Provided is a battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte layer. The electrolyte layer includes a first electrolyte layer and a second electrolyte layer. The first electrolyte layer includes a first solid electrolyte material. The second electrolyte layer includes a second solid electrolyte material which is different from the first solid electrolyte material. The first solid electrolyte material includes lithium, at least one kind selected from the group consisting of metalloid elements and metal elements other than lithium, and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine. The first solid electrolyte material does not include sulfur.

A sulfide solid electrolyte, which is able to adjust the morphology unavailable traditionally, or is readily adjusted so as to have a desired morphology, the sulfide solid electrolyte having a volume-based average particle diameter measured by laser diffraction particle size distribution measurement of 3 μm or more and a specific surface area measured by the BET method of 20 m2/g or more; and a method of treating a sulfide solid electrolyte including the sulfide solid electrolyte being subjected to at least one mechanical treatment selected from disintegration and granulation.

Various articles and devices can be manufactured to take advantage of a what is believed to be a novel thermodynamic cycle in which spontaneity is due to an intrinsic entropy equilibration. The novel thermodynamic cycle exploits the quantum phase transition between quantum thermalization and quantum localization. Preferred devices include a phonovoltaic cell, a rectifier and a conductor for use in an integrated circuit.

Various articles and devices can be manufactured to take advantage of a what is believed to be a novel thermodynamic cycle in which spontaneity is due to an intrinsic entropy equilibration. The novel thermodynamic cycle exploits the quantum phase transition between quantum thermalization and quantum localization. Preferred devices include a phonovoltaic cell, a rectifier and a conductor for use in an integrated circuit.

A Li ion conductor having a composition different from a conventional composition is provided. The Li ion conductor contains at least one selected from a group Q consisting of Ga, V, and Al, Li, La and O. A part of an Li site is optionally substituted with a metal element D, a part of an La site is optionally substituted with a metal element E, and parts of Ga, V and Al sites are optionally substituted with a metal element J. A mole ratio of an amount of Li to a total amount of La, the element E, Ga, V, Al, and the element J is not lower than 8.1/5 and not higher than 9.5/5. A mole ratio of a total amount of Ga, V, and Al to a total amount of La and the element E is not lower than 1.1/3 and not higher than 2/3.

Described are lithium transition metal halides which have ionic conductivity for lithium ions, a process for preparing them, their use as a solid electrolyte for an electrochemical cell, and electrochemical cells comprising lithium transition metal halides.

Conducting metal oxide and nitride nanoparticles that can be used in fuel cell applications. The metal oxide nanoparticles are comprised of for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten and combinations thereof. The metal nitride nanoparticles are comprised of, for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, and combinations thereof. The nanoparticles can be sintered to provide conducting porous agglomerates of the nanoparticles which can be used as a catalyst support in fuel cell applications. Further, platinum nanoparticles, for example, can be deposited on the agglomerates to provide a material that can be used as both an anode and a cathode catalyst support in a fuel cell.

Conducting metal oxide and nitride nanoparticles that can be used in fuel cell applications. The metal oxide nanoparticles are comprised of for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten and combinations thereof. The metal nitride nanoparticles are comprised of, for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, and combinations thereof. The nanoparticles can be sintered to provide conducting porous agglomerates of the nanoparticles which can be used as a catalyst support in fuel cell applications. Further, platinum nanoparticles, for example, can be deposited on the agglomerates to provide a material that can be used as both an anode and a cathode catalyst support in a fuel cell.

A method for producing a film, the method including separately discharging a slurry containing particles of a layered material in a liquid medium and a gas from a nozzle, causing the slurry and the gas to collide with each other outside the nozzle, and depositing the particles of the layered material on a substrate to form the film. A concentration of the particles of the layered material in the slurry may be 30 mg/mL or more.

A method for producing a film, the method including separately discharging a slurry containing particles of a layered material in a liquid medium and a gas from a nozzle, causing the slurry and the gas to collide with each other outside the nozzle, and depositing the particles of the layered material on a substrate to form the film. A concentration of the particles of the layered material in the slurry may be 30 mg/mL or more.