Abstract: Provided is a nanostructure including ordered stacked sheets and processes for its preparation and use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, comprising feeding a metal precursor selected from metal halide, metal carbonyl, organo-metallic compound and metal oxyhalide vapor into a reaction chamber towards a reaction zone to interact with a flow of at least one chalcogen material in gas phase, the temperature conditions in said reaction zone being such to enable the formation of the fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles product. The present invention further provides novel IF metal chalcogenides nanoparticles with spherical shape and optionally having a very small or no hollow core exhibiting excellent tribological behaviour. The present invention further provides an apparatus for preparing various IF nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, comprising feeding a metal precursor selected from metal halide, metal carbonyl, organo-metallic compound and metal oxyhalide vapor into a reaction chamber towards a reaction zone to interact with a flow of at least one chalcogen material in gas phase, the temperature conditions in said reaction zone being such to enable the formation of the fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles product. The present invention further provides novel IF metal chalcogenides nanoparticles with spherical shape and optionally having a very small or no hollow core exhibiting excellent tribological behaviour. The present invention further provides an apparatus for preparing various IF nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, comprising feeding a metal precursor (INi) selected from metal halide, metal carbonyl, organo-metallic compound and metal oxyhalide vapor into a reaction chamber (12) towards a reaction zone to interact with a flow of at least one chalcogen material (IN2) in gas phase, the temperature conditions in said reaction zone being such to enable the formation of the fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles product. The present invention further provides novel IF metal chalcogenides nanoparticles with spherical shape and optionally having a very small or no hollow core and also exhibiting excellent tribological behavior. The present invention further provides an apparatus for preparing various IF nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanospheres, comprising: (a) feeding a metal halide, metal carbonyl, organo-metallic compound or metal oxyhalide vapor into a reacting chamber towards a reacting zone to interact with a flow of at least one chalcogen material in gas phase, the temperature conditions in said reacting zone being such enabling the immediate formation of spherical nucleation seeds of the product; (b) controllably varying the flow of said metal halide, metal carbonyl, organo-metallic compound or metal oxyhalide vapor into said reacting chamber thereby controlling the amount, morphology and size of the so-produced nanospheres, to obtain substantially non-hollow fullerene-like metal calcogenide nanospheres in solid form. The present invention further provides novel IF metal chalcogenides with substantially non-hollow, spherical shape, and having excellent tribological behaviour.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing carbon structures by laser irradiation, the method comprising: (i) providing a substrate, at least a portion of whose surface being covered with a sample comprising one or more thermally degradable organic compounds, said sample being in the form of homogeneous solution, suspension or emulsion; (ii) irradiating said covered surface portion locally by applying a focused laser beam, thus resulting in local deposition of carbon, and (iii) repeating step (ii) by moving either the laser beam or the sample, thus creating a desired pattern of carbon structures. The present invention further provides carbon structures produced by the method of the invention.

Abstract: Long-chain aliphatic alcohols are provided that induce nucleation of ice at temperatures within the range from -8.degree. C. to 0.degree. C., from supercooled water present as small drops and/or in the vapor state, and are useful for seeding supercooled clouds in order to augment rainfall.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compounds which are suited for the production of multilayer films which have piezoelectric, and pyroelectric properties, and which provide second harmonic generation. The novel compounds are amphiphilic and it is possible to prepare from same polar single-layer and multi-layer films by depositing them on a substrate. When such substrate is a solid support, polar Z-type Langmuir-Blodgett films are obtained. Upon compression of films of such compounds, at an air/water interface, stable Langmuir monolayers are formed.