A mechanochromic system comprising a first inorganic/polymer composite layer; and a first elastomer layer bonded to the composite layer to form a composite/elastomer assembly, methods of making, and methods of use thereof are provided.

A composite having a composition expressed by A.sub.nX.sub.yM.sub.m wherein, A represents a lanthanoid that is in a trivalent state at least partially or entirely, X represents an element that is a Group-2 element in the periodic table selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A, M represents an element that is a Group-1 element in the periodic table, a Group-2 element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A and X, n satisfies 0<n<1, y satisfies 0<y<1, m satisfies 0m<1, and n+y+m=1.

A composite having a composition expressed by A.sub.nX.sub.yM.sub.m wherein, A represents a lanthanoid that is in a trivalent state at least partially or entirely, X represents an element that is a Group-2 element in the periodic table selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A, M represents an element that is a Group-1 element in the periodic table, a Group-2 element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A and X, n satisfies 0<n<1, y satisfies 0<y<1, m satisfies 0m<1, and n+y+m=1.

A composite having a composition expressed by A.sub.nX.sub.yM.sub.m wherein, A represents a lanthanoid that is in a trivalent state at least partially or entirely, X represents an element that is a Group-2 element in the periodic table selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A, M represents an element that is a Group-1 element in the periodic table, a Group-2 element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A and X, n satisfies 0<n<1, y satisfies 0<y<1, m satisfies 0m<1, and n+y+m=1.

A composite having a composition expressed by A.sub.nX.sub.yM.sub.m wherein, A represents a lanthanoid that is in a trivalent state at least partially or entirely, X represents an element that is a Group-2 element in the periodic table selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A, M represents an element that is a Group-1 element in the periodic table, a Group-2 element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, or a lanthanoid that is different from A and X, n satisfies 0<n<1, y satisfies 0<y<1, m satisfies 0m<1, and n+y+m=1.

The present invention relates to a mixed oxide with enhanced resistance and NO.sub.x storage capacity. The mixed oxide may be used as a component of a NO.sub.x trap material in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The invention also relates to a method for treating an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine using the mixed oxide.

Provided is a complex oxide that has a high hydrogen content, contains almost no impurity phase, and is suitable for proton conductivity. The complex oxide is represented by a chemical formula Li.sub.7-xH.sub.xLa.sub.3M.sub.2O.sub.12 (M represents Zr and/or Hf, and 3.2<x7) and is a single phase of a garnet type structure belonging to a cubic system. A method for producing the complex oxide includes an exchange step of bringing a raw material complex oxide represented by a chemical formula Li.sub.7-xH.sub.xLa.sub.3M.sub.2O.sub.12 (M represents Zr and/or Hf, and 0x3.2) and a compound having a hydroxy group or a carboxyl group into contact with each other to exchange at least some of lithium of the raw material complex oxide and hydrogen of the compound having a hydroxy group or a carboxyl group.

Provided is a complex oxide that has a high hydrogen content, contains almost no impurity phase, and is suitable for proton conductivity. The complex oxide is represented by a chemical formula Li.sub.7-xH.sub.xLa.sub.3M.sub.2O.sub.12 (M represents Zr and/or Hf, and 3.2<x7) and is a single phase of a garnet type structure belonging to a cubic system. A method for producing the complex oxide includes an exchange step of bringing a raw material complex oxide represented by a chemical formula Li.sub.7-xH.sub.xLa.sub.3M.sub.2O.sub.12 (M represents Zr and/or Hf, and 0x3.2) and a compound having a hydroxy group or a carboxyl group into contact with each other to exchange at least some of lithium of the raw material complex oxide and hydrogen of the compound having a hydroxy group or a carboxyl group.

A superconducting wire includes a multilayer stack and a covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer). The multilayer stack includes a substrate having a main surface and a superconducting material layer formed on the main surface. The covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer) is disposed on at least the superconducting material layer. A front surface portion of the covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer) located on the superconducting material layer (front surface portion of the stabilizing layer or upper surface of the protective layer) has a concave shape.

A superconducting wire includes a multilayer stack and a covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer). The multilayer stack includes a substrate having a main surface and a superconducting material layer formed on the main surface. The covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer) is disposed on at least the superconducting material layer. A front surface portion of the covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer) located on the superconducting material layer (front surface portion of the stabilizing layer or upper surface of the protective layer) has a concave shape.