Abstract: Compositions and methods of making are provided for a high energy density aluminum battery. The battery comprises an anode comprising aluminum metal. The battery further comprises a cathode comprising a material capable of intercalating aluminum or lithium ions during a discharge cycle and deintercalating the aluminum or lithium ions during a charge cycle. The battery further comprises an electrolyte capable of supporting reversible deposition and stripping of aluminum at the anode, and reversible intercalation and deintercalation of aluminum or lithium at the cathode.

Abstract: A method of recovering carbon black includes the step of providing a carbonaceous source material containing carbon black. The carbonaceous source material is contacted with a sulfonation bath to produce a sulfonated material. The sulfonated material is pyrolyzed to produce a carbon black containing product comprising a glassy carbon matrix phase having carbon black dispersed therein. A method of making a battery electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of recovering carbon black includes the step of providing a carbonaceous source material containing carbon black. The carbonaceous source material is contacted with a sulfonation bath to produce a sulfonated material. The sulfonated material is pyrolyzed to produce a carbon black containing product comprising a glassy carbon matrix phase having carbon black dispersed therein. The pyrolysis can be conducted at a temperature from 1100° C. to 1490° C. A method of making a battery electrode and a lithium ion or sodium ion battery is also disclosed.

Abstract: Superhydrophobic membrane structures having a beneficial combination of throughput and a selectivity. The membrane structure can include a porous support substrate; and a membrane layer adherently disposed on and in contact with the porous support substrate. The membrane layer can include a nanoporous material having a superhydrophobic surface. The superhydrophobic surface can include a textured surface, and a modifying material disposed on the textured surface. Methods of making and using the membrane structures.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymer-metal oxide composite material resistant to degradation resulting from exposure to gamma irradiation, the method comprising exposing a composite precursor comprised of a heat-resistant polymer in which metal oxide nanoparticles are incorporated to gamma irradiation of at least 1 MRad in a flowing gas atmosphere for a period of at least 12 hours. The resulting radiation-resistant composite material and shaped articles of the material are also described.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making are provided for surface modified electrodes and batteries comprising the same. The compositions may comprise a base composition having an active material capable of intercalating the metal ions during a discharge cycle and deintercalating the metal ions during a charge cycle, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, Li2MnO3, LiNiO2, LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4, LiFePO4, Li2FePO4F, Li3CoNiMnO6, Li(LiaNixMnyCoz)O2, LiaMn1.5-bNi0.5-cMdO4-x, and mixtures thereof. The compositions may also comprise an annealed composition covering a portion of the base composition, formed by a reaction of the base composition in a reducing atmosphere. The methods of making comprise providing the base composition and annealing the base electrode in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: Superhydrophobic membrane structures having a beneficial combination of throughput and a selectivity. The membrane structure can include a porous support substrate; and a membrane layer adherently disposed on and in contact with the porous support substrate. The membrane layer can include a nanoporous material having a superhydrophobic surface. The superhydrophobic surface can include a textured surface, and a modifying material disposed on the textured surface. Methods of making and using the membrane structures.

Abstract: An optically transparent, hydrophobic coating, exhibiting an average contact angle of at least 100 degrees with a drop of water. The coating can be produced using low-cost, environmentally friendly components. Methods of preparing and using the optically transparent, hydrophobic coating.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making are provided for treated mesoporous metal oxide microspheres electrodes. The compositions include microspheres with an average diameter between about 200 nanometers and about 10 micrometers and mesopores on the surface and interior of the microspheres. The methods of making include forming a mesoporous metal oxide microsphere composition and treating the mesoporous metal oxide microspheres by at least annealing in a reducing atmosphere, doping with an aliovalent element, and coating with a coating composition.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making compositions are provided for nitride- and/or oxide-modified electrode compositions. In certain embodiments, the nitride- and/or oxide-modified compositions have the general formula M1?zM?zOaF3?xNy. Such compositions may be used as bulk or surface compositions, and used in a battery as the anode or cathode. In other embodiments, the electrode includes a surface coating composition selected from metal nitrides and metal oxides, and a core composition having the formula M1?zM?zOaF3?x, or an oxide fluoride.

Abstract: A method of recovering carbon black includes the step of providing a carbonaceous source material containing carbon black. The carbonaceous source material is contacted with a sulfonation bath to produce a sulfonated material. The sulfonated material is pyrolyzed to produce a carbon black containing product comprising a glassy carbon matrix phase having carbon black dispersed therein. A method of making a battery electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: An array of titanium dioxide nanostructures for solar energy utilization includes a plurality of nanotubes, each nanotube including an outer layer coaxial with an inner layer, where the inner layer comprises p-type titanium dioxide and the outer layer comprises n-type titanium dioxide. An interface between the inner layer and the outer layer defines a p-n junction.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making are provided for treated mesoporous metal oxide microspheres electrodes. The compositions comprise (a) microspheres with an average diameter between 200 nanometers (nm) and 10 micrometers (?m); (b) mesopores on the surface and interior of the microspheres, wherein the mesopores have an average diameter between 1 nm and 50 nm and the microspheres have a surface area between 50 m2/g and 500 m2/g, and wherein the composition has an electrical conductivity of at least 1×10?7 S/cm at 25° C. and 60 MPa. The methods of making comprise forming a mesoporous metal oxide microsphere composition and treating the mesoporous metal oxide microspheres by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: (i) annealing in a reducing atmosphere, (ii) doping with an aliovalent element, and (iii) coating with a coating composition.

Abstract: Superhydrophobic membrane structures having a beneficial combination of throughput and a selectivity. Methods of making and using the membrane structures.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making are provided for surface modified electrodes and batteries comprising the same. The compositions may comprise a base composition having an active material capable of intercalating the metal ions during a discharge cycle and deintercalating the metal ions during a charge cycle, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, Li2MnO3, LiNiO2, LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4, LiFePO4, Li2FePO4F, Li3CoNiMnO6, Li(LiaNixMnyCoz)O2, LiaMn1.5-bNi0.5-cMdO4-x, and mixtures thereof. The compositions may also comprise an annealed composition covering a portion of the base composition, formed by a reaction of the base composition in a reducing atmosphere. The methods of making comprise providing the base composition and annealing the base electrode in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods that include depositing a first component and a second component to form a film including a plurality of nanostructures, and coating the nanostructures with a hydrophobic layer to render the film superhydrophobic. The first component and the second component can be immiscible and phase-separated during the depositing step. The first component and the second component can be independently selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal oxynitride, a metal, and combinations thereof. The films can have a thickness greater than or equal to 5 nm; an average surface roughness (Ra) of from 90 to 120 nm, as measured on a 5 ?m×5 ?m area; a surface area of at least 20 m2/g; a contact angle with a drop of water of at least 120 degrees; and can maintain the contact angle when exposed to harsh conditions.

Abstract: A hetero-junction device and fabrication method in which phase-separated n-type and p-type semiconductor pillars define vertically-oriented p-n junctions extending above a substrate. Semiconductor materials are selected for the p-type and n-type pillars that are thermodynamically stable and substantially insoluble in one another. An epitaxial deposition process is employed to form the pillars on a nucleation layer and the mutual insolubility drives phase separation of the materials. During the epitaxial deposition process, the orientation is such that the nucleation layer initiates propagation of vertical columns resulting in a substantially ordered, three-dimensional structure throughout the deposited material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a phase-separated layer useful as a flux pinning substrate for a superconducting film, wherein the method includes subjecting at least a first and a second target material to a sputtering deposition technique in order that a phase-separated layer is deposited epitaxially on a primary substrate containing an ordered surface layer. The invention is also directed to a method for producing a superconducting tape containing pinning defects therein by depositing a superconducting film on a phase-separated layer produced by the method described above.

Abstract: An array of titanium dioxide nanostructures for solar energy utilization includes a plurality of nanotubes, each nanotube including an outer layer coaxial with an inner layer, where the inner layer comprises p-type titanium dioxide and the outer layer comprises n-type titanium dioxide. An interface between the inner layer and the outer layer defines a p-n junction.

Abstract: A method for making a superconducting article includes the steps of providing a biaxially textured substrate. A seed layer is then deposited. The seed layer includes a double perovskite of the formula A2B?B?O6, where A is rare earth or alkaline earth metal and B? and B? are different rare earth or transition metal cations. A superconductor layer is grown epitaxially such that the superconductor layer is supported by the seed layer.