Abstract: A method of treating a hollandite compound to improve its adsorption of nitrogen monoxide, which comprises subjecting a hollandite compound having a hollandite-type crystal structure and represented by a chemical formula AxMyN8-yO16, wherein A is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal K, Na, Rb or Ca, M is a bivalent or trivalent metal element Fe, Ga, Zn, In, Cr, Co, Mg, Al or Ni, N is a tetravalent metal element Sn or Ti, 0<x≦2 and 0<y≦2, to a heat treatment in a stream of an oxygen-nitrogen mixture having oxygen gas and nitrogen gas mixed in a volume ratio of 3:97 to 50:50, at a temperature of from 50 to 1,500° C. for from 5 minutes to 1 hour.

Abstract: An optically functional device comprising a ferroelectric single crystal substrate and polarization-inverted structures formed at portions of the substrate at a temperature of not higher than the Curie temperature by an electron beam scanning irradiation method or a voltage application method and designed to control light passed through the polarization-inverted portions, wherein a LiNbO3 crystal having a molar ratio of Li/Nb within a range of from 0.95 to 1.01, is used as the substrate, so that the propagation loss of light passed through the polarization-inverted portions immediately after formation of the polarization-inverted structures, is not more than 2%.

Abstract: A calcium phosphate porous sintered body which comprises spherical pores communicating with one another substantially throughout the body with a porosity of 55% or more and 90% or less, and has an average diameter of the inter-pore communicating parts of 50 &mgr;m or more, a pore diameter of 150 &mgr;m or more, and a three-point bending strength of 5 MPa or more, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: A method for rapidly imparting hydrophobicity to an oxide solid surface, which comprises exerting a mechanical stimulation to a desired region of a hydrophilicity-imparted oxide solid surface, to change said region to be hydrophobic.

Abstract: A method of quickly decomposing and removing an organic chlorine compound, which comprises coating a liquid containing an organic chlorine compound on the surface of a photocatalyst so that the liquid does not flow, said photocatalyst comprising a hollandite-type crystal phase represented by the formula:

Abstract: A multilayer ultrathin film which comprises layers of a polymer and layers of lamina particles alternately assembled, said lamina particles are obtained by exfoliating microcrystals of a layered titanium oxide.

Abstract: A single crystal of lithium niobate or tantalate, grown from a melt of a composition having an excessive Li over its stoichiometric composition, and having a molar fraction of Li2O/(Nb2O5+Li2O) or Li2O/ (Ta2O5+Li2O) within a range of at least 0.490 and less than 0.500, wherein at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Zn, Sc and In is contained in an amount of from 0.1 to 3.0 mol % based on the total amount of the at least one element, Nb and Li, or the total amount of the at least one element, Ta and Li.

Abstract: A porous body of polysaccharide or polysaccharide-clay composite having fine pores, consisting essentially of a freeze-dried product of (a) an aqueous solution of at least one polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of starch, sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose, or its derivative, or (b) a composite sol comprising such an aqueous solution and a clay sol.

Abstract: A rare earth hexaboride electron-emitting material of the formula ReB.sub.6+x, wherein Re is La, Ce or (La+Ce), and 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.20.

Abstract: A synthesis of phosphorus-doped diamond by a microwave plasma method using a volatile hydrocarbon and hydrogen mixed therewith, as a reaction gas, wherein phosphorus is used as a dopant, and hydrogen bonded to the phosphorus is dissociated so that the phosphorus is introduced into diamond as an impurity without being bonded to hydrogen.

Abstract: An iron-doped lithium niobate single crystal having a molar fraction of Li.sub.2 O/(Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 +Li.sub.2 O) of from 0.495 to 0.50 which is closer to the stoichiometrical composition than a usual congruent composition, and a high diffraction efficiency by a two light wave mixture.

Abstract: Titanium oxide, comprising lamina shaped titanium oxide particles having a thickness of 10-30 nm and a width of 0.5 to 1 .mu.m, may be prepared by exfoliating a layered titanic acid powder having a formula H.sub.x Ti.sub.2-x/4 O.sub.4.nH.sub.2 O, where x=0.60-0.75, to form a titania sol; followed by drying and heating, to obtain a titanium oxide. The layered titanic acid powder may be prepared by contacting cesium titanate having an orthorhombic layered structure with an aqueous acid solution.

Abstract: A method for preparing an ultrafine powder, which comprises forming a precipitate by reacting a hydroxide type precipitate-forming agent to an aqueous solution containing at least one type of metal ions capable of forming a hydroxide type precipitate which forms a stable floc in the presence of sulfate ions, adding sulfate ions before or after forming the precipitate, to let the formed precipitate form a stable floc, and then dispersing the precipitate in an organic solvent without drying it, followed by drying to obtain independently separated amorphous or crystalline primary particles having an average particle size of at most 0.2 .mu.m.

Abstract: A rare earth hexaboride electron-emitting material of the formula ReB.sub.6+x, wherein Re is La, Ce or (La+Ce) and 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.20.

Abstract: A bismuth lead compound of the formula BiPbO.sub.2 (NO.sub.3).

Abstract: A method of automatically growing a single crystal by using a floating-zone method in which radio-frequency induction heating is utilized, wherein the shape of molten zone of a sintered rod material is judged by comparing an anode voltage in a radio-frequency oscillation tube with a radio-frequency current, or a change in the shape of molten zone is judged depending of a change in a radio-frequency current during the growth of the sintered rod material, and power for heating is controlled on the basis of the judgement.

Abstract: A superplastic silicon nitride sintered body which is a sintered body of silicon nitride and which has superplasticity such that when a compression or tensile stress of from 30 to 2000 kg/cm.sup.2 is applied thereto at a temperature within a range of from 1350.degree. to 1650.degree. C., it deforms at a deformation rate of from 10.sup.-4 /sec to 10.sup.-1 /sec.

Abstract: A method for preparing a boron nitride composite, which comprises heating a molten mixture of urea, boric acid and a metal element compound to obtain boron nitride having the metal element or the metal element compound dispersed and supported therein.

Abstract: A superplastic silicon carbide sintered body which comprises at least 85 wt % and at most 98 wt % of silicon carbide grains and more than 2 wt % and less than 15 wt % of a grain boundary phase and which has a relative density of at least 95%, wherein the silicon carbide grains have an average grain size of at most 0.3 .mu.m, the amount of grains having grain sizes exceeding 0.5 .mu.m is at most 3 wt %, and the deformation rate of the sintered body is at least 10.sup.-4 /sec under a compression or tensile stress of from 50 to 2,000 kg/cm.sup.2 within a temperature range of from 1,600.degree. to 1,800.degree. C.

Abstract: An apatite-organic material complex comprising an apatite powder having a crystal particle size of at most 0.5 .mu.m, an organic material and from 5 to 40 wt. % of water.