Abstract: A piezoelectric material that does not use lead and potassium and has a high piezoelectric constant and good insulating properties and a piezoelectric element that uses the piezoelectric material are provided. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3 (1) (where 0.80?x?0.95 and 0.85?y?0.95), and an auxiliary component containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Si and B. A content of the auxiliary component on a metal basis is 0.001 parts by weight or more and 4.000 parts by weight or less relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric material that does not undergo depolarization in a wide operating temperature range and has a good piezoelectric constant is provided. A piezoelectric material include a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00?a?1.01, 0.125?x?0.175, and 0.055?y?0.090) as a main component, and manganese incorporated in the perovskite-type metal oxide. The manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.10 parts by weight or less on a metal basis.

Abstract: Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric ceramics having enhanced mechanical quality factor (Qm) and mechanical strength. The piezoelectric ceramics, includes at least a first crystal grain and a second crystal grain. The first crystal grain has an average equivalent circle diameter of 2 ?m or more and 30 ?m or less. The first crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1) as a main component, and the second crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (2) as a main component: (1) xBaTiO3-yCaTiO3-zCaZrO3; and (2) x?BaTiO3-y?CaTiO3-z?CaZrO3, provided that x, y, z, x?, y?, and z? satisfy x+y+z=1, x?+y?+z?=1, 0?x??0.15, 0.85?y??1, 0?z?0.05, x>x?, 0<y<y?, and z>0.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material that does not use lead and potassium and has a high piezoelectric constant and good insulating properties and a piezoelectric element that uses the piezoelectric material are provided. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3 (1) (where 0.80?x?0.95 and 0.85?y?0.95), and an auxiliary component containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Si and B. A content of the auxiliary component on a metal basis is 0.001 parts by weight or more and 4.000 parts by weight or less relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide.

Abstract: Provided are a barium titanate-based piezoelectric ceramics having satisfactory piezoelectric performance and a satisfactory mechanical quality factor (Qm), and a piezoelectric element using the same. Specifically provided are a piezoelectric ceramics, including: crystal particles; and a grain boundary between the crystal particles, in which the crystal particles each include barium titanate having a perovskite-type structure and manganese at 0.04% by mass or more and 0.20% by mass or less in terms of a metal with respect to the barium titanate, and the grain boundary includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Ba4Ti12O27 and Ba6Ti17O40, and a piezoelectric element using the same.

Abstract: Provided is a dust removing device that can be designed and controlled appropriately and has high dust removal performance even at low temperature, and an imaging device using the dust removing device. In a dust removing device to be set on a base, including a piezoelectric element formed of a piezoelectric material and a pair of opposing electrodes, a vibration member, and a fixation member containing at least a high molecular compound component, a phase transition temperature T from a first ferroelectric crystal phase to a second ferroelectric crystal phase of the piezoelectric material is set to ?60° C.?T??5° C., and whereby, the dust removing device can be designed and controlled appropriately and high dust removal performance can be obtained even at low temperature.

Abstract: Provided are a barium titanate-based piezoelectric ceramics having satisfactory piezoelectric performance and a satisfactory mechanical quality factor (Qm), and a piezoelectric element using the same. Specifically provided are a piezoelectric ceramics, including: crystal particles; and a grain boundary between the crystal particles, in which the crystal particles each include barium titanate having a perovskite-type structure and manganese at 0.04% by mass or more and 0.20% by mass or less in terms of a metal with respect to the barium titanate, and the grain boundary includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Ba4Ti12O27 and Ba6Ti17O40, and a piezoelectric element using the same.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material that does not use lead and potassium and has a high piezoelectric constant and good insulating properties and a piezoelectric element that uses the piezoelectric material are provided. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3 (1) (where 0.80?x?0.95 and 0.85?y?0.95), and an auxiliary component containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Si and B. A content of the auxiliary component on a metal basis is 0.001 parts by weight or more and 4.000 parts by weight or less relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide.

Abstract: A method for transforming a stramenopile includes transferring a foreign gene into the stramenopile which is a microorganism belonging to the class Labyrinthula, more specifically, to a genus Labyrinthula, Altornia, Aplanochytrium, Schizochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Thraustochytrium, Ulkenia, etc. The foreign gene, which is a gene relating to tolerance against an antibiotic, a colorimetric protein and/or a fatty acid desaturase (?5 desaturase gene, ?12 desaturase gene and/or ?3 desaturase gene), is transferred by using the electroporation or gene-gun technique.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material that does not contain lead and has excellent piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a device driving temperature range (?30° C. to 50° C.) is provided. A piezoelectric material includes a main component containing a perovskite metal oxide represented by following general formula (1), and a first auxiliary component containing Mn, wherein an amount of the contained Mn is 0.002 moles or more and 0.015 moles or less relative to 1 mole of the metal oxide. (Ba1-yBy)a(Ti1-x-zZrxFez)O3??(1) (where 0.010?x?0.060, 0.001?y?0.015, 0.001?z?0.015, 0.950?y/z?1.050, and 0.986?a?1.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high piezoelectric constant in the room temperature range. The present invention for this purpose is a piezoelectric material including a main component containing a perovskite metal oxide represented by following general formula (1), Baa(Ti1-xZrx)O3??(1) where 0.02?x?0.13 and 0.986?a?1.02, a first auxiliary component containing Mn, and a second auxiliary component containing trivalent Bi, wherein an amount of the contained Mn is 0.0020 moles or more and 0.0150 moles or less relative to 1 mole of the metal oxide, and an amount of the contained Bi is 0.00042 moles or more and 0.00850 moles or less relative to 1 mole of the metal oxide.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material that does not contain lead and has excellent and stable piezoelectric properties in a device operating temperature range is provided. The present invention for this purpose is a piezoelectric material including a main component containing a perovskite metal oxide represented by following general formula (1), a first auxiliary component containing Mn, and a second auxiliary component containing Bi charge-disproportionated into trivalent and pentavalent, wherein an amount of the contained Mn is 0.0020 moles or more and 0.0150 moles or less relative to 1 mole of the metal oxide, and an amount of the contained Bi is 0.0004 moles or more and 0.0085 moles or less relative to 1 mole of the metal oxide. Baa(Ti1-xZrx)O3??(1) (where 0.020?x?0.130 and 0.996?a?1.030).

Abstract: To provide a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high and stable piezoelectric constant in a wide operating temperature range. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite type metal oxide having the general formula (1), Mn, Mg, (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (wherein x is in the range of 0.050?x?0.200, y is in the range of 0.010?y?0.040, and z is in the range of 0?z?0.040, provided that x?0.375(y+z)+0.050, and a is in the range of 0.9925+b?a?1.0025+b) wherein the amount b (mol) of Mn on a metal basis per mole of the metal oxide is in the range of 0.0048?b?0.0400, and the Mg content on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.100 parts by weight or less.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material contains a main component containing a perovskite-type metal oxide having the formula (1); a first auxiliary component composed of Mn; and a second auxiliary component composed of Bi or Bi and Li, wherein the Mn content is 0.04 parts by weight or more and 0.400 parts by weight or less on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, the Bi content is 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, and the Li content is 0.028 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide. (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (wherein 0?x?0.080, 0.013?y?0.060, 0?z?0.040, and 0.986?a?1.020.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transformation method whereby an ability to produce a useful substance of a stramenopile can be improved. The method for transforming a stramenopile comprises transferring a foreign gene into the stramenopile which is a microorganism belonging to the class Labyrinthula, more specifically, to a genus Labyrinthula, Altornia, Aplanochytrium, Schizochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Thraustochytrium, Ulkenia, etc. Said foreign gene, which is a gene relating to tolerance against an antibiotic, a colorimetric protein and/or a fatty acid desaturase (?5 desaturase gene, ?12 desaturase gene and/or ?3 desaturase gene), is transferred by using the electroporation or gene-gun technique.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material contains a main component containing a perovskite-type metal oxide having the formula (1); a first auxiliary component composed of Mn; and a second auxiliary component composed of Bi or Bi and Li, wherein the Mn content is 0.04 parts by weight or more and 0.400 parts by weight or less on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, the Bi content is 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, and the Li content is 0.028 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide. (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (wherein 0?x?0.080, 0.013?y?0.060, 0?z?0.040, and 0.986?a?1.020.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material including a barium bismuth niobate-based tungsten bronze structure metal oxide having a high degree of orientation is provided. A piezoelectric element, a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust cleaning device including the piezoelectric material are also provided. A piezoelectric material includes a tungsten bronze structure metal oxide that includes metal elements which are barium, bismuth, and niobium, and tungsten. The metal elements satisfy following conditions on a molar basis: when Ba/Nb=a, 0.30?a?0.40, and when Bi/Nb=b, 0.012?b?0.084. The tungsten content on a metal basis is 0.40 to 3.00 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the tungsten bronze structure metal oxide. The tungsten bronze structure metal oxide has a c-axis orientation.

Abstract: To provide a transformation method for producing a stramenopile organism having an improved unsaturated fatty acid production capability by disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner. [Solution] A method for transforming a stramenopile organism, which comprises disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner, and which is characterized in that the stramenopile organism is selected from Thraustochytrium aureum, Parietichytrium sarkarianum, Thraustochytrium roseum and Parietichytrium sp. and the gene to be disrupted or of which the expression is to be inhibited is a gene associated with the biosynthesis of a fatty acid.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material contains a main component containing a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1), a first sub-component containing Mn, and a second sub-component containing Bi or Bi and Li. A Mn content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.500 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) in terms of metal, a Bi content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less in terms of metal, and a Li content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.028 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) in terms of metal: (Ba1-x-yCaxSny)?(Ti1-zZrz)O3 (where 0.020?x?0.200, 0.020?y?0.200, 0?z?0.085, 0.986???1.100).

Abstract: A piezoelectric material including a strontium calcium sodium niobate-based tungsten bronze structure metal oxide having a high degree of orientation is provided. A piezoelectric element, a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust cleaning device including the piezoelectric material are also provided. A piezoelectric material includes a tungsten bronze structure metal oxide that includes metal elements which are strontium, calcium, sodium, and niobium, and tungsten. The metal elements satisfy following conditions on a molar basis: when Sr/Nb=a, 0.320?a?0.430, when Ca/Nb=b, 0.008?b?0.086, and when Na/Nb=c, 0.180?c?0.200. The tungsten content on a metal basis is 0.40 to 3.20 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the tungsten bronze structure metal oxide. The tungsten bronze structure metal oxide has a c-axis orientation.