Abstract: Methods of the present invention can be used to synthesize nanowires with controllable compositions and/or with multiple elements. The methods can include coating solid powder granules, which comprise a first element, with a catalyst. The catalyst and the first element should form when heated a liquid, mixed phase having a eutectic or peritectic point. The granules, which have been coated with the catalyst, can then be heated to a temperature greater than or equal to the eutectic or peritectic point. During heating, a vapor source comprising the second element is introduced. The vapor source chemically interacts with the liquid, mixed phase to consume the first element and to induce condensation of a product that comprises the first and second elements in the form of a nanowire.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactive working material for use in a process of producing hydrogen by splitting water based on a two-step thermochemical water-splitting cycle through the utilization of solar heat, industrial waste heat or the like, which comprises a ferrite fine powder and a cubic zirconia supporting the ferrite fine powder. This reactive working material makes it possible to prevent scaling off of the ferrite fine powder from the zirconia fine powder due to volumetric changes of the ferrite fine powder during repeated use, and suppress growth of FeO grains due to repetition of melting and solidification when used as a reactive working material for a cyclic reaction under a high temperature of 1400° C. or more.

Abstract: A method of preparing carbon-coated metal oxide nano-particles and carbon-coated metal oxide nano-particles prepared with the same method are described. The method includes the following steps at least. A precursor of a polymer is polymerized on metal oxide nano-particles to form polymer-coated metal oxide nano-particles. Then, pyrolysis is conducted to carbonize the polymer coated on the metal oxide nano-particles, so as to form carbon-coated metal oxide nano-particles.

Abstract: A method for changing the color of a diamond. The method comprises placing the diamond in a substrate holder in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment. The CVD equipment is maintained at pressures near or below atmospheric pressure. A mixture of gases including hydrogen is introduced inside the CVD equipment. The introduced mixture of gases is energized by using microwave radiation to heat the diamond to temperatures above 1400° C. Then, the diamond is maintained at temperatures above 1400° C. for few seconds to few hours.

Abstract: A system and process are provided for extracting a substance from a molecular combination. The process comprises heating the molecular combination to dissociate the molecular combination into cations and anions, moving the cations and anions through a magnetic field to separate cations and anions, and isolating cations from anions with a barrier. The system comprises a non-conductive conduit for guiding an ionized particle stream, a magnetic field source for creating a magnetic field through which the ionized particle stream moves, and a barrier located in the conduit. The ionized particle stream has a velocity relative to the conduit, and the magnetic field source is oriented relative to the velocity of the ionized particle stream so that cations are separated from anions as the ionized particle stream moves through the magnetic field. The barrier is oriented in the conduit so that cations are isolated from anions after separation.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing high density boron carbide by pressureless sintering, enabling to create sintered products of complex shapes and high strength. The process comprises mixing raw boron carbide powder with carbon precursor, such as a polysaccharide, compacting the mixture to create an object of the desired shape, and finally carbonizing and sintering the object at higher temperatures.

Abstract: A negative electrode material comprising an active material and 1-20 wt % of a polyimide resin binder is suitable for use in non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. The active material comprises silicon oxide particles and 1-50 wt % of silicon particles. The negative electrode exhibits improved cycle performance while maintaining the high battery capacity and low volume expansion of silicon oxide. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a high initial efficiency and maintains improved performance and efficiency over repeated charge/discharge cycles by virtue of mitigated volumetric changes during charge/discharge cycles.

Abstract: A process for producing a separator-electrode assemblies (SEAs) which comprises a porous electrode useful as a positive or negative electrode in a lithium battery and a separator layer applied to this electrode wherein the separator layer being an inorganic separator layer comprising at least two fractions of metal oxide particles different from each other in their average particle size and/or in the metal, and the electrode having active mass particles that are bonded together and to a current collector by an inorganic adhesive; and the separator-electrode assembly comprises no organic polymer binder. The process comprising form the porous electrode by applying a suspension comprising active mass particles suspended in a sol or a dispersion of nanoscale active mass particles in a solvent and solidifying the suspension.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for treating residues comprising zinc ferrites and non-ferrous metals selected from among the group made up of lead (Pb), silver (Ag), indium (In), germanium (Ge) and gallium (Ga) or mixtures thereof in the form of oxides and sulfates, comprising the following steps: roasting of the residues in an oxidizing medium at elevated temperature in order to obtain a desulfurized residue, carburizing reduction/smelting of the desulfurized residue in a reducing medium, liquid phase extraction of carburized melt and slag, vapor phase extraction of the non-ferrous metals, followed by oxidation and recovery thereof in solid form.

Abstract: A process for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide for a positive electrode active material for use in a lithium secondary battery, the oxide having the formula LipNxMmOzFa (wherein N is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn and Ni, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, alkaline earth metal elements and transition metal elements other than N, 0.9?p?1.2, 0.9?x<1.00, 0<m?0.03, 1.9?z?2.2, x+m=1 and 0?a?0.02), which comprises using as an M element source a solution comprising a complex containing the M element dissolved in an organic solvent.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an interconnect technique. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are prepared. A CNT-solder composite paste is formed containing the CNTs and solder with a pre-defined volume fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating metallic surfaces with a composition containing silane/silanol/siloxane/polysiloxane, wherein, in addition to a) at least one compound selected from silanes, silanols, siloxanes and polysiloxanes, b) at least one compound containing titanium, hafnium, zirconium, aluminum and/or boron, and c) at least one type of cation selected from cations of metals of subgroups 1 to 3 and 5 to 8, including lanthanides, and of main group 2 of the periodic table of the elements, and/or at least one corresponding compound, the composition contains at least one substance d) selected from: d1) silicon-free compounds having at least one amino, urea and/or ureido group in each case, d2) anions of nitrite and/or compounds having at least one nitro group, d3) compounds based on peroxide, and d4) phosphorus-containing compounds, anions of at least one phosphate and/or anions of at least one phosphonate, as well as e) water, and f) optionally also at least one organic solvent.

Abstract: Described is a process for the preparation of a crystallised lamellar solid formed by magadiite consisting of implementing in a step (i) mixing of at least one silica source, at least one salt of N,N,N?,N?-tetramethyl-N,N?-dibenzyloctanediammonium, at least one alkali and/or alkaline earth metal M and water and then implementing in a step (ii) hydrothermal treatment of said mixture until said crystallised lamellar solid constituted by magadiite is formed.

Abstract: A spring loaded direct oxidation fuel cell assembly reduces the effects of precompression relaxation. A near flat spring and a distribution plate form a spring assembly that is disposed between a membrane electrode assembly and one of the current collectors in the fuel cell. The components are assembled into a fuel cell assembly and are precompressed, and a spring yielding process is performed. While precompression is being applied, a set of pins and a plastic frame are insert molded around the fuel cell assembly to hold the components in place. Subsequently, as the precompression relaxes, the spring assembly forces act to maintain an evenly distributed compression on the MEA, thereby compensating for the loss of precompression. A related method of manufacturing a fuel cell assembly is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the concentration of noble metals from fluorine-containing components of fuel cells, for example from PEM fuel cell stacks, DMFC fuel cells, catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs), membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), catalyst pastes, etc. The process is based on an optionally multi-step heat treatment process comprising a combustion and/or a melting process. It allows an inexpensive, simple concentration of noble materials. The hydrogen fluoride formed during the heat treatment of fluorine-containing components is bound by an inorganic additive so that no harmful hydrogen fluoride emissions occur. The process can be used for the recovery of noble metals that are present as components in fuel cells, electrolysis cells, batteries, and the like.

Abstract: An activated carbon producing system includes a carbonizer for carbonizing cellulose triacetate as cellulose acylate to create carbonized material. A pulverizer pulverizes the carbonized material to obtain granules. An activation device activates the granules to create activated carbon. The activated carbon producing system includes a dispenser for supplying the cellulose triacetate at a plural number of times. A heating furnace is operated at each time after the dispenser operates, for thermally decomposing the cellulose triacetate from the dispenser, to obtain the carbonized material by carbonization. The pulverizer pulverizes the carbonized material in a size equal to or more than 2 mm and equal to or less than 20 mm. Temperature of the heating furnace is equal to or higher than 300 deg. C. and equal to or lower than 600 deg. C.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gas-purifying catalyst that is less prone to cause a decrease in its activity even when used at high temperatures in an atmosphere whose oxygen concentration is high. An exhaust gas-purifying catalyst of the present invention includes a composite oxide of alkaline-earth metal and aluminum, and platinum, wherein at least a part of the composite oxide and at least a part of the platinum forms a solid solution.

Abstract: A laminating adhesive includes a polyol; an acid-modified polyol obtained by reaction of a hydrophobic polyol containing a hydrocarbon moiety having 12 to 80 carbon atoms in its molecule in an amount of 30 to 95% by weight or a derivative thereof with an aromatic polycarboxylic acid anhydride and having a carboxyl group at a molecular terminal thereof; an organic polyisocyanate compound; and a silane coupling agent. A laminating adhesive film is excellent even after high-temperature sterilization treatment in adhesion performance between a metal foil or a barrier film and a plastic film serving as an inner layer, and also in adhesion performance between a metal foil or a barrier film and a plastic film serving as an outer layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a nitrogen-containing carbon material, comprising a first step of subjecting azulmic acid to a first heat treatment in an oxygen-containing gas atmosphere, thereby preparing a heat-treated product, and a second step of subjecting the heat-treated product to a second heat treatment in an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: Corrosion resistant coatings are formed on aluminum by contacting with aqueous solutions containing trivalent chromium ions and fluorometallate ions, the solutions being substantially free of hexavalent chromium. Trivalent chromium films formed on the aluminum surface when tested in 5% NaCl salt spray chamber showed corrosion resistance in excess of 168 hours. Trivalent chromium coated aluminum also serves as an effective base for paint primers.