Disclosed is a ferromagnetic element-substituted room-temperature multiferroic material having ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity at room temperature, wherein the ferromagnetic element-substituted room-temperature multiferroic material includes a compound of chemical formula 1: <chemical formula 1> (Pb.sub.1-xM.sub.x)Fe.sub.1/2Nb.sub.1/2O.sub.3. In chemical formula 1, M represents a ferromagnetic element, and x represents a number greater than 0 and smaller than 1.

Solid-state electrolytes for use in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, as well as methods of synthesizing the same, methods of preparing the same into a film, and methods of using the same in a Li-ion battery, are provided. Solid-state electrolyte pellets can be prepared in a solution, and a film using the synthesized pellet can be formed and used in a Li-ion battery.

A positive electrode active material according to the present disclosure includes: a lithium composite oxide which includes Mn and at least one selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, and N, and S. The lithium composite oxide has a crystalline structure which belongs to the space group Fd-3m, and a relationship 1.40?intensity ratio I.sub.Mn1/I.sub.Mn2?1.90 is satisfied. The intensity ratio I.sub.Mn1/I.sub.Mn2 is a ratio of an intensity I.sub.Mn1 to an intensity I.sub.Mn2. The intensity I.sub.Mn1 and the intensity I.sub.Mn2 are intensities of a first proximity peak and a second proximity peak, respectively, of the Mn in a radial distribution function of the Mn included in the lithium composite oxide.

A ferrite composition is provided containing Ba, Co, and Ir and having a Z-type hexaferrite phase and a Y-type hexaferrite phase. The ferrite composition has the formula Ba.sub.3Co.sub.(2+x)Ir.sub.xFe.sub.(24-2x)O.sub.41 where x=0.05-0.20. The composition has equal or substantially equal values of permeability and permittivity while retaining low magnetic and dielectric loss factors. The composition is suitable for ultrahigh frequency applications such as high frequency and microwave antennas.

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 relates to silicon coated metal microparticles in which at least a part of a surface of a metal microparticle composed of at least one of metal elements or metalloid elements is coated with silicon, wherein the silicon coated metal microparticles are a product obtained by a reduction treatment of silicon compound coated precursor microparticles in which at least a part of a surface of a precursor microparticle containing a precursor of the metal microparticles is coated with a silicon compound, or silicon doped precursor microparticles containing a precursor of the metal microparticles. Because it is possible particularly to strictly control a particle diameter of the silicon compound coated metal microparticle by controlling conditions of the reduction treatment, design of a more appropriate composition can become facilitated, compared with a conventional composition, in terms of diversified usages and desired properties of silicon compound coated metal microparticles.

A method for producing a nickel cobalt complex hydroxide includes first crystallization of supplying a solution containing Ni, Co and Mn, a complex ion forming agent and a basic solution separately and simultaneously to one reaction vessel to obtain nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles, and a second crystallization of, after the first crystallization, further supplying a solution containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese, a solution of a complex ion forming agent, a basic solution, and a solution containing said element M separately and simultaneously to the reaction vessel to crystallize a complex hydroxide particles containing nickel, cobalt, manganese and said element M on the nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles crystallizing a complex hydroxide particles comprising Ni, Co, Mn and the element M on the nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles.

Disclosed are a precursor for preparation of a lithium composite transition metal oxide, a method for preparing the same and a lithium composite transition metal oxide obtained from the same. More particularly, the transition metal precursor which has a composition represented by Formula 1 below and is prepared in an aqueous transition metal solution, mixed with a transition metal-containing salt, including an alkaline material, the method for preparing the same and the lithium composite transition metal oxide obtained from the same are disclosed.

Mn.sub.aM.sub.b(OH.sub.1-x).sub.2-yA.sub.y (1) wherein M is at least one selected form the group consisting of Ni, Ti, Co, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Zr, Zn and Period II transition metals; A is at least one selected form the group consisting of anions of PO.sub.4, BO.sub.3, CO.sub.3, F and NO.sub.3, and 0.5a1.0; 0b0.5; a+b=1; 0<x<1.0; and 0y0.02.

An object is to reduce variation in shape of crystals that are to be formed. Solutions containing respective raw materials are made in an environment where an oxygen concentration is lower than that in air, the solutions containing the respective raw materials are mixed in an environment where an oxygen concentration is lower than that in air to form a mixture solution, and with use of the mixture solution, a composite oxide is formed by a hydrothermal method.

The present invention relates to silicon-compound-coated fine metal particles, with which surfaces of fine metal particles, composed of at least one type of metal element or metalloid element, are at least partially coated with a silicon compound and a ratio of SiOH bonds contained in the silicon-compound-coated fine metal particles is controlled to be 0.1% or more and 70% or less. By the present invention, silicon-compound-coated fine metal particles that are controlled in dispersibility and other properties can be provided by controlling the ratio of SiOH bonds or the ratio of SiOH bonds/SiO bonds contained in the silicon-compound-coated fine metal particles. By controlling the ratio of SiOH bonds or the ratio of SiOH bonds/SiO bonds, a composition that is more appropriate for diversifying applications and targeted properties of silicon-compound-coated fine metal particles than was conventionally possible can be designed easily.