A method of preparing a lithium-ion conducting garnet via low-temperature solid-state synthesis is disclosed. The lithium-ion conducting garnet comprises a substantially phase pure aluminum-doped cubic lithium lanthanum zirconate (Li.sub.7La.sub.3Zr.sub.2O.sub.14). The method includes preparing nanoparticles comprising lanthanum zirconate (La.sub.2Zr.sub.2O.sub.7-np) via pyrolysis-mediated reaction of lanthanum nitrate (La(NO.sub.3).sub.3) and zirconium nitrate (Zr(NO.sub.3).sub.4). The method also includes pyrolyzing a solid-state mixture comprising the La.sub.2Zr.sub.2O.sub.7-np, lithium nitrate (LiNO.sub.3), and aluminum nitrate (Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3) to give the Li.sub.7La.sub.3Zr.sub.2O.sub.14 and thereby prepare the lithium-ion conducting garnet. A lithium-ion conducting garnet prepared via the method is also disclosed.

A zirconia powder containing a stabilizer, and having a specific surface area of 20 m.sup.2/g or more and 60 m.sup.2/g or less and a particle diameter D.sub.50 of 0.1 μm or more and 0.7 μm or less, in which in a range of 10 nm or more and 200 nm or less in a pore distribution based on a mercury intrusion method, a peak top diameter in a pore volume distribution is 20 nm or more and 85 nm or less, a pore volume is 0.2 ml/g or more and less than 0.5 ml/g, and a pore distribution width is 40 nm or more and 105 nm or less.

The present invention provides a method of producing a honeycomb structured body having excellent mechanical strength. The present invention relates to a method of producing a honeycomb structured body including a honeycomb fired body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween, the method including: a raw material mixing step of preparing a raw material paste containing ceria-zirconia composite oxide particles, alumina particles, an inorganic binder, and alumina fibers; a molding step of molding the raw material paste into a honeycomb molded body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween; a drying step of drying the honeycomb molded body obtained in the molding step; and a firing step of firing the honeycomb molded body dried in the drying step into a honeycomb fired body, wherein the percentage of amorphous alumina fibers in the alumina fibers for use in the raw material mixing step is 50 to 100 wt %.

The present invention provides a method of producing a honeycomb structured body having excellent mechanical strength. The present invention relates to a method of producing a honeycomb structured body including a honeycomb fired body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween, the method including: a raw material mixing step of preparing a raw material paste containing ceria-zirconia composite oxide particles, alumina particles, an inorganic binder, and inorganic fibers; a molding step of molding the raw material paste into a honeycomb molded body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween; a drying step of drying the honeycomb molded body obtained in the molding step; and a firing step of firing the honeycomb molded body dried in the drying step into a honeycomb fired body, wherein the raw material mixing step includes pre-mixing of the inorganic binder and the inorganic fibers.

The present invention provides a method of producing a honeycomb structured body having excellent mechanical strength. The present invention relates to a method of producing a honeycomb structured body including a honeycomb fired body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween, the method including: a raw material mixing step of preparing a raw material paste containing ceria-zirconia composite oxide particles, alumina particles, an inorganic binder, and inorganic fibers; a molding step of molding the raw material paste into a honeycomb molded body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween; a drying step of drying the honeycomb molded body obtained in the molding step; and a firing step of firing the honeycomb molded body dried in the drying step into a honeycomb fired body, wherein the raw material mixing step includes pre-mixing of the inorganic binder and the inorganic fibers.

The present invention discloses a guide pin, which comprises a base support layer (1) and a protective layer (2). The base support layer (1) is a rod-shaped structure. The protective layer (2) tightly wraps the surface of the base support layer (1). A manufacturing method for the guide pin made of various materials is also disclosed. The guide pin manufactured by the method of the present invention is not prone to bending or deformation and has good corrosion resistance and acid/alkaline resistance properties; it is wear resistant and has of extended service life; it is easy to be processed and is low in cost.

A solid electrolyte includes partially stabilized zirconia in which a stabilizer forms a solid solution in zirconia. The partially stabilized zirconia includes at least monoclinic phase particles and cubic phase particles as crystal particles that configure the partially stabilized zirconia, and an abundance ratio of the monoclinic phase particle is 5 to 25% by volume. The partially stabilized zirconia includes stabilizer low-concentration phase particles of which concentration of the stabilizer at a particle center is equal to or less than 1 mol %, as the crystal particles. The stabilizer low-concentration phase particles have a particle-size distribution of number frequency thereof having a peak at which an average particle size is 0.6 to 1.0 μm, and a particle size at 10% of a cumulative number is 0.5 μm or greater, and of the overall low-concentration phase particles, 50% by volume or greater belong to the peak.

The sintered body has an average particle size in the range of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less, includes gamet-type oxide base material particles having at least Li, La, and Zr, has 8% by volume or more of voids, and has an ionic conductivity of 1.0×10.sup.−5 S/cm or more at temperature of 25° C.

A zirconia ceramic includes the following elements: 60.5-70.5 wt % of Zr, 2.5-5.45 wt % of Y, 0.05-2.65 wt % of Al, 0.015-1.07 wt % of Si, and 0.34-2.8 wt % of M. M includes at least one of Nb or Ta. The zirconia ceramic has a phase composition which includes tetragonal zirconia, alumina and zirconium silicate. The total content of alumina and zirconium silicate is 0.2-12 wt %, and the content of the tetragonal zirconia is 84-99.3 wt %. The tetragonal zirconia includes a solid solution of zirconia formed with yttrium oxide and M.sub.xO.sub.y, x satisfies 1≤x≤3, and y satisfies 3≤y≤6.

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.