Abstract: Novel colored compounds with a hibonite structure and a method for making the same are disclosed. The compounds may have a formula AAl12?x?yMaxMbyO19 where A is typically an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth metal, Pb, Bi or any combination thereof, and Ma is Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, V, Mn, or Co or any combination thereof, and Mb is Ti, Sn, Ge, Si, Zr, Hf, Ga, In, Zn, Mg, Nb, Ta, Sb, Mo, W or Te or any combination thereof. Compounds with varying colors, such as blue, can be made by varying A, Ma and Mb and their relative amounts. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for making and using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel colored compounds with a hibonite structure and a method for making the same are disclosed. The compounds may have a formula AAl12-x-yMaxMbyO19 where A is typically an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth metal, Pb, Bi or any combination thereof, and Ma is Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, V, Mn, or Co or any combination thereof, and Mb is Ti, Sn, Ge, Si, Zr, Hf, Ga, In, Zn, Mg, Nb, Ta, Sb, Mo, W or Te or any combination thereof. Compounds with varying colors, such as blue, can be made by varying A, Ma and Mb and their relative amounts. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for making and using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of compositions comprising materials satisfying the general formula AM1?xM?xM?yO3+y are disclosed, along with methods of making the materials and compositions. In some embodiments, M and M? are +3 cations, at least a portion of the M cations and the M? cations are bound to oxygen in trigonal bipyramidal coordination, and the material is chromophoric. In some embodiments, the material forms a crystal structure having a hexagonal unit cell wherein edge a has a length of 3.50-3.70 ? and edge c has a length of 10-13 ?. In other embodiments, edge a has a length of 5.5-7.0 ?. In particular embodiments, M? is Mn, and Mn is bonded to oxygen with an apical Mn—O bond length of 1.80 ? to 1.95 ?. In some embodiments, the material is YIn1?xMnxO3, x is greater than 0.0 and less than 0.75, and the material exhibits a surprisingly intense blue color.

Abstract: Embodiments of compositions comprising materials satisfying the general formula AM1?xM?xM?yO3+y are disclosed, along with methods of making the materials and compositions. In some embodiments, M and M? are +3 cations, at least a portion of the M cations and the M? cations are bound to oxygen in trigonal bipyramidal coordination, and the material is chromophoric. In some embodiments, the material forms a crystal structure having a hexagonal unit cell wherein edge a has a length of 3.50-3.70 ? and edge c has a length of 10-13 ?. In other embodiments, edge a has a length of 5.5-7.0 ?. In particular embodiments, M? is Mn, and Mn is bonded to oxygen with an apical Mn—O bond length of 1.80 ? to 1.95 ?. In some embodiments, the material is YIn1?xMnxO3, x is greater than 0.0 and less than 0.75, and the material exhibits a surprisingly intense blue color.

Abstract: A method for making negative thermal expansion materials having the formula A 4 + ⁢ M 2 6 + ⁢ O 8 where A4+ is Zr4+, Hf4+, or mixtures thereof, and M6+ is Mo6+, W6+, or mixtures thereof, is described. The method comprises first forming an acidic, liquid mixture comprising stoichiometric amounts of (1) a soluble source of Zr4+, Hf4+, or mixtures thereof, and (2) a sodium-ion-free tungstate salt, a sodium-ion-free molybdate salt, or mixtures thereof. This liquid mixture is then heated, either at reflux temperature or in a closed system at pressures greater than ambient, to produce a solid fraction.

Abstract: Low or negative thermal expansion compounds are described having a formula of A.sub.2-x.sup.3+ A.sub.y.sup.4+ M.sub.z.sup.3+ M.sub.3-y.sup.6+ P.sub.y O.sub.12. It currently is believed that y can vary from about 0 to about 2, x equals the sum of y and z and varies from about 0.1 to about 1.9. Without limitation, novel compounds satisfying the formula A.sub.2-x.sup.3+ A.sub.y.sup.4+ M.sub.z.sup.3+ M.sub.3-y.sup.6+ P.sub.y O.sub.12 where y=0 may be selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.1.5 In.sub.0.5 W.sub.3 O.sub.12, Al.sub.1.6 In.sub.0.4 W.sub.3 O.sub.12, Al.sub.1.7 In.sub.0.3 W.sub.3 O.sub.12, Al.sub.1.8 In.sub.0.2 W.sub.3 O.sub.12, YAlW.sub.3 O.sub.12, ScAlW.sub.3 O.sub.12, ScGaW.sub.3 O.sub.12, ScInW.sub.3 O.sub.12, ScHoW.sub.3 O.sub.12, ScYbMo.sub.3 O.sub.12 and ErInW.sub.3 O.sub.12. Without limitation, novel compounds satisfying the formula A.sub.2-x.sup.3+ A.sub.y.sup.4+ M.sub.z.sup.3+ M.sub.3-y.sup.6+ P.sub.y O.sub.12 where y=2 may be selected from the group consisting of Hf.sub.2 WP.sub.2 O.

Abstract: An improved process for calcination and activation of a catalyst containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus (V/P/O) comprising the steps of calcining a hydrated V/P/O or V/P/O- SiO.sub.2 catalyst precursor at a temperature range of 375.degree. to 400.degree. C. for sufficient time to dehydrate said catalyst precursor while simultaneously and continuously controlling the oxygen level such as to maintain the Vox in the range of 3.825 to 4.175; and then activating the dehydrated catalyst precursor by further heating at a range of 340.degree. to 500.degree. C. in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere containing n-butane at a partial pressure not exceeding 0.20 atm while simultaneously and continuously controlling the oxygen level such as to maintain the Vox in the range of 3.95 to 4.15. Such a V/P/O catalyst is useful in the preparation of maleic anhydride from n-butane.

Abstract: A method for making tungstate compounds according to the formula XW.sub.2 O.sub.8, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of zirconium, hafnium, and combinations thereof, is described. Also described are compositions that include the tungstate compounds, and a method for reducing the positive thermal expansion of a material using such tungstate compounds. Substantially single phase compounds can be made by practicing the method, which method also reduces the synthesis time relative to known methods, and expands the reactants that can be used for the synthesis over the methods reported previously. The tungstate compounds generally can be made by forming a solution, particularly an aqueous solution, comprising a W.sup.6+ compound and a second metal compound wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Zr.sup.4+, Hf.sup.4+ and combinations thereof. The solvent is removed from the solution by any known method to leave the solutes as a solid product.

Abstract: Compounds that satisfy the general formula A.sub.1-Y.sup.4+ A.sub.Y.sup.1+ A.sub.Y.sup.3+ V.sub.2-X E.sub.X O.sub.7 exhibit isotropic NTE behavior above a temperature of about 100.degree. C. Y is from about 0.0 to about 0.4, and more preferably is about 0.2. X is from about 0.6 to about 1.4, and is more preferably about 1. Particularly suitable NTE compounds have X about 1 and Y about 0. A.sup.4+ is selected from the group consisting of Hf, Zr, Zr.sub.a M.sub.b, Hf.sub.a M.sub.b and mixtures thereof wherein a plus b equals one and M is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ce, Th, U, Mo, W, Pb, Sn, Ge and Si. More preferably, A.sup.4+ is selected from the group consisting of Hf and Zr. A.sup.1+ is selected from the group consisting of the alkali earth metals, A.sup.3+ is selected from the group consisting of the rare earth metals, and E is selected from the group consisting of P and As. The NTE materials may be incorporated into compositions such as epoxy and ceramic compositions.

Abstract: Compounds that satisfy the general formula A.sub.1-Y.sup.4+ A.sub.Y.sup.1+ A.sub.Y.sup.3+ V.sub.2-X P.sub.X O.sub.7 exhibit isotropic NTE behavior in the range of normal ambient temperatures. Y is from about 0.0 to about 0.4, and more preferably is about 0.2. X is from about 0.6 to about 1.4, and is more preferably about 1. Particularly suitable NTE compounds have X about 1 and Y about 0. A.sup.4+ is selected from the group consisting of Hf, Zr, Zr.sub.a M.sub.b, Hf.sub.a M.sub.b and mixtures thereof wherein a plus b equals one and M is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ce, Th, U, Mo, Pt, Pb, Sn, Ge and Si. More preferably, A.sup.4+ is selected from the group consisting of Hf and Zr. A.sup.1+ is selected from the group consisting of the alkali earth metals, and A.sup.3+ is selected from the group consisting of the rare earth metals. Such NTE materials exhibit isotropic negative linear expansion at a temperature below about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: Nonlinear optical materials having the general formula Ca.sub.1.40-X M.sub.X V.sub.0.98.+-.0.05 O.sub.4.00.+-.0.08 wherein X is 0.07 to 0.43 and M is selected from the group consisting of Bi, La, Ce, Y, Pm, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc, and mixtures thereof are described. Compositions satisfying this formula belong to the space group R3c wherein a=b=10.8.+-.0.1 .ANG., and c=38.0.+-.0.3 .ANG.. These NLO compositions are capable of doubling the frequency of light at about 0.1 to about 3.3 times the efficiency of KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 (KDP). No damage to the NLO material is observed when they are exposed to high-power lasers.

Abstract: Compositions having the nominal formula Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.3-x Y.sub.x Cu.sub.2 O.sub.8+y wherein x is from about 0.05 to about 0.45 and y is from about 0 to about 1 are superconducting.

Abstract: A process for preparing the superconductive material MBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x, M being, inter alia, yttrium and x being from about 6.5-7 and a precursor material MBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.y, y being from about 6-6.5, by controlled heating and cooling in a controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: Compositions containing a phase having the formula LA.sub.2-x Na.sub.x CuOz wherein x is about 0.1 to about 0.3 and z is about 3.8 to about 4.2 are superconducting. Processes for manufacturing such compositions and for using them are disclosed.

Abstract: Decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen by sunlight is accomplished by using a rhodate p-type semiconductor as cathode and an n-type semiconductor or a metal as anode. A cell exposed to sunlight using a rhodate cathode and an n-type TiO.sub.2 anode decomposes the contained water and also generates electric power.

Abstract: Compositions of the formulaBa.sub.1.sub.-x A.sub.x Pb.sub.1.sub.-y Bi.sub.y O.sub.3whereA is Na, K, Rb, Cs, Sr or Pb,x is 0 to about 0.5,y is about 0.05-0.3, with the proviso that x .ltoreq. y when A is Na, K, Rb or CsAre superconductors.