To realize a sintered compact containing LiCoO.sub.2 which can increase a film deposition rate during sputtering, particularly even when a film is deposited only by pulsed DC discharge sputtering and can suppress the generation of flakes due to sputtering, and which is hardly cracked and is easy to handle.

In the sintered compact containing LiCoO.sub.2, an average grain size is 10 to 40 m, a relative density is 90% or more, and a resistivity is 100 .Math.cm or less.

The present invention provides a carbon-silicon composite material suitable (e.g., high capacity; small irreversible capacity; long cycle life) to be used as a negative electrode material for battery. The carbon-silicon composite material comprises a carbon black and a silicon particle, wherein the carbon black and the silicon particle are bound via a resin thermolysis product.

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 piezoelectric material of the present invention includes a main component composed of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by Formula (1), at least one of Mn and Ni, and Mg. The content of Ni is 0 mol or more and 0.05 mol or less based on 1 mol of the perovskite-type metal oxide, and the content of Mn is 0 mol or more and 0.005 mol or less based on 1 mol of the perovskite-type metal oxide, provided that the content of Mn and the content of Ni are not simultaneously 0 mol. The content of Mg is 0.001 mol or more and 0.020 mol or less based on 1 mol of the perovskite-type metal oxide. Formula (1): (Na.sub.xBa.sub.1-y)(Nb.sub.yTi.sub.1-y)O.sub.3 (where x is 0.83 or more and 0.95 or less, y is 0.85 or more and 0.95 or less, and x/y is 0.95 or more and 1.05 or less).

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 method for continuously forming a three-dimensional body from a mixture, the mixture comprising at least 15 vol % solid particles and a radiation curable material. The method allows the continuous production of three-dimensional bodies comprising to a high content ceramic particles at a forming speed of at least 25 mm/hour.

A process is described, for producing zirconia-based multi-phasic ceramic composite materials, comprising the steps of: providing at least one ceramic suspension by dispersing at least one ceramic zirconia powder in at least one aqueous medium to obtain at least one matrix for such composite material; providing at least one aqueous solution containing one or more inorganic precursors and adding such aqueous solution to such ceramic suspension to surface modify such ceramic zirconia powder and obtain at least one additived suspension; quickly drying such additived suspension to obtain at least one additived powder; heat treating such additived powder to obtain at least one zirconia powder coated on its surface by second phases; and forming such zirconia powder coated on its surface by second phases.

A refractory article can include a body including a content of alumina of at least 60 wt %, a content of silica of not greater than 20 wt %, a content of zirconia of not greater than 20 wt % for a total weight of the body. In a particular embodiment, the body includes a third phase including composite grains including mullite and zirconia. The third phase including the composite grains can be present within a range including at least 1 wt % and not greater than 35 wt % for a total weight of the body.

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.

Disclosed is a microcracked ceramic body, comprising a predominant phase (greater than 50 wt %) of zirconium tin titanate and a dilatometric coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) from 25 to 1000 C of not more than 4010.sup.7 C..sup.1 as measured by dilatometry and methods for the manufacture of the same.