A garnet-type ion-conducting oxide configured to inhibit lithium carbonate formation on the surface of crystal particles thereof, and a method for producing an oxide electrolyte sintered body using the garnet-type ion-conducting oxide. The garnet-type ion-conducting oxide represented by a general formula (Li.sub.x-3y-z, E.sub.y, H.sub.z)L.sub.αM.sub.βO.sub.γ (where E is at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Fe and Si; L is at least one kind of element selected from an alkaline-earth metal and a lanthanoid element: M is at least one kind of element selected from a transition element which be six-coordinated with oxygen and typical elements in groups 12 to 15 of the periodic table; 3≤x−3y−z≤; 0≤y≤0.22; C≤z≤2.8; 2.5≤α≤3.5; 1.5≤≈≤2.5; and 11≤γ≤13), wherein a half-width of a diffraction peak which has a highest intensity and which is observed at a diffraction angle (2θ) in a range of from 29° to 32° as a result of X-ray diffraction measurement using CuKα radiation, is 0.164° or less.

A mixed conductor represented by Formula 1:
A.sub.4±xTi.sub.5−yG.sub.zO.sub.12−δ  Formula 1 wherein, in Formula 1, A is a monovalent cation, G is at least one of a monovalent cation, a divalent cation, a trivalent cation, a tetravalent cation, a pentavalent cation, or a hexavalent cation, with the proviso that G is not Ti or Cr, wherein 0<x<2, 0.3<y<5, 0<z<5, and 0<δ≤3.

An electrode active material comprising in major proportions a monoclinic titanium-niobium composite oxide represented by the formula TiNb.sub.xO.sub.(2+5x/2), wherein X is from 1.90 or more to less than 2.00.

A production method of a battery active material of the present embodiment includes a step of obtaining a coprecipitated product containing Ti and Nb by mixing a solution with a pH of 5 or lower, in which a Ti compound is dissolved, and a solution with a pH of 5 or lower, in which a Nb compound is dissolved, such that molar ratio of Ti and Nb (Nb/Ti) is adjusted within a range of 1≦Nb/Ti≦28, and then further mixing with an alkali solution with a pH of 8 or higher; and a step of burning the coprecipitated product under condition of 635° C. or higher and 1200° C. or lower.

A method for forming a cathode includes milling a suspension of precursors via a micromedia mill to form a mixture of primary particles in the suspension. The precursors include one or more metal compounds. The method includes spray drying the suspension after the milling to form secondary particles. The secondary particles are agglomerations of the primary particles. The method also includes annealing the secondary particles to form a disordered rocksalt powder.

Provided is a precursor of transition metal oxide represented by chemical formula 1 below.

Ni.sub.aMn.sub.bCo.sub.1−(a+b+c+d)Zr.sub.cM.sub.d[OH.sub.(1-x)2-y]A.sub.(y/n)   [Chemical formula 1]

A method of forming a thermal barrier coating is disclosed. The method may include providing a solution containing strontium and niobium and applying the solution to a substrate via a chemical solution deposition process to form a first film layer on the substrate. The method may further include pyrolyzing the first film layer and annealing the first film in an air atmosphere to form a strontium niobate coating.

Processes for preparing a niobate material include the following steps: (i) providing a niobium-containing source; (ii) providing a transitional metal source (TMS), a post-transitional metal source (PTMS), or both; (iii) dissolving (a) the niobium-containing source, and (b) the TMS, the PTMS, or both in an aqueous medium to form an intermediate solution; (iv) forming an intermediate paste by admixing an inert support material with the intermediate solution; (v) optionally coating the intermediate paste on a support substrate; and (vi) removing the inert support material by subjecting the intermediate paste to a calcination process and providing a transition-metal-niobate (TMN) and/or a post-transition-metal-niobate (PTMN). Anodes including a TMN and/or PTMN are also provided.

A dielectric composition containing a complex oxide represented by the formula of xAO-yBO-zC.sub.2O.sub.5 as the main component, wherein A represents at least one element selected from the group including Ba, Ca and Sr, B represents Mg, and C represents at least one element selected from the group including Nb and Ta, and x, y and z meet the following conditions, x+y+z=1.000, 0.000<x≦0.281, 0.625≦y<1.000, and 0.000<z≦0.375.

Provided is a piezoelectric material filler including alkali niobate compound particles having a ratio (K/(Na+K)) of the number of moles of potassium to the total number of moles of sodium and potassium of 0.460 to 0.495 in terms of atoms and a ratio ((Li+Na+K)/Nb) of the total number of moles of alkali metal elements to the number of moles of niobium of 0.995 to 1.005 in terms of atoms. The present invention can provide a piezoelectric material filler having excellent piezoelectric properties, and a composite piezoelectric material including the piezoelectric material filler and a polymer matrix.