The invention relates to active electrode materials and to methods for the manufacture of active electrode materials. Such materials are of interest as active electrode materials in lithium-ion or sodium-ion batteries. The invention provides an active electrode material expressed by the general formula [M][Nb].sub.y[O].sub.z; wherein the active electrode material is oxygen deficient; wherein M consists of one of Mg, Cr, W, Mo, Cu, Ga, Ge, Ca, K, Ni, Co, Al, Sn, Mn, Ce, Sb, Y, La, Hf, Ta, Zn, In, or Cd; y satisfies 0.5≤y≤49; and z satisfies 4≤z≤124.

Provided are: composite particles having excellent oxidation resistance; and a method for producing composite particles. The composite particles are obtained by forming a composite of TiN and at least one of Al, Cr, and Nb. In the method for producing composite particles, a titanium powder and a powder of at least one of Al, Cr, and Nb are used as raw material powders and composite particles are produced using a gas phase method.

Methods of forming spinel ferrite nanoparticles containing a chromium-substituted copper ferrite as well as properties (e.g. particle size, crystallite size, pore size, surface area) of these spinel ferrite nanoparticles are described. Methods of preventing or reducing microbe growth on a surface by applying these spinel ferrite nanoparticles onto the surface in the form of a suspension or an antimicrobial product are also described.

Methods of forming spinel ferrite nanoparticles containing a chromium-substituted copper ferrite as well as properties (e.g. particle size, crystallite size, pore size, surface area) of these spinel ferrite nanoparticles are described. Methods of preventing or reducing microbe growth on a surface by applying these spinel ferrite nanoparticles onto the surface in the form of a suspension or an antimicrobial product are also described.

Medical tubing can have a chromic material such that the medical tubing is configured to transition from a first state of color to a different, second state of color by application of a stimulus to the medical tubing.

An object of the present invention is to provide an infrared light-emitting phosphor which emits light in a wavelength range where the sensitivity of a detector is high by combination with a semiconductor light-emitting element that emits light in the visible light region, and to provide an infrared light-emitting device using the infrared light-emitting phosphor. The object can be achieved with a light-emitting device including a semiconductor light-emitting element that emits ultraviolet light or visible light and a phosphor that absorbs ultraviolet light or visible light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element and emits light in the infrared region, wherein an emission peak wavelength in the infrared region of the phosphor emitting in the infrared region is from 750 to 1,050 nm, and the half width of an emission peak waveform is more than 50 nm.

A mixed conductor, a method of preparing the same, and a cathode, a lithium-air battery, and an electrochemical device each including the mixed conductor. The mixed conductor is represented by Formula 1 and having electronic conductivity and ionic conductivity:

Li.sub.xMO.sub.2-δ  Formula 1 wherein, in Formula 1, M is a Group 4 element, a Group 5 element, a Group 6 element, a Group 7 element, a Group 8 element, a Group 10 element, a Group 11 element, a Group 12 element, or a combination thereof, and 0<x<1 and 0≤δ≤1 are satisfied.

A cutting implement including a metal substrate and a coating is provided. The coating has zirconium PVD (ZrCRTiNO), which provides protection against corrosion of the metal substrate. In some instances, the zirconium PVD provides protection from corrosion for at least 200 hours. A layer of titanium nitride (TiN) can be added to the coating to increase the hardness of the metal substrate. In such an embodiment, the layer of titanium nitride (TiN) is applied before the zirconium PVD (ZrCRTiNO). Titanium nitride (TiN) coated steel is 3 to 5 times harder than uncoated steel. Thus, a combination of titanium nitride (TiN) and zirconium PVD (ZrCRTiNO) as a coating on a metal substrate can increase the life of the metal substrate by providing increased hardness and anti-corrosive properties.

A sintered electroconductive oxide having a perovskite oxide type crystal structure represented by a compositional formula: M1.sub.aM2.sub.bMn.sub.cAl.sub.dCr.sub.eO.sub.f wherein M1 represents at least one element selected from group 3 elements; and M2 represents at least one element selected from among Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, wherein element M1 predominantly includes at least one element selected from Nd, Pr and Sm, and a, b, c, d, e and f satisfy the following relationships: 0.6005≦a<1.000, 0<b≦0.400, 0≦c<0.150, 0.400≦d<0.950, 0.050<e≦0.600, 0.50<e/(c+e)≦1.00, and 2.80≦f≦3.30. Also disclosed is a thermistor element including a thermistor portion which is formed of the sintered electroconductive oxide as well as a temperature sensor employing the thermistor element.

Process for reducing hexavalent chromium in oxidic solids, which comprises the steps: a) mixing of the oxidic solid containing Cr(VI) with a carbon-containing compound which is liquid in the range from 20 to 100° C., b) treatment of the mixture obtained after a) in an indirectly heated reactor at a temperature of from 700° C. to 1100° C., particularly preferably at a temperature of from 800° C. to 1000° C., under a protective atmosphere, c) cooling of the reaction product obtained after b) to at least 300° C., preferably at least 150° C., under a protective atmosphere.