In an aspect, a Co.sub.2Z ferrite has the formula: (Ba.sub.1-xSr.sub.x).sub.3Co.sub.2+yM.sub.yFe.sub.24-2y-zO.sub.41. M is at least one of Mo, Ir, or Ru. The variable x can be 0 to 0.8, or 0.1 to 0.8. The variable y can be 0 to 0.8, or 0.01 to 0.8. The variable z can be −2 to 2. The Co.sub.2Z ferrite can have an average grain size of 5 to 100 nanometers, or 30 to 80, or 10 to 40 nanometers as measured using at least one of transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, or x-ray diffraction.

A dielectric composition includes a main ingredient having a perovskite structure represented by ABO.sub.3, where A is at least one of Ba, Sr, and Ca and B is at least one of Ti, Zr, and Hf, and a first accessory ingredient. The first accessory ingredient comprises 0.1 mole or more of a rare earth element, 0.02 mole or more of Nb, and 0.25 mole or more and 0.9 mole or less of Mg, a sum of contents of the rare earth element and Nb is 1.5 mole or less.

A method of producing a core-shell particle includes introducing a barium titanate-based base powder and an additive to a reactor, and exposing the barium titanate-based base powder and the additive to a thermal plasma torch to obtain core-shell particles including a core portion having barium titanate (BaTiO.sub.3) and a shell portion including the additive and formed on a surface of the core portion.

An article includes a ceramic-based substrate and a barrier layer on the ceramic-based substrate. The barrier layer includes a matrix of barium-magnesium alumino-silicate or SiO.sub.2, a dispersion of silicon oxycarbide particles in the matrix, and a dispersion of particles, of the other of barium-magnesium alumino-silicate or SiO.sub.2, in the matrix.

A ferrite sintered magnet 100 comprises M-type ferrite crystal grains 4 having a hexagonal structure, two-crystal grain boundaries 6a formed between two of the M-type ferrite crystal grains 4, and multiple-crystal grain boundaries 6b surrounded by three or more of the M-type ferrite crystal grains 4. This ferrite sintered magnet 100 contains at least Fe, Ca, B, and Si, and contains B in an amount of 0.005 to 0.9 mass % in terms of B.sub.2O.sub.3, the two-crystal grain boundaries 6a and the multiple-crystal grain boundaries 6b contain Si and Ca, and in a cross-section parallel to a c-axis of the ferrite sintered magnet, when the number of multiple-crystal grain boundaries 6b having a maximum length of 0.49 to 5 μm per cross-sectional area of 76 μm.sup.2 is N, N is 7 or less.

Provided is a dielectric ceramic composition including a first component and a second component, wherein the first component comprises an oxide of Ca of 0.00 mol % to 35.85 mol % an oxide of Sr of 0.00 mol % to 47.12 mol %, an oxide of Ba of 0.00 mol % to 51.22 mol %, an oxide of Ti of 0.00 mol % to 17.36 mol %, an oxide of Zr of 0.00 mol % to 17.36 mol %, an oxide of Sn of 0.00 mol % to 2.60 mol %, an oxide of Nb of 0.00 mol % to 35.32 mol %, an oxide of Ta of 0.00 mol % to 35.32 mol %, and an oxide of V of 0.00 mol % to 2.65 mol %, and the second component includes at least (a) an oxide of Mn of 0.005% by mass to 3.500% by mass and (b) an oxide of Cu and/or an oxide of Ru.

A dielectric composition includes dielectric particles and first segregations. The dielectric particles each include a perovskite compound represented by ABO.sub.3 as a main component. The first segregations each include Ba, Ti, Si, Ni, and O.

A dielectric composition includes dielectric particles and first segregations. The dielectric particles each include a perovskite compound represented by ABO.sub.3 as a main component. The first segregations each include at least Ba, P, and O. A molar ratio (Ba/Ti) of Ba to Ti in the first segregations is 1.20 or more.

A dielectric composition includes dielectric particles, grain boundary phases, and segregations. The dielectric particles each include a perovskite compound represented by ABO.sub.3 as a main component. The grain boundary phases are located between the dielectric particles. The segregations exist in a part of the grain boundary phases and include at least Al, Si, and O. A molar ratio (Al/(Al+Si)) of an Al content to a total content of Al and Si in the segregations is 0.45 or more and 0.75 or less.

Provided is a piezoelectric ceramics having a gradual change in piezoelectric constant depending on an ambient temperature. Specifically, provided is a single-piece piezoelectric ceramics including as a main component a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by a compositional formula of ABO.sub.3, wherein an A site element in the compositional formula contains Ba and M.sub.1, the M.sub.1 being formed of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Ca and Bi, wherein a B site element in the compositional formula contains T1 and M.sub.2, the M.sub.2 being formed of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sn, and Hf, wherein concentrations of the M.sub.1 and the M.sub.2 change in at least one direction of the piezoelectric ceramics, and wherein increase and decrease directions of concentration changes of the M.sub.1 and the M.sub.2 are directions opposite to each other.