Abstract: There is provided a coral-like composite material comprising highly dispersed conductive metal nitride, metal carbide or metal carbonitride nanoparticles on mesoporous carbon nanosheets, and a method of preparing the same. There is also provided a coating material for a modified separator of a lithium-sulfur battery comprising the coral-like composite material as described herein, a conducting carbon material and a binder, and a method of preparing the same.

Abstract: There is provided a hydrogel binder and a method of synthesizing the same. There is also provided a free-standing electrode comprising the hydrogel binder and a method of preparing the free-standing electrode comprising the hydrogel binder. There is further provided a battery comprising the free-standing electrode as defined herein.

Abstract: There is provided a cathode material comprising a layer of sulfur species dispersed within or thereon a porous matrix comprising a first conducting carbon material, a second conducting carbon material and a binder, wherein the second conducting carbon material is carbon fiber or carbon nanotube. There is also provided a cathode material comprising a layer of sulfur species dispersed within or thereon a porous matrix comprising a first conducting carbon material, a second conducting carbon material and a binder, wherein said porous matrix is interconnected with uniform pores. There are also provided methods for preparing the above cathode material(s).

Abstract: A glycopeptide, comprising a polyproline backbone and one or more carbohydrate molecules.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing an optionally substituted olefin, comprising the steps of: dehydrogenating an optionally substituted alcohol in a first reaction zone comprising a first catalyst supported on a porous silica-based particle to form an optionally substituted carbonyl at a first set of reaction conditions; converting the optionally substituted alcohol and the optionally substituted carbonyl from the first reaction zone in a second reaction zone at a second set of reaction conditions that is different to the first set of reaction conditions and is selected to form the optionally substituted olefin, wherein the second reaction zone comprises a second catalyst supported on a porous silica-based particle. There is also provided a system for producing the optionally substituted olefin.

Abstract: A glycopeptide, comprising a polyproline backbone and one or more carbohydrate molecules.