Abstract: High quality flake graphite is produced by methods that include mixing a carbon-containing feedstock with a catalyst to form a feedstock/catalyst mixture, or coating a catalyst with a carbon-containing feedstock, and subjecting the mixture or feedstock-coated catalyst to irradiation with a laser to convert the feedstock into flake graphite in the presence of the catalyst. In some instances, the feedstock is converted to a char by pyrolysis and the char is instead subjected to laser irradiation. The feedstock can be a biomass or a carbonaceous material. The catalyst can be an elemental metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof. In some instances, methods described herein have been found to produce high quality flake graphite in the form of potato shaped agglomerates.

Abstract: High quality carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes are produced by methods that include mixing a carbon-containing feedstock with a catalyst to form a feedstock/catalyst mixture, or coating a catalyst with a carbon-containing feedstock, and subjecting the feedstock/catalyst mixture or feedstock-coated catalyst to irradiation with a laser to convert the feedstock into carbon nanochains or carbon nanotubes in the presence of the catalyst. In some instances, the feedstock is converted to a char by pyrolysis and the char is instead subjected to laser irradiation. The carbon-containing feedstock can be a biomass or a carbonaceous material. In some instances, the catalyst is a metal salt, preferably a transition metal salt. In some instances, the catalyst is an elemental metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved process for the synthesis of hydrogen terminated silicon from Zintl phases. The hydrogen terminated silicon is useful, for example, as explosives, chemical and biochemical sensors, optoelectronic materials and Li-ion battery anode ion storage materials. The present disclosure also relates to an improved process for the synthesis of nanomaterials and composites from Zintl phases. The nanomaterials and composites are useful, for example, as ion storage materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved process for the synthesis of nanomaterials and composites from Zintl phases. The nanomaterials and composites are useful, for example, as ion storage materials.

Abstract: High quality flake graphite is produced by methods that include mixing a carbon-containing feedstock with a catalyst to form a feedstock/catalyst mixture, or coating a catalyst with a carbon-containing feedstock, and subjecting the mixture or feed-stock-coated catalyst to irradiation with a laser to convert the feedstock into flake graphite in the presence of the catalyst. In some instances, the feedstock is converted to a char by pyrolysis and the char is instead subjected to laser irradiation. The feedstock can be a biomass or a carbonaceous material. The catalyst can be an elemental metal, an alloy, or a combination thereof. In some instances, methods described herein have been found to produce high quality flake graphite in the form of potato shaped agglomerates.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved process for the synthesis of nanomaterials and composites from Zintl phases. The nanomaterials and composites are useful, for example, as ion storage materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to composites of hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNS) and a metal, a metalloid, an alloy, a compound thereof, or any combination of the foregoing, and the use of such composites for making ion storage materials, such as negative electrode active material for lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to composites of hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNS) and a metal, a metalloid, an alloy, a compound thereof, or any combination of the foregoing, and the use of such composites for making ion storage materials, such as negative electrode active material for lithium ion batteries.