A superconducting article includes a substrate and a superconducting metal oxide film formed on the substrate. The metal oxide film including ions of an alkali metal, ions of a transition metal, and ions of an alkaline earth metal or a rare earth metal. For instance, the metal oxide film can include Rb ions, La ions, and Cu ions. The superconducting metal oxide film can have a critical temperature for onset of superconductivity of greater than 250 K, e.g., greater than room temperature.

A superconducting article includes a substrate and a superconducting metal oxide film formed on the substrate. The metal oxide film including ions of an alkali metal, ions of a transition metal, and ions of an alkaline earth metal or a rare earth metal. For instance, the metal oxide film can include Rb ions, La ions, and Cu ions. The superconducting metal oxide film can have a critical temperature for onset of superconductivity of greater than 250 K, e.g., greater than room temperature.

A novel and environmentally preferable method is provided for preparing solid electrolyte particles capable of making dense, flexible, Li.sup.+ conducting electrolyte thin films. Methods are also provided for using the solid electrolyte particles and/or thin films in manufacturing safer and more efficient lithium-based batteries. In particular, the method uses inorganic precursors instead of using organic precursors in preparing an aerosol and then convert the aerosol to solid powders to provide the solid electrolyte particles. The solid electrolyte particles prepared have a cubic polymorph and have a desired particle size range, and are capable of making a solid electrolyte film with a thickness less than 50 μm.

Disclosed are transparent conductors comprising a substrate, and a conductive layer formed on the substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises a first conductive medium comprising a plurality of metal nanowires, and a second conductive medium comprising a plurality of conductive nanoparticles, and methods for forming the same.

Disclosed are transparent conductors comprising a substrate, and a conductive layer formed on the substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises a first conductive medium comprising a plurality of metal nanowires, and a second conductive medium comprising a plurality of conductive nanoparticles, and methods for forming the same.

There is provided a method for producing a liquid transport apparatus includes: a pressure chamber plate partially defining a pressure chamber that communicates with a nozzle for ejecting liquid; an insulating ceramics layer located on a surface of the pressure chamber plate to cover the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer located on the insulating ceramics layer; and a first electrode located on the piezoelectric layer. The method includes: forming the insulating ceramics layer on the pressure chamber plate by heating an insulating ceramic material; forming the piezoelectric layer and the first electrode on the insulating ceramics layer; forming the piezoelectric layer including annealing the piezoelectric layer at the annealing temperature; and forming the pressure chamber by removing a part of the pressure chamber plate so that a part of the insulating ceramics layer is exposed on the pressure chamber.

Provided is a solid electrolyte-containing layer capable of preventing a short circuit caused by the formation of a dendrite. A solid electrolyte-containing layer (50a) in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: an inorganic solid electrolyte; and a heat-resistant resin having ion conductivity.

A composite containing a fluorine-containing copolymer, an alkali metal salt, and an ionic liquid. The fluorine-containing copolymer essentially contains: a structural unit represented by formula (1): —[CR.sup.1R.sup.2—CR.sup.3R.sup.4]— wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are each independently H, F, Cl, CF.sub.3, or OR.sup.10, where R.sup.10 is an organic group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 is F; and a structural unit represented by formula (2): —[CR.sup.5R.sup.6—CR.sup.7R.sup.8]— wherein R.sup.5 to R.sup.8 are each independently H, F, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a functional group containing a heteroatom other than the fluorine atom, or a group containing the functional group. At least one of R.sup.5 to R.sup.8 is a functional group containing a heteroatom other than the fluorine atom or a group containing the functional group, and the composite has a volatile content of 0.1 mass % or less.

A conductive film that includes: particles of a layered material including one or more layers, wherein each of the one or more layers includes a layer body represented by: M.sub.mX.sub.n, wherein M is at least one metal of Group 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, X is a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, or a combination thereof, n is 1 to 4, m is greater than n and 5 or less, a modification or termination T is present on a surface of the layer body, where the T is at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, an oxygen atom, or a hydrogen atom; and a phosphorus atom in an amount of 0.001% by mass to less than 0.09% by mass.

Provided are an oxide sintered compact whereby low carrier density and high carrier mobility are obtained when the oxide sintered compact is used to obtain an oxide semiconductor thin film by a sputtering method, and a sputtering target which uses the oxide sintered compact. This oxide sintered compact contains oxides of indium, gallium, and aluminum. The gallium content is from 0.15 to 0.49 by Ga/(In+Ga) atomic ratio, and the aluminum content is from 0.0001 to less than 0.25 by Al/(In+Ga+Al) atomic ratio. A crystalline oxide semiconductor thin film formed using this oxide sintered compact as a sputtering target is obtained at a carrier density of 4.0×10.sup.18 cm.sup.−3 or less and a carrier mobility of 10 cm.sup.−2V.sup.−1sec.sup.−1 or greater.