Abstract: A novel electrochemical cell including a solid electrolyte heated to an elevated temperature for operation and an integral cell electrode/heater for heating the electrolyte. Solid electrolyte embodiments are described. The integral electrode/heater is applied to a surface of the solid electrolyte and is resistively heated by an alternating electric current. A portion of the solid electrolyte may also be resistively heated. The described or comparable cells may be incorporated into an oxygen detector or similar apparatus where the apparatus is operated by alternately heating the cell and measuring the emf developed by the cell across its electrode.The invention is also, in part, a unique, solid electrolyte-integral cell electrode/heater configuration which provides a zone of uniform maximum heating at a predetermined location within the electrolyte and which, when used with a suitable resistive heating electric current, confines the current to the integral electrode/heater prolonging cell life.

Abstract: A dielectric material which meets the temperature requirements for X7R grade capacitors consists of a fired ternary niobate composition. A dielectric constant of at least 2000 and a limited change in dielectric constant with temperature is present in compositions having the approximate formula:Pb.sub.x .multidot.Ba.sub.y .multidot.Sr.sub.z (Nb.sub.2 O.sub.6)where x, y and z represent the mole fractions of each of Pb, Ba and Sr which are in the ranges of X=0.1 to 0.4, y=0.1 to 0.4, z=0.4 to 0.5, the sum of x, y and z being 1. Modifications which increase these ranges include doping the ternary niobate composition with a rare earth and substitution of Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 for Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5. During preparation, the composition is heated in a cycle which produces a mixture of phases, primarily rhombohedral and tetragonal structures similar to those of PbNb.sub.2 O.sub.6.