A dielectric composition includes main phases and Ca-RE-Si—O segregation phases. The main phases include a main component expressed by ABO.sub.3. “A” includes at least one selected from barium and calcium. “B” includes at least one selected from titanium and zirconium. “RE” represents at least one of rare earth elements. A molar ratio of (Si/Ca) is larger than one. A molar ratio of (Si/RE) is larger than one, provided that the molar ratio of (Si/RE) is a molar ratio of silicon included in the segregation phases to the rare earth elements included therein. An average length of major axes of the segregation phases is 1.30-2.80 times as large as an average particle size of the main phases. An average length of minor axes of the segregation phases is 0.21-0.48 times as large as an average particle size of the main phases.

A ceramic electronic device includes a multilayer chip in which each of a plurality of dielectric layers and each of a plurality of internal electrode layers including Ni as a main phase are alternately stacked. At least one of the plurality of dielectric layers includes a secondary phase including Si, at an interface between the at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers and one of the plurality of internal electrode layers next to the at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers. The one of the plurality of internal electrode layers includes a layer including an additive element including one or more of Au, Pt, Cu, Fe, Cr, Zn, and In, at a region contacting the secondary phase at the interface.

A ceramic electronic component includes: a body including dielectric layers and internal electrodes; and external electrodes disposed on the body and connected to the internal electrodes, wherein the dielectric layer includes a plurality of first secondary phases, the first secondary phase is a secondary phase including Ni, Mg, Al, Si, and O, and at least one of the plurality of first secondary phases has a ratio of a major axis length to a minor axis length of 4 or more.

A nanoparticle cluster reduction method yields a new composition of matter including a large percentage (e.g., 75% or higher percentage) of primary nanoparticles in the new composition of matter. The particle reduction method reduces the size of nanoparticle clusters in material of the new composition of matter, allows particle reduction of specific nanoparticle cluster sizes, and allows particle reduction to primary nanoparticles. This new composition of matter can include a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new composition of matter, according to certain examples, has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples, the new composition of matter constitutes a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle. An example method can include a controlled gas evolution reaction to reduce the size of nanoparticle clusters.

A nanoparticle cluster reduction method yields a new composition of matter including a large percentage (e.g., 75% or higher percentage) of primary nanoparticles in the new composition of matter. The particle reduction method reduces the size of nanoparticle clusters in material of the new composition of matter, allows particle reduction of specific nanoparticle cluster sizes, and allows particle reduction to primary nanoparticles. This new composition of matter can include a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new composition of matter, according to certain examples, has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples, the new composition of matter constitutes a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle. An example method can include a controlled gas evolution reaction to reduce the size of nanoparticle clusters.

An exhaust treatment apparatus for treating exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust line housing from an upstream location to a downstream location in a downstream direction, the exhaust treatment apparatus comprising a ceramic filter body having a honeycomb structure of a plurality of intersecting porous ceramic walls extending from a first end to a second end in an axial direction and defining a plurality of channels extending in the axial direction, wherein a first transverse face at the first end comprises metal oxide particles affixed to a portion of the intersecting walls. The metal oxide particles may be affixed to the upstream end, or the downstream end, or both the upstream and downstream ends. Preferably the metal oxide particles provide reinforcement to the underlying portion of the walls, and of the honeycomb structure itself.

An exhaust treatment apparatus for treating exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust line housing from an upstream location to a downstream location in a downstream direction, the exhaust treatment apparatus comprising a ceramic filter body having a honeycomb structure of a plurality of intersecting porous ceramic walls extending from a first end to a second end in an axial direction and defining a plurality of channels extending in the axial direction, wherein a first transverse face at the first end comprises metal oxide particles affixed to a portion of the intersecting walls. The metal oxide particles may be affixed to the upstream end, or the downstream end, or both the upstream and downstream ends. Preferably the metal oxide particles provide reinforcement to the underlying portion of the walls, and of the honeycomb structure itself.

The present disclosure relates to a method for the preparation of a precursor solution for a ceramic of the BZT-aBXT type wherein X is selected from Ca, Sn, Mn and Nb and a is a molar fraction selected in the range between 0.10 and 0.90 comprising the steps of: a) dissolving at least one barium precursor compound and at least one precursor compound selected from the group consisting of a calcium precursor compound, a tin precursor compound, a manganese precursor compound and a niobium precursor compound in a linear or branched anhydrous alkyl alcohol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and, after dissolution, dehydrating by stripping, to obtain a first solution; b) dissolving at least one zirconium precursor compound and at least one titanium precursor compound in a linear or branched anhydrous alkyl alcohol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the presence of an anhydrous chelating agent to obtain a second solution; c) joining said first and second solutions in an anhydrous environment and dehydrating by stripping to obtain said precursor solution. It also relates to a precursor solution, to a method for the preparation of a film of a piezoelectric material, to a piezoelectric material and to an electronic device comprising this piezoelectric material.

A nanoparticle cluster reduction method yields a new composition of matter including a large percentage (e.g., 75% or higher percentage) of primary nanoparticles in the new composition of matter. The particle reduction method reduces the size of nanoparticle clusters in material of the new composition of matter, allows particle reduction of specific nanoparticle cluster sizes, and allows particle reduction to primary nanoparticles. This new composition of matter can include a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new composition of matter, according to certain examples, has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples, the new composition of matter constitutes a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle. An example method can include a controlled gas evolution reaction to reduce the size of nanoparticle clusters.

A nanoparticle cluster reduction method yields a new composition of matter including a large percentage (e.g., 75% or higher percentage) of primary nanoparticles in the new composition of matter. The particle reduction method reduces the size of nanoparticle clusters in material of the new composition of matter, allows particle reduction of specific nanoparticle cluster sizes, and allows particle reduction to primary nanoparticles. This new composition of matter can include a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new composition of matter, according to certain examples, has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples, the new composition of matter constitutes a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle. An example method can include a controlled gas evolution reaction to reduce the size of nanoparticle clusters.