A thin film is provided that primarily comprises titanium oxide and includes Ti, Ag and O. The thin film contains 29.6 at % or more and 34.0 at % or less of Ti, 0.003 at % or more and 7.4 at % or less of Ag, and oxygen as the remainder thereof and has a ratio of oxygen to metals, O/(2Ti+0.5Ag), of 0.97 or more. The thin film has a high refractive index and a low extinction coefficient. In addition, the thin film has superior transmittance, minimally deteriorates in reflectance, and is useful as an interference film or a protective film for an optical information recording medium. The film may also be applied to a glass substrate to provide a heat reflective film, an antireflective film, or an interference filter. A method of producing the thin film is also disclosed.

A cutting element comprises a supporting substrate, and a cutting table attached to an end of the supporting substrate. The cutting table comprises inter-bonded diamond particles, and a thermally stable material within interstitial spaces between the inter-bonded diamond particles. The thermally stable material comprises a carbide precipitate having the general chemical formula, A.sub.3XZ.sub.n-1, where A comprises one or more of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Th, Pa, and U; X comprises one or more of Al, Ga, Sn, Be, Bi, Te, Sb, Se, As, Ge, Si, B, and P; Z comprises C; and n is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.75. A method of forming a cutting element, an earth-boring tool, a supporting substrate, and a method of forming a supporting substrate are also described.

A precursor of an alumina sintered compact including aluminum, yttrium, and at least one metal selected from iron, zinc, cobalt, manganese, copper, niobium, antimony, tungsten, silver, and gallium. The aluminum content is 98.0% by mass or more as an oxide (Al2O3) in 100% by mass of the precursor of an alumina sintered compact; the yttrium content is 0.01 to 1.35 parts by mass as an oxide (Y2O3) based on 100 parts by mass of the content of the aluminum as an oxide; the total content of the metals selected from the foregoing group is 0.02 to 1.55 parts by mass as an oxide based on 100 parts by mass of the content of aluminum as an oxide; and the aluminum is contained as α-alumina. Also disclosed is an alumina sintered compact, and a method for producing an alumina sintered compact and for producing abrasive grains.

A doped SiOC liquid starting material provides a p-type polymer derived ceramic SiC crystalline materials, including boules and wafers. P-type SiC electronic devices. Low resistivity SiC crystals, wafers and boules, having phosphorous as a dopant. Polymer derived ceramic doped SiC shaped charge source materials for vapor deposition growth of doped SiC crystals.

A doped SiOC liquid starting material provides a p-type polymer derived ceramic SiC crystalline materials, including boules and wafers. P-type SiC electronic devices. Low resistivity SiC crystals, wafers and boules, having phosphorous as a dopant. Polymer derived ceramic doped SiC shaped charge source materials for vapor deposition growth of doped SiC crystals.

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.

Processes for making algaecidal roofing granules are disclosed. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method includes providing composite nanoparticles comprising algaecidal nanoparticles and a carrier material; coating granule cores with the coating material to form a coating layer having an exterior surface; and applying the composite nanoparticles to the exterior surface of the coating layer to provide the algaecidal nanoparticles at exterior surfaces of the algaecidal roofing granules. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method includes dispersing composite nanoparticles in a coating material, the composite nanoparticles including a carrier material and algaecidal nanoparticles, then coating the granule cores with the coating material to form a coating layer; and curing the coating layer, the cured coating layer providing algaecidal nanoparticles at exterior surfaces of the algaecidal roofing granules.

A cutting element comprises a supporting substrate, and a cutting table attached to an end of the supporting substrate. The cutting table comprises inter-bonded diamond particles, and a thermally stable material within interstitial spaces between the inter-bonded diamond particles. The thermally stable material comprises a carbide precipitate having the general chemical formula, A.sub.3XZ.sub.n-1, where A comprises one or more of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Th, Pa, and U; X comprises one or more of Al, Ga, Sn, Be, Bi, Te, Sb, Se, As, Ge, Si, B, and P; Z comprises C; and n is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.75. A method of forming a cutting element, an earth-boring tool, a supporting substrate, and a method of forming a supporting substrate are also described.

A cutting element comprises a supporting substrate, and a cutting table attached to an end of the supporting substrate. The cutting table comprises inter-bonded diamond particles, and a thermally stable material within interstitial spaces between the inter-bonded diamond particles. The thermally stable material comprises a carbide precipitate having the general chemical formula, A.sub.3XZ.sub.n-1, where A comprises one or more of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Th, Pa, and U; X comprises one or more of Al, Ga, Sn, Be, Bi, Te, Sb, Se, As, Ge, Si, B, and P; Z comprises C; and n is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.75. A method of forming a cutting element, an earth-boring tool, a supporting substrate, and a method of forming a supporting substrate are also described.

A piezoelectric composition comprises silver and an oxide containing bismuth, barium, iron, and titanium. The oxide has a perovskite structure. The mass of the oxide is represented by M.sub.ABO3 and the mass of the silver is represented by M.sub.AG. 100×M.sub.AG/M.sub.ABO3 is 0.01 or more and 10.00 or less.