The present disclosure provides a cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide with a core-shell structure and a preparation method thereof, a catalyst system using the cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide, a catalytic converter for purifying tail gas by using the catalyst system, and application of the catalyst system or the catalytic converter in motor vehicle exhaust purification, industrial waste gas treatment or catalytic combustion. In the present invention, the cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide with a core-shell structure oxygen storage material is prepared by a step-by-step precipitation method. On the one hand, yttrium and a part of zirconium and cerium are precipitated on a cerium-zirconium surface, where the post-precipitation of yttrium is to segregate yttrium ions (Y.sup.3+) on a grain boundary surface, thus reducing lattice surface energy, pinning the grain boundary surface, making the migration of the grain boundary surface difficult, controlling the growth of grains.

A film structure includes a substrate (11) which is a silicon substrate including an upper surface (11a) composed of a (100) plane, an alignment film (12) which is formed on the upper surface (11a) and includes a zirconium oxide film which has a cubic crystal structure and is (100)-oriented, and a conductive film (13) which is formed on the alignment film (12) and includes a platinum film which has a cubic crystal structure and is (100)-oriented. An average interface roughness of an interface (IF1) between the alignment film (12) and the conductive film (13) is greater than an average interface roughness of an interface (IF2) between the substrate (11) and the alignment film (12).

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a solid-state lithium ion conductor material in which the use of water and/or steam is a medium when the obtained intermediate product is cooled or quenched and, if needed, comminution of the intermediate product and/or carrying out of a cooling process with the production of a powder in one comminution step or in a plurality of comminution steps leads or lead to especially advantageous production products. The subject of the disclosure is also the solid-state lithium ion conductor material that has an ion conductivity of at least 10.sup.−5 S/cm at room temperature as well as a water content of <1.0 wt %. The disclosure further relates to the use of the solid-state lithium ion conductor material in the form of a powder in batteries or rechargeable batteries, preferably lithium batteries or rechargeable lithium batteries, in particular, separators, cathodes, anodes, or solid-state electrolytes.

The disclosure relates to an aluminum-doped lithium ion conductor based on a garnet structure comprising lanthanum, in particular an aluminum-doped lithium lanthanum zirconate (LLZO), in which the latter is co-doped with at least one trivalent M.sup.3+ ion on the lanthanum site, and in which the trivalent M.sup.3+ ion has an ionic radius that is smaller than that of La.sup.3+, and a higher lithium content is present in comparison to a stoichiometric garnet structure, with the provision that if M.sup.3+ is yttrium, a further trivalent M.sup.3+ ion, which is different than Y.sup.3+ and has an ionic radius that is smaller than that of La.sup.3+, is co-doped on the lanthanum site. A co-doping strategy is carried out, in which a doping on the lanthanum site with ions of the same valence, but smaller diameter brings about the change in the lattice geometry to the cubic modification. This leads to a stabilization of the cubic crystal modification that is present also with superstoichiometric quantities of lithium.

A solid garnet composition includes a bulk composition having a lithium garnet; and a surface composition having a protonated garnet on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the lithium garnet, such that the protonated garnet is uniformly disposed over the at least a portion of the exterior surface of the lithium garnet. A method of making a solid garnet composition includes pre-treating an air sensitive lithium-containing garnet with water to form a uniform protonated garnet surface composition; and contacting the uniform protonated garnet surface composition with an acid to form a porous uniform protonated garnet surface composition.

A component for a lithium battery including a first layer including a lithium garnet having a porosity of 0 percent to less than 25 percent, based on a total volume of the first layer; and a second layer on the first layer and having a porosity of 25 percent to 80 percent, based on a total volume of the second layer, wherein the second layer is on the first layer and the second layer has a composition that is different from a composition of the first layer.

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.

A modified garnet-type solid electrolyte, includes: a garnet-type solid electrolyte; a modification layer, such that the modification layer is formed on at least one side of the garnet-type solid electrolyte, and possesses a three-dimensional crosslinking structure comprising at least one strongly acidic lithium salt and at least one weakly acidic lithium salt. A method of forming a modified garnet-type solid electrolyte, includes: exposing a garnet-type solid electrolyte in air to form a pre-passivation layer; mixing solutions of strong acid and weakly acidic salt to form a mixed solution; chemically treating at least one side of the garnet-type solid electrolyte with the mixed solution; and forming a modification layer on the at least one side of the garnet-type solid electrolyte.

Provided is a cathode material including a cathode active material; a coating layer which coats at least a part of a surface of the cathode active material, and which includes a first solid electrolyte material; and a second solid electrolyte material. The first solid electrolyte material includes Li, M, and X; however, does not include sulfur. M includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of metalloid elements and metal elements other than Li. X includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cl and Br.

Disclosed herein are mixed oxide compositions comprising zirconium and cerium having a surprisingly small particle sizes. The compositions disclosed herein contain zirconium, cerium, optionally yttrium, and optionally one or more other rare earths other than cerium and yttrium. The compositions exhibit a particle size characterized by a D90 value of about 5 um to about 25 μm and a D99 value of about 5 μm to about 50 μm. Further disclosed are processes of producing these compositions using oxalic acid and an alcohol and heating in the process. The compositions can be used as a catalyst and/or part of an automobile exhaust system.