Abstract: A process for producing a Group 13 metal nitride crystal, comprising performing the growth of a Group 13 metal nitride crystal in a solution or melt comprising an ionic solvent having dissolved therein a composite nitride containing a metal element belonging to Group 13 of the Periodic Table and a metal element other than Group 13 of the Periodic Table. According to this production process, a good-quality Group 13 metal nitride crystal can be produced under low or atmospheric pressure by an industrially inexpensive method.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte comprises an organic solvent and a solute, and also has an electrolytic conductivity that is greater than or equal to 1 mS/cm but less than or equal to 100 mS/cm. This solute preferably includes at least one of a carboxylate and a salt of inorganic oxoacid. In addition, the non-aqueous electrolyte preferably comprises water in a proportion of 1 to 10 wt %. In an MIM nonlinear element (20), an insulated film (24) is formed by anodic oxidation using the above non-aqueous electrolyte. In addition, the insulated film comprises at least one of carbon atoms and atoms of families 3 to 7 that were originally the central atoms of the salt of inorganic oxoacid, and has a relative permittivity of 10 to 25. With this MIM nonlinear element, the capacitance is sufficiently small, the steepness of the voltage-current characteristic is sufficiently large, and also the resistance is sufficiently uniform over a wide area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a forming electrolyte for forming metal oxide coating films which comprises one or more kinds of solutes selected from the group consisting a salt of inorganic acid and salt of organic carboxylic acid dissolved in a solvent having analcoholic hydroxyl group or aprotic organic solvent, provided that, when the solvent having an alcoholic hydroxyl group is selected, the salt of organic carboxylic acid is selected from salts of aromatic carboxylic acids, salts of aliphatic polycarboxylic acid having 3-5 carbon atoms with no hydroxyl groups, salts of monohydroxy carboxylic acid having 2-5 carbon atoms, and salts of amino acid. By anodically oxidizing metal using the forming electrolyte, there can be formed an oxide coating film of high insulation property with a high throughput, in which hillocks are effectively suppressed.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte comprises an organic solvent and a solute, and also has an electrolytic conductivity that is greater than or equal to 1 mS/cm but less than or equal to 100 mS/cm. This solute preferably includes at least one of a carboxylate and a salt of inorganic oxoacid. In addition, the non-aqueous electrolyte preferably comprises water in a proportion of 1 to 10 wt %. In an MIM nonlinear element (20), an insulated film (24) is formed by anodic oxidation using the above non-aqueous electrolyte. In addition, the insulated film comprises at least one of carbon atoms and atoms of families 3 to 7 that were originally the central atoms of the salt of inorganic oxoacid, and has a relative permittivity of 10 to 25. With this MIM nonlinear element, the capacitance is sufficiently small, the steepness of the voltage-current characteristic is sufficiently large, and also the resistance is sufficiently uniform over a wide range of voltages.