A sputtering target, which has a component composition including: 30.0-67.0 atomic % of Ga; and the Cu balance containing inevitable impurities, wherein the sputtering target is a sintered material having a structure in which θ phases made of Cu—Ga alloy are dispersed in a matrix of the γ phases made of Cu—Ga alloy, is provided.

A sputtering target, which has a component composition including: 30.0-67.0 atomic % of Ga; and the Cu balance containing inevitable impurities, wherein the sputtering target is a sintered material having a structure in which θ phases made of Cu—Ga alloy are dispersed in a matrix of the γ phases made of Cu—Ga alloy, is provided.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing microparticles. Composite microparticles are separated by mixing at least two kinds of fluids to be processed in a thin film fluid that is formed between approachable and separable opposing processing surfaces that relatively rotate, wherein the fluids to be processed are a metal fluid comprising at least two kinds of metal elements that are dissolved in a solvent in the form of metal and/or metal compound and a fluid for separation containing at least one kind of separating substance for separating a composite substance comprising the at least two kinds of metal elements. The molar ratio between the at least two kinds of metal elements contained in the resulting microparticles is controlled by controlling the circumferential speed of the rotation at a confluence where the metal fluid and the fluid for separation merge at this time.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing microparticles. Composite microparticles are separated by mixing at least two kinds of fluids to be processed in a thin film fluid that is formed between approachable and separable opposing processing surfaces that relatively rotate, wherein the fluids to be processed are a metal fluid comprising at least two kinds of metal elements that are dissolved in a solvent in the form of metal and/or metal compound and a fluid for separation containing at least one kind of separating substance for separating a composite substance comprising the at least two kinds of metal elements. The molar ratio between the at least two kinds of metal elements contained in the resulting microparticles is controlled by controlling the circumferential speed of the rotation at a confluence where the metal fluid and the fluid for separation merge at this time.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing metal microparticles in which the particle diameter and the coefficient of variation are controlled. Using at least two kinds of fluid to be processed including a fluid which contains at least one kind of reducing agent, the fluid to be processed is mixed in a thin film fluid formed between at least two processing surfaces, at least one of which rotates relative to the other, and which are disposed facing each other and capable of approaching and separating from each other, and metalmicroparticles are separated. At this time, the fluid to be processed containing one or both of the fluid which contains at least one kind of metal and/or metal compound and the fluid which contains at least one kind of reducing agent contains a water-containing polyol in which water and a polyol are mixed, and does not contain a monovalent alcohol, and the particle diameter and coefficient of variance of the separated metal microparticles is controlled by controlling the ratio of water contained in the water-containing polyol.

An amorphous soft magnetic alloy of the formula (Fe.sub.1-αTM.sub.α).sub.100-w-x-y-zP.sub.wB.sub.xL.sub.ySi.sub.z Ti.sub.pC.sub.qMn.sub.rCu.sub.s, wherein TM is Co or Ni; L is Al, Cr, Zr, Mo or Nb; 0≦α≦0.3, 2≦w≦18 at %, 2≦x≦18 at %, 15≦w+x≦23 at %, 1<y≦5 at %, 0≦z≦4 at %; p, q, r, and s represents an addition ratio such that the total mass of Fe, TM, P, B, L and Si is 100, and 0≦p≦0.3, 0≦q≦0.5, 0≦r≦2, 0≦s≦1 and r+s>0; the composition fulfills one of the following conditions: L is Cr, Zr, Mo or Nb; or L is a combination of Al and Cr, Zr, Mo or Nb, wherein 0<Al≦5 at %, 1≦Cr≦4 at %, 0<Zr≦5 at %, 2≦Mo≦5 at %, and 2≦Nb≦5 at %; the alloy has a crystallization start temperature (Tx) which is 550° C. or less, a glass transition temperature (Tg) which is 520° C. or less, and a supercooled liquid region represented by ΔTx=Tx−Tg, which is 20° C. or more.

The invention relates to a rare earth based hydrogen storage alloy, represented by the general formula (I):

RE.sub.xY.sub.yNi.sub.z-a-b-cMn.sub.aAl.sub.bM.sub.cZr.sub.ATi.sub.B  (I)

wherein RE denotes one or more element(s) selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd; M denotes one or more element(s) selected from Cu, Fe, Co, Sn, V, W. The alloy has favorable pressure-composition-temperature characteristic, high hydrogen storage capacity, high electrochemical capacity. The alloy doesn't contain magnesium element, and the preparation process of the alloy is easy and safe.

The invention relates to a rare earth based hydrogen storage alloy, represented by the general formula (I):

RE.sub.xY.sub.yNi.sub.z-a-b-cMn.sub.aAl.sub.bM.sub.cZr.sub.ATi.sub.B  (I)

wherein RE denotes one or more element(s) selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd; M denotes one or more element(s) selected from Cu, Fe, Co, Sn, V, W. The alloy has favorable pressure-composition-temperature characteristic, high hydrogen storage capacity, high electrochemical capacity. The alloy doesn't contain magnesium element, and the preparation process of the alloy is easy and safe.