A hard lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic of the general structure ABO3 is specified, wherein the PZT ceramic has doping with Mn on the B sites and doping with Cu on the A sites and/or on the B sites. A process for producing a ceramic material and an electroceramic component are moreover specified.

A multilayer component and a mathod for producing a multilayer component are disclosed. In an embodiment the multilayer component includes a ceramic main element being a varistor ceramic and at least one metal structure, wherein the metal structure is cosintered, and wherein the main element is doped with a material of the metal structure in such a way that a diffusion of the material from the metal structure into the main element during a sintering operation is reduced.

A ceramic material, a varistor and methods for forming a ceramic material and a varistor are disclosed. In an embodiment, a ceramic material includes ZnO as a main component and additives selected from the group consisting of an Al.sup.3+-containing solution, a Ba.sup.2+-containing solution, and at least one compound containing a metal element, wherein the metal element is selected from the group consisting of Bi, Sb, Co, Mn, Ni, Y, and Cr.

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.

A solid electrolyte capable of securing grain boundary resistance even when firing is performed at a relatively low temperature and a battery using the solid electrolyte are provided. The solid electrolyte includes a first electrolyte which contains a lithium composite metal compound, and a second electrolyte which contains Li and at least two kinds of metal elements selected from group 5 elements in period 5 or higher or group 15 elements in period 5 or higher.

A solid electrolyte which reduces grain boundary resistance and exhibits a high total ion conductivity is provided.

The solid electrolyte includes a first area which has a cubic garnet type crystalline and a second area which is amorphous, around the first area, in which each of the first area and the second area contains a composite oxide represented by formula (1) or (2) as a forming material, and an abundance ratio of metal atoms each having an ionic radius of 78 pm or more gradually increases from the first area to the second area.

Li.sub.7+xLa.sub.3xZr.sub.2A.sub.xO.sub.12(1)

[In formula (1), A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba. In addition, x is 0.1 or more and 0.6 or less.]

Li.sub.7La.sub.3xZr.sub.2B.sub.xO.sub.12(2)

[In formula (2), B is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sc and Y. In addition, x is 0.1 or more and 0.6 or less.]

A green tape composition includes at least one Li-garnet ceramic powder; at least one excess lithium source; at least one dispersant; at least one binder; and at least one plasticizer, such that a porosity of the green tape composition is <10 vol. %. A method includes dispersing at least one lithium garnet powder and at least one excess lithium source in a predetermined ratio in an organic solvent to form a garnet suspension; adding at least one dispersant, at least one binder, and at least one plasticizer to the garnet suspension; milling the garnet suspension; and de-airing under vacuum, such that a porosity of the green tape composition is <10 vol. %.

A negative electrode active material for an electricity storage device of the present invention includes TiO.sub.2, Na.sub.2O, and a network-forming oxide.

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.

Disclosed are single-piece magnetically tunable ferrite rods that can be used for radio-frequency (RF) applications, and methods of manufacturing the resonators using synthetic garnets. In some embodiments, a separate tuner need not be used in the resonator during magnetic tuning. Examples of fabrication methods and RF-related properties are also disclosed.