A powder of melted particles, more than 95% by number of the particles exhibiting a circularity of greater than or equal to 0.85. The powder including more than 99.8% of a rare earth metal oxide and/or of hafnium oxide and/or of an aluminum oxide, as percentage by mass based on the oxides. The powder has a median particle size D.sub.50 of less than 15 μm, a 90 percentile of the particle sizes, D.sub.90, of less than 30 μm, and a size dispersion index (D.sub.90−D.sub.10)/D.sub.10 of less than 2, and a relative density of greater than 90%. The D.sub.n percentiles of the powder are the particle sizes corresponding to the percentages, by number, of n%, on the cumulative distribution curve of the size of the particles in the powder and the particle sizes are classified by increasing order.

A solid-state electrolyte includes a lithium salt, a lithium ion-conducting inorganic material, a polymer, and a coupling agent. The coupling agent bonds the lithium ion-conducting inorganic material to the polymer.

A method for the precipitation of rare earth sulphate, the method including subjecting a crude rare earth sulphate solution to precipitation in the presence of a water soluble, volatile, organic compound to produce a rare earth sulphate precipitate and an acidic supernatant. The organic compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, acetone or mixtures thereof, and is preferably methanol. Preferably, the organic compound is used in the precipitation at a weight ratio of between 0.25:1 to 1.5:1, and preferably 0.5:to 1.25:1, with the crude sulphate solution.

A method for the precipitation of rare earth sulphate, the method including subjecting a crude rare earth sulphate solution to precipitation in the presence of a water soluble, volatile, organic compound to produce a rare earth sulphate precipitate and an acidic supernatant. The organic compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, acetone or mixtures thereof, and is preferably methanol. Preferably, the organic compound is used in the precipitation at a weight ratio of between 0.25:1 to 1.5:1, and preferably 0.5:to 1.25:1, with the crude sulphate solution.

Terbium-based Faraday rotators, optical isolators incorporating the Faraday rotators, and methods for forming the Faraday rotators are described. Formation methods include hydrothermal growth methods for forming monolithic single crystals of TbO(OH) as Faraday rotator materials. TbO(OH) can also be used as a starting material in a hydrothermal growth method to form monolithic single crystals of Tb.sub.xYb.sub.(2-x)O.sub.3, in which x is between about 0.05 and about 1 or terbium aluminum garnet TAG for use as a Faraday rotator in an optical isolator.

Lutetium oxide-based scintillator materials, as well as corresponding methods and systems, are described.

Lutetium oxide-based scintillator materials, as well as corresponding methods and systems, are described.

The invention relates to a system and a method for the processing of minerals containing the lanthanide series and the production of rare earth oxides, which allow a completely closed and continuous treatment of the different materials and desorbent agents involved in the process, thus improving the efficiency in the extraction and avoiding environmental risks associated. The method comprising the steps of: reception and conditioning of the raw material; desorption of valuable product through a plurality of mixing and reaction stages in which the raw material is contacted in countercurrent with a stream of desorbent solution; separation of fine solids; precipitation of secondary minerals through the use of a first reactive solution; precipitation of rare earth carbonates through the use of a second reactive solution; and drying and roasting of the rare earth carbonates to obtain rare earth oxides; wherein the method further comprises a secondary process that allows further processing of the residual mineral, and a dewatering and washing step wherein the residual mineral from the desorption step is washed and a lanthanide-containing liquid is recovered.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material using silicon compound-coated silicon-doped zinc oxide particles that are controlled in properties in an ultraviolet region and/or a near-infrared region. The present invention provides an ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material used for a purpose of shielding ultraviolet rays and/or near-infrared rays, the ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material featuring that the ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent contains silicon compound-coated silicon-doped zinc oxide particles, with which surfaces of silicon-doped zinc oxide particles that are zinc oxide particles doped with at least silicon are at least partially coated with a silicon compound.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material using silicon compound-coated silicon-doped zinc oxide particles that are controlled in properties in an ultraviolet region and/or a near-infrared region. The present invention provides an ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material used for a purpose of shielding ultraviolet rays and/or near-infrared rays, the ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material featuring that the ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent contains silicon compound-coated silicon-doped zinc oxide particles, with which surfaces of silicon-doped zinc oxide particles that are zinc oxide particles doped with at least silicon are at least partially coated with a silicon compound.