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.

The invention relates to a spark plug connecting element, which includes a first contact element (9a) and a second contact element (9b), a resistor element (8) being situated between the first contact element (9a) and the second contact element (9b), the first contact element (9a) and the second contact element (9b) having a specific conductivity of 10.sup.2 S/m to 10.sup.8 S/m and the resistor element (8) having a specific conductivity of 10.sup.−3 S/m to 10.sup.1 S/m.

A lead-free KNN-based piezoelectric material represented by the composition formula (K.sub.aNa.sub.bLi.sub.c)(Nb.sub.dTa.sub.eSb.sub.f)O.sub.g, where 0.4≤a≤0.5, 0.5≤b≤0.6, 0.01≤c≤0.1, 0.5≤d≤1.0, 0.05≤e≤0.15, 0.01≤f≤0.09, 1≤g≤3. In one embodiment, the lead-free KNN-based piezoelectric material has a d.sub.33>300 pm/V and a T.sub.curie>250° C. In one embodiment, the d.sub.33 and T.sub.curie of the lead-free textured KNN-based piezoelectric material can be adjusted by creating phase boundaries of (i) orthorhombic to tetragonal (O-T), (ii) rhombohedral to orthorhombic (R-O), and (iii) orthorhombic to tetragonal (O-T). In one embodiment, the lead-free KNN-based piezoelectric material is textured with NaNbO.sub.3 or Ba.sub.2NaNb.sub.5O.sub.15 seeds which are platelet or acicular shaped. In one embodiment, the amount, orientation, or particle size distribution of the NaNbO.sub.3 or Ba.sub.2NaNb.sub.5O.sub.15 texturing seeds in the lead-free textured KNN-based piezoelectric material can be altered.

A sintered composite ceramic, including: a lithium-garnet major phase; and a grain growth inhibitor minor phase, such that the grain growth inhibitor minor phase has a metal oxide in a range of 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. % based on the total weight of the sintered composite ceramic.

Disclosed are embodiments of synthetic garnet materials for use in radiofrequency applications. In some embodiments, increased amounts of bismuth can be added into specific sites in the crystal structure of the synthetic garnet in order to boost certain properties, such as the dielectric constant and magnetization. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosed materials can be used in high frequency applications, such as in base station antennas.

The present invention discloses magnesia and a method for manufacturing same, wherein the magnesia can be produced into granules of various shapes and sizes and can be improved in moisture resistance with the formation of a moisture resistant surface oxide layer by donor addition and then thermal treatment. The magnesia according to the present invention comprises a MgO granule; and a surface oxide layer formed on a surface of the MgO granule and a composition of the surface oxide layer is different from a composition of an inside of the MgO granule.

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.

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.

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.

Provided are a transparent fluorescent sialon ceramic having fluorescence and optical transparency; and a method of producing the same. Such a transparent fluorescent sialon ceramic includes a sialon phosphor which contains a matrix formed of a silicon nitride compound represented by the formula M.sub.x(Si,Al).sub.y(N,O).sub.z (here, M represents at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, alkaline earth metals, and rare earth metals, 0≤x/z<3, and 0<y/z<1) and a luminescent center element.