A photoelectric conversion element includes a support, a photoelectric conversion layer, an undercoat layer, and a surface layer; where the photoelectric conversion layer, the undercoat layer, and the surface layer are disposed on or above the support in this order. The surface layer is a ceramic film, and the undercoat layer includes a siloxane resin.

A photoelectric conversion element includes a support, a photoelectric conversion layer, an undercoat layer, and a surface layer; where the photoelectric conversion layer, the undercoat layer, and the surface layer are disposed on or above the support in this order. The surface layer is a ceramic film, and the undercoat layer includes a siloxane resin.

A method of producing polycrystalline Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y (Y-358) whereby powders of yttrium (III) oxide, a barium (II) salt, and copper (II) oxide are pelletized, calcined at 850 to 950° C. for 8 to 16 hours, ball milled under controlled conditions, pelletized again and sintered in an oxygen atmosphere at 900 to 1000° C. for up to 72 hours. The polycrystalline Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y thus produced is in the form of elongated crystals having an average length of 2 to 10 μm and an average width of 1 to 2 μm, and embedded with spherical nanoparticles of yttrium deficient Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y having an average diameter of 5 to 20 nm. The spherical nanoparticles are present as agglomerates having flower-like morphology with an average particles size of 30 to 60 nm. The ball milled polycrystalline Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y prepared under controlled conditions shows significant enhancement of superconducting and flux pinning properties.

A method for producing a solid composition according to the present disclosure is a method for producing a solid composition that is used for forming a functional ceramic having a first crystal phase. The method for producing a solid composition includes: producing an oxide composed of a second crystal phase different from the first crystal phase; and mixing the oxide and an oxo acid compound.

Porous, binderless ceramic surface modification materials are described, and applications of use thereof. The ceramic material may include a metal oxide and/or metal hydroxide, and/or hydrates thereof, on a substrate surface.

Porous, binderless ceramic surface modification materials are described, and applications of use thereof. The ceramic material may include a metal oxide and/or metal hydroxide, and/or hydrates thereof, on a substrate surface.

A cold storage material particle of an embodiment includes at least one first element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element, silver (Ag), and copper (Cu) and a second element that is different from the first element and forms a multivalent metal ion in an aqueous solution, in which an atomic concentration of the second element is 0.001 atomic % or more and 60 atomic % or less, and a maximum value of volume specific heat at a temperature of 20K or less is 0.3 J/cm.sup.3.Math.K or more.

A cold storage material particle of an embodiment includes at least one first element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element, silver (Ag), and copper (Cu) and a second element that is different from the first element and forms a multivalent metal ion in an aqueous solution, in which an atomic concentration of the second element is 0.001 atomic % or more and 60 atomic % or less, and a maximum value of volume specific heat at a temperature of 20K or less is 0.3 J/cm.sup.3.Math.K or more.

Methods for producing oxide/metal composite components for use in high temperature systems, and components produced thereby. The methods use a fluid reactant and a porous preform that contains a solid oxide reactant. The fluid reactant contains yttrium as a displacing metal and the solid oxide reactant of the preform contains niobium oxide, of which niobium cations are displaceable species. The preform is infiltrated with the fluid reactant to react its yttrium with the niobium oxide of the solid oxide reactant and produce an yttria/niobium composite component, during which yttrium at least partially replaces the niobium cations of the solid oxide reactant to produce yttria and niobium metal, which together define a reaction product. The pore volume of the preform is at least partially filled by the reaction product, whose volume is greater than the volume lost by the solid oxide reactant as a result of reacting yttrium and niobium oxide.

A method of producing polycrystalline Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y (Y-358) whereby powders of yttrium (III) oxide, a barium (II) salt, and copper (II) oxide are pelletized, calcined at 850 to 950° C. for 8 to 16 hours, ball milled under controlled conditions, pelletized again and sintered in an oxygen atmosphere at 900 to 1000° C. for up to 72 hours. The polycrystalline Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y thus produced is in the form of elongated crystals having an average length of 2 to 10 μm and an average width of 1 to 2 μm, and embedded with spherical nanoparticles of yttrium deficient Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y having an average diameter of 5 to 20 nm. The spherical nanoparticles are present as agglomerates having flower-like morphology with an average particles size of 30 to 60 nm. The ball milled polycrystalline Y.sub.3Ba.sub.5Cu.sub.8O.sub.y prepared under controlled conditions shows significant enhancement of superconducting and flux pinning properties.