Methods for the manufacture of fine metal powders from metal carboxylate compounds such as metal oxalate compounds. The method includes decomposing particulates of the metal oxalate compound by heating to a decomposition temperature in the presence of a dilute hydrogen gas to decompose the metal oxalate compound, and forming a fine metal powder by heating to a higher refining temperature to remove contaminants from the metal powder. The method may include the conversion of a non-oxalate metal compound to a hydrated metal oxalate and the dehydration of the hydrated metal oxalate before decomposition to the metal. The method is applicable to the production of a wide variety of metals, and is particularly applicable to the production of rare earth metals of high purity and fine particle size.

Doped cerium oxide particles may comprise about 90 weight percent (wt. %) to about 99.9 wt. % cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2) and up to about 10 wt. % dopant. Exemplary doped cerium oxide particles may have a BET specific surface area of more than 150 m.sup.2/g after calcination at 500° C. for 8 hours. Exemplary doped cerium oxide particles may have an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of more than 900 μmol.Math.O.sub.2/g after calcination at 500° C. for 8 hours.

Doped cerium oxide particles may comprise about 90 weight percent (wt. %) to about 99.9 wt. % cerium oxide (CeO.sub.2) and up to about 10 wt. % dopant. Exemplary doped cerium oxide particles may have a BET specific surface area of more than 150 m.sup.2/g after calcination at 500° C. for 8 hours. Exemplary doped cerium oxide particles may have an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of more than 900 μmol.Math.O.sub.2/g after calcination at 500° C. for 8 hours.

The present invention provides carbon-based clathrate compounds, including a carbon-based clathrate compound that includes a clathrate lattice with atoms of at least one element selected from the group consisting of carbon and boron as a host cage structure; guest atoms encapsulated within the clathrate lattice; and, substitution atoms that may be substituted for at least one portion of the carbon and boron atoms that constitute the clathrate lattice. In one embodiment, the invention provides a carbon-based clathrate compound of the formula LaB.sub.3C.sub.3.

The present invention provides carbon-based clathrate compounds, including a carbon-based clathrate compound that includes a clathrate lattice with atoms of at least one element selected from the group consisting of carbon and boron as a host cage structure; guest atoms encapsulated within the clathrate lattice; and, substitution atoms that may be substituted for at least one portion of the carbon and boron atoms that constitute the clathrate lattice. In one embodiment, the invention provides a carbon-based clathrate compound of the formula LaB.sub.3C.sub.3.

Provided is an air electrode or water electrolysis anode showing a higher catalytic activity than carbon black and not having a risk of oxidative degradation, in particular, an air electrode or water electrolysis anode for a metal-air battery or a water electrolysis apparatus. The air electrode or water electrolysis anode includes an electron-conductive material represented by LaNi.sub.1−x−yCu.sub.xFe.sub.yO.sub.3−δ (where x>0, y>0, x+y<1, and 0≦δ≦0.4).

The present invention relates to systems that utilize a combination of immunoassay and magnetic immunoassay techniques to detect an analyte within an extended range of specified concentrations. In particular, a device is provided for detecting an analyte in a biological sample. The device includes a first electrochemical sensor positioned on a substrate. The first electrochemical sensor includes an immobilized layer of antibody configured to bind to the analyte. The device further includes a second electrochemical sensor positioned adjacent to the first electrochemical sensor on the substrate, and a magnetic material that generates a magnetic field aligned with respect to the second electrochemical sensor. The magnetic field captures magnetic beads that have an immobilized layer of antibody configured to bind to the analyte, and concentrates the magnetic beads on or near a surface of the second electrochemical sensor.

The invention provides, amongst others for application in a lighting unit, a phosphor selected from the class of

M.sub.2D.sub.2C.sub.2-2bB.sub.bA.sub.2N.sub.6:Ln   (I)

with M=selected from the group consisting of divalent Ca, Sr, and Ba; D=selected from the group consisting of monovalent Li, divalent Mg, Mn, Zn, Cd, and trivalent Al and Ga; C=selected from the group consisting of monovalent Li and Cu; B=selected from the group consisting of divalent Mg, Zn, Mn and Cd; A=selected from the group consisting of tetravalent Si, Ge, Ti, and Hf; Ln=selected from the group consisting of ES and RE; ES=selected from the group consisting of divalent Eu, Sm and Yb; RE=selected from the group consisting of trivalent Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm; and 0≦b≦1.

An embodiment provides a phosphor composition and a light emitting device package comprising the same, wherein the phosphor composition comprises green phosphor, amber phosphor, and red phosphor, wherein the amber phosphor is expressed as chemical formula Li.sub.m−2XSi.sub.12-m−nAl.sub.m+nO.sub.nN.sub.16-n:Eu.sup.2+, where 2≦m≦5, 2≦n≦10, 0.01≦X≦1. The light emitting element package of the embodiment can display white light having improved brightness and color rendering index.

Provided are an all solid state secondary battery having a positive electrode active material layer, an inorganic solid electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode active material layer in this order, in which at least one layer of the positive electrode active material layer, the inorganic solid electrolyte layer, or the negative electrode active material layer includes a polymer and an inorganic solid electrolyte, in which the polymer is a crosslinking polymer having both of hetero atoms and carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds not contributing to aromaticity in a main chain, and the inorganic solid electrolyte contains a metal belonging to Group I or II of the periodic table and has an ion conductivity of the metal being contained, a solid electrolyte composition being used therefor, an electrode sheet for a battery, and a method for manufacturing an electrode sheet for a battery and an all solid state secondary battery.