Abstract: A sintered phosphor-composite having a high internal quantum efficiency and a high transmittance is provided. The object can be achieved with a sintered phosphor-composite including a nitride phosphor and a fluoride inorganic binder, wherein, in cross-sectional observation, the sintered phosphor-composite includes at least a portion in which voids of not more than 1 ?m are present in a number of not more than 700 within a cross-sectional area of 0.046 mm2, or a portion having a void area fraction of not more than 3% within a cross-sectional area of 0.046 mm2.

Abstract: Provided is a sintered phosphor-composite for an LED, having high heat resistance, high thermal conductivity, high luminance, and high conversion efficacy. In addition, there are provided: a light-emitting apparatus which uses the sintered phosphor-composite; and an illumination apparatus and a vehicular headlamp which use the light-emitting apparatus. The sintered phosphor-composite includes a nitride phosphor and a fluoride inorganic binder. The sintered phosphor-composite preferably has an internal quantum efficiency of 60% or more when excited by blue light having a wavelength of 450 nm. Further, the sintered phosphor-composite preferably has a transmittance of 20% or more at a wavelength of 700 nm.

Abstract: A sintered phosphor-composite having a high internal quantum efficiency and a high transmittance is provided. The object can be achieved with a sintered phosphor-composite including a nitride phosphor and a fluoride inorganic binder, wherein, in cross-sectional observation, the sintered phosphor-composite includes at least a portion in which voids of not more than 1 ?m are present in a number of not more than 700 within a cross-sectional area of 0.046 mm2, or a portion having a void area fraction of not more than 3% within a cross-sectional area of 0.046 mm2.

Abstract: Provided is a sintered phosphor-composite for an LED, having high heat resistance, high thermal conductivity, high luminance, and high conversion efficacy. In addition, there are provided: a light-emitting apparatus which uses the sintered phosphor-composite; and an illumination apparatus and a vehicular headlamp which use the light-emitting apparatus. The sintered phosphor-composite includes a nitride phosphor and a fluoride inorganic binder. The sintered phosphor-composite preferably has an internal quantum efficiency of 60% or more when excited by blue light having a wavelength of 450 nm. Further, the sintered phosphor-composite preferably has a transmittance of 20% or more at a wavelength of 700 nm.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery that can stably and efficiently realize a high-performance nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery in which a high discharge capacity, high charge/discharge efficiency at an initial stage and during charge/discharge cycles, and excellent charge/discharge cycle properties are provided as well as electrode expansion in volume after charge/discharge cycles is suppressed. The negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery in the form of particles having, at least on the surface thereof, a compound of the phase in which an element Z is present in Si in a non-equilibrium state.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery that can stably and efficiently realize a high-performance nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery in which a high discharge capacity, high charge/discharge efficiency at an initial stage and during charge/discharge cycles, and excellent charge/discharge cycle properties are provided as well as electrode expansion in volume after charge/discharge cycles is suppressed. The negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery in the form of particles having, at least on the surface thereof, a compound of the phase in which an element Z is present in Si in a non-equilibrium state.

Abstract: A negative electrode yields a high-performance nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which has a high discharging capacity, high charging/discharging efficiency in the initial stage and during cyclic operation, and excellent properties in cyclic operation, and the electrode of which less expands after cyclic operation. The negative electrode includes an active material thin film which mainly contains a compound represented by a general formula SiZxMy, wherein Z, M, “x” and “y” satisfy the following conditions, of a phase including an element Z lying in a nonequilibrium state in silicon. The element Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, and nitrogen. The element M is other than silicon and the element Z and is at least one element selected from the elements of Groups 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of the Periodic Table of Elements. The number “x” is such a value that a Z-concentration ratio Q(Z) falls within the range of 0.10 to 0.95.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium substrate comprising glass, wherein the substrate uniformly recess minute grooves having a length and a width in the range of from 0.001 to 1 &mgr;m on the whole surface and an area percentage of grooves having a length or a width exceeding 1 &mgr;m is at most 0.5% of the glass substrate.

Abstract: A longitudinal magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic substrate having a texture with a arithmetric average roughness Ra in a circumferential direction of at least 20 .ANG. and a magnetic alloy layer comprising cobalt and chromium as the main components, formed on the substrate, wherein the magnetic alloy layer has (i) a feature that when the orientation degree of the hcp crystal structure is represented by the diffraction ray intensity of electron diffraction by transmission electron diffractiometry, the intensity ratio of the electron diffraction ring in the Co (002) plane between the circumferential direction and the radial direction of the substrate is at least 3, and (ii) a segregation structure having low chromium concentration regions surrounded by high chromium concentration regions, the diameters of the defined low chromium concentration regions being within a range of from 80 to 500 .ANG.