A nanoparticle cluster reduction method yields a new composition of matter including a large percentage (e.g., 75% or higher percentage) of primary nanoparticles in the new composition of matter. The particle reduction method reduces the size of nanoparticle clusters in material of the new composition of matter, allows particle reduction of specific nanoparticle cluster sizes, and allows particle reduction to primary nanoparticles. This new composition of matter can include a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new composition of matter, according to certain examples, has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples, the new composition of matter constitutes a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle. An example method can include a controlled gas evolution reaction to reduce the size of nanoparticle clusters.

Provided is a piezoelectric ceramic composition including a potassium sodium niobate-based perovskite type complex oxide represented by Compositional Formula ABO.sub.3, as a main component. Further, the piezoelectric ceramic composition contains Bi in an A site and Zr in a B site. Further, the piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a segregation portion positioned in a crystal grain. At least one of Zr or Bi is localized in the segregation portion.

A coated particle having excellent thermal expansion control and electrical insulation properties includes a core of a first inorganic compound containing a metal or semimetal element P; and a shell of a second inorganic compound containing a metal or semimetal element Q. The first inorganic compound satisfies 1, and the coated particles satisfy 2 and 3. 1: |dA(T)/dT| is ≥10 ppm/°C at T1 of -200° C. to 1,200° C. A is (an a-axis lattice constant of a crystal in the first inorganic compound)/(a c-axis lattice constant of a crystal in the first inorganic compound). 2: in XPS of a surface of each of the coated particles, a ratio of a number of atoms of Q contained in the shell to a number of atoms of P contained in the core t is 45 to 300. 3: an average particle diameter of each coated particle is 0.1 to 100 .Math.m.

A sintered bead with the following crystal phases, in percentages by mass based on crystal phases: 25%≤zircon, or “Z.sub.1”, ≤94%; 4%≤stabilized zirconia+stabilized hafnia, or “Z.sub.2”, ≤61%; monoclinic zirconia+monoclinic hafnia, or “Z.sub.3”≤50%; corundum≤57%; crystal phases other than Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3 and corundum<10%; the following chemical composition, in percentages by mass based on oxides: 33%≤ZrO.sub.2+HfO.sub.2, or “Z.sub.4”≤83.4%; HfO.sub.2≤2%; 10.6%≤SiO.sub.2≤34.7%; Al.sub.2O.sub.3≤50%; 0%≤Y.sub.2O.sub.3, or “Z.sub.5”; 0%≤CeO.sub.2, or “Z.sub.6”; 0.3%≤CeO.sub.2+Y.sub.2O.sub.3≤19%, provided that (1) CeO.sub.2+3.76*Y.sub.2O.sub.3≥0.128*Z, and (2) CeO.sub.2+1.3*Y.sub.2O.sub.3≤0.318*Z, with Z=Z.sub.4+Z.sub.5+Z.sub.6−(0.67*Z.sub.1*(Z.sub.4+Z.sub.5+Z.sub.6)/(0.67*Z.sub.1+Z.sub.2+Z.sub.3)); MgO≤5%; CaO≤2%; oxides other than ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, CaO, CeO.sub.2 and Y.sub.2O.sub.3<5.0%.

A heat-dissipating member includes aluminum oxide ceramics that includes crystal particles of aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide ceramics includes 98 mass % or higher of aluminum in terms of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 with respect to 100 mass % of all constituents. The crystal particles have an average equivalent circle diameter of 1.6 μm or more and 2.4 μm or less. An equivalent circle diameter cumulative distribution curve of the crystal particles has a first diameter at 10 cumulative percent and a second diameter at 90 cumulative percent that is different from the first diameter by 2.1 μm or more and 4.2 μm or less.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a transparent ceramic material. The method comprises providing a compact comprising a metal oxide and, during sintering, exposing the compact to a vapor comprising one of or both fluorine ions and lithium ions to form a transparent ceramic material comprising at least 90% of a theoretical transparency.

The present disclosure provides a boron carbide composite material having a novel composition with excellent mechanical properties, and a production method therefor. The boron carbide composite material has high fracture toughness and may be applied as a lightweight bulletproof ceramic material. The boron carbide composite material is a boron carbide/silicon carbide/titanium boride/graphite (B.sub.4C—SiC—TiB.sub.2—C) composite material. The composite material may overcome a technical limitation on increasing the fracture toughness of the boron carbide composite material, and may be produced as a high-density boron carbide composite material using a reactive hot-pressing sintering process at a relatively low temperature. The boron carbide composite material having excellent mechanical properties may be applied to general industrial wear-resistant parts and nuclear-power-related industrial parts, and particularly, may be actively used as a lightweight bulletproof material for personal use and for military aircraft including helicopters.

The disclosure relates to a carbon-based electrode material that has been graphitized to hold ions in the electrode of a battery and more particularly include carbide or carbide and nitride surfaces that protect the graphite core. The preferred batteries include metal ion such as lithium ion batteries where the carbon-based electrode is the anode although the carbon-based electrode may also serve in dual ion batteries where both electrodes may comprise the graphitized carbon-based electrodes. The electrodes are more amorphous than conventional graphite electrodes and include a carbide or nitride containing surface treatment.

A dielectric material which satisfies X9M characteristics and ensures operations over an extended period of time at 200° C. is provided.