The piezoelectric composition is represented by the following Chemical Formula (1):

x[Bi.sub.mFeO.sub.3]-y[Ba.sub.mTiO.sub.3]-z[Sr.sub.mTiO.sub.3](1)

wherein 0.5x0.8, 0.02y0.4, 0.02z0.2, x+y+z=1, and 0.96m1.04.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an active substance. The active substance includes particles of niobium titanium composite oxide and a phase including a carbon material. The niobium titanium composite oxide is represented by Ti.sub.1xM1.sub.xNb.sub.2yM2.sub.yO.sub.7. The phase is formed on at least a part of the surface of the particles. The carbon material shows, in a Raman chart obtained by Raman spectrometry, a G band observed at from 1530 to 1630 cm.sup.1 and a D band observed at from 1280 to 1380 cm.sup.1. A ratio I.sub.G/I.sub.D between a peak intensity I.sub.G of the G band and a peak intensity I.sub.D of the D band is from 0.8 to 1.2.

A nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction catalyst that includes a transition metal tungstate having the formula: MWO.sub.4 wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu. The catalyst may be utilized in various environments including oxygen rich and oxygen deficient environments.

A supported molded catalyst having increased hardness, the supported molded catalyst being capable of improving the long-term stability of a reaction for producing a conjugated diolefin by catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation from a mixed gas including a monoolefin having 4 or more carbon atoms and molecular oxygen; and a method for producing the catalyst is provided. A molded catalyst for conjugated diolefin production, the molded catalyst being a catalyst for producing a conjugated diolefin by a catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation reaction from a mixed gas including a monoolefin having 4 or more carbon atoms and molecular oxygen, and being produced by molding a composite metal oxide and a glass fiber-like inorganic auxiliary agent.

A method of producing one of magnetite and ferrite nanoparticles comprising the step of mixing an iron containing metal chemical with a fatty acid.

The present invention provides a positive-electrode active material for non-aqueous secondary battery comprising a sodium transition metal composite oxide represented by Formula:

Na.sub.xFe.sub.1-yM.sub.yO.sub.2, wherein 0.4x0.7, 0.25y<1.0, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of manganese, cobalt and nickel, the sodium transition metal composite oxide having a crystal structure substantially composed of P6.sub.3/mmc alone.

In at least one embodiment, a rechargeable battery is provided comprising an anode having an active material including MSb.sub.2O.sub.4 having a purity level of greater than 93 percent by weight, wherein M is a metal. The metal may have an oxidation state of 2+ and may include transition metals and/or alkali-earth metals. The anode active material may be synthesized using metal acetates or metal oxides. The synthesis may include heating at a first temperature to remove oxygen and water and reacting at a second temperature to form the MSb.sub.2O.sub.4 structure, which may be a spinel crystal structure.

A ferromagnetic-particle manufacturing apparatus includes: a single mode cavity that resonates with a microwave of a predetermined wavelength; a microwave oscillator electrically connected to the single mode cavity and configured to introduce the microwave of a predetermined wavelength into the single mode cavity; a pipe disposed to pass through an inside of the single mode cavity, the pipe being formed of a dielectric material; a pump configured to introduce, from one end of the pipe, an alkaline reaction liquid containing metal ions of a ferromagnetic metal; an impedance measuring device configured to measure an impedance of the single mode cavity; and a pump-flowrate deciding unit configured to decide, based on a measurement result of the impedance measuring device, a pump flowrate by which the impedance of the single mode cavity becomes a predetermined value or more; wherein the pump is configured to introduce the reaction liquid at the pump flowrate decided by the pump-flowrate deciding unit; and wherein ferromagnetic particles are generated by reacting the reaction liquid.

Provided are a paste for contacts and a solar cell using the same. The paste for contacts includes Al powder, glass frit, inorganic binder, and P-type oxidation containing I group elements.

The present invention relates to a kit for water treatment, comprising: a photocatalyst including at least one of SnFe.sub.2O.sub.4, ZnFe.sub.2O.sub.4, CuFe.sub.2O.sub.4, Fe.sub.3O.sub.4, MnFe.sub.2O.sub.4 and NiFe.sub.2O.sub.4; and an active oxide. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a photocatalyst and a use of the prepared photocatalyst.