Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film composed of aluminum nitride and which contains magnesium and 31 to 120 atomic percent of niobium relative to 100 atomic percent of the magnesium, and the total content of the magnesium and the niobium relative to the total sum of contents of the magnesium, the niobium and the aluminum nitride falls within the range of 10 to 67 atomic percent.

Abstract: A germanium-containing aluminum nitride piezoelectric film and a method for manufacturing an aluminum nitride piezoelectric film in which a germanium-containing aluminum nitride piezoelectric film is grown on a substrate by sputtering.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film comprising aluminum nitride containing magnesium and hafnium, wherein a content of the hafnium based on 100 atomic % of the magnesium is 8 atomic % or more and less than 100 atomic %, and a total content of the magnesium and hafnium based on a sum of a content of the magnesium, hafnium, and aluminum is in a range of 47 atomic % or less.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film is formed through sputtering and consists essentially of scandium aluminum nitride. The carbon atomic content is 2.5 at % or less. When producing the piezoelectric thin film, scandium and aluminum are sputtered simultaneously on a substrate from a scandium aluminum alloy target material having a carbon atomic content of 5 at % or less in an atmosphere where at least nitrogen gas exists. The sputtering may be conducted also by applying an ion beam on an opposing surface of the alloy target material at an oblique angle. Moreover, aluminum and scandium may be also sputtered simultaneously on the substrate from an Sc target material and an Al target material. As a result, a piezoelectric thin film which exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties and a method for the same can be provided.

Abstract: A germanium-containing aluminum nitride piezoelectric film and a method for manufacturing an aluminum nitride piezoelectric film in which a germanium-containing aluminum nitride piezoelectric film is grown on a substrate by sputtering.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film composed of aluminum nitride and which contains magnesium and 31 to 120 atomic percent of niobium relative to 100 atomic percent of the magnesium, and the total content of the magnesium and the niobium relative to the total sum of contents of the magnesium, the niobium and the aluminum nitride falls within the range of 10 to 67 atomic percent.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbon microparticle from an organic raw material having lignin as a main constituent, wherein an aqueous solution with 5% total concentration of lignin and sodium hydroxide (the proportion in mass is 1:0.5) is spray-dried to prepare a complex microparticle. This complex microparticle is heat-processed under nitrogen atmosphere at 600° C. for one hour and cooled. Thereafter, this is washed with water and further dried to prepare a hollow carbon microparticle such as those shown in FIG. 2 (b). The prepared carbon microparticle is light-weight and has an equivalent specific surface area to commercially available activated charcoal.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film is formed through sputtering and consists essentially of scandium aluminum nitride. The carbon atomic content is 2.5 at % or less. When producing the piezoelectric thin film, scandium and aluminum are sputtered simultaneously on a substrate from a scandium aluminum alloy target material having a carbon atomic content of 5 at % or less in an atmosphere where at least nitrogen gas exists. The sputtering may be conducted also by applying an ion beam on an opposing surface of the alloy target material at an oblique angle. Moreover, aluminum and scandium may be also sputtered simultaneously on the substrate from an Sc target material and an Al target material. As a result, a piezoelectric thin film which exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties and a method for the same can be provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film comprising aluminum nitride containing magnesium and hafnium, wherein a content of the hafnium based on 100 atomic % of the magnesium is 8 atomic % or more and less than 100 atomic %, and a total content of the magnesium and hafnium based on a sum of a content of the magnesium, hafnium, and aluminum is in a range of 47 atomic % or less.

Abstract: Elastic and ultra-lightweight hollow carbon fine particles and a method for producing such hollow carbon fine particles are to be provided. In the method, fine droplets are formed from a mixed solution containing a water soluble organic substance and lithium carbonate; composite fine particles of the water soluble organic substance and the lithium carbonate are prepared by drying the fine droplets formed from the mixed solution; and the composite fine particles are decomposed at a temperature in a range of 500° C. to 900° C.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbon microparticle from an organic raw material having lignin as a main constituent, wherein an aqueous solution with 5% total concentration of lignin and sodium hydroxide (the proportion in mass is 1:0.5) is spray-dried to prepare a complex microparticle. This complex microparticle is heat-processed under nitrogen atmosphere at 600° C. for one hour and cooled. Thereafter, this is washed with water and further dried to prepare a hollow carbon microparticle such as those shown in FIG. 2(b). The prepared carbon microparticle is light-weight and has an equivalent specific surface area to commercially available activated charcoal.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a scandium aluminum nitride film includes: sputtering a scandium aluminum alloy target under atmosphere including nitrogen gas so that a thin film is deposited on a substrate. Since the scandium aluminum nitride film is manufactured with using one alloy target, a composition of the film is maintained even when the sputtering time is long. Further, the above method is capable of being performed by a mass production sputtering apparatus.

Abstract: Elastic and ultra-lightweight hollow carbon fine particles and a method for producing such hollow carbon fine particles are to be provided. In the method, fine droplets are formed from a mixed solution containing a water soluble organic substance and lithium carbonate; composite fine particles of the water soluble organic substance and the lithium carbonate are prepared by drying the fine droplets formed from the mixed solution; and the composite fine particles are decomposed at a temperature in a range of 500° C. to 900° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a carbon microparticle from an organic raw material having lignin as a main constituent, and a carbon microparticle obtained thereby. An aqueous solution with 5% total concentration of lignin and sodium hydroxide (the proportion in mass is 1:0.5) is spray-dried to prepare a complex microparticle. This is heat-processed under nitrogen atmosphere at 600° C. for one hour and let to cool. Thereafter, this is washed with water and further dried to prepare a hollow carbon microparticle such as those shown in FIG. 2 (b). The prepared carbon microparticle is light-weight and has an equivalent specific surface area to commercially available activated charcoal.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, on the surface of a material to be measured for stress analysis which has a stress-induced luminescent material layer formed thereon, a distortion energy is disclosed which is transmitted from a base material of a stress-induced luminescent material to the stress-induced luminescent material with high efficiency. The material to be measured for stress analysis has, on the surface thereof, a coating film layer, which emits light upon exposure to a change in distortion energy. The coating film layer is formed of a synthetic resin layer containing stress-induced luminescent particles, and the modulus of elasticity of a base material is not less than 1.0 GPa. The thickness of the coating film layer is preferably 1 ?m to 500 ?m.

Abstract: A method for preparing fine particles of a high brightness luminescent material improved in crystallinity; and a high brightness luminescent material prepared by the method. In an embodiment, BaMgAl10O17:Eu (BAM) as a high brightness luminescent material is prepared by a method which comprises providing an aqueous solution containing an aluminum alcoholate and water-soluble compounds of barium, magnesium and europium, adding an acid to the aqueous solution to form an acidic solution, heating the acidic solution to ca.900° C. and conducting a calcination at the temperature for a short time, and subsequently, firing the calcined product at a temperature higher than that for the calcination, for example, 1400° C. or higher. The method allows the preparation of BAM which comprises spherical fine particles having a pure phase and being improved in crystallinity, and thus is reduced in the deterioration by heat or VUV.

Abstract: A plasma display panel having its thermal degradation and VUV deterioration reduced through enhancement of the crystallinity of luminant excitable with vacuum ultraviolet radiation to thereby attain an enhancement of luminous efficiency; and a process for producing the same. The plasma display panel comprises a pair of opposite arranged substrates and, interposed therebetween, a phosphor layer that is excited with vacuum ultraviolet radiation to thereby emit light, the phosphor layer containing spherical fine particles of a luminant excitable with vacuum ultraviolet radiation. The luminant is composed only of a matrix substance and an activator and is highly pure without having any impurity phase. Accordingly, the phosphor layer can be formed while maintaining the luminance of luminant excitable with vacuum ultraviolet radiation, so that the luminescence intensity of phosphor layer can be enhanced. Thus, there can be provided a plasma display of high luminance.

Abstract: A spherical crystalline metal oxide particle is produced by introducing a metal ion-containing solution, which has been atomized, into an atmosphere that is kept at 1000° C. or more and under oxidizing condition, in order to concurrently dry and sinter the metal ion-containing solution. Moreover, As an apparatus for producing the particle, an apparatus is used, which is structured by connecting: (A) a heating apparatus for concurrently drying and sintering an atomized particulate, the heating apparatus (4) including multi channel atomizing apparatus (3) having a function of atomizing a metal ion-containing solution, and a function of sorting a size of the thus atomized particulate; and (B) an electrostatic particle collecting apparatus (5) for electrostatically collecting the particle that is thus produced by (A) and has a predetermined size.