A ceramic electronic device includes a multilayer structure in which each of a plurality of internal electrode layers and each of three or more of dielectric layers of which a main component is ceramic are alternately stacked. The three or more of dielectric layers include Sn. A dielectric layer having a smaller Sn concentration is closer to an outermost end in a stacking direction than a dielectric layer having a larger Sn concentration and being located on a center side of the stacking direction, in a relationship of at least two of the three or more of dielectric layers.

This document describes processes for preparing ceramics, especially lithium-based ceramics. The ceramics produced by this process and their use in electrochemical applications are also described as well as electrode materials, electrodes, electrolyte compositions, and electrochemical cells comprising them.

A dielectric ceramic composition contains dielectric particles containing a main component represented by a composition formula (Ba.sub.1-x-ySr.sub.xCa.sub.y).sub.m(Ti.sub.1-zZr.sub.z)O.sub.3 and grain boundaries present between the dielectric particles. The values of m, x, y, and z in the composition formula are all molar ratios. In the composition formula, 0.9≤m≤1.4, 0≤x<1.0, 0<y≤1.0, 0.9≤(x+y)≤1.0, and 0.9≤z≤1.0 are satisfied. The dielectric particles contain specific structural particles having a predetermined intragranular structure, and each of the specific structural particles intragranularly includes a first region and a second region having different Ca concentrations from each other. C2/C1 is less than 0.8 in which C1 is an average value of the Ca concentration in the first region and C2 is an average value of the Ca concentration in the second region.

Provided is a piezoelectric ceramics including crystal grains each including: a first region that is formed of a perovskite-type metal oxide having a crystal structure in which a central element of a unit cell is located at an asymmetrical position; and a second region that is formed of a perovskite-type metal oxide having a crystal structure in which a central element of a unit cell is located at a symmetrical position, and that is present inside the first region, wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the second region to a cross-sectional area of the piezoelectric ceramics is 0.1% or less.

A dielectric ceramic composition comprising a main component comprising an oxide represented by:
U.sub.aX.sub.bY.sub.cZ.sub.d((Ca.sub.1-x-ySr.sub.xM.sub.y).sub.m(Zr.sub.1-u-vTi.sub.uHf.sub.v)O.sub.3).sub.1-a-b-c-d
wherein the elements defined by U, X, Y, Z and M and subscripts a, b, c, d, x, y, m, u and v are defined.

An antimicrobial material including a substrate and an antimicrobial mixed metal oxide, mixed metal sulfide, or mixed metal oxysulfide in and/or on the substrate is described, as well as antimicrobial coating materials and coatings formed therefrom. The antimicrobial material may be constituted in an antimicrobial surface of a surface-presenting substrate, to combat transmission and spread of microbial disease, e.g., disease mediated by microbial pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Antimicrobial mixed metal oxide, mixed metal sulfide, or mixed metal oxysulfide as described may be contacted with microorganisms to effect inactivation thereof.

A polycrystalline ceramic solid and a method for producing a polycrystalline ceramic solid are disclosed. In an embodiment a polycrystalline ceramic solid includes a main phase with a composition of the general formula: (1-y)Pb.sub.a(Mg.sub.bNb.sub.c)O.sub.3-e+yPb.sub.aTi.sub.dO.sub.3 with 0.055≤y≤0.065, 0.95≤a≤1.02, 0.29≤b≤0.36, 0.63≤c≤0.69, 0.9≤d≤1.1, and 0≤e≤0.1, and optionally one or more secondary phases, wherein, in each section through the solid, a proportion of the secondary phases relative to any given cross-sectional area through the solid is less than or equal to 0.5 percent, or wherein the solid is free of the secondary phases.

A solid ionic conducting material for use in an electrochemical device comprises an oxyhydroxide or hydrated oxide derived from of an oxide with a perovskite, Brownmillerite, layered oxide, and/or K.sub.4CdCl.sub.6 structure, the elemental composition of the initial oxide being selected to provide suitable conduction properties for the derived anhydrous or hydrated oxyhydroxide or hydrated oxide. A method of making such a solid ionic conducting material, including treatment with water, and an electrochemical device incorporating such a solid ionic conducting material (optionally as an electrolyte) are also disclosed.

A particle mixture having: ZrO.sub.2+HfO.sub.2+Y.sub.2O.sub.3+CeO.sub.2; 0%≤Al.sub.2O.sub.3≤1.5%; other oxides than ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, Y.sub.2O.sub.3, CeO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2O.sub.3: between 0.5% and 12%. The contents of Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and CeO.sub.2, on the basis of the sum of ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and CeO.sub.2, being such that 1.8%≤Y.sub.2O.sub.3≤3% and 0.1%≤CeO.sub.2≤0.9%. The mixture includes between 0.5% and 10% of particles of an oxide pigment. The content of other oxides and which are not included in the oxide pigment being less than 2%. The particles of the oxide pigment including, for more than 95%, of a material chosen from: oxide(s) of perovskite structure or equivalent of precursor(s) of these oxides, oxides of spinal structure or an equivalent amount of precursor(s) of these oxides, and oxides of hematite structure E.sub.2O.sub.3, oxides of rutile structure FO.sub.2, with “E” and “F” being chosen.

Provided is an improved multilayered ceramic capacitor and an electronic device comprising the multilayered ceramic capacitor. The multilayer ceramic capacitor comprises first conductive plates electrically connected to first external terminations and second conductive plates electrically connected to second external terminations. The first conductive plates and second conductive plates form a capacitive couple. A ceramic portion is between the first conductive plates and said second conductive plates wherein the ceramic portion comprises paraelectric ceramic dielectric. The multilayer ceramic capacitor has a rated DC voltage and a rated AC V.sub.PP wherein the rated AC V.sub.PP is higher than the rated DC voltage.