A dispersion liquid contains a metal oxide particle surface-modified with a silane compound and a silicone compound, when a transmission spectrum of the metal oxide particles that are obtained by vacuum-drying the dispersion liquid is measured in a wavenumber range of 800 cm.sup.−1 or more and 3800 cm.sup.−1 or less with FT-IR, IA/IB≤3.5 is satisfied (IA is a spectrum value at 3,500 cm.sup.−1 and IB is a spectrum value at 1,100 cm.sup.−1), and, when the dispersion liquid and methyl phenyl silicone are mixed such that a mass ratio of a total mass of the metal oxide particles and the surface-modifying material to a mass of methyl phenyl silicone becomes 30:70 and the hydrophobic solvent is removed, a viscosity is 9 Pa.Math.s or less.

The present application provides a method for preparing a zinc oxide nanoparticle structure synthesized using a microfluidic device and a self-assembled porous three-dimensional zinc oxide nanoparticle structure prepared therefrom. The self-assembled porous three-dimensional zinc oxide nanoparticle structure of the present application is a three-dimensional structure in which micropores, mesopores and macropores are created, and has excellent reactivity.

A method for producing polygonic Zn oxide platelets having a median specific surface area of more than 25 square meters per gram, in controlled size and morphology, the method comprising: preparing a medium including Zn or its compounds at a concentration within the range between 1.55 and 7.75 moles of Zn/L, in a medium suitable to substitute Zn ions by releasing free protons thereby forming a complex structure including Zn; agitation of the medium in a vessel at a temperature within the range between 50 and 320° for a duration up to 10 hours to obtain a suspension; filtering the suspension to obtain a filtrate including solid particles; drying and then calcination of the dried filtrate; wherein the agitation is performed with one or more radial flow impellers so that the Reynolds' number in the vessel is higher than 2500 and lower than 10000.

Polymers suitable for forming carbon nanotube-functionalized reverse thermal gel compositions, compositions including the polymers, and methods of forming and using the polymers and compositions are disclosed. The compositions have reverse thermal gelling properties and transform from a liquid/solution to a gel—e.g., near or below body temperature. The polymers and compositions can be injected into or proximate an area in need of treatment.

Provided are a zirconia sol having a transmittance of 45% or more at a wavelength of 400 nm, having a transmittance of 75% or more at a wavelength of 550 nm, and containing zirconia particles in an amount of 20 wt % or more, and a method for manufacturing the zirconia sol.

The present invention provides a composite oxide that can achieve a high low-temperature output characteristic, a method for manufacturing the same, and a positive electrode active material in which the generation of soluble lithium is suppressed and a problem of gelation is not caused during the paste preparation. A positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, including a lithium-metal composite oxide powder including a secondary particle configured by aggregating primary particles containing lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt, or a lithium-metal composite oxide powder including both the primary particles and the secondary particle. The secondary particle has a porous structure inside as a main inside structure, the slurry pH is 11.5 or less, the soluble lithium content rate is 0.5[% by mass] or less, the specific surface area is 3.0 to 4.0 [m.sup.2/g], and the porosity is more than 50 to 80[%].

There has been demand for a titanium oxide organosol that has a high transparency and a high refractive index and that also exhibits an excellent viscosity stability over time. The rutile-type titanium oxide organosol according to the present invention comprises a silane coupling agent, a basic additive acting as a deflocculant, a water-insoluble solvent, and rutile-type titanium oxide particles that have been surface-treated with a hydrous oxide of at least one metal species selected from Zr, Ce, Sn, and Fe, the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol being characterized in that the Ti ratio contained in the colloidal particles in the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol is at least 60 mass% when calculated as the oxide, and the ratio of metal species at the colloidal particle surface derived from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is 20-50 mass%.

Provided is a silica that exhibits a high matting property when utilized as a matting agent for a paint, and can also suppress the occurrence of cloudiness. The silica has an aggregated structure in which primary particles are aggregated, has a particle diameter ratio R represented by the following equation (1) of from 4.3 to 5.2, has an absorbance of 0.6 or less for light having a wavelength of 700 nm as an aqueous dispersion having a concentration of 1.48 mass %, and has a particle density measured with a He pycnometer of 2.18 g/cm.sup.3 or more: Equation (1) R=.sup.LD50/.sup.CD50 (in the equation (1), .sup.LD50 represents a volume-based 50% cumulative particle diameter (μm) of the silica measured based on a laser diffraction/scattering method, and .sup.CD50 represents a volume-based 50% cumulative particle diameter (μm) of the silica measured based on a Coulter counter method).

The modified graphene includes a structure represented by the following formula (I), wherein the modified graphene has a ratio (g/d) of an intensity “g” of a G band to an intensity “d” of a D band of 1.0 or more in a Raman spectroscopy spectrum thereof.

Gr1-Ar1-X1-(Y1).sub.n1  (I)

in the formula (I), Gr1 represents a single-layer graphene or a multilayer graphene, Ar1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, X1 represents a single bond, a linear, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a group obtained by substituting at least one carbon atom in a linear, branched, or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms with at least one structure selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NH—,

##STR00001##

—CO—, —COO—, —CONH—, and an arylene group.

The composite particle of the present invention includes an alumina particle having a card-house structure which is formed of three or more pieces of plate-like alumina and in which the pieces of plate-like alumina are fixed to each other; and an inorganic coating part provided on a surface of the plate-like alumina.