Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing bulk BSCCO-based material, the method comprising: mixing a first solution with a second solution at a pre-determined temperature to form a gel, wherein the first solution comprises salts of at least bismuth, strontium, calcium and copper and the second solution comprises a precipitating agent; drying the gel to form a xerogel; grinding the xerogel to form a homogeneous metalorganic precursor; and calcining the homogeneous metalorganic precursor to form bulk BSCCO-based materials. Further steps may enable preparation of 2D BSCCO flakes.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-layered membrane comprising a top layer, a bottom layer, and a spacer layer; wherein said spacer layer is interposed between said top layer and said bottom layer; wherein said top layer, said bottom layer and said spacer layer are each independently composed of one or more selective layers, each selective layer comprising a 2D material; wherein said spacer layer comprises at least one channel for receiving a fluid; wherein said bottom layer comprises a hole with an area in the range of 1 ?m2 to 1 mm2; and wherein said hole is capable of being in fluid communication with said at least one channels of said spacer layer. There is also provided a method to synthesize the top layer of a multi-layered membrane as disclosed herein, methods for separating a plurality of ions or molecules in a fluid stream, a device comprising a multi-layered membrane as disclosed herein, and use of the method or the device as disclosed herein in osmotic power generation.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 nanowire showing a length-width aspect ratio from 5-400 up to 109 and a width-height ratio of 1-100 up to 1-10000. Further, the invention is embodied as a process for making the nanowire wherein at least a polar aprotic solvents is used, the polar aprotic solvent being at least one from the list comprising DMF, DMSO, and DMAc solvents.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 nanowire showing a length-width aspect ratio from 5-400 up to 109 and a width-height ratio of 1-100 up to 1-10000. Further, the invention is embodied as a process for making the nanowire wherein at least a polar aprotic solvents is used, the polar aprotic solvent being at least one from the list comprising DMF, DMSO, and DMAc solvents.