A piezoelectric ceramic may be slightly deformed by firing, and a manufacturing method therefor, and an electronic component are disclosed. There is provided a piezoelectric ceramic including a plurality of crystal grains including a lead zirconate titanate-type crystal containing Zn, and Bi, and crystal grain boundaries existing between a plurality of the crystal grains, wherein a plurality of the crystal grains include first crystal grains, and wherein the first crystal grains have a content of at least one element of Zn and Bi present in the inside of the first crystal grains that is smaller than the content of the at least one element present in an area including the crystal grain boundaries that are in contact with the crystal grains. The piezoelectric ceramic is slightly deformed by firing and is capable of forming an electronic component which has little warp or deformation even if it is thin.

Methods of manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb body having a honeycomb structure with a matrix of intersecting walls, and a skin disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the matrix where the skin has a first average porosity and the interior portion of the matrix has a second average porosity that is greater than the first average porosity. The methods include coating at least the skin with a fluid formulation containing a sintering aid and subsequently firing the honeycomb structure. In certain embodiments, a glass layer is formed in the skin or in regions of the walls directly adjacent to the skin. In certain embodiments, the coating is applied to a green honeycomb structure, and in other embodiments the coating is applied to a ceramic honeycomb structure. Other honeycomb bodies and methods are described.

Disclosed are compositions, devices and methods related to thermal barrier coating materials having enhanced toughness. In some embodiments, a multiphase ceramic can include a first phase formed from a cubic and/or a tetragonally stabilized metal oxide, and a second phase formed from a magnetoplumbite-based aluminate that is chemically compatible with the first phase. Various example applications in which such materials can be utilized are disclosed.

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 embodiments of isolator/circulator junctions that can be used for radio-frequency (RF) applications, and methods of manufacturing the junctions. The junctions can have excellent impedance matching, even as they are being miniaturized, providing significant advantages over previously used junctions. The junctions can be formed of both high and low dielectric constant material.

The present invention provides a Zintl-phase thermoelectric conversion material represented by the chemical formula (I):

Mg.sub.3+m-aA.sub.aB.sub.2-c-eC.sub.cE.sub.e (I) where A represents at least one selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Nb, Zn, and Al; B represents at least one selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi; C represents at least one selected from the group consisting of Mn, Si, and Cr; E represents at least one selected from the group consisting of Se and Te; m is not less than 0.1 and not more than 0.4; a is not less than 0 and not more than 0.1; c is not less than 0 and not more than 0.1; e is not less than 0.001 and not more than 0.06; and the Zintl-phase thermoelectric conversion material has a La.sub.2O.sub.3 crystal structure and an average grain size of not less than 3 micrometers and not more than 70 micrometers.

Disclosed are electrochemical devices, such as lithium battery electrodes, lithium ion conducting solid-state electrolytes, and solid-state lithium metal batteries including these electrodes and solid-state electrolytes. In one disclosed method, a solid state electrolyte material including a precursor layer having a first electronic conductivity is provided; and the precursor layer on the solid state electrolyte material is reduced to an interfacial layer having a second electronic conductivity greater than the first electronic conductivity. Also disclosed is a method of forming a solid state electrolyte for an electrochemical device including an anode comprising an electrochemically active metal, wherein the method comprises providing a solid state electrolyte material, and depositing an interfacial layer comprising a first metal on the surface of the solid state electrolyte material, wherein the electrochemically active metal does not form an alloy with the first metal during cycling or formation of the electrochemical device.

A composite ceramic including: a lithium garnet major phase; and a grain growth inhibitor minor phase, as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of making composite ceramic, pellets and tapes thereof, a solid electrolyte, and an electrochemical device including the solid electrolyte, as defined herein.

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 voltage nonlinear resistor ceramic comprises: a Zn oxide; a Co oxide; an R (specific rare earth) oxide; a Cr oxide; an M1 (Ca, Sr) oxide; an M2 (Al, Ga, In) oxide; and strontium titanate. When content of the Zn oxide is assumed to be 100 mole portion in terms of Zn, content of the Co oxide is 0.30 to 10 mole portion in terms of Co, content of the R oxide is 0.10 to 10 mole portion in terms of R, content of the Cr oxide is 0.01 to 2 mole portion in terms of Cr, content of the M1 oxide is 0.10 to 5 mole portion in terms of M1, content of the M2 oxide is 0.0005 to 5 mole portion in terms of M2, and content of the strontium titanate is 0.10 to 5 mole portion in terms of SrTiO.sub.3.