Abstract: Aspects disclosed herein include graphite and hexagonal boron nitride bimaterials, methods of making these bimaterials, and electric propulsion devices or thrusters with these bimaterials. Aspects disclosed herein include electric propulsion devices comprising: at least one portion comprising or formed of a monolithic bimaterial; wherein the monolithic bimaterial comprises a graphite material and a hexagonal boron nitride material; and wherein the graphite material and hexagonal boron nitride material are monolithically integrated in the bimaterial.

Abstract: Nano-structures of Aluminum Nitride and a method of producing nano-structures of Aluminum Nitride from nut shells comprising milling agricultural nuts into a fine nut powder, milling nanocrystalline Al2O3 into a powder, mixing, pressing the fine nut powder and the powder of nanocrystalline Al2O3, heating the pellet, maintaining the temperature of the pellet at about 1400° C., cooling the pellet, eliminating the residual carbon, and forming nano-structures of AlN. An Aluminum Nitride (AlN) product made from the steps of preparing powders of agricultural nuts using ball milling, preparing powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing the powders of agricultural nuts and the powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3 forming a homogenous sample powder of agricultural nuts and Al2O3, pressurizing, pyrolizing the disk, and reacting the disk and the nitrogen atmosphere and forming AlN.

Abstract: Nano-structures of Aluminum Nitride and a method of producing nano-structures of Aluminum Nitride from nut shells comprising milling agricultural nuts into a fine nut powder, milling nanocrystalline Al2O3 into a powder, mixing, pressing the fine nut powder and the powder of nanocrystalline Al2O3, heating the pellet, maintaining the temperature of the pellet at about 1400° C., cooling the pellet, eliminating the residual carbon, and forming nano-structures of AlN. An Aluminum Nitride (AlN) product made from the steps of preparing powders of agricultural nuts using ball milling, preparing powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing the powders of agricultural nuts and the powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3 forming a homogenous sample powder of agricultural nuts and Al2O3, pressurizing, pyrolyzing the disk, and reacting the disk and the nitrogen atmosphere and forming AlN.

Abstract: Nano-structures of Aluminum Nitride and a method of producing nano-structures of Aluminum Nitride from nut shells comprising milling agricultural nuts into a fine nut powder, milling nanocrystalline Al2O3 into a powder, mixing, pressing the fine nut powder and the powder of nanocrystalline Al2O3, heating the pellet, maintaining the temperature of the pellet at about 1400° C., cooling the pellet, eliminating the residual carbon, and forming nano-structures of AlN. An Aluminum Nitride (AlN) product made from the steps of preparing powders of agricultural nuts using ball milling, preparing powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing the powders of agricultural nuts and the powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3 forming a homogenous sample powder of agricultural nuts and Al2O3, pressurizing, pyrolyzing the disk, and reacting the disk and the nitrogen atmosphere and forming AlN.

Abstract: Si3N4 nanotubes and nanorods wherein the nanotubes and nanorods of silicon nitride are pure ?-Si3N4 formed by carbothermal reduction of SiO2 from reacting agricultural husk material in heat and forming the silicon nitride nanotubes and nanorods.

Abstract: A process for producing metastable nanocrystalline alpha-alumina (?-Al2O3) having particle sizes smaller than 12 nm. Starting crystallites of ?-Al2O3 having a particle size larger than 12 nm, typically on the order of about 50 nm, are ball-milled at low temperatures to produce a nanocrystalline ?-Al2O3 powder having a particle size of less than 12 nm, i.e., below the theoretical room temperature thermodynamic size limit at which ?-Al2O3 changes phase to ?-Al2O3, wherein the powder remains in the ?-Al2O3 phase at all times.

Abstract: A method of making Nanostructured Zinc Silicate from renewable sources comprising preparing powders of husks, preparing powders of ZnO, mixing the powders of husks and the powders of ZnO and forming a homogenous sample powder, pressing the homogenous sample and forming pellets, heating the pellets and forming nanostructured zinc silicate. The nanostructured zinc silicate from renewable sources product of the process of preparing powders of husks, preparing powders of ZnO, mixing the powders of husks and the powders of ZnO and forming a homogenous sample powder, pressing the homogenous sample and forming pellets, heating the pellets and forming nanostructured zinc silicate.

Abstract: A process for producing metastable nanocrystalline alpha-alumina (?-Al2O3) having particle sizes smaller than 12 nm. Starting crystallites of ?-Al2O3 having a particle size larger than 12 nm, typically on the order of about 50 nm, are ball-milled at low temperatures to produce a nanocrystalline ?-Al2O3 powder having a particle size of less than 12 nm, i.e., below the theoretical room temperature thermodynamic size limit at which ?-Al2O3 changes phase to ?-Al2O3, wherein the powder remains in the ?-Al2O3 phase at all times.

Abstract: A method of producing Aluminum Nitride comprising milling nuts into a powder, milling a powder of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing, pressing into a pellet, providing nitrogen, heating, and forming AlN. An Aluminum Nitride product from preparing powders of nuts and Al2O3, mixing, and forming a powder, pressurizing into a disk, pyrolizing in nitrogen, and forming AlN in a pure form and in the wurtzite phase. An Aluminum Nitride (AlN) from preparing powders of agricultural nuts, preparing powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing the powders and thereby forming a homogenous sample powder of agricultural nuts and Al2O3, pressurizing the homogenous sample powder into a disk, heat treating or pyrolizing the disk in a nitrogen atmosphere, reacting the disk and the nitrogen atmosphere and forming AlN, and wherein the AlN is nano-structured AlN and in a pure form and in the wurtzite phase of AlN.

Abstract: A process for producing metastable nanocrystalline alpha-alumina (?-Al2O3) having particle sizes smaller than 12 nm. Starting crystallites of ?-Al2O3 having a particle size larger than 12 nm, typically on the order of about 50 nm, are ball-milled at low temperatures to produce a nanocrystalline ?-Al2O3 powder having a particle size of less than 12 nm, i.e., below the theoretical room temperature thermodynamic size limit at which ?-Al2O3 changes phase to ?-Al2O3, wherein the powder remains in the ?-Al2O3 phase at all times.

Abstract: Si3N4 nanotubes and nanorods wherein the nanotubes and nanorods of silicon nitride are pure ?-Si3N4 formed by carbothermal reduction of SiO2 from reacting agricultural husk material in heat and forming the silicon nitride nanotubes and nanorods.

Abstract: A method of making Aluminum Nitride (AlN) from nut shells comprising preparing powders of agricultural nuts, preparing powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing the powders and thereby forming a homogenous sample powder of agricultural nuts and Al2O3, pressurizing the homogenous sample powder into a disk, heat treating or pyrolyzing the disk in a nitrogen atmosphere, reacting the disk and the nitrogen atmosphere and forming AlN, and wherein the AlN is nano-structured AlN and in a pure form and in the wurtzite phase of AlN. A method of producing Aluminum Nitride comprising milling nuts into a powder, milling a powder of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing, pressing into a pellet, providing nitrogen, heating, and forming AlN. An Aluminum Nitride product from preparing powders of nuts and Al2O3, mixing, and forming a powder, pressurizing into a disk, pyrolyzing in nitrogen, and forming AlN.

Abstract: A method of making Si3N4 nanotubes and nanorods comprising adding agricultural husk material powder to a container, wherein the container is a covered boron nitride crucible, creating an inert atmosphere of nitrogen inside the container, applying heat, heating the agricultural husk material, and reacting the agricultural husk material and forming silicon nitride, wherein the silicon nitride is nanotubes and nanorods.

Abstract: A method of making Nanostructured Zinc Silicate from renewable sources comprising preparing powders of husks, preparing powders of ZnO, mixing the powders of husks and the powders of ZnO and forming a homogenous sample powder, pressing the homogenous sample and forming pellets, heating the pellets and forming nanostructured zinc silicate. The nanostructured zinc silicate from renewable sources product of the process of preparing powders of husks, preparing powders of ZnO, mixing the powders of husks and the powders of ZnO and forming a homogenous sample powder, pressing the homogenous sample and forming pellets, heating the pellets and forming nanostructured zinc silicate.

Abstract: A method of making Aluminum Nitride (AlN) from nut shells comprising preparing powders of agricultural nuts, preparing powders of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing the powders and thereby forming a homogenous sample powder of agricultural nuts and Al2O3, pressurizing the homogenous sample powder into a disk, heat treating or pyrolyzing the disk in a nitrogen atmosphere, reacting the disk and the nitrogen atmosphere and forming AlN, and wherein the AlN is nano-structured AlN and in a pure form and in the wurtzite phase of AlN. A method of producing Aluminum Nitride comprising milling nuts into a powder, milling a powder of nanocrystalline Al2O3, mixing, pressing into a pellet, providing nitrogen, heating, and forming AlN. An Aluminum Nitride product from preparing powders of nuts and Al2O3, mixing, and forming a powder, pressurizing into a disk, pyrolyzing in nitrogen, and forming AlN.

Abstract: A process for producing metastable nanocrystalline alpha-alumina (?-Al2O3) having particle sizes smaller than 12 nm. Starting crystallites of ?-Al2O3 having a particle size larger than 12 nm, typically on the order of about 50 nm, are ball-milled at low temperatures to produce a nanocrystalline ?-Al2O3 powder having a particle size of less than 12 nm, i.e., below the theoretical room temperature thermodynamic size limit at which ?-Al2O3 changes phase to ?-Al2O3, wherein the powder remains in the ?-Al2O3 phase at all times.

Abstract: A method of making Si3N4 nanotubes and nanorods comprising adding agricultural husk material powder to a container, wherein the container is a covered boron nitride crucible, creating an inert atmosphere of nitrogen inside the container, applying heat, heating the agricultural husk material, and reacting the agricultural husk material and forming silicon nitride, wherein the silicon nitride is nanotubes and nanorods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of: placing between a cooling element and an opposing surface a slurry of: a dielectric powder containing barium titanate, a dispersant, a binder, and water; maintaining the cooling element at a temperature below the opposing surface to cause the formation of ice platelets perpendicular to the surface of the cooling element and having the powder between the platelets; subliming the ice platelets to create voids; sintering the powder to form the dielectric material; and filling the voids with the polymeric material. The process can produce a composite having: a sintered dielectric material of barium titanate and platelets of a polymeric material embedded in the dielectric material. Each of the platelets is perpendicular to a surface of the composite.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of: placing between a cooling element and an opposing surface a slurry of: a dielectric powder containing barium titanate, a dispersant, a binder, and water; maintaining the cooling element at a temperature below the opposing surface to cause the formation of ice platelets perpendicular to the surface of the cooling element and having the powder between the platelets; subliming the ice platelets to create voids; sintering the powder to form the dielectric material; and filling the voids with the polymeric material. The process can produce a composite having: a sintered dielectric material of barium titanate and platelets of a polymeric material embedded in the dielectric material. Each of the platelets is perpendicular to a surface of the composite.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of making silicon carbide involving adding agricultural husk material to a container, creating a vacuum or an inert atmosphere inside the container, applying conventional heating or microwave heating, heating rapidly, and reacting the material and forming silicon carbide (SiC).