The present invention provides, as a lithium-containing transition metal oxide, a substance which is given by the chemical compositional formula Li.sub.4M.sub.5O.sub.12 (M=Cr, Co, or Zr) and has a spinel-type crystal structure. Provided is a lithium ion secondary cell having a positive electrode configured from a lithium-containing transition metal oxide which has a spinel-type crystal structure and has the chemical compositional formula Li.sub.4M.sub.5O.sub.12 (M=Cr or Co). The present invention further provides a lithium ion secondary cell having a negative electrode configured from a lithium-containing transition metal oxide which has a spinel-type crystal structure and has the chemical compositional formula Li.sub.4M.sub.5O.sub.12 (M=Zr).

Synthesizing Janus nanoparticles including forming a lamellar phase having water layers, organic layers, and a surfactant, and reacting chemical precursors in the lamellar phase to form the Janus nanoparticles at interfaces of the water layers with the organic layers.

A dispersion liquid contains fine particles of core-shell type inorganic oxide that have high dispersion stability and transparency and allow for excellent light resistance and weather resistance by being mixed in a coating film. The fine particles are produced by treating the surfaces of (a) fine particles of titanium-containing metal oxide serving as core particles with a hydrate and/or an oxide of a metal element such as zirconium to provide surface-treated particles or fine particles of titanium-containing metal oxide having (b) an intermediate layer and by covering the surfaces of the surface-treated particles to form (c) a shell layer with a composite oxide of silicon and at least one metal element selected from aluminum, zirconium, and antimony.

A dispersion liquid contains fine particles of core-shell type inorganic oxide that have high dispersion stability and transparency and allow for excellent light resistance and weather resistance by being mixed in a coating film. The fine particles are produced by treating the surfaces of (a) fine particles of titanium-containing metal oxide serving as core particles with a hydrate and/or an oxide of a metal element such as zirconium to provide surface-treated particles or fine particles of titanium-containing metal oxide having (b) an intermediate layer and by covering the surfaces of the surface-treated particles to form (c) a shell layer with a composite oxide of silicon and at least one metal element selected from aluminum, zirconium, and antimony.

A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

The present invention relates to a composite oxide comprising ceria, praseodymia and alumina, wherein the cerium:praseodymium molar ratio of the composite oxide is 84:16 or less, as well as to a method of preparing the composite oxide and to its use, in particular in a method of treating an exhaust gas stream.

The present invention relates to a method of reducing a metal oxide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture by mixing a metal oxide and a metal hydride (step 1) and reducing the mixture by heat treatment (step 2) and a method of producing a photocatalyst using the same, and The method of reducing a metal oxide of the present invention can easily reduce such metal oxides as TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, V.sub.2O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3.

The present invention relates to a method of reducing a metal oxide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture by mixing a metal oxide and a metal hydride (step 1) and reducing the mixture by heat treatment (step 2) and a method of producing a photocatalyst using the same, and The method of reducing a metal oxide of the present invention can easily reduce such metal oxides as TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, V.sub.2O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3.

Ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, curable ink compositions containing the ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, and methods of forming films from the ink compositions are provided. Also provided are cured films formed by curing the ink compositions and photonic devices incorporating the films. The ligands bound to the inorganic scattering nanoparticles include a head group and a tail group. The head group includes a polyamine chain and binds the ligands to the nanoparticle surface. The tail group includes a polyalkylene oxide chain.