A solid electrolyte for an all-solid-state sodium battery, represented by formula: Na.sub.3−xSb.sub.1−xα.sub.xS.sub.4, wherein α is selected from elements that provide Na.sub.3−xSb.sub.1−xα.sub.xS.sub.4 exhibiting a higher ionic conductivity than Na.sub.3SbS.sub.4, and x is 0<x<1.

A negative thermal expansion material made of zirconium phosphate tungstate containing an Al atom, and having a thermal expansion coefficient of −2.0×10.sup.−6 to −3.3×10.sup.−6/K. According to the present invention, a negative thermal expansion material made of zirconium phosphate tungstate having various thermal expansion coefficients, and an industrially advantageous manufacturing method thereof can be provided.

Embodiments disclosed herein include potassium sodium niobate (KNN) films and methods of making such films. In an embodiment, a method of forming a potassium sodium niobate (KNN) film comprises preparing a solution comprising water, potassium hexaniobate salts, and sodium hexaniobate salts. In an embodiment, the solution is spin coated onto a substrate to form a film on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate. In an embodiment, the method may further comprise heat treating the film.

To achieve local melting of an inorganic material powder containing an inorganic material as a main component in an additive manufacturing technology, to thereby achieve high shaping accuracy. Provided is an inorganic material powder to be used in an additive manufacturing method involving performing shaping through irradiation with laser light, the inorganic material powder including: a base material that is an inorganic material; and an absorber, wherein the absorber has a higher light-absorbing ability than the base material for light having a wavelength included in the laser light, and contains any one of Ti.sub.2O.sub.3, TiO, SiO, ZnO, antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO), and indium-doped tin oxide (ITO), or contains any one of a transition metal carbide, a transition metal nitride, Si.sub.3N.sub.4, AlN, a boride, and a silicide.

A multilayer piezoelectric element using an alkaline niobate-based piezoelectric ceramic, which can inhibit its reliability from dropping while lowering production cost, is characterized by forming internal electrodes (10) with a metal whose silver content is 80 percent by mass or higher, and also constituting piezoelectric ceramic layers (40) with a piezoelectric ceramic whose primary component is an alkaline niobate having a perovskite structure and which also contains a lithium manganate.

A chromaticity of zinc oxide is measured. The durability of a zinc oxide varistor is evaluated based on the chromaticity. This provides a varistor with a high durability stably.

Provided are metal oxide varistors comprising a sintered ceramic, in which the ceramic comprises, by weight, about 91.0% to about 97.0% ZnO, at least 0.3% Mn, at least 0.4% Bi, at least 1.0% Sb, and 0.50% or less Co. The metal oxide varistors as disclosed herein may exhibit reduced power dissipation, improved thermal stability, and may be produced at a lower cost relative to conventional MOV devices.

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.

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.

The present invention provides an annealing separator composition, a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet and a method for manufacturing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet.

An annealing separator composition for a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet according to an embodiment of present invention comprising: on the basis of total solid 100 wt %, 5 to 70 wt % of mullite; and the remainder being magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide.