Disclosed are embodiments of tungsten bronze crystal structures that can have both a high dielectric constant and low temperature coefficient, making them advantageous for applications that experience temperature changes and gradients. In particular, tantalum can be substituted into the crystal structure to improve properties. Embodiments of the material can be useful for radiofrequency applications such as resonators and antennas.

Disclosed herein are methods for preparing a titanate compound powder comprising titanate compound particles having a controlled particle size and/or particle size distribution. The methods include mixing at least one first inorganic compound chosen from sources of a first metal or metal oxide, at least one second inorganic compound chosen from sources of titania, and at least one binder to form a mixture; calcining the mixture to form a polycrystalline material comprising a plurality of titanate compound grains and a plurality of microcracks; and breaking the polycrystalline material along at least a portion of the microcracks. Also disclosed are titanate compound powders having a controlled particle size distribution, ceramic batch compositions comprising the powders, and ceramic articles prepared from the batch compositions.

Disclosed are a gas sensor member, a gas sensor using the same, and manufacturing methods thereof, and specifically, a gas sensor member using a one-dimensional porous metal oxide nanotube composite material having a double average pore distribution in which mesopores (0.1 nm to 50 nm) and macropores (50 nm to 300 nm) are simultaneously formed on the surface of a nanotube through decomposition of a spherical polymer sacrificial template and continuous crystallization and diffusion of a metal oxide and a nanoparticle catalyst embedded in an apoferritin is uniformly loaded in the inside and on the outer wall and inner wall of a one-dimensional metal oxide nanotube through a high-temperature heat treatment, a gas sensor using the same, and manufacturing methods thereof are disclosed.

Provided, as a transparent magneto-optical material which does not absorb fiber laser light within a wavelength range of 0.9-1.1 m and is thus suitable for constituting a magneto-optical device such as an optical isolator wherein the formation of a thermal lens is suppressed, is a magneto-optical material which is composed of a transparent ceramic that contains a complex oxide represented by formula (1) as a main component, or which is composed of a single crystal of a complex oxide represented by formula (1).
Tb.sub.2xR.sub.2(2-x)O.sub.8-x(1)
(In the formula, 0.800<x<1.00, and R represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, titanium, tantalum tin, hafnium and zirconium (excluding the cases where R represents only silicon, germanium or tantalum)).

A coating agent for forming a metal oxide film, which contains an organic solvent that is different from N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMA) or N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), and which has excellent conformal coating properties; and a method for producing a substrate having a metal oxide film. A coating agent for forming a metal oxide film, which contains a solvent and a metal, and wherein the solvent contains a compound (A) represented by formula (1).

##STR00001##

In formula (1), each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represents an alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 represents a group represented by formula (1-1) or formula (1-2).

##STR00002##

In formula (1-1), R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; and each of R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 independently represents an alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms. In formula (1-2), each of R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms.

A simple one pot sol-gel method for the synthesis of bi-metal nanostructures is based on non-noble metals (Fe, Co and Sn) and titanium. The method involves the synthesis of mixed metal nanoscale composites using low cost precursors which allow for the synthesis of desired nanocomposite materials with self-scarifying titanium or silica supports. The procedure does not require any surfactant or any need for pH controlled step. Applicants' method involves the in-situ generation of precursors and their simultaneous entrapment in a gel. This simple one pot synthesis allows for the synthesis of homogenous size, shape and distribution of targeted nanostructures. Further, this method can be applied for the preparation of various nanocomposite materials using different choices of metals and self-scarifying supports. Applicants also show that Pd, the noble metal based nanocomposite is feasible.

A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150 C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

According to one embodiment, a lithium ion secondary battery is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery includes a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material-containing layer, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte containing Li ions and Na ions. The negative electrode active material-containing layer contains a Na-containing titanium composite oxide. A ratio (W.sub.E/W.sub.A) of an Na amount W.sub.E (g/g) in the electrolyte to an Na amount W.sub.A (g/g) in the negative electrode active material-containing layer satisfies Formula (1) below:

110.sup.1W.sub.E/W.sub.A110.sup.5(1).

According to one embodiment, a positive electrode includes positive electrode active material particles, polymer fibers and inorganic solid particles. The polymer fibers have an average fiber diameter of 1 nm to 100 nm.

Novel coatings disclosed herein can be used to mitigate dust adhesion. In one embodiment, a method of making a dust repellant coating includes combining a titanium dioxide sol with colloidal silica to form a mixture. The method also includes adding solvent to the mixture, stirring the mixture for about an hour, and filtering the mixture into a solution of titanium dioxide and silica dioxide.