Abstract: A carbon-dioxide-gas absorber includes a main component of composite oxide, the composite oxide including Ti and X that is at least one of Sr and Ba, and the composite oxide having a molar ratio (X/Ti) of about 1.8 to about 2.2. A substance having a perovskite structure and an (X/Ti) of about 0.9 to about 1.1 or at least one selected from green sheets, green sheet wastes, green-sheet-laminate wastes, and precursors of green sheets including the substance is fired with at least one of strontium carbonate and barium carbonate. An apparatus includes a carbon-dioxide-gas-absorbing mechanical unit that allows a carbon-dioxide-gas absorber to absorb a carbon dioxide gas at about 1.0×104 to about 1.0×106 Pa and at about 500° C. to about 900° C.; and a carbon-dioxide-gas-evolving mechanical unit that evolves the absorbed carbon dioxide gas at about 1000 Pa or less and at at least about 750° C.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide absorbent that can absorb carbon dioxide at a temperature lower than that of a conventional Ba2TiO4 absorbent, as well as at a high temperature of at least 700° C., and desorb carbon dioxide at a temperature lower than that of the conventional absorbent is provided. The carbon dioxide absorbent does not expand significantly upon absorption of carbon dioxide, and exhibits high durability. The carbon dioxide absorbent is mainly composed of an oxide that contains Ba, Ca, and Ti, in which the molar ratio of Ca:(Ba+Ca) is 0.25:1 to 0.65:1, and the molar ratio of (Ba+Ca):Ti is 2.2:1 to 4.0:1. It preferably uses a green sheet, waste green sheet, waste green sheet laminate, or green sheet precursor used in a process of manufacturing electronic components can be as at least part of raw materials for making the carbon dioxide absorbent. A carbon dioxide absorption method using the carbon dioxide absorbent is also provided.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide absorbent that can absorb carbon dioxide at a temperature lower than that of a conventional Ba2TiO4 absorbent, as well as at a high temperature of at least 700° C., and desorb carbon dioxide at a temperature lower than that of the conventional absorbent is provided. The carbon dioxide absorbent does not expand significantly upon absorption of carbon dioxide, and exhibits high durability. The carbon dioxide absorbent is mainly composed of an oxide that contains Ba, Ca, and Ti, in which the molar ratio of Ca:(Ba+Ca) is 0.25:1 to 0.65:1, and the molar ratio of (Ba+Ca):Ti is 2.2:1 to 4.0:1. It preferably uses a green sheet, waste green sheet, waste green sheet laminate, or green sheet precursor used in a process of manufacturing electronic components can be as at least part of raw materials for making the carbon dioxide absorbent. A carbon dioxide absorption method using the carbon dioxide absorbent is also provided.

Abstract: A reforming apparatus for fuel cells capable of effectively removing carbon dioxide at a high temperature from a reformed gas which is produced by a steam reforming method, and of producing high-purity hydrogen gas with a high hydrogen conversion rate. A reforming apparatus for fuel cells includes a reformer for steam-reforming a raw material to produce hydrogen, and carbon dioxide removing apparatus for removing carbon dioxide gas by absorbing carbon dioxide from a reformed gas, which is produced by steam reforming in the reformer, using a material containing Ba2TiO4 as a main component as a carbon dioxide absorbent. The reforming apparatus for fuel cells may further include a second reformer for steam-reforming again the reformed gas from which carbon dioxide gas has been removed by the carbon dioxide gas removing means.

Abstract: A carbon-dioxide-gas absorber includes a composite oxide as a main component, the composite oxide including Ti and a constituent X that is at least one of Sr and Ba, and the composite oxide having an (X/Ti) of about 1.8 to about 2.2 on a molar basis. A substance having a perovskite structure and having an (X/Ti) of about 0.9 to about 1.1 or at least one selected from green sheets, green sheet wastes, green-sheet-laminate wastes, and precursors of green sheets including the substance is fired in the presence of at least one of strontium carbonate and barium carbonate. An apparatus includes a carbon-dioxide-gas-absorbing mechanical unit A that allows a carbon-dioxide-gas absorber to absorb a carbon dioxide gas at about 1.0×104 to about 1.0×106 Pa and at about 500° C. to about 900° C.; and a carbon-dioxide-gas-evolving mechanical unit B that evolves the absorbed carbon dioxide gas at about 1000 Pa or less and at at least about 750° C.

Abstract: A work piece is mixed with Ni pieces having an average diameter of 1 mm and exhibiting catalytic activity to oxidation reaction of sodium phosphinate (NaH2PO2) added as a reducing agent in a plating bath containing the reducing agent and a Ni salt to form a Ni—P film on an electrode made of Cu, Ag or Ag—Pd by auto-catalytic electroless plating. Then, the work piece is dipped in a plating bath containing an Au salt to form an Au film on the surface of the Ni—P film by substitutional electroless plating. This method is capable of forming a desired plating film only on a desired portion at a low cost.

Abstract: A work piece is mixed with Ni pieces having an average diameter of 1 mm and exhibiting catalytic activity to oxidation reaction of sodium phosphinate (NaH2PO2) added as a reducing agent in a plating bath containing the reducing agent and a Ni salt to form a Ni—P film on an electrode made of Cu, Ag or Ag—Pd by auto-catalytic electroless plating. Then, the work piece is dipped in a plating bath containing an Au salt to form an Au film on the surface of the Ni—P film by substitutional electroless plating. This method is capable of forming a desired plating film only on a desired portion at a low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a desired plating film on a desired place at a reasonable cost. When workpieces are mixed in a plating solution containing Ni ions with a great number of Zn particles having an average diameter of 1 mm and having an electrochemically base immersion potential with respect to the precipitation potential of Ni, the Zn particles are dissolved and generates electrons, the potential of Cu electrodes in contact with the Zn particles is shifted to an electrochemically base potential side, and hence the Ni ions are precipitated on the electrodes, thereby forming Ni plating films on the surfaces of the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides barium titanate semiconductive ceramic having low specific resistance at room temperature and high withstand voltage, which fully satisfies the demand for enhancing withstand voltage. The average ceramic grain size of the barium titanate semiconductive ceramic is controlled to about 0.9 &mgr;m or less. By this control, the ceramic possesses low specific resistance at room temperature and high withstand voltage fully satisfying a recent demand for enhancing withstand voltage and may suitably used for applications such as controlling temperature and limiting current, or in exothermic devices for constant temperature. Accordingly, the barium titanate semiconductive ceramic enables an apparatus using the same to have enhanced performance and reduced size.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition is provided that does not contain Pb, and yet has a large electromechanical coupling coefficient in comparison with a bismuth layered compound, as well as a piezoelectric ceramic element using the composition. This piezoelectric ceramic composition includes at least the elements Ag, Li, Nb, and O, and has an electromechanical coupling coefficient k33 of not less than about 20%.

Abstract: The present invention provides barium titanate semiconductive ceramic having low specific resistance at room temperature and high withstand voltage, which fully satisfies the demand for enhancing withstand voltage. The average ceramic grain size of the barium titanate semiconductive ceramic is controlled to about 0.9 &mgr;m or less. By this control, the ceramic possesses low specific resistance at room temperature and high withstand voltage fully satisfying a recent demand for enhancing withstand voltage and may suitably used for applications such as controlling temperature and limiting current, or in exothermic devices for constant temperature. Accordingly, the barium titanate semiconductive ceramic enables an apparatus using the same to have enhanced performance and reduced size.

Abstract: A thin film multilayer capacitor and a method for mounting it are provide wherein the capacitor is small and thin, can furnish a large capacitance, and is hard to be damaged at the time of mounting on a wiring substrate. The thin film multilayer capacitor 10 comprises a substrate 12 and a laminated body 14 formed thereon. The laminated body 14 is formed by laminating electrode layers 16 and dielectric layers 18. The electrode layers 16 are divided into a first group of electrode layers 16a and a second group of electrode layers 16b by the dielectric layers 18. The electrode layers 16a of the first group and the electrode layers 16b of the second group are laminated in an alternate manner with the dielectric layers 18 intervening therebetween, the plurality of electrode layers 16a of the first group are connected with each other, and the plurality of electrode layers 16b of the second group are also connected with each other.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition is provided that does not contain Pb, and yet has a large electromechanical coupling coefficient in comparison with a bismuth layered compound, as well as a piezoelectric ceramic element using the composition. This piezoelectric ceramic composition includes at least the elements Ag, Li, Nb, and O, and has an electromechanical coupling coefficient k33 of not less than about 20%.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic substrate three-dimensionally including functional elements is provided. The functional elements, for example, a capacitor element, an inductor element or a resistor element, are prepared using plate-like sintered plates produced by firing ceramic functional material beforehand. These functional elements are included in an unsintered composite laminate. The unsintered composite laminate is provided with green layers for the substrate, restriction layers including sintering-resistant materials, and wiring conductors, and when it is fired, the green layers for substrate are prevented from shrinking in the direction of primary faces due to the function of the restriction layers. Therefore, the unsintered composite laminate can be fired without problems while the functional elements are included, and mutual diffusion does not occur between the functional elements and the green layers for substrate, so that the characteristics of the functional elements can be maintained even after firing.

Abstract: A thin film multilayer capacitor and a method for mounting it are provide wherein the capacitor is small and thin, can furnish a large capacitance, and is hard to be damaged at the time of mounting on a wiring substrate. The thin film multilayer capacitor 10 comprises a substrate 12 and a laminated body 14 formed thereon. The laminated body 14 is formed by laminating electrode layers 16 and dielectric layers 18. The electrode layers 16 are divided into a first group of electrode layers 16a and a second group of electrode layers 16b by the dielectric layers 18. The electrode layers 16a of the first group and the electrode layers 16b of the second group are laminated in an alternate manner with the dielectric layers 18 intervening therebetween, the plurality of electrode layers 16a of the first group are connected with each other, and the plurality of electrode layers 16b of the second group are also connected with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides barium titanate semiconductive ceramic having low specific resistance at room temperature and high withstand voltage, which fully satisfies the demand for enhancing withstand voltage. The average ceramic grain size of the barium titanate semiconductive ceramic is controlled to about 0.9 &mgr;m or less. By this control, the ceramic possesses low specific resistance at room temperature and high withstand voltage fully satisfying a recent demand for enhancing withstand voltage and may suitably used for applications such as controlling temperature and limiting current, or in exothermic devices for constant temperature. Accordingly, the barium titanate semiconductive ceramic enables an apparatus using the same to have enhanced performance and reduced size.

Abstract: Inexpensive methods for producing small-sized monolithic electronic parts with improved functions by which an electroconductive film can be formed uniformly, thin, and in fine patterns on a ceramic green sheet, a carrier film, or a resin film, for example. A plurality of such ceramic green sheets, etc., each having the electroconductive film formed thereon, are laminated to give a ceramic laminate, which is then sintered. The electroconductive film is formed on each ceramic green sheet, etc.

Abstract: The invention provides a lithium secondary battery comprising a cathode having a lithium cobalt complex oxide or a lithium nickel complex oxide as a cathode active material, which is characterized in that said lithium cobalt complex oxide is in the form of hollow, spherical sinters of particles, and said sinters have a mean particle diameter of from about 1 to 5 micrometers and a specific surface area of from about 2 to 10 m2/g. The lithium secondary battery has high capacity and excellent charge-discharge cycle characteristics.

Abstract: A method of producing a multi-layer ceramic substrate involves the steps of preparing compact blocks including a raw ceramic functional material to be the passive component, preparing a raw composite laminated member having a plurality of laminated ceramic green sheets containing a ceramic insulating material and wiring conductors and preliminarily providing spaces in the inside such that the compact blocks fit into the spaces, arranging sheet type bases made from a raw ceramic not sintered at the baking temperature of the composite laminated member on the principal plane at both ends with respect to the lamination direction of the raw composite laminated member, baking the raw composite laminated member with the raw composite laminated member interposed by the sheet type bases so as to restrain the contraction at a temperature not more than about 1000° C., and eliminating the unsintered sheet type bases.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium complex oxide involves the steps of 1) atomizing and pyrolyzing an aqueous or alcohol solution of metallic salt compounds constituting a lithium cobalt complex oxide or a lithium nickel complex oxide, and 2) annealing said lithium cobalt complex oxide or said lithium nickel complex oxide to increase the average particle diameter thereof to between about 1 and 5 micrometers and adjust the specific surface area thereof to between about 2 and 10 m2/g. The lithium complex oxide provided by this method is homogeneous and enables a long cycle life to withstand repeated charging and discharging and a high level of storage stability to be realized when used as an cathode active material of a secondary lithium battery.