A ceramic powder material containing: a first garnet-type compound containing Li, La, and Zr; and a second garnet-type compound containing Li, La, and Zr and having a composition different from a composition of the first garnet-type compound, in which the first garnet-type compound and the second garnet-type compound are represented by Formula [1] Li.sub.7-(3x+y)M1.sub.xLa.sub.3Zr.sub.2-yM2.sub.yO.sub.12, where M1 is Al or Ga, M2 is Nb or Ta, the first garnet-type compound satisfies 0≤(3x+y)≤0.5, and the second garnet-type compound satisfies 0.5<(3x+y)≤1.5.

The instant disclosure sets forth multiphase lithium-stuffed garnet electrolytes having secondary phase inclusions, where-in these secondary phase inclusions are material(s) which is/are not a cubic phase lithium-stuffed garnet but which is/are entrapped or enclosed within a lithium-stuffed garnet. When the secondary phase inclusions described herein are included in a lithium-stuffed garnet at 30-0.1 volume %, the inclusions stabilize the multiphase matrix and allow for improved sintering of the lithium-stuffed garnet. The electrolytes described herein, which include lithium-stuffed garnet with secondary phase inclusions, have an improved sinterability and density compared to phase pure cubic lithium-stuffed garnet having the formula Li.sub.7La.sub.3Zr.sub.2O.sub.12.

An oxide-based solid electrolyte with a high lithium ion conductance is provided. A lithium ion-conducting garnet type oxide includes Li, La, Ga, Zr, a halogen element, and oxygen. A lithium ion conductivity at room temperature is not lower than 1.0×10.sup.−3 S/cm. A proportion of Ga with respect to 1 mole of the oxide may be not larger than 0.5 moles.

The halogen element may be at least one type selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and I, and a proportion of Li with respect to 1 mole of the oxide may be not smaller than 6.1 moles and smaller than 6.5 moles.

Provided is a battery in which the internal resistance is further decreased. The present disclosure provides a battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte layer provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte layer includes a first solid electrolyte material. The first solid electrolyte material includes Li, M, and X, and does not include sulfur. M is at least one selected from the group consisting of metalloid elements and metal elements other than Li. X is at least one selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and I. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material and a sulfide solid electrolyte.

Provided is a battery having further improved charging/discharging efficiency. The battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte layer provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte layer includes a first electrolyte layer and a second electrolyte layer. The second electrolyte layer is provided between the first electrolyte layer and the negative electrode. The first electrolyte layer includes a first solid electrolyte material. The second electrolyte layer includes a second solid electrolyte material that is a material different from the first solid electrolyte material. The first solid electrolyte material includes Li, M, and X and does not include sulfur. M includes at least one selected from the group consisting of metalloid elements and metal elements other than Li. X is at least one selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and I. The reduction potential with regard to lithium of the second solid electrolyte material is lower than the reduction potential with regard to lithium of the first solid electrolyte material.

A ceramic powder material containing a garnet-type compound containing Li, wherein the ceramic powder material has a pore volume of 0.4 mL/g or more and 1.0 mL/g or less.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

Sodium-based all solid-state batteries exhibit improved battery cycle life and stability with the use of a new chloride-based sodium solid electrolyte in which sodium diffusivity within the electrolyte is enhanced through substitution of atoms including one or more of Y with Zr, Ti, Hf, Ta, and Na with one or more of Ca and Sr.

An object of the present invention is to provide a powder of a CeO.sub.2—ZrO.sub.2-based complex oxide which enables to achieve an improvement in the purification performance at a low to middle temperature of an exhaust gas purification catalyst, and, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a powder of a CeO.sub.2—ZrO.sub.2-based complex oxide, wherein a pore volume with from-10-to-100-nm diameters after a heat treatment performed at 1,000° C. for 3 hours in an air atmosphere, is 0.35 mL/g or more, and wherein an amount of carbon dioxide desorbed after the heat treatment, as measured by a temperature programmed desorption method, is 80 μmol/g or more.

The present disclosure relates to a method for the preparation of a precursor solution for a ceramic of the BZT-aBXT type wherein X is selected from Ca, Sn, Mn and Nb and a is a molar fraction selected in the range between 0.10 and 0.90 comprising the steps of: a) dissolving at least one barium precursor compound and at least one precursor compound selected from the group consisting of a calcium precursor compound, a tin precursor compound, a manganese precursor compound and a niobium precursor compound in a linear or branched anhydrous alkyl alcohol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and, after dissolution, dehydrating by stripping, to obtain a first solution; b) dissolving at least one zirconium precursor compound and at least one titanium precursor compound in a linear or branched anhydrous alkyl alcohol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the presence of an anhydrous chelating agent to obtain a second solution; c) joining said first and second solutions in an anhydrous environment and dehydrating by stripping to obtain said precursor solution. It also relates to a precursor solution, to a method for the preparation of a film of a piezoelectric material, to a piezoelectric material and to an electronic device comprising this piezoelectric material.