Electrode materials comprising (a) at least one compound of general formula (I) Li.sub.(1+x)[Ni.sub.aCO.sub.bMn.sub.cM1.sub.d].sub.(1-x)O.sub.2 (I) the integers being defined as follows: x is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.05, a is in the range of from 0.3 to 0.6, b is in the range of from zero to 0.35, c is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.6, d is in the range of from zero to 0.05, a+b+c+d=1 M.sup.1 is at least one metal selected from Ca, Zn, Fe, Ti, Ba, Al, (b) at least one compound of general formula (II) LiFe.sub.(1-x)M2.sub.yPO.sub.4 (II) y is in the range of from zero to 0.8 M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from Ti, Co, Mn, Ni, V, Mg, Nd, Zn and Y, that contains at least one further iron-phosphorous compound, in form of a solid solution in compound (b) or in domains, (c) carbon in electrically conductive modification.

Provided is a new 5 V class spinel-type lithium manganese-containing composite oxide which enables the expansion of a high potential capacity region and the suppression of gas generation. The 5 V class spinel-type lithium manganese-containing composite oxide has an operating potential of 4.5 V or more at a metal Li reference potential, and contains Li, Mn, O and two or more other elements. The spinel-type lithium manganese-containing composite oxide is characterized in that, in an electronic diffraction image from a transmission electron microscope (TEM), a diffraction spot observed in the Fd-3m structure as well as a diffraction spot not observed in the Fd-3m structure are confirmed.

An object of the present invention is to provide ferrite particles having a high magnetic permeability in a frequency band of 1 MHz to 1 GHz. Another object is to provide a resin composition containing the ferrite particles and an electromagnetic wave shielding material composed of the resin composition. The ferrite particles are composed of a single crystalline body having an average particle size of 1 to 2000 nm and has a spherical particle shape, wherein the ferrite particles contain substantially no Zn, 3 to 25 wt % of Mn, and 43 to 65 wt % of Fe, and a real part ? of a complex magnetic permeability measured using a molding composed of the ferrite particles and a binder resin has a maximal value in a frequency band of 100 MHz to 1 GHz.

An object of the present invention is to provide ferrite particles having a high magnetic permeability in a frequency band of 1 MHz to 1 GHz. Another object is to provide a resin composition containing the ferrite particles and an electromagnetic wave shielding material composed of the resin composition. The ferrite particles are composed of a single crystalline body having an average particle size of 1 to 2000 nm and has a spherical particle shape, wherein the ferrite particles contain substantially no Zn, 3 to 25 wt % of Mn, and 43 to 65 wt % of Fe, and a real part ? of a complex magnetic permeability measured using a molding composed of the ferrite particles and a binder resin has a maximal value in a frequency band of 100 MHz to 1 GHz.

Disclosed are a particle of a 13-iron oxyhydroxide-based compound represented by Formula (1), in which an average equivalent circle diameter of primary particles is 5 nm to 30 nm, and a coefficient of variation of equivalent circle diameters of the primary particles is 10% to 30% [In Formula (1), A represents at least one kind of metal element other than Fe, and a represents a number that satisfies a relationship of 0a<1.], and applications thereof.

-A.sub.aFe.sub.1-aOOH (1)

Provided are a magnetic recording medium including: a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer which is provided on at least one surface of the non-magnetic support and includes particles of epsilon type iron oxide-based compound, and a binding agent, in which a contact angle measured regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or greater than 30.0 and smaller than 45.0 with respect to 1-bromonaphthalene and 80.0 to 95.0 with respect to water, a manufacturing method of particles of an epsilon iron oxide-based compound, and a manufacturing method of a magnetic recording medium.

The present invention provides a layered double hydroxide with improved conductivity, a layered double hydroxide and a composite material containing the layered double hydroxide. The layered double hydroxide is represented by the general formula: [Mg.sup.2+.sub.(1-y)M1.sup.+.sub.y].sub.1-x[Al.sup.3+.sub.(1-z)M2.sup.+.sub.z].sub.x(OH).sub.2A.sup.n.sub.x/n.mH.sub.2O, wherein 0.1x0.4, 0y0.95, and 0z0.95, provided that both y and z are not 0 at the same time; =1 or 2; =2 or 3; A.sup.n is an n-valent anion, provided that n is an integer of 1 or greater; m0; M1.sup.+ is a cation of at least one substituent element selected from monovalent elements, transition metal elements, and other elements with an ionic radius greater than that of Mg.sup.2+; and M2.sup.+ is a cation of at least one element selected from divalent elements, transition metals, and other elements with an ionic radius greater than that of Al.sup.3+.

The method includes mixing and heat-treating carbon nanotubes, a water-soluble polymer dispersant, and an iron (Fe) precursor to form an iron oxide-carbon precursor; mixing and calcining a lithium precursor and the iron oxide-carbon precursor at a temperature of 500? C. or higher to form lithium-iron oxide particles; and heat-treating a mixture containing the lithium-iron oxide particles and a lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate under an oxygen-containing gas atmosphere at a temperature of less than 300? C. to form a lithium-iron oxide coated with a lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate-containing layer.