Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric ceramics, including a perovskite compound of a non-stoichiometric composition represented by a composition formula (KxNa1-x)y(Nb1-zTaz)O3 (0<x<1?1, 0<y<1, 0?z?0.5); and a sintering aid which includes an oxide containing K, Co, and Ta.

Abstract: A PZT-type piezoelectric ceramic material having a perovskite structure of the ABO3 type. The stoichiometric ratio of AB is 1:1, with the “A” component being Pb1-zSrz and the “B” component being (Mn1/3Sb2/3)x(ZryTi1-y)1-x. Z is between 0.02 and 0.03, x is between 0.03 and 0.07, and y is between 0.40 and 0.60. The material further comprises dopants, with the dopants comprising Ce, Cu, and Nb dopants, with each of the Ce, Cu, and Nb dopants being provided in an amount of up to 2 wt. %, with the combined amount of the Ce, Cu, and Nb2 dopants being between 1 wt. % and 4 wt. %. Methods for preparing the PZT ceramic materials by combining oxides of Pb, Sr, Mn, Sb, Zr, Ti, Nb, Cu, and Ce and calcining the combined oxides so as to produce a PZT composition of the stated formula are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing crystalline particles including a mixing step of producing a mixed material containing a lead-containing material and an additional material containing lithium and boron and a first firing step of firing the mixed material at a predetermined firing temperature to form polyhedral crystalline particles. The crystalline particles are used to produce a crystallographically oriented ceramic by preparing a template layer having uniform crystal orientation in a predetermined direction by fixing the crystalline particles on a substrate, forming a shaped body including a matrix layer arranged on the template layer, the matrix layer being composed of a mixed material that contains a lead-containing material and an additional material containing lithium and boron, and firing the shaped body.

Abstract: Conventional ion rechargeable batteries having an electrode layer on an electrolyte layer suffer from an impurity layer formed at the interface, degrading performance. Conventional batteries with no such impurity layer have a problem of weak interface bonding. In the present invention, in a baking process step after an electrode layer is laminated on an electrolyte layer, materials for an electrode layer and an electrolyte layer are selected such that an intermediate layer formed of a reaction product contributing to charging and discharging reactions is formed at the interface of the electrode layer and the electrolyte layer. In addition, a paste that an active material is mixed with a conductive material at a predetermined mixing ratio is used to form a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer. Reductions in electrode resistance and interface resistance and improvement of charging and discharging cycle characteristics are made possible.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a method for producing an electrical bushing for an implantable device, an electrical bushing, and an implantable device. The method according to one embodiment includes forming a base body from a ceramic slurry and introducing a bushing conductor made of a metal or cermet material with a metal fraction into the base body. The metal fraction in the bushing conductor is provided to decrease towards the base body. It includes sintering the green blank that includes the base body and the bushing conductor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new thermoelectric conversion material represented by the chemical formula 1: Bi1-xCu1-yO1-zTe, where 0?x<1, 0?y<1, 0?z<1 and x+y+z>0. A thermoelectric conversion device using said thermoelectric conversion material has good energy conversion efficiency.

Abstract: Electronically tunable dielectric materials having favorable properties are disclosed. The electronically tunable materials include an electronically tunable dielectric phase such as barium strontium titanate in combination with at least two additional metal oxide phases. The additional metal oxide phases may include, for example, oxides of Mg, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti and Al. The electronically tunable materials may be provided in bulk, thin film and thick film forms for use in devices such as phased array antennas, tunable filters and the like. The materials are useful in many applications, including the area of radio frequency engineering and design.

Abstract: Methods and processes to fabricate thermoelectric materials and more particularly to methods and processes to fabricate doped silicon-based semiconductive materials to use as thermoelectrics in the production of electricity from recovered waste heat. Silicon metal particulates, extracting liquid, and dopant are combined into a mixture and milled. Substantially oxidant-free and doped silicon metal particulates are recovered and sintered to form a porous polycrystalline silicon-based thermoelectric material.

Abstract: A carbon brush for a fuel pump includes a brush body and a lead wire connected to the brush body, and the brush body has carbon and polyether ether ketone as main components. Abnormal wear does not occur even if a fuel pump motor is operated at a high voltage.

Abstract: One aspect relates to an electrical bushing for an implantable device including an electrically insulating base body and at least one electrically conductive bushing body that is embedded in at least one bushing opening that extends through the base body. The base body is produced from a sintered ceramic material, characterized in that the at least one bushing body is made of a sintered cermet material or a sintered metallic material. The base body and the at least one bushing body comprise a firmly bonded sintered connection.

Abstract: Provided is a dielectric ceramic that includes a main component which contains Mg2SiO4 and additives which contain a zinc oxide and a glass component, in which, in X-ray diffraction. The peak intensity ratio, IB/IA, of the X-ray diffraction peak intensity IB of zinc oxide remaining unreacted, for which 2? is between 31.0° and 32.0° and between 33.0° and 34.0°, with respect to the peak intensity IA of Mg2SiO4 as the main phase, for which 2? is between 36.0° and 37.0°, is 10% or less. The dielectric ceramic has a relative density of 96% or greater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabricating piezoelectric composite material comprising steps of mixing a piezoelectric ceramic powder, an adhesive, a cross-linking agent, a lubricant and a plasticizer to form a slurry; extruding the slurry to form a piezoelectric ceramic green fiber; sintering the piezoelectric ceramic green fiber to form the piezoelectric ceramic fiber; arranging the piezoelectric ceramic fiber in a mold according to a predetermined volumetric content; and adding a polymer into the mode to form a polymer matrix of piezoelectric composite material. A piezoelectric power generating device including a piezoelectric power generating element made of the piezoelectric composite material is also provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing silver-based electrical contact materials with directionally arranged reinforcing particles includes steps of: (1) preparing composite powders with Ag coating on the reinforcing phase by chemical plating coating; (2) granulating; (3) placing the granulated powders and the matrix silver powders into the powder mixer for mixing; (4) cold-isostatically pressing; (5) sintering; (6) hot-presssing; (7) hot-extruding, thereby obtaining the reinforcing silver-based electrical contact materials with directionally arranged particles. Regardless of the size of reinforcing particles, the present invention can obtain particle-reinforced silver-based materials with excellent electrical performance The process is simple and easy to operate, and places no special requirements on the equipment. Furthermore, the resistance to welding and arc erosion, and the conductivity of the material prepared by the present invention can be greatly improved. Moreover, the processing performance is excellent.

Abstract: Electronically tunable dielectric materials having favorable properties are disclosed. The electronically tunable materials include an electronically tunable dielectric phase such as barium strontium titanate in combination with at least two additional metal oxide phases. The additional metal oxide phases may include, for example, oxides of Mg, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti and Al. The electronically tunable materials may be provided in bulk, thin film and thick film forms for use in devices such as phased array antennas, tunable filters and the like. The materials are useful in many applications, including the area of radio frequency engineering and design.

Abstract: Provided are a barium titanate-based piezoelectric ceramics having satisfactory piezoelectric performance and a satisfactory mechanical quality factor (Qm), and a piezoelectric element using the same. Specifically provided are a piezoelectric ceramics, including: crystal particles; and a grain boundary between the crystal particles, in which the crystal particles each include barium titanate having a perovskite-type structure and manganese at 0.04% by mass or more and 0.20% by mass or less in terms of a metal with respect to the barium titanate, and the grain boundary includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Ba4Ti12O27 and Ba6Ti17O40, and a piezoelectric element using the same.

Abstract: Methods for synthesis of thermoelectric materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of fabricating a thermoelectric material includes generating a plurality of nanoparticles from a starting material comprising one or more chalcogens and one or more transition metals; and consolidating the nanoparticles under elevated pressure and temperature, wherein the nanoparticles are heated and cooled at a controlled rate.

Abstract: A new fabrication method for nanovoids-imbedded bismuth telluride (Bi—Te) material with low dimensional (quantum-dots, quantum-wires, or quantum-wells) structure was conceived during the development of advanced thermoelectric (TE) materials. Bismuth telluride is currently the best-known candidate material for solid-state TE cooling devices because it possesses the highest TE figure of merit at room temperature. The innovative process described here allows nanometer-scale voids to be incorporated in Bi—Te material. The final nanovoid structure such as void size, size distribution, void location, etc. can be also controlled under various process conditions.

Abstract: A production method capable of producing ITO particles without using a solvent with a high boiling point as a solvent used in the producing step by a simple treatment method without through a heating process in an atmosphere which disadvantageously causes sintering among the ITO particles to coarsen the ITO particles. An ITO powder suitable for a coating material for a transparent electroconductive material, being produced by a first step of dissolving salt containing indium and salt containing tin into an organic solvent, then adding to this organic solvent, an organic solvent containing a basic precipitant, to thereby manufacture a mixture of a precursor containing indium and tin, and the organic solvent; and a second step of applying heat treatment to the mixture of the precursor containing indium and tin, and the organic solvent in a pressurizing vessel at 200° C. or more and 300° C. or less, to generate ITO particles.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic that includes barium titanate and 0.04 mass % or more and 0.20 mass % or less manganese relative to barium titanate. The piezoelectric ceramic is composed of crystal grains. The crystal grains include crystal grains A having an equivalent circular diameter of 30 ?m or more and 300 ?m or less and crystal grains B having an equivalent circular diameter of 0.5 ?m or more and 3 ?m or less. The crystal grains A and the crystal grains B individually form aggregates and the aggregates of the crystal grains A and the aggregates of the crystal grains B form a sea-island structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to laminate comprising a first thermoplastic polymer layer with a first melt flow index, adjacent a thermoplastic polymer second layer with a second melt flow index, the first and second layer comprising the same thermoplastic polymer, characterized in that the first melt flow index is lower than the second melt flow index. The invention also relates to a microfluidic device comprising the laminate and a method for incorporating an ink pattern in the laminate.

Abstract: A method for producing a crystallographically oriented ceramic including a preparation step of preparing a template layer having uniform crystal orientation in a predetermined direction, a formation step of forming a shaped body including a matrix layer arranged on the template layer, the matrix layer being composed of a mixed material that contains a lead-containing material and an additional material containing lithium and boron, and a firing step of firing the shaped body formed in the formation step at a predetermined firing temperature. Furthermore, after the firing step, a post-annealing step of heating the shaped body to remove lithium and boron may be included.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making lead-free piezoelectric ceramic films. Specifically, the invention is directed to a method for fabricating lead-free piezoelectric free standing films having enhanced piezoelectric properties. The films may be used for a number of applications including incorporation in microelectronic devices such as energy harvesting devices and sensor technologies.

Abstract: A composite anode active material includes a porous secondary particle formed by assembly of primary particles that includes metal nanoparticles capable of forming alloys with lithium and lithium titanate.

Abstract: A laminate type ceramic electronic component includes a thick film resistor and an overcoat layer so as to prevent defects such as delamination from being caused and to prevent the thick film resistor from being cracked after laser trimming, even when a method is adopted in which an unfired composite laminate is subjected to firing in such a way that an unfired ceramic laminate, an unfired thick film resistor, and an unfired overcoat layer are each integrally sintered. The unfired overcoat layer includes a glass ceramic material containing a ceramic and glass having substantially the same constituents and compositional ratio as those of the glass contained in the unfired ceramic layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode material for a secondary battery wherein the inside and the surface of a lithium-titanium complex oxide is composited with a fine carbon fiber as a network.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material that comprises a binary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of metal oxide dispersed therein, and has electrical properties of ternary doped materials. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of nanoparticles.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic sensor including: a piezoelectric vibration element; and a capacitor integrally formed with the piezoelectric vibration element.

Abstract: A groove and a recess are formed on one surface of a base material, the recess being communicated with the groove and having a width and a length longer than a width of the groove. After that, liquid droplets are landed on the recess to charge a liquid into the groove communicated with the recess. Further, the liquid charged into the groove is solidified. Accordingly, the liquid can be charged into the groove having the narrow width, by merely landing the liquid droplets on the recess having a large areal size. Therefore, a fine pattern can be easily formed on the base material.

Abstract: An electrode applicable to discharge surface treatment is produced. This method is comprised of: kneading a composition including an electrically conductive mixed matter including a first powder obtained by at least any process selected from the group consisting of an atomizing method, a reduction method, and a carbonyl method and a second powder obtained by a crushing method, and a binder, the electrically conductive mixed matter including the second powder at a ratio of 10-65 weight %; injecting the kneaded composition into a mold to produce a green body; heating the green body so as to remove the binder from the green body; and sintering the green body excepting the binder.

Abstract: A high energy density multilayer ceramic capacitor, having at least two electrode layers and at least one substantially dense polycrystalline dielectric layer positioned therebetween. The at polycrystalline dielectric layer has an average grain size of less than about 300 nanometers, a particle size distribution of between about 150 nanometers and about 3 micrometers, and a maximum porosity of about 1 percent. The dielectric layer is selected from the group including TiO2, BaTiO3, Al2O3, ZrO2, lead zirconium titanate, and combinations thereof and has a breakdown strength of at least about 1100 kV per centimeter.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive wire, whereby an elongated intermediate element is formed out of an initial element in a deformation step and whereby the superconductive filaments are formed by a final reaction heat treatment, is characterized in that prior to the final reaction heat treatment the filaments in the intermediate element are densified in one or more high pressure densification steps following up the deformation step, said densification steps comprising a simultaneous action of at least four hard surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the elongated intermediate element, building up high pressure P?100 MPa on a part of the intermediate element having an axial length L. This leads to a substantial increase of the critical current density Jc, whereby the anisotropy factor ? is be almost not affected thus enabling production of almost isotropic wires or tapes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a pure aluminum nitride substrate. At first, aluminum nitride is mixed with a water-resistant material and an adhesive material. The mixture is made into grains in a granulation process. The grains are molded into a nugget in a steel mode by hydraulic pressure. The nugget is subjected to a cold isostatic pressing process. At a low temperature, the water-resistant material and the adhesive material are removed from the nugget. Then, the nugget, boron nitride and nitrogen are introduced into and sintered in an oven, thus providing a pure aluminum nitride substrate. The purity and quality of the aluminum nitride substrate are high. The aluminum nitride substrate can be used in a light-emitting diode. The method is simple, the yield is high, and the heat radiation of the aluminum nitride substrate is excellent.

Abstract: Piezoelectric ceramics that can be used in high temperature actuators. The piezoelectric ceramics have various desirable properties, for example the materials do not depole up to about 400° C. and have large piezoelectric coefficients>400 pm/V. In addition the thickness mode electromechanical coupling coefficient is large, increasing from 0.5 to 0.65 with temperature. The planar electromechanical coefficient is around 0.40 and does not show a significant dependence on temperature. These materials are highly polarizable with remnant polarization around 50 ?C/cm2 and are electrically hard with coercive field above 20 kV/cm. They exhibit single crystal like ferroelectric behavior with square hysteresis loops. Such properties make these materials a piezoelectric ceramic that can be used in stack actuators at high temperatures. Methods for preparing the piezoelectric ceramics are also disclosed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic material has the general formula: P1-c-dDcZd(PbO)w where: 0<c?0.025; 0?d?0.05; 0?w?0.05; where P stands for a compound having the formula [Pb1-vAg1v][(Zr1-yTiy)1-uCuIIu]O3, where 0.50?1-y?0.60; 0<u?0.0495; 0?v?0.02, and D stands for a component of the general formula [(M1O)1-p(M2O)p]a[Nb2O5]1-a, where M1 stands for Ba1-tSrt, where 0?t?1, M2 stands for Sr and/or Ca, and 0<p<1 and ?<a<1 and Z stands for a compound of the general formula: Pb(L1Rr)O3 where L is present in the oxidation state II or III, and R is present in the oxidation state VI or V, and: LII is selected from among Fe, Mg, Co, Ni and Cu in combination with RVI=W, where 1=½ and r=½, or LIII is selected from among Fe, Cr and Ga in combination with Rv=Nb, Ta or Sb, where 1=½ and r=½, or LIII is selected from among Fe, Cr and Ga in combination with RVI=W, where 1=? and r=?.

Abstract: Methods of forming feedthroughs for hermetically sealed housings using powder injection molding, including positioning a plurality of separate electrically conductive elements in a mold, injecting non-electrically conductive powder injection molding (PIM) feedstock into the mold to form a plurality of insulative bodies around the conductive elements, sintering the insulative bodies to form the plurality of feedthroughs physically connected to one another via the conductive elements; and severing the conductive elements between neighboring insulative bodies.

Abstract: One oxide film of the present invention is a film of an oxide (which can contain incidental impurities) containing one transition element selected from the group consisting of niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) and copper (Cu). The oxide film is an aggregate of microcrystals, an amorphous form including microcrystals or an amorphous form, which shows no clear diffraction peak in an XRD analysis and has p-type conductivity as shown in the chart of FIG. 5 showing the results of XRD (X-ray diffraction) analyses of a first oxide film and a second oxide film. According to this oxide film, p-type conductivity higher than that of a conventional oxide film is obtained. This oxide film is an aggregate of microcrystals, an amorphous form containing microcrystals or an amorphous form, is consequently easily formed on a large substrate, and is therefore suitable also for industrial production.

Abstract: A semiconductor element mounting member is arranged to infiltrate a matrix metal into a porous body that is formed by sintering diamond particles being in direct contact with each other and that has an infiltration auxiliary layer selectively formed only on the exposed surface of each diamond particle. A production method includes a step at which a mixture of diamond particles, a powder of a chemical element out of which the infiltration auxiliary layer is made, and an ammonium chloride powder is compressed and molded, is then heated to 900° C. or more, and is formed into the porous body. A semiconductor device has a semiconductor element mounted on an element mounting surface of the semiconductor element mounting member with a connecting layer therebetween.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material that comprises a ternary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of a Group 2 or Group 12 metal oxide dispersed therein. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A mounting substrate configured to mount a functional element thereon is provided. The mounting substrate includes an insulating base having a flat surface portion and a bank portion protruding from the flat surface portion and dividing the flat surface portion into a plurality of regions; and a conductor layer configured to electrically connect the functional element thereto. The conductor layer is adhered from the flat surface portion to a side surface of the bank portion on the base, and the regions divided by the bank portion are filled with the conductor layer.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material and a method of making a thermoelectric material are provided. In certain embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises at least 10 volume percent porosity. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material has a zT greater than about 1.2 at a temperature of about 375 K. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a topological thermoelectric material. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a general composition of (Bi1-xSbx)u(Te1-ySey)w, wherein 0?x?1, 0?y?1, 1.8?u?2.2, 2.8?w?3.2. In further embodiments, the thermoelectric material includes a compound having at least one group IV element and at least one group VI element. In certain embodiments, the method includes providing a powder comprising a thermoelectric composition, pressing the powder, and sintering the powder to form the thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new thermoelectric conversion material represented by the chemical formula 1: Bi1-xCu1-yO1-zTe, where 0?x<1, 0?y<1, 0?z<1 and x+y+z>0. A thermoelectric conversion device using said thermoelectric conversion material has good energy conversion efficiency.

Abstract: This invention relates to lead-free piezoelectric ceramic films and a method of making thereof. Specifically, the invention is directed to a method for fabricating lead-free piezoelectric free standing films having enhanced piezoelectric properties. The films may be used for a number of applications including incorporation in microelectronic devices such as energy harvesting devices and sensor technologies.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a method for the manufacture of an electrical bushing for use in a housing of an active implantable medical device. The electrical bushing includes an electrically insulating base body and an electrical conducting element. The conducting element is set-up to establish, through the base body, an electrically conducting connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space. The conducting element is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body. The conducting element includes at least one cermet. One aspect provides the method including forming a base body green compact having a through-opening that extends through the base body green compact from a ceramic slurry, generating at least one conducting element green compact from a cermet slurry, producing a bushing blank by combining the conducting element green compact and the base body green compact, and separating the bushing blank into two electrical bushings.

Abstract: One aspect relates to an electrical bushing for use in a housing of an implantable medical device. The electrical bushing includes at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element. The conducting element is set up to establish, through the base body, at least one electrically conductive connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space. The conducting element is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body. The at least one conducting element includes at least one cermet. The electrical bushing includes an electrical filter structure. The at least one conducting element forms at least one electrically conducting surface of the filter structure.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition comprising: a matrix material comprising at least two matrix components having a perovskite structure or consisting of said matrix components; a first matrix component being selected from (Bi0.5A0.5)EO3 and BaEO3; and a further matrix component being Bi(Me0.5E0.5)O3, wherein A is selected from an alkali metal, particularly sodium or potassium, or a mixture of alkali metals; wherein E is independently selected from titanium, zirconium and mixtures of titanium and zirconium; and wherein Me is selected from bivalent metals.

Abstract: A method for increasing the ZT of a semiconductor, involves creating a reaction cell including a semiconductor in a pressure-transmitting medium, exposing the reaction cell to elevated pressure and elevated temperature for a time sufficient to increase the ZT of the semiconductor, and recovering the semiconductor with an increased ZT.

Abstract: A method of forming a material from a source material including the following steps of grinding the source material to get powders if the source material is not already in the form of powders; sintering the powders with at least one compression step and one thermal processing step; and purifying the material with a gas flow, the gas flow passing through the porosity channels of the material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to doped pnictogen chalcogenide nanoplates, where each nanoplate comprises a rhombohedral crystal of Bi2Te3, Bi2Se3, or Sb2Te3 that is sulfur doped. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a microwave activated method of preparation of the doped pnictogen chalcogenide nanoplates. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to bulk assemblies or fused films of the doped pnictogen chalcogenide nanoplates and their preparation from the doped pnictogen chalcogenide nanoplates such that the bulk assembly or fused film can be employed in a thermoelectric device.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes a negative active material including a plate-shaped carbon powder particle agglomerated in a primary structure in which the plate-shaped particle is oriented in a plane direction and laminated. Fine carbon powder particles are then agglomerated to form a secondary structure on the surface of the primary structure such that the resulting particles include fine pores formed on the surface.

Abstract: A thermal treatment process for improving thermo-mechanical properties of ceramic matrix composite materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) matrix composites is described. The treatment process removes excess silicon and/or other process-related defects from the SiC-based matrix as well as the fiber interfacial coating. This invention can be practiced with minimal strength loss for as-fabricated composites formed from high-strength continuous-length ceramic and carbon-based fibers that are functionally stable to 1600° C. and above. The invention provides a method for significantly improving composite thermal conductivity and creep resistance, and for reducing composite porosity.