Abstract: The invention provides an electrolyte composition for solid oxide fuel cells, and a solid oxide fuel cell. The electrolyte composition has high electrical conductivity over a wide temperature range and is capable of imparting excellent output characteristics to a solid oxide fuel cell. Specifically, the invention provides a scandium oxide-stabilized zirconium oxide-based electrolyte composition used in a solid oxide fuel cell. The composition contains a compound represented by chemical formula (1): (ZrO2)1-x-a(Sc2O3)x(M2O3)a (1), wherein 0.09?x?0.11 and 0<a?0.025, and M is at least one element selected from Sm and Nd. The compound has an electrical conductivity at 600° C. of 1.4×10?2 (S/cm) or more and a power density at 600° C. of 25.0 (mW/cm2) or more. The compound is not undergoing a cubic to rhombohedral phase transition at a temperature range of 25 to 850° C.

Abstract: A method for producing an aqueous zirconium chloride solution includes: grinding zircon sand to an average particle diameter of 10 ?m or less; adding a sodium compound to the ground zircon sand to thereby obtain a mixture; firing the mixture in an iron container at 400° C. or less to thereby obtain a decomposed product; firing the decomposed product in a stainless-steel container at 400 to 1,100° C. to thereby obtain a fired product; dispersing the fired product in water to prepare a dispersion, and washing the fired product with water while adjusting the temperature of the dispersion to 70° C. or less, thereby obtaining a water-washed cake; washing the water-washed cake with hydrochloric acid with a pH of 1 to 6 to thereby obtain zirconium hydrate; and dissolving the zirconium hydrate in hydrochloric acid, and then removing insoluble components to thereby obtain a salt solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method that can produce a garnet-type compound containing zirconium and lithium, the compound being in the form of fine particles, with high productivity. The method produces a garnet-type compound containing Zr, Li, and element M1 (wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Sc, Y, and Ce) as constituent elements. The method includes a first step of (1) mixing a first raw material and a second raw material to obtain a precipitate, the first raw material being a solution containing a zirconium carbonate complex and having a pH of at least 7.0 and not more than 9.5, and the second raw material containing a compound containing the above element M1 as a constituent element; and (2) a second step of mixing the precipitate and a third raw material containing Li as a constituent element to obtain a mixture, and then firing the mixture at a temperature of less than 1,000° C. to obtain a fired product.

Abstract: Perovskite related compound of the present invention have layered structures in which perovskite units and A-rare earth structure units are alternately arranged. The reduced cell parameters ar-cr and ?r-?r and the reduced cell volume Vr are within the following ranges: ar=6.05±0.6 ?, br=8.26±0.8 ?, cr=9.10±0.9 ?, ?r=103.4±10°, ?r=90±10°, ?r=90±10°, and Vr=442.37±67 ?3. At least one of the reduced cell parameters ar-cr can be m/n times as large as the aforementioned values, where m and n are independent natural numbers, the square roots of 2 or 3 or integral multiples thereof. Values of ar, br and cr can be replaced with one another, or values of ?r, ?r and ?r can be replaced with one another.

Abstract: Provided is a cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide having an excellent OSC, high catalytic activity, and excellent heat resistance, and also provided is a method for producing the same. The cerium-zirconium-based composite oxide comprises cerium, zirconium, and a third element other than these elements. The third element is (a) a transition metal element or (b) at least one or more elements selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements and alkaline earth metal elements. After a heat treatment at 1,000° C. to 1,100° C. for 3 hours, (1) the composite oxide has a crystal structure containing a pyrochlore phase, (2) a value of {I111/(I111+I222)}×100 is 1 or more, and (3) the composite oxide has an oxygen storage capacity at 600° C. of 0.05 mmol/g or more, and an oxygen storage capacity at 750° C. of 0.3 mmol/g or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method that can produce a garnet-type compound containing zirconium and lithium, the compound being in the form of fine particles, with high productivity. The method produces a garnet-type compound containing Zr, Li, and element M1 (wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Sc, Y, and Ce) as constituent elements. The method includes a first step of (1) mixing a first raw material and a second raw material to obtain a precipitate, the first raw material being a solution containing a zirconium carbonate complex and having a pH of at least 7.0 and not more than 9.5, and the second raw material containing a compound containing the above element M1 as a constituent element; and (2) a second step of mixing the precipitate and a third raw material containing Li as a constituent element to obtain a mixture, and then firing the mixture at a temperature of less than 1,000° C. to obtain a fired product.

Abstract: A method for producing an aqueous zirconium chloride solution includes: grinding zircon sand to an average particle diameter of 10 ?m or less; adding a sodium compound to the ground zircon sand to thereby obtain a mixture; firing the mixture in an iron container at 400° C. or less to thereby obtain a decomposed product; firing the decomposed product in a stainless-steel container at 400 to 1,100° C. to thereby obtain a fired product; dispersing the fired product in water to prepare a dispersion, and washing the fired product with water while adjusting the temperature of the dispersion to 70° C. or less, thereby obtaining a water-washed cake; washing the water-washed cake with hydrochloric acid with a pH of 1 to 6 to thereby obtain zirconium hydrate; and dissolving the zirconium hydrate in hydrochloric acid, and then removing insoluble components to thereby obtain a salt solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sol comprising, as a dispersoid, amorphous Zr—O--based particles having a median particle diameter D50 of 50 to 200 nm, so as to enable control of the optimal rheology and the application characteristics of a mixture system incorporating the sol. More specifically, the present invention provides a sol comprising, as a dispersoid, amorphous compound particles containing zirconium and oxygen, the amorphous compound particles having a median diameter in a range of 50 to 200 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a zirconium oxide-titanium oxide composite sol comprising single nano-level, monodisperse, and amorphous zirconium oxide-titanium oxide composite nanoparticles. Specifically, the present invention provides a zirconium oxide-titanium oxide composite sol comprising zirconium oxide-titanium oxide composite nanoparticles dispersed in a dispersion medium; wherein the zirconium oxide-titanium oxide composite nanoparticles have a ZrO2/TiO2 composition ratio of 95/5 to 50/50, and a primary particle diameter of 10 nm or less, and the dispersion medium is a polar dispersion medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an ingot of zirconium carbide at a low cost in an efficient manner. The present invention, specifically, provides a method for producing an ingot of zirconium carbide, characterized in that the ingot produced has a size of 50 mm or more, a density of 5.7 g/cm3 or more, and a Vickers hardness of 1,500 or more, and that the method includes the steps of: (1) Step 1 of mixing zirconium oxide with carbon to obtain a mixture thereof, wherein the carbon is present in an amount of 15 to 20% by mass based on the zirconium oxide in the mixture; (2) Step 2 of forming the mixture into granules; (3) Step 3 of melting the granules using argon plasma; and (4) Step 4 of slowly cooling the melt to obtain the ingot of zirconium carbide.

Abstract: This invention provides a zirconia-based porous body having a pore diameter suitable for supporting catalytic active species, such as precious metals, small variability in pore diameter, and a sufficient specific surface area even after 12-hour heating at 1000° C. Specifically, the invention provides a zirconia-based porous body in particle form having (1) a pore diameter peak at 20 to 100 nm in the pore distribution by BJH method, a P/W ratio of 0.05 or more wherein W represents half width of the peak and P represents height of the peak in the measured pore distribution curve, and a total pore volume of 0.5 cm3/g or more; and (2) a pore diameter peak at 20 to 100 nm, the P/W ratio of 0.03 or more, a specific surface area of at least 40 m2/g, and a total pore volume of 0.3 cm3/g or more, after heat treatment at 1000° C. for 12 hours.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spinel powder obtained by mixing a magnesia raw-material with an electrically fused alumina, followed by firing of the mixture. The particles of the spinel powder are coated with granular spinel particles. Therefore, there are provided a spinel powder and a simple method for producing the same, which is superior in thermal spraying property and has a unique particle shape. In particular, there is provided a method for producing a spinel powder which contributes to a reduction in the variation of characteristics of sensors, for example, as a thermal spraying powder for forming a protective coating of a gas sensor element.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst of the present invention includes: a first metal oxide selected from the group of praseodymium oxide, terbium oxide, and a combination thereof; a second metal oxide that is neodymium oxide; a third metal oxide that is zirconia or a combination of zirconia and ceria; and a fourth metal oxide selected from the group of lanthanum oxide, yttrium oxide, barium oxide, calcium oxide, strontium oxide, silicon oxide and a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flux for brazing aluminum-based materials, the flux being capable of brazing an A5052 alloy or the like containing 1.5 wt % or more of magnesium even when an Al—Si eutectic alloy (Si content: 7 to 12 wt %; A4343 alloy, A4047 alloy; melt starting temperature: about 577 to 615° C.) is used as a brazing material. Specifically, the present invention provides a flux for brazing aluminum-based materials, the flux comprising LiF, AlF3, and CsF, and the composition ratio of the three components being adjusted to within the range enclosed by four lines: line C connecting (30, 0, 70) and (30, 70, 0), line (1) connecting (31, 33.5, 35.5) and (51.5, 22.5, 26), line (2) connecting (32.5, 28.5, 39) and (49, 21.5, 29.5), and line (3) connecting (57.5, 42.5, 0) and (57.5, 0, 42.5), excluding the points on line C, in the triangular coordinates indicating LiF mol %, AlF3 mol %, and CsF mol %.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an oxide-based phosphor comprising elements other than rare earth elements as light-emitting elements, with low material costs, while achieving high luminous efficacy. The means for achieving the object is a phosphor comprising the following (1) to (3): (1) zirconium oxide, (2) titanium, and (3) at least one element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, selenium, boron, and silicon.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrolyte composition for solid oxide fuel cells, and a solid oxide fuel cell. The electrolyte composition has high electrical conductivity over a wide temperature range and is capable of imparting excellent output characteristics to a solid oxide fuel cell. Specifically, the invention provides a scandium oxide-stabilized zirconium oxide-based electrolyte composition used in a solid oxide fuel cell. The composition contains a compound represented by chemical formula (1): (ZrO2)1-x-a(Sc2O3)x(M2O3)a (1), wherein 0.09?x?0.11 and 0<a?0.025, and M is at least one element selected from Sm and Nd. The compound has an electrical conductivity at 600° C. of 1.4×10?2 (S/cm) or more and a power density at 600° C. of 25.0 (mW/cm2) or more. The compound is not undergoing a cubic to rhombohedral phase transition at a temperature range of 25 to 850° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flux for brazing aluminum-based materials, the flux being capable of brazing an A5052 alloy or the like containing 1.5 wt % or more of magnesium even when an Al—Si eutectic alloy (Si content: 7 to 12 wt %; A4343 alloy, A4047 alloy; melt starting temperature: about 577 to 615° C.) is used as a brazing material. Specifically, the present invention provides a flux for brazing aluminum-based materials, comprising, expressed in mol %, 20 mol %?CsF?49 mol %, 1 mol %?LiF?58 mol %, 19 mol %?AlF3?41 mol %, and 0 mol %<NaF and/or KF?19 mol %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cerium oxide-zirconium oxide based composite oxide that has a large OSC at a low temperature and that has a suitable OSC, and a method for readily producing the composite oxide. Specifically, the present invention provides a cerium oxide-zirconium oxide based composite oxide comprising a mixture of (1) a cerium-zirconium composite oxide from a melting process and (2) cerium dioxide from a wet process, and a method for producing a cerium oxide-zirconium oxide based composite oxide, the method comprising dispersing a cerium-zirconium composite oxide from a melting process in a cerium-containing solution, neutralizing the resulting dispersion; and then performing a heat treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flux for brazing aluminum-based materials, the flux being capable of brazing an A5052 alloy or the like containing 1.5 wt % or more of magnesium even when an Al-Si eutectic alloy (Si content: 7 to 12 wt %; A4343 alloy, A4047 alloy; melt starting temperature: about 577 to 615° C.) is used as a brazing material. Specifically, the present invention provides a flux for brazing aluminum-based materials, the flux comprising LiF, AlF3, and CsF, and the composition ratio of the three components being adjusted to within the range enclosed by four lines: line C connecting (30, 0, 70) and (30, 70, 0), line (1) connecting (31, 33.5, 35.5) and (51.5, 22.5, 26), line (2) connecting (32.5, 28.5, 39) and (49, 21.5, 29.5), and line (3) connecting (57.5, 42.5, 0) and (57.5, 0, 42.5), excluding the points on line C, in the triangular coordinates indicating LiF mol %, AlF3 mol %, and CsF mol %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nickel oxide-stabilized zirconia composite in which nickel oxide is dispersed uniformly, a process for readily producing the composite oxide, and an anode for a solid oxide fuel cell having excellent output characteristics. More specifically, the present invention provides a nickel oxide-stabilized zirconia composite that is produced by sintering a mixture of nickel hydroxide and/or nickel carbonate and a hydroxide of stabilized zirconium.