Abstract: The disclosure provides a method a method for generating a heterogeneous carbon-bonded material using an activated carbon support a solution comprising a material precursor and a chemical agent. The material precursor is typically a salt such as SnCl2, and the chemical agent is a substance which thermally decomposes to generate reducing gases. The mixture is heated in an inert, nonreactive atmosphere to generate the reducing gases and remove surface groups from the carbon support, allowing material such as metal from the material precursor to nucleate and directly bond to the sites. The method typically utilizes high specific surface area carbon and may produce a plurality of metal particles having an average diameter of less than about 20 nm dispersed on and strongly bonded to the underlying carbon support.

Abstract: A capacitor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode where at least the first electrode comprises a ionically conductive material typically having both an electrical and ionic conductivity, such as an oxide. The capacitor further comprises a dielectric material contacting the first and second electrode and comprising a porous material having a surface area greater than 0.5 m2 of surface/gm of material, and further comprising a liquid containing ions within the pores of the porous material. In certain embodiments, the capacitor additionally comprises a first current collector in contact with the first electrode and a second current collector is contact with the second electrode, where the first and second current collector comprise an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A capacitor having first and second electrodes and a scaffold dielectric where at least one electrode comprises an electrically and ionically conducting material. The scaffold dielectric comprises an insulating material with a plurality of longitudinal channels extending across the dielectric and filled with a liquid comprising cations and anions. The plurality of longitudinal channels are substantially parallel and the liquid within the longitudinal channels generally has an ionic strength of at least 0.1. Capacitance results from the migrations of positive and negative ions in the confined liquid in response to an applied electric field. A method of supplying power to a load using the capacitor and a method of making the capacitor is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A hollow carbon sphere having a carbon shell and an inner core is disclosed. The hollow carbon sphere has a total volume that is equal to a volume of the carbon shell plus an inner free volume within the carbon shell. The inner free volume is at least 25% of the total volume. In some instances, a nominal diameter of the hollow carbon sphere is between 10 and 180 nanometers.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there are nanostructured materials including WS2 nanostructures and composites of WS2 nanostructures and other materials and methods for synthesizing nanostructured materials. The method can include providing a plurality of precursor materials, wherein each of the plurality of precursor materials can include a tungsten reactant. The method can also include flowing, for a reaction time, a substantially continuous stream of carbon disulfide (CS2) vapor in a carrier gas over the plurality of precursor materials at a temperature in the range of about 700° C. to about 1000 C, wherein the reaction time is sufficient to permit the tungsten reactant to react with carbon disulfide to form a plurality of tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanostructures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a material having a composite particle, the composite particle including an outer shell and a core. The core is made from a lithium alloying material and the outer shell has an inner volume that is greater in size than the core of the lithium alloying material. In some instances, the outer mean diameter of the outer shell is less than 500 nanometers and the core occupies between 5 and 99% of the inner volume. In addition, the outer shell can have an average wall thickness of less than 100 nanometers.