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 invention relates to sulfonated aminomethylated chelate resins, to a method for producing same, to the use thereof for obtaining and purifying metals, in particular rare earth metals, from aqueous solutions and organic liquids, and for producing highly pure silicon.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery including the same, and the positive electrode active material includes lithium cobalt oxide particles. The lithium cobalt oxide particles include lithium cobalt oxide having a Li/Co molar ratio of less than 1 in the particles. Good rate property and life property may be obtained without worrying on the deterioration of initial capacity property.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery including the same, and the positive electrode active material includes lithium cobalt oxide particles. The lithium cobalt oxide particles include lithium cobalt oxide having a Li/Co molar ratio of less than 1 in the particles. Good rate property and life property may be obtained without worrying on the deterioration of initial capacity property.

A compound of formula Li.sub.4+xMnM.sup.1.sub.aM.sup.2.sub.bO.sub.c wherein: M.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting in Ni, Mn, Co, Fe and a mixture thereof; M.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting in Si, Ti, Mo, B, Al and a mixture thereof;
with: −1.2≦x≦3; 0<a≦2.5; 0≦b≦1.5; 4.3≦c≦10; and c=4+a+n.Math.b+x/2
wherein n=2 when M.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting in Si, Ti, Mo or a mixture thereof; and n=1.5 when M.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting in B, Al or a mixture thereof; and n=0 if b=0.

A sintered ferrite magnet comprising (a) a ferrite phase having a hexagonal M-type magnetoplumbite structure comprising Ca, an element R which is at least one of rare earth elements and indispensably includes La, an element A which is Ba and/or Sr, Fe, and Co as indispensable elements, the composition of metal elements of Ca, R, A, Fe and Co being represented by the general formula of Ca.sub.1-x-yR.sub.xA.sub.yFe.sub.2n-zCo.sub.z, wherein the atomic ratios (1-x-y), x, y and z of these elements and the molar ratio n meet the relations of 0.3≦(1-x-y)≦0.65, 0.2≦x≦0.65, 0≦y≦0.2, 0.03≦z≦0.65, and 4≦n≦7, and (b) a grain boundary phase indispensably containing Si, the amount of Si being more than 1% by mass and 1.8% or less by mass (calculated as SiO.sub.2) based on the entire sintered ferrite magnet, and its production method.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a slurry for a positive electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing an alkali metal complex oxide, the method making it possible to reliably deaerate surplus carbonic acid gas after an alkali component of a slurry containing the alkali metal complex oxide is neutralized within a short period of time. The method for manufacturing a slurry for a positive electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a step of manufacturing an electrode slurry including a step of performing a neutralization treatment on an alkali component in the slurry by using inorganic carbon dissolved in a solvent of the slurry and a step of deaerating the inorganic carbon in the slurry as carbonic acid gas by causing cavitation.

A lithium cobalt oxide sintered body having a bending strength of 100 MPa or more, and a sputtering target formed using the sintered body are provided. In particular, a cylindrical sputtering target for use in rotary sputtering is provided. The sputtering target is useful in forming a cathode material thin film in an all-solid thin film lithium ion secondary battery for use in vehicles, telecommunication equipment and household equipment.

Radiofrequency and other electronic devices can be formed from textured hexaferrite materials, such as Z-phase barium cobalt ferrite Ba.sub.3Co.sub.2Fe.sub.24O.sub.41 (Co.sub.2Z) having enhanced resonant frequency. The textured hexaferrite material can be formed by sintering fine grain hexaferrite powder at a lower temperature than conventional firing temperatures to inhibit reduction of iron. The textured hexaferrite material can be used in radiofrequency devices such as circulators or telecommunications systems.

An object is to provide a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element which has favorable characteristics. A manufacturing method of the present invention includes the steps of: forming a first conductive layer which functions as a gate electrode over a substrate; forming a first insulating layer to cover the first conductive layer; forming a semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer so that part of the semiconductor layer overlaps with the first conductive layer; forming a second conductive layer to be electrically connected to the semiconductor layer; forming a second insulating layer to cover the semiconductor layer and the second conductive layer; forming a third conductive layer to be electrically connected to the second conductive layer; performing first heat treatment after forming the semiconductor layer and before forming the second insulating layer; and performing second heat treatment after forming the second insulating layer.