The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n)m.sup.+[(MR′.sub.t).sub.sO.sub.yH.sub.qR.sub.z(X.sub.8W.sub.48+rO.sub.184+4r)].sup.m− or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal cluster units, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in conversion of organic substrate.

A deodorizing/antibacterial/antifungal agent containing two kinds of fine particles, (i) titanium oxide fine particles and (ii) alloy fine particles containing an antibacterial/antifungal metal, gives a thin film of high transparency which has deodorizing properties and also exhibits antibacterial/antifungal properties.

The present application discloses a thermoelectric material, which contains CsAg.sub.5Te.sub.3 crystal material. At 700K, the thermoelectric material has an optimum dimensionless figure-of-merit Z1 as high as 1.6 and a high stability, and the thermoelectric material can be recycled. The present application also discloses a method for preparing the CsAg.sub.5Te.sub.3 crystal material. The CsAg.sub.5Te.sub.3 crystal material is one-step synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state method, using a raw material containing Cs, Ag and Te, so that the high-purity product is obtained while the synthesis time is greatly shortened.

Oxidized metal complexes are formed using methods which adjust the pH of solutions to obtain oxidized metal complexes having particular physicochemical properties. A method for preparing an oxidized metal complex includes providing a first solution comprising a highly oxidized metal and having a pH between 0 to 7; providing a second solution comprising one or more ligands or a ligand precursor and having a pH between 7 to 13 or greater; and combining the first solution and the second solution to form a third solution comprising the first oxidized metal complex. A method for preparing an oxidized metal complex includes providing a species solution comprising a first oxidized metal complex and having a pH of at least pH 11; and adjusting the pH of the species solution to form a second oxidized metal complex. Compositions and methods for preparing and using same are provided.

A low-temperature high-performance thermoelectric material possesses a chemical formula of (Ag.sub.yCu.sub.2−y).sub.1−xTe.sub.1−zSe.sub.z, wherein −0.025≤x≤0.075, 0.6≤y≤1.4, 0<z≤0.25, diffraction peaks of a main phase of the thermoelectric material are indexed as a cubic structure at room temperature of 300 K, a highest ZT value between 300 K and 673 K is in range of 0.4 to 1.6, an average ZT value (ZT).sub.avg is in range of 0.2 to 1.4. The highest ZT value of this material at the room temperature is comparable to that of Bi.sub.2Te.sub.3, which is an excellent complement to existing low-temperature thermoelectric materials. At the same time, the present invention also indicates a new strategy to improve the low-temperature thermoelectric performance of Cu.sub.2X-based (here, X is S, Se, Te) materials, and lays a foundation for the application of Cu.sub.2X-based materials in the field of low-temperature thermoelectricity.

The present invention has an object to provide a positive electrode active material for a magnesium battery; and a magnesium battery which has a high operating voltage with respect to magnesium and can be repeatedly charged and discharged at a high capacity retention rate, using the positive electrode active material.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for a magnesium battery, containing a compound represented by the general formula (1), a positive electrode material composition for a magnesium battery, a positive electrode for a magnesium battery, and a magnesium battery:

Ag.sub.pSO.sub.4  (1) [in the formula (1), p satisfies 0<p≤2].

A chalcogen-containing compound of the following Chemical Formula 1 which exhibits excellent phase stability even at a low temperature, particularly at a temperature corresponding to an operating temperature of a thermoelectric element, and also exhibits a significantly superior power factor and thermoelectric performance index due to its excellent electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity caused by its unique crystal lattice structure, a method for preparing the same, and a thermoelectric element including the same. [Chemical Formula 1]—V.sub.1-2xSn.sub.4Bi.sub.2-xAg.sub.3xSe.sub.7, wherein V is vacancy and 0<x<0.5.

A low-temperature high-performance thermoelectric material possesses a chemical formula of (Ag.sub.yCu.sub.2y).sub.1xTe.sub.1zSe.sub.z, wherein 0.025x0.075, 0.6y1.4, 0<z0.25, diffraction peaks of a main phase of the thermoelectric material are indexed as a cubic structure at room temperature of 300 K, a highest ZT value between 300 K and 673 K is in range of 0.4 to 1.6, an average ZT value (ZT).sub.avg is in range of 0.2 to 1.4. The highest ZT value of this material at the room temperature is comparable to that of Bi.sub.2Te.sub.3, which is an excellent complement to existing low-temperature thermoelectric materials. At the same time, the present invention also indicates a new strategy to improve the low-temperature thermoelectric performance of Cu.sub.2X-based (here, X is S, Se, Te) materials, and lays a foundation for the application of Cu.sub.2X-based materials in the field of low-temperature thermoelectricity.

Solid-state electrolytes for use in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, as well as methods of synthesizing the same, methods of preparing the same into a film, and methods of using the same in a Li-ion battery, are provided. Solid-state electrolyte pellets can be prepared in a solution, and a film using the synthesized pellet can be formed and used in a Li-ion battery.

The present invention has as its problem the provision of a bulk oxide superconductor which has a high workability and high critical current density characteristic regardless of the external conditions and solves the problem by limiting the amount of addition of Ag to 5 mass % or less, using the QMG method to produce a bulk superconductor and thereby obtain a single crystal-like bulk superconductor of a structure with parts where Ag particles are present and parts where Ag particles are not present made to adjoin each other.