Abstract: A stacked ceramic capacitor that includes a ceramic body formed by stacking dielectric ceramic layers and internal electrodes mainly composed of Ni; and an external electrode formed on an outer surface of ceramic body. The dielectric ceramic layers are formed by using a dielectric ceramic composition that includes a main ingredient expressed by (KaNabLicM2d)(NbwTaxMgyM4z)O3, where M2 is at least one of Ca, Sr and Ba, M4 is at least one of Zr, Hf and Sn, and a, b, c, d, w, x, y, and z satisfy predetermined relationships; and includes 2 to 15 molar parts of Mn with respect to 100 molar parts of a total content of Nb, Ta, Mg, and M4.

Abstract: A stacked ceramic capacitor that includes a ceramic body formed by stacking dielectric ceramic layers and internal electrodes mainly composed of Ni; and an external electrode formed on an outer surface of ceramic body. The dielectric ceramic layers are formed by using a dielectric ceramic composition that includes a main ingredient expressed by (KaNabLicM2d)(NbwTaxMgyM4z)O3, where M2 is at least one of Ca, Sr and Ba, M4 is at least one of Zr, Hf and Sn, and a, b, c, d, w, x, y, and z satisfy predetermined relationships; and includes 2 to 15 molar parts of Mn with respect to 100 molar parts of a total content of Nb, Ta, Mg, and M4.

Abstract: Piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramics having the composition represented by the general formula: xBNT-yBKT-zBT (x+y+z=1) are provided, wherein at least one kind among A-site elements are allowed to become deficient from stoichiometry in which a point (x, y, z) representing content ratios x, y and z of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3, (Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3 and BaTiO3 is within a range including a border line of a quadrangle ABCD with a point A, a point B, a point C and a point D as vertices in a ternary phase diagram. Vacancies are formed in an A-site of a perovskite structure by allowing the A-site elements to become deficient from stoichiometry. An amount of A-site vacancies becomes at least 2 mol % to at most 6 mol %.

Abstract: A ceramic material has a perovskite structure and is represented by formula of (1?x)ABO3-xYZO3. In the formula, “x” is a real number that is greater than 0 and is less than 1 each of “A,” “B,” “Y,” and “Z” is one or more kinds selected from a plurality of metal ions M other than a Pb ion and alkali metal ions, “A” is bivalent, “B” is tetravalent, “Y” is trivalent or combination of trivalent metal ions, and “Z” is bivalent and/or trivalent metal ions, or a bivalent and/or pentavalent metal ions.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic which produces large electric-field induced strain without performing an aging treatment for a long period of time. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic sintered body in which the ratio of the number of ions at A sites to the number of ions at B sites in a perovskite structure is at least 0.94 to at most 0.99 is subjected to an oxygen heat treatment at a temperature of 600 to 1050° C. for 2 to 100 hours under an atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of 0.05 to 1.0 atm.

Abstract: A ceramic material has a perovskite structure and is represented by formula of (1?x)ABO3-xYZO3. In the formula, “x” is a real number that is greater than 0 and is less than 1 each of “A,” “B,” “Y,” and “Z” is one or more kinds selected from a plurality of metal ions M other than a Pb ion and alkali metal ions, “A” is bivalent, “B” is tetravalent, “Y” is trivalent or combination of trivalent metal ions, and “Z” is bivalent and/or trivalent metal ions, or a bivalent and/or pentavalent metal ions.

Abstract: [Object] To provide piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramics and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element with a large electric field-induced strain without performing an aging treatment. [Solving Means] Piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramics have the composition represented by the general formula: xBNT-yBKT-zBT (x+y+z=1) wherein at least one kind among A-site elements are allowed to become deficient from stoichiometry in which a point (x, y, z) representing content ratios x, y and z of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3, (Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3 and BaTiO3 is within a range (also including a border line) of a quadrangle ABCD with a point A, a point B, a point C and a point D as vertices in a ternary phase diagram. Vacancies are formed in an A-site of a perovskite structure by allowing the A-site elements to become deficient from stoichiometry. An amount of A-site vacancies becomes at least 2 mol % to at most 6 mol %.

Abstract: An electrode material for an electrochemical device comprising a composite of a particulate conductive material and a metal oxide is prepared by mixing and dispersing the particulate conductive material with a colloidal solution of an oxide of an element in a range of from Group 3 to Group 12 in the fourth, fifth and sixth periods of the Periodic Table and heating the mixture. This composite has a high capacity even at a high current density and good filling properties, and is useful as an electrode material for an electrochemical device such as a lithium secondary battery or an electrochemical capacitor. When the electrode material comprising this composite is used, an electrode can be produced without any binder, and the electrochemical device having good output characteristics can be constructed.

Abstract: An electrode material for an electrochemical device comprising a composite of a particulate conductive material and a metal oxide is prepared by mixing and dispersing the particulate conductive material with a colloidal solution of an oxide of an element in a range of from Group 3 to Group 12 in the fourth, fifth and sixth periods of the Periodic Table and heating the mixture. This composite has a high capacity even at a high current density and good filling properties, and is useful as an electrode material for an electrochemical device such as a lithium secondary battery or an electrochemical capacitor. When the electrode material comprising this composite is used, an electrode can be produced without any binder, and the electrochemical device having good output characteristics can be constructed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator subjected to bending displacement by sensing a reducing gas is composed of two regions bonded to each other, one of the regions being made of a material whose electric resistance varies by sensing a reducing gas, and the other of the regions being made of a piezoelectric material which is not sensitive to a reducing gas, an electrode being formed on an outer surface of each region to apply an electric field to the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas sensor and a gas discriminating method which are capable of distinctly discriminating two or more kinds of gases. A DC bias and AC signals which are superposed to a junction part, which is formed on a gas sensor having a p-type oxide semiconductor and an n-type oxide semiconductor by means of heterojunction of end surfaces thereof, an impedance characteristic of the junction part is measured, and CO gas and H.sub.2 gas are discriminated in accordance with a dependence on a frequency of the AC signals and on the DC bias of the impedance characteristic. CuO into which an alkali metal element is doped is used as the p-type oxide semiconductor and ZnO is used as the n-type oxide semiconductor. The alkali metal element to be used is an alkali metal element selected from the group of Li, Na and K and the doping quantity is such that 0.2 mole %.ltoreq.M.sub.2 O.ltoreq.5 mole %, where M is Li, Na or K.

Abstract: A CO gas detecting sensor for detecting the existence or absence of CO gas and a manufacturing process therefor are disclosed. The CO gas detecting sensor includes: a sintered zinc oxide body; a copper oxide coating layer formed on a side of the sintered zinc oxide body; a positive metal electrode layer (a first electrode layer) electrically connected to the copper oxide coating layer; and a negative metal electrode layer (a second electrode layer) formed on the other side of the sintered zinc oxide body. The CO gas detecting sensor according to the present invention is superior in the preference for CO gas, and has an improved measuring repeatability, as well as a superior sensitivity.

Abstract: A humidity-sensitive actuator includes a plate made of piezoelectric electrostrictive ceramic having a variable electric resistance region having a high moisture absorbing capability and defining a flat electrode attachment surface, and a high, fixed electric resistance region having a low moisture absorbing capability and defining a flat electrode attachment surface. The variable electric resistance region is joined to the high, fixed electric resistance region with electrodes on the flat electrode attachment surface on opposite sides of the plate for applying an electric voltage transversely through the plate.

Abstract: A strain or stress gauge 1A is presented for measuring the stress of a structure or a member. The gauge 1A comprises a bundle of electric conductive fibers 3, and a pair of terminals 4, for measuring an electric resistance of the bundle of electric conductive fibers provided on both ends thereof. It presents a strain or stress gauge having a simple structure, which can be produced inexpensively, and its size can be chosen freely. It is possible to know not only the state of a strain or stress but also the history of stress in a structure or a structural member which, by the characteristics of a specific curve relating the stress/strain relationship of the gauge.

Abstract: In the present invention, semiconductor fibers electrical resistance of which varies in response to temperature change are arranged unidirectionally or bidirectionally, so that a detection element which has excellent response characteristic, can detect also a position of infrared source, and is inexpensive can be obtained.