The invention relates to an ionization chamber for connection to a mass spectrometer. The ionization chamber has a temperature-control block with a gas inlet and a gas channel which starts at the gas inlet and leads into a gas outlet. A temperature-control device is positioned along the gas channel and ensures that a gas flowing in the gas channel is brought to a specific temperature, i.e. it is heated or cooled, before it enters the ionization chamber. The temperature-control block has a formed part into which a structure of the gas channel is incorporated and which is fabricated by means of a sol-gel process, for example out of a glass or ceramic material.

Annealing treatments for modified titania-silica glasses and the glasses produced by the annealing treatments. The annealing treatments include an isothermal hold that facilitates equalization of non-uniformities in fictive temperature caused by non-uniformities in modifier concentration in the glasses. The annealing treatments may also include heating the glass to a higher temperature following the isothermal hold and holding the glass at that temperature for several hours. Glasses produced by the annealing treatments exhibit high spatial uniformity of CTE, CTE slope, and fictive temperature, including in the presence of a spatially non-uniform concentration of modifier.

Annealing treatments for modified titania-silica glasses and the glasses produced by the annealing treatments. The annealing treatments include an isothermal hold that facilitates equalization of non-uniformities in fictive temperature caused by non-uniformities in modifier concentration in the glasses. The annealing treatments may also include heating the glass to a higher temperature following the isothermal hold and holding the glass at that temperature for several hours. Glasses produced by the annealing treatments exhibit high spatial uniformity of CTE, CTE slope, and fictive temperature, including in the presence of a spatially non-uniform concentration of modifier.

A method for producing a solid electrolyte, including: stirring a slurry including lithium sulfide and phosphorus sulfide in a hydrocarbon solvent in a reaction vessel, and circulating the slurry through a connecting pipe by a pump. The method is carried out in an apparatus including the reaction vessel and the connecting pipe connected to the pump and the reaction vessel.

A method for producing a solid electrolyte, including: stirring a slurry including lithium sulfide and phosphorus sulfide in a hydrocarbon solvent in a reaction vessel, and circulating the slurry through a connecting pipe by a pump. The method is carried out in an apparatus including the reaction vessel and the connecting pipe connected to the pump and the reaction vessel.

A wavelength converting member includes silica glass and a plurality of fluorescent material particles including an oxynitride or nitride fluorescent material and dispersed in the silica glass. The plurality of fluorescent material particles include at least two kinds of fluorescent material particles including (i) first fluorescent material particles that emit a fluorescence having a first peak wavelength and (ii) second fluorescent material particles that emit a fluorescence having a second peak wavelength. The wavelength converting member has a density within a range from 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.2 g/cm.sup.3.

A wavelength converting member includes silica glass and a plurality of fluorescent material particles including an oxynitride or nitride fluorescent material and dispersed in the silica glass. The plurality of fluorescent material particles include at least two kinds of fluorescent material particles including (i) first fluorescent material particles that emit a fluorescence having a first peak wavelength and (ii) second fluorescent material particles that emit a fluorescence having a second peak wavelength. The wavelength converting member has a density within a range from 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.2 g/cm.sup.3.

Methods for processing and or removing organic residuals and or impurities from a solgel-derived bioactive glass-ceramic and compositions comprising solgel-derived bioactive glass-ceramics processed using these methods, are described.

Compositions comprising a sol-gel derived glass, the sol-gel derived glass comprising two main components, the main components comprising a borate component and an alkaline earth metal component. Methods of making the compositions comprising combining precursor solutions containing boron ions, with alkaline earth metal ions to form a solution; gelling the solution to form a gel; drying the gel; and calcining the dried gel.

The invention discloses porous, bioactive glass and glass ceramic morsels or pellets to be used as tissue graft substitute materials and processes for obtaining the same wherein the bioactive glass and glass ceramic morsels or pellets are made up of natural agents like phosphate, calcium, sodium and other elements which are not alien to the human or animal body. The said preparation process encompasses various steps like quenching sintering, foaming, and sol-gel casting which render the glass morsels or pellets unique bioactivity and enhanced porosity which may facilitate tissue repair and augmentation during tissue graft replacement.