Abstract: An electrocatalyst comprising (i) carbon nanospikes and (ii) copper alloy nanoparticles containing copper and at least one noble metal and residing on and/or between the carbon nanospikes. Also disclosed herein is a method of producing the electrocatalyst. Also described herein is a method for converting carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons by use of the above-described electrocatalyst. The method for producing hydrocarbons more specifically involves contacting the electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of a bicarbonate salt while the aqueous solution is in contact with a source of carbon dioxide, and electrically powering the electrocatalyst as a cathode at negative potential condition while the cathode is in electrical communication with a counter electrode electrically powered as an anode, to convert the carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons containing at least four carbon atoms and composed of only carbon and hydrogen.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst comprising (i) carbon nanospikes and (ii) copper alloy nanoparticles containing copper and at least one noble metal and residing on and/or between the carbon nanospikes. Also disclosed herein is a method of producing the electrocatalyst. Also described herein is a method for converting carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons by use of the above-described electrocatalyst. The method for producing hydrocarbons more specifically involves contacting the electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of a bicarbonate salt while the aqueous solution is in contact with a source of carbon dioxide, and electrically powering the electrocatalyst as a cathode at negative potential condition while the cathode is in electrical communication with a counter electrode electrically powered as an anode, to convert the carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons containing at least four carbon atoms and composed of only carbon and hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of converting nitrogen into ammonia. The method comprises contacting an electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of dissolved nitrogen gas. The electrocatalyst comprises carbon nanospikes doped with nitrogen.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst comprising (i) carbon nanospikes and (ii) copper-containing nanoparticles residing on and/or embedded between said carbon nanospikes. The carbon nanospikes are doped with a dopant selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, boron, and phosphorous. Also disclosed herein is a method of producing the eletrocatalyst and a method for converting carbon dioxide into ethanol by use of the above-described electrocatalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of converting nitrogen into ammonia. The method comprises contacting an electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of dissolved nitrogen gas.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrocatalyst. The electrocatalyst comprises carbon nanospikes (CNS) and copper nanoparticles. The copper nanoparticles are supported on and/or embedded in the CNS. The electrocatalyst can be used to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing metal oxide nanoparticles, the method comprising: (i) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbial-mediated formation of metal oxide nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprise: metal-reducing microbes, a culture medium suitable for sustaining said metal-reducing microbes, an effective concentration of one or more surfactants, a reducible metal oxide component containing one or more reducible metal species, and one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said metal-reducing microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said metal-reducing microbes; and (ii) isolating said metal oxide nanoparticles, which contain a reduced form of said reducible metal oxide component. The invention is also directed to metal oxide nanoparticle compositions produced by the inventive method.

Abstract: Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li2S), a first shell of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7, and a second shell including one of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component containing at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals.

Abstract: Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li2S), a first shell of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7, and a second shell including one of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

Abstract: Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li2S), a first shell of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7, and a second shell including one of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

Abstract: Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li2S), a first shell of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7, and a second shell including one of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component comprising at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals.

Abstract: Applicant's present invention is a composite scintillator having enhanced transparency for detecting ionizing radiation comprising a material having optical transparency wherein said material comprises nano-sized objects having a size in at least one dimension that is less than the wavelength of light emitted by the composite scintillator wherein the composite scintillator is designed to have selected properties suitable for a particular application.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component containing at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing metal oxide nanoparticles, the method comprising: (i) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbial-mediated formation of metal oxide nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprise: metal-reducing microbes, a culture medium suitable for sustaining said metal-reducing microbes, an effective concentration of one or more surfactants, a reducible metal oxide component containing one or more reducible metal species, and one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said metal-reducing microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said metal-reducing microbes; and (ii) isolating said metal oxide nanoparticles, which contain a reduced form of said reducible metal oxide component. The invention is also directed to metal oxide nanoparticle compositions produced by the inventive method.