Abstract: A lanthanum molybdenum composite oxide is provided. The lanthanum molybdenum composite oxide has a primary crystal phase formed of La2Mo2O9. The lanthanum molybdenum composite oxide also has a secondary crystal phase formed of a lanthanum molybdenum composite oxide species other than La2Mo2O9. The secondary crystal phase may contain at least one species selected from a group consisting of La2Mo3O12, La6MoO12, La7Mo7O30, La2Mo4O15, La2MoO6, La4MoO9, and LaMo2O5.

Abstract: The iron loss of a dust core is reduced. A dust core (1) includes soft magnetic metal particles (3) having an average particle size of 5 ?m or more and 30 ?m or less, and a particle boundary phase (6). The particle boundary phase (6) includes a polycrystalline compound containing Al (aluminum). When a sectional structure of the dust core (1) is observed, an area percentage of ?-Al2O3 in the particle boundary phase (6) is 75% or less. An average thickness Ta of the particle boundary phase (6) is 10 nm or more and 300 nm or less. According to the present invention, the iron loss is reduced.

Abstract: A sintered electrically conductive oxide for an oxygen sensor electrode includes a crystal phase formed of a perovskite-type electrically conductive oxide containing at least La, Fe and Ni. The oxide has an absolute value of thermoelectromotive force at 770° C. of 21.0 ?V/K or less.

Abstract: An electrically conductive oxide sintered compact according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a crystal phase that has a perovskite oxide crystal structure represented by the composition formula: REaCobCucNidOx where RE is a rare-earth element; a+b+c+d=1; and 1.25?x?1.75, wherein the values of a, b, c and d respectively satisfy the following conditions: 0.474?a?0.512; 0.050?b?0.350; 0?c?0.250; and 0.050?d?0.350.

Abstract: A gas sensor, characterized by having an electrode formed of a conductive oxide sintered body which contains a primary phase formed of a perovskite oxide containing at least La, Fe, and Ni; and a secondary phase formed of an La4M3O10 phase or an La3M2O7 phase (M=Co, Fe, Ni), wherein the conductive oxide sintered body has a conductivity of 300 S/cm or higher at room temperature.

Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus including a gas sensor element, a heater for heating the gas sensor element, and heater energization control means for feedback controlling the supply of electric current to the heater such that the internal resistance of the gas sensor element coincides with a target resistance. The gas sensor element has a solid electrolyte member and an electrode portion including an outside electrode and an inside electrode. At least a portion of the electrode portion is formed of an electrically conductive oxide whose main component is (i) a first perovskite phase which is represented by a composition formula of LaCo1?xNixO3±d (0.300?x?0.600, 0?d?0.4) and has a perovskite-type crystal structure, or (ii) a second perovskite phase which is represented by a composition formula of LaFe1?yNiyO3±d (0.450?y?0.700, 0?d?0.4) and has a perovskite-type crystal structure.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition including an alkali niobate/tantalate perovskite oxide main phase having piezoelectric properties and a different metal oxide. The mole ratio (Na/K) between Na (sodium) and K (potassium) in the main phase is 0.40<(Na/K)<3.0. The main phase has a crystal structure in which (i) first spots corresponding to a primitive lattice period and (ii) second spots corresponding to the lattice period two times the primitive lattice period and being weaker than the first spots appear in an electron beam diffraction image entering from the <100> direction with the main phase represented as a pseudo-cubic crystal system. Also, the area ratio of a crystal phase reflecting the second spots in the main phase is 33% or less, and the maximum grain size of crystals reflecting the second spots in the main phase is 25 nm or less.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition including an alkali niobate/tantalate perovskite oxide main phase having piezoelectric properties and a different metal oxide subphase. The mole ratio (Na/K) between Na (sodium) and K (potassium) in the main phase assumes a value in a range represented by 0.40<(Na/K)<3.0. The main phase has a crystal structure in which (i) first spots corresponding to a primitive lattice period and (ii) second spots corresponding to the lattice period two times the primitive lattice period and being weaker than the first spots appear in an electron beam diffraction image entering from the <100> direction with the main phase represented as a pseudo-cubic crystal system.

Abstract: A gas sensor including a conductive oxide sintered body, the sintered body including a crystal phase having a perovskite-type oxide crystal structure represented by a compositional formula: REaCubFecNidOx wherein RE represents a rare earth element, wherein the following conditions: a+b+c+d=1 and 1.25?x?1.75 are satisfied, and wherein a, b, c, and d satisfy the following conditions: 0.375?a?0.524; 0.050<b?0.200; 0.025?c?0.250; and 0.150?d?0.350. Also disclosed is a conductive oxide sintered body, a wiring board including a conductor layer formed of the conductive oxide sintered body and a gas sensor including an electrode formed of the conductive oxide sintered body.

Abstract: An electrically conductive oxide sintered compact according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a crystal phase that has a perovskite oxide crystal structure represented by the composition formula: REaCobCucNidOx where RE is a rare-earth element; a+b+c+d=1; and 1.25?x?1.75, wherein the values of a, b, c and d respectively satisfy the following conditions: 0.474?a?0.512; 0.050?b?0.350; 0?c?0.250; and 0.050?d?0.350.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spark plug capable of suppressing high-frequency noise by improving the material of an electrical connection part between a center electrode and a metal terminal within an axial hole of an insulator. A spark plug has an electrical connection part arranged in an axial hole of an insulator to establish electrical connection between a center electrode and a metal terminal. The electrical connection part includes a conductor having a first crystal phase formed of a Fe-containing oxide and a second crystal phase formed of a conductive metal oxide of perovskite crystal structure.

Abstract: A gas sensor, characterized by having an electrode formed of a conductive oxide sintered body which contains a primary phase formed of a perovskite oxide containing at least La, Fe, and Ni; and a secondary phase formed of an La4M3O10 phase or an La3M2O7 phase (M=Co, Fe, Ni), wherein the conductive oxide sintered body has a conductivity of 300 S/cm or higher at room temperature.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a first crystal phase made of an alkali niobate/tantalate type perovskite oxide having piezoelectric properties, and a second crystal phase made of an M-Ti—O spinel compound (where the element M is a monovalent to quadrivalent element).

Abstract: A gas sensor including a conductive oxide sintered body, the sintered body including a crystal phase having a perovskite-type oxide crystal structure represented by a compositional formula: REaCubFecNidOx wherein RE represents a rare earth element, wherein the following conditions: a+b+c+d=1 and 1.25?x?1.75 are satisfied, and wherein a, b, c, and d satisfy the following conditions: 0.375?a?0.524; 0.050<b?0.200; 0.025?c?0.250; and 0.150?d?0.350. Also disclosed is a conductive oxide sintered body, a wiring board including a conductor layer formed of the conductive oxide sintered body and a gas sensor including an electrode formed of the conductive oxide sintered body.

Abstract: A lead-free piezo-electric porcelain composition which contains a main phase having voids and which is formed of a first crystal phase composed of an alkali niobate/tantalate-based perovskite oxide having piezo-electric characteristics; and a sub-phase containing a second crystal phase composed of an A2B6O13-based compound (where the element A is a monovalent element and the element B is one or more divalent to hexavalent elements). The sub-phase fills voids present in the main phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spark plug capable of suppressing high-frequency noise by improving the material of an electrical connection part between a center electrode and a metal terminal within an axial hole of an insulator. A spark plug has an electrical connection part arranged in an axial hole of an insulator to establish electrical connection between a center electrode and a metal terminal. The electrical connection part includes a conductor having a first crystal phase formed of a Fe-containing oxide and a second crystal phase formed of a conductive metal oxide of perovskite crystal structure.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition including an alkali niobate/tantalate perovskite oxide main phase having piezoelectric properties and a different metal oxide. The mole ratio (Na/K) between Na (sodium) and K (potassium) in the main phase is 0.40<(Na/K)<3.0. The main phase has a crystal structure in which (i) first spots corresponding to a primitive lattice period and (ii) second spots corresponding to the lattice period two times the primitive lattice period and being weaker than the first spots appear in an electron beam diffraction image entering from the <100> direction with the main phase represented as a pseudo-cubic crystal system. Also, the area ratio of a crystal phase reflecting the second spots in the main phase is 33% or less, and the maximum grain size of crystals reflecting the second spots in the main phase is 25 nm or less.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition including an alkali niobate/tantalate perovskite oxide main phase having piezoelectric properties and a different metal oxide subphase. The mole ratio (Na/K) between Na (sodium) and K (potassium) in the main phase assumes a value in a range represented by 0.40<(Na/K)<3.0. The main phase has a crystal structure in which (i) first spots corresponding to a primitive lattice period and (ii) second spots corresponding to the lattice period two times the primitive lattice period and being weaker than the first spots appear in an electron beam diffraction image entering from the <100> direction with the main phase represented as a pseudo-cubic crystal system.

Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus including a gas sensor element, a heater for heating the gas sensor element, and heater energization control means for feedback controlling the supply of electric current to the heater such that the internal resistance of the gas sensor element coincides with a target resistance. The gas sensor element has a solid electrolyte member and an electrode portion including an outside electrode and an inside electrode. At least a portion of the electrode portion is formed of an electrically conductive oxide whose main component is (i) a first perovskite phase which is represented by a composition formula of LaCo1-xNixO3±d (0.300?x?0.600, 0?d?0.4) and has a perovskite-type crystal structure, or (ii) a second perovskite phase which is represented by a composition formula of LaFe1-yNiyO3±d (0.450?y?0.700, 0?d?0.4) and has a perovskite-type crystal structure.

Abstract: A sintered electrically conductive oxide for an oxygen sensor electrode includes a crystal phase formed of a perovskite-type electrically conductive oxide containing at least La, Fe and Ni. The oxide has an absolute value of thermoelectromotive force at 770° C. of 21.0 ?V/K or less.