Abstract: The present invention is an electrochemical cell system gas sensor that detects a subject substance to be detected using an electrochemical reaction system and comprises an ion conduction phase and at least two kinds of electrode facing each other and contacting the ion conduction phase, an electrode structure thereof comprising a chemical detection electrode layer having a selective adsorption characteristic relative to the subject substance to be detected and at least one reference electrode layer serving as a counter electrode to the chemical detection electrode layer, a manufacturing method thereof, and a method of detecting the subject substance to be detected, the present invention provides a chemical detection system having an extremely high response speed and great detection ability irrespective of high or low temperatures and even in the presence of excessive oxygen that impairs the chemical reaction of the subject substance to be detected.

Abstract: A ceramic material has piezoelectric characteristics, can be sintered at low temperature, and is suited to various piezoelectric devices. The ceramic material primarily includes Pb, Zr, and Ti and has the general formula ABOd, in which A is (Pb1?aM1a?b), where M1 is selected from the group consisting of group 3A elements, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, and Sr, and B is [(M21/3Nb2/3?c)?Zr?Ti?], where M2 is one or more elements capable of forming at least a perovskite structure in the ceramic material, or the formula PbxM31?x[(M41/3Nb2/3)e(Co1/3Nb2/3)f(Zn1/3Nb2/3)gZrhTii]O3, where M3 denotes one or more elements selected from among the group consisting of La, K, Er, and Yb and M4 denotes an element selected from among the group consisting of Ni, Mn, and Sr. The ceramic material can be prepared by sintering at a temperature of 950° C.

Abstract: In a pressure sensor A according to the presenting invention, a piezoelectric element B formed by a thin film of aluminium nitride is mounted on a base material C of an insulating material, and output electrodes D and E and output lead wires F and G which transmit a signal detected by the piezoelectric element B are mounted on the side of the base material C. The pressure sensor A is directly mounted on a cylinder head e of an internal combustion engine, or is mounted on the outer surface of a heater L which is secured at the free end of a glow plug K, whereby it is disposed to face a combustion chamber h. A combustion pressure or oscillations during the operation of the engine can be detected with a high sensitivity.

Abstract: A ceramic material having piezoelectric characteristics that can be sintered at low temperature and is suited to various piezoelectric devices. The ceramic material is denoted by the general formula ABOd comprised primarily of Pb, Zr, and Ti; in which A denotes (Pb1-aM1a-b) and B denotes [(M21/3Nb2/3-c)&agr;Zr&bgr;Ti&ggr;] or the formula PbxM31-x[(M41/3Nb2/3)e(Co1/3Nb2/3)f(Zn1/3Nb2/3)gZrhTii]O3. The ceramic material can be prepared by sintering at a temperature of 950° C. or below and has good piezoelectric characteristics, and in particular, good longitudinal elongation (d33) and a low dielectric loss factor (tan &dgr;) even at a high Curie temperature Tc; as well as the ceramic material has a good electromechanical coupling factor (Kp).