The -iron oxide type ferromagnetic powder contains Fe, a metal element selected from the group consisting of monovalent metal elements and divalent metal elements at a content rate within a range of 0.2 to 16.5 at % with respect to 100.0 at % of Fe, and a pentavalent metal element at a content rate within a range of 0.2 to 7.5 at % with respect to 100.0 at % of Fe, in which a total content rate of metal elements other than Fe is within a range of 2.5 to 24.0 at % with respect to 100.0 at % of Fe.

The present invention provides a layered double hydroxide with improved conductivity, a layered double hydroxide and a composite material containing the layered double hydroxide. The layered double hydroxide is represented by the general formula: [Mg.sup.2+.sub.(1-y)M1.sup.+.sub.y].sub.1-x[Al.sup.3+.sub.(1-z)M2.sup.+.sub.z].sub.x(OH).sub.2A.sup.n.sub.x/n.mH.sub.2O, wherein 0.1x0.4, 0y0.95, and 0z0.95, provided that both y and z are not 0 at the same time; =1 or 2; =2 or 3; A.sup.n is an n-valent anion, provided that n is an integer of 1 or greater; m0; M1.sup.+ is a cation of at least one substituent element selected from monovalent elements, transition metal elements, and other elements with an ionic radius greater than that of Mg.sup.2+; and M2.sup.+ is a cation of at least one element selected from divalent elements, transition metals, and other elements with an ionic radius greater than that of Al.sup.3+.

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.

A method for preparing nanosized sulfide catalysts includes providing an aqueous solution having an organometallic complex, mixing the organometallic complex with a sulfiding agent, an emulsifier, and a hydrocarbon oil to prepare a water-in-oil nanoemulsion; subjecting the water-in-oil nanoemulsion to thermal decomposition and isolating a solid product from the liquid.

A set of spherical inorganic particles having the particular property of being spontaneously individualized, both in dry state in the form of a powder and when they are dispersed in a matrix. The method for producing the particles, and the materials produced by including the particles in the matrices are also described.

The present invention is directed to a method for generating oxygen comprising providing at least one oxygen source, providing at least one ionic liquid, providing at least one metal oxide compound, wherein the oxygen source is a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in the temperature range from 10 C. to +50 C., and the metal oxide compound is an oxide of one single metal or of two or more different metals, said metal(s) being selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements, and contacting the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, and the metal oxide compound.

[Problem] The aim of the present invention lies in providing a glass ceramic sintered compact in which dielectric loss in a high-frequency region is reduced, without any reduction in sintering density, and also in providing a wiring board employing same. [Solution] A glass ceramic sintered compact containing a glass component, a ceramic filler and a composite oxide, characterized in that the glass component is crystallized glass on which is deposited a diopside oxide crystal phase including at least Mg, Ca and Si, and the composite oxide includes at least Al and Co.

A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrode consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lanthanum strontium cobalt complex oxide, lanthanum strontium cobalt iron complex oxide, and lanthanum strontium iron complex oxide, or consisting of a composite of the at least one compound and an electrolyte material, and a first solid electrolyte membrane represented by a composition formula of BaZr.sub.1xLu.sub.xO.sub.3 (0<x<1). The electrode is in contact with the first solid electrolyte membrane.

Provided are flat metal particles having an aggregate structure due to mechanochemical processing. In the present invention, a method of manufacturing flat metal particles includes mechanochemical processing performed on metal powder including metal particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 m to 1000 m inclusive. In the mechanochemical processing, flat metal particles are formed from the metal particles by being subjected to rolling processing involving at least one from among processing for deforming the metal particles so as to be flat, processing for layering the metal particles that have been formed to be flat, and processing for flattening a mass of a plurality of the metal particles.

A thermoelectric material, having a formula Tb.sub.xM1.sub.y-xM2.sub.zO.sub.w where M1 is one of Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba and Ra, M2 is at least one of Co, Fe, Ni, and Mn, x ranges from 0.01 to 5; y is 1, 2, 3, or 5; z is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and w is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, or 14. The thermoelectric material is chemically stable within 5% for one year and is also non-toxic. The thermoelectric material can also be incorporated into a thermoelectric system which can be used to generate electricity from waste heat sources or to cool an adjacent region.