Abstract: A production method of a zinc oxide single crystal, comprising depositing a crystal of zinc oxide on a seed crystal from a mixed melt of zinc oxide and a solvent capable of melting zinc oxide and having a higher average density than zinc oxide in the melt. Preferably, a zinc oxide single crystal is continuously pulled while supplying the same amount of a zinc oxide raw material as that of the pulled zinc oxide. A single crystal excellent in the crystal quality and long in the pulling direction can be continuously produced.

Abstract: A light conversion structure ensuring good light transmission and less deterioration and capable of controlling light to a desired color tone and emitting a highly bright light, and a light-emitting device using the same. The light conversion structure is a light conversion structure including a layer formed of a ceramic composite, which absorbs a part of a first light to emit a second light and transmits a part of the first light, and a fluorescent layer for the control of color tone, which is formed on the surface of the ceramic composite and which absorbs a part of the first light or a part of the second light to emit a third light and transmits a part of the first light or a part of the second light, wherein the ceramic composite includes a solidified body where at least two or more metal oxide phases are formed continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, and at least one metal oxide phase in the solidified body includes a metal element oxide capable of emitting fluorescence.

Abstract: The light-emitting diode is a light-emitting diode including a light-converting material substrate and a semiconductor layer formed on the light-converting material substrate, wherein the light-converting material substrate includes a solidified body in which at least two or more oxide phases selected from a simple oxide and a complex oxide are formed continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, at least one oxide phase in the solidified body comprises a metal element capable of emitting fluorescence, and the semiconductor layer includes a plurality of compound semiconductor layers and has at least a light-emitting layer capable of emitting visible light.

Abstract: A production method of a zinc oxide single crystal, comprising depositing a crystal of zinc oxide on a seed crystal from a mixed melt of zinc oxide and a solvent capable of melting zinc oxide and having a higher average density than zinc oxide in the melt. Preferably, a zinc oxide single crystal is continuously pulled while supplying the same amount of a zinc oxide raw material as that of the pulled zinc oxide. A single crystal excellent in the crystal quality and long in the pulling direction can be continuously produced.

Abstract: A white-light light emitting diode device comprising a light emitting diode element capable of emitting violet light at a wavelength of 400 to 419 nm and a ceramic composite material, wherein the ceramic composite material is a solidified body in which a cerium-activated Y3Al5O12 (Y3Al5O12:Ce) crystal and an ?-type aluminum oxide (Al2O3) crystal are continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, the solidified body having not only a photoluminescent property of wavelength-converting a part of the violet light into yellow light but also a function of transmitting a part of the violet light, and the violet light transmitted through the ceramic composite material and yellow light resulting from wavelength conversion by the ceramic composite material are mixed to emit pseudo-white light.

Abstract: A p or n type thermoelectric material containing, as constituent elements, at least one of Bi and Sb and at least one of Te and Se. The n type one may further contain at least one element selected from I, Cl, Hg, Br, Ag, and Cu. The thermoelectric material has a sea-island microstructure, in which the sea phase is crystal grains having an average grain size of 5 ?m or smaller with their c-axes aligned unidirectionally, and the island phase is elongated crystal gains with an average length of 20 to 50 ?m that are randomly distributed in the sea phase. The island phase has a microstructure in which at least one of the constituent elements is segregated. A process of producing the thermoelectric material includes mixing a sinter material with a powder having a higher Te content than the sinter material and applying heat and pressure to the mixture.

Abstract: The light-emitting diode is a light-emitting diode including a light-converting material substrate and a semiconductor layer formed on the light-converting material substrate, wherein the light-converting material substrate includes a solidified body in which at least two or more oxide phases selected from a simple oxide and a complex oxide are formed continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, at least one oxide phase in the solidified body comprises a metal element capable of emitting fluorescence, and the semiconductor layer includes a plurality of compound semiconductor layers and has at least a light-emitting layer capable of emitting visible light.

Abstract: A light conversion structure ensuring good light transmission and less deterioration and capable of controlling light to a desired color tone and emitting a highly bright light, and a light-emitting device using the same. The light conversion structure is a light conversion structure including a layer formed of a ceramic composite, which absorbs a part of a first light to emit a second light and transmits a part of the first light, and a fluorescent layer for the control of color tone, which is formed on the surface of the ceramic composite and which absorbs a part of the first light or a part of the second light to emit a third light and transmits a part of the first light or a part of the second light, wherein the ceramic composite includes a solidified body where at least two or more metal oxide phases are formed continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, and at least one metal oxide phase in the solidified body includes a metal element oxide capable of emitting fluorescence.

Abstract: A white-light light emitting diode device comprising a light emitting diode element capable of emitting violet light at a wavelength of 400 to 419 nm and a ceramic composite material, wherein the ceramic composite material is a solidified body in which a cerium-activated Y3Al5O12 (Y3Al5O12:Ce) crystal and an ?-type aluminum oxide (Al2O3) crystal are continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, the solidified body having not only a photoluminescent property of wavelength-converting a part of the violet light into yellow light but also a function of transmitting a part of the violet light, and the violet light transmitted through the ceramic composite material and yellow light resulting from wavelength conversion by the ceramic composite material are mixed to emit pseudo-white light.

Abstract: Cubic conductive copper oxide ceramics which are represented by the following formula I:(M.sub.x Cu.sub.y).sub.7 O.sub.z A.sub.w Iwherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of In, Sc, Y, Tl, and Ga, A represents Cl, NO.sub.3, or Cl and NO.sub.3, x+Y is a value of 1, x/y is a number of 0 to 10, z is a number of from 6 to 8, and w is a number of from 1 to 9, and processes for producing same by mixing at least one nitrate and/or chloride of a metal selected from the group consisting of In, Sc, Y, Tl, and Ga, with copper nitrate and/or copper chloride, and firing the mixture at from 200.degree. to 600.degree. C. The copper oxide ceramics are preferably used as electrodes in various fields, heat emiters and also as a material for producing superconductors.