Abstract: A layered composite oxide is provided which is excellent in oxygen ion conductivity and, is capable of effectively decreasing a PM oxidation temperature without using a noble metal such as platinum or the like. The layered composite oxide is used in an oxidation catalyst, DPF, a ternary catalyst, and a NOx purification catalyst. The layered composite oxide has a composition represented by the following formula (1), La1.5Sr1.5Mn2-yByO7 . . . (1) (wherein B represents Cu and/or Fe, and y satisfies 0<y?0.2).

Abstract: A layered composite oxide is provided which is excellent in oxygen ion conductivity and, is capable of effectively decreasing a PM oxidation temperature without using a noble metal such as platinum or the like. The layered composite oxide is used in an oxidation catalyst, DPF, a ternary catalyst, and a NOx purification catalyst. The layered composite oxide has a composition represented by the following formula (1), La1.5Sr1.5Mn2-yByO7 . . . (1) (wherein B represents Cu and/or Fe, and y satisfies 0<y?0.2).

Abstract: Provided are a layered complex oxide that can lower PM oxidation temperature and increase oxidation rate, and a nitrogen oxides reduction catalyst, a three-way catalyst, a DPF and an oxidation catalyst, each of which includes the layered complex oxide. The layered complex oxide has a layered perovskite structure and has a composition represented by the formula: (Ln3-xAx)1-?Mn2O7-? (wherein Ln is La and/or Nd, A is Sr and/or Ca, ? is degree of A-site deficiency, ? is the oxygen deficit amount, and X, ? and ? satisfy 0<X<3, 0<?<1 and ?<1.4), which are included in the catalysts and DPF.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite oxide for a high performance solid oxide fuel cell which can be fired at a relatively low temperature, and which has little heterogeneous phases of impurities other than the desired composition. The composite oxide is the one having a perovskite type crystal structure containing rare earth elements, and having constituent elements homogeneously dispersed therein. A homogeneous composite oxide having an abundance ratio of heterogeneous phases of at most 0.3% by average area ratio, and a melting point of at least 1470° C., is obtained by using metal carbonates, oxides or hydroxides, and reacting them with citric acid in an aqueous system.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material includes a polycrystalline piezoelectric compound having a component composition defined as Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15, where x=0.05 to 0.35, and at least one rare earth oxide compound selected from the group consisting of Y2O3, La2O3, Dy2O3, Nd2O3, Yb2O3, Sm2O3, Er2O3, Gd2O3 and Pr6O11 to be added to the piezoelectric compound by 0.5 to 3.0 wt %. Moreover, a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric material includes blending ceramic materials, synthesizing, milling, pressing and sintering processes. In the synthesizing process, calcining is conducted at a temperature in a range from 1,050° C. to 1,150° C. for 2 to 12 hours in the atmosphere. And the sintering process includes first firing at temperature in a range from 1,180° C. to 1,270° C. for 4 to 8 hours in the atmosphere, and second firing at a temperature in a range from 1,370° C. to 1,400° C. for 10 to 75 hours in the atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite oxide for a high performance solid oxide fuel cell which can be fired at a relatively low temperature, and which has little heterogeneous phases of impurities other than the desired composition. The composite oxide is the one having a perovskite type crystal structure containing rare earth elements, and having constituent elements homogeneously dispersed therein. A homogeneous composite oxide having an abundance ratio of heterogeneous phases of at most 0.3% by average area ratio, and a melting point of at least 1470° C., is obtained by using metal carbonates, oxides or hydroxides, and reacting them with citric acid in an aqueous system.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) contains a first solid electrolyte layer of LaGa-based perovskite, an air electrode, a fuel electrode and a second solid electrolyte layer (having a hole transport number smaller than that of the first solid electrolyte layer), which is provided between the first solid electrolyte layer and an air electrode. Also, another SOFC contains a first solid electrolyte layer of LaGa-based perovskite, an air electrode, a fuel electrode and a third solid electrolyte layer (having electron and proton conductivity lower than that of the first solid electrolyte layer), which is provided between the first solid electrolyte layer and the fuel electrode. Still another SOFC contains the second solid electrolyte layer provided between a first solid electrolyte layer and an air electrode and the third solid electrolyte layer provided between the first solid electrolyte layer and a fuel electrode.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte material contains an A site-deficient complex oxide represented by a chemical formula A1-&agr;BO3-&dgr;, in which a B site contains at least Ga. This solid electrolyte material has stability, high oxide-ion conductivity at low temperature and high toughness. A method of manufacturing the solid electrolyte material, comprises: mixing oxide materials of respective constituent elements; baking temporarily the mixed materials at 1100 to 1200° C. for 2 to 10 hours; grinding the temporarily baked materials to powder; molding the powder; and sintering the molded powder. A solid oxide fuel cell, has: the solid electrolyte material; a cathode electrode formed on one surface of the solid electrolyte material; and an anode electrode formed on the other surface of the solid electrolyte material. The solid oxide fuel cell has a stable and long operation at low temperature.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes at least a lithium-containing manganese layered composite oxide represented by the formula Li1-xAxMnO2, or the formula Li1-xAxMn1-yMyO2. The lithium-containing manganese composite oxide includes a lithium substitute metal A, such as Na, K, Ag, substituting for part of Li. The lithium substitution quantity x may be in the range of 0.03<x≦0.2.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes at least a lithium-containing manganese layered composite oxide represented by the general formula Li1-xMn1-yMyO2-&dgr;. The lithium-containing manganese composite oxide is deficient in lithium with respect to the stoichiometric composition of a layered crystal structure represented by the general formula LiMeO2. Part of Mn is replaced by a substitute metal such as Co, Ni, Fe, Al, Ga, In, V, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr, Ce or Cr.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes at least a lithium-containing manganese layered composite oxide represented by the general formula Li1-xMO2-y-&dgr;Fy. The second metallic element or constituent M may be Mn or a combination of Mn and substitute metal such as Co, Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, Ga or In. A lithium deficiency quantity x is in the range of 0<x<1. An oxygen defect quantity &dgr; may be equal to or smaller than 0.2. A quantity y of fluorine substituting for part of oxygen is greater than zero.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes at least a lithium-deficient manganese layered composite oxide represented by the general formula Li1-xMnO2-&dgr;. A lithium deficiency quantity x is in the range of 0.03<x≦0.5. An oxygen nonstoichiometry quantity &dgr; is equal to or smaller than 0.2.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material includes a polycrystalline piezoelectric compound having a component composition defined as Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15, where x=0.05 to 0.35, and at least one rare earth oxide compound selected from the group consisting of Y2O3, La2O3, Dy2O3, Nd2O3, Yb2O3, Sm2O3, Er2O3, Gd2O3 and Pr6O11 to be added to the piezoelectric compound by 0.5 to 3.0 wt %. Moreover, a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric material includes blending ceramic materials, synthesizing, milling, pressing and sintering processes. In the synthesizing process, calcining is conducted at a temperature in a range from 1,050° C. to 1,150° C. for 2 to 12 hours in the atmosphere. And the sintering process includes first firing at temperature in a range from 1,180° C. to 1,270° C. for 4 to 8 hours in the atmosphere, and second firing at a temperature in a range from 1,370° C. to 1,400° C. for 10 to 75 hours in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte used in a cell and represented by the following formula: La(1−x−y)LnxAyGa(1−z)BzO3−0.5(x+y+z) where Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Gd, Sm and Nd; A is Ba; B is Mg; x is 0.1; y is 0.1; and z is 0.2, wherein the solid electrolyte is formed of particles whose means diameter is within a range of from 4 to 10 &mgr;m, the solid electrolyte being produced by a method comprising: (a) mixing lanthanum oxide, gallium oxide, oxide of at least one rate earth element selected from the group consisting of Gd, Sm and Nd, barium oxide and magnesium oxide to form a mixture; (b) firing the mixture in air at a temperature ranging from 1100 to 1200° C. for a time ranging from 2 to 8 hours to accomplish synthesizing a compound material; (c) pulverizing the compound material; (d) compacting the pulverized compound material; (e) adjusting mean diameter of the pulverized compound material within a range of from 0.5 to 0.

Abstract: A non-aqueous rechargeable battery for a vehicle contains a positive electrode, which has a positive electrode active material having a capacity of 120 mAh/g or larger; and a negative electrode, which has a negative electrode active material having a capacity of 280 mAh/g or larger and a reversible rate of the capacity of 80% or more, wherein a ratio of a positive electrode capacity to a negative electrode capacity is set to 0.6 to 0.9. The non-aqueous rechargeable battery has a light weight and a high energy density.

Abstract: A voltage-responsive optical sensing device such as a semiconductor device of a light emitting device and/or liquid crystal device of a sensing apparatus for sensing an excessive charge and/or excessive discharge state of a battery, such as a lithium ion secondary battery is incorporated into an inside of a cell of a cell group to form the battery. For example, with electrodes of the liquid crystal device connected in parallel to the cell and a light beam of an external light source introduced into the liquid crystal device, a photo sensor senses a change in a light-transmissive characteristic of the liquid crystal device so that the state of the cell constituting the battery can be sensed.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte material contains an A site-deficient complex oxide represented by a chemical formula A1-&agr;BO3-&dgr;, in which a B site contains at least Ga. This solid electrolyte material has stability, high oxide-ion conductivity at low temperature and high toughness. A method of manufacturing the solid electrolyte material, comprises: mixing oxide materials of respective constituent elements; baking temporarily the mixed materials at 1100 to 1200° C. for 2 to 10 hours; grinding the temporarily baked materials to powder; molding the powder; and sintering the molded powder. A solid oxide fuel cell, has: the solid electrolyte material; a cathode electrode formed on one surface of the solid electrolyte material; and an anode electrode formed on the other surface of the solid electrolyte material. The solid oxide fuel cell has a stable and long operation at low temperature.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material is a layered lithium manganese compound represented by a general formula L1−xMO2, where x is a lithium-deficient quantity and larger than 1/5, and M is manganese or metals of two or more kinds containing manganese as a main component. The metals are preferably 3d-transition metals. The positive electrode active material has a high capacity and is excellent in structure stability. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery uses a positive electrode material containing the positive electrode active material and is excellent in cyclic stability.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery includes a negative electrode material having a total irreversible capacity of 45% or less of a total capacity of a positive electrode material. By adjusting the irreversible capacity of the negative electrode material in a wide range, a crystalline structure of the positive electrode material during charge-discharge is stably maintained, and cyclic resistance of the rechargeable lithium battery is improved. Moreover, the rechargeable lithium battery having a large capacity and high cyclic resistance at high temperature can be provided by the use of Li deficient type lithium manganese oxide of a layer structure as a positive electrode material.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes at least a lithium-containing manganese layered composite oxide represented by the formula Li1−xAxMnO2, or the formula Li1−xAxMn1−yMyO2. The lithium-containing manganese composite oxide includes a lithium substitute metal A, such as Na, K, Ag, substituting for part of Li. The lithium substitution quantity x may be in the range of 0.03<x≦0.2.