Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.

Abstract: Methods for producing nanoparticles of metal alloys and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant and cationic metal to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles of zero-valent metal alloys produced by the method include ˜7 nm zero-valent manganese-bismuth useful in fabricating a less expensive permanent magnet.

Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. In some instances, the composition includes a first zero-valent metal atom and a second zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metal alloy nanoparticles.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.

Abstract: Electrodes employing as active material magnesium nanoparticles synthesized by a novel route are provided. The nanoparticle synthesis is facile and reproducible, and provides magnesium nanoparticles of very small dimension and high purity for a wide range of metals. The electrodes utilizing these nanoparticles thus may have superior capability. Magnesium ion electrochemical cells employing said electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metallic nanoparticles.

Abstract: A novel ferromagnetic composition is provided. The reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The composition need not contain any inherently ferromagnetic elements and can be much lighter than conventional iron or other metal-based ferromagnetic materials. Core-solenoid devices having ferromagnetic cores which employ the novel ferromagnetic composition are additionally provided. Examples such as electric motors or generators for use in hybrid or all-electric automobiles are included.

Abstract: Electrodes for metal-air batteries and the metal-air batteries employing such electrodes are provided. The electrodes include metal nanoparticles synthesized via a novel route. The nanoparticle synthesis is facile and reproducible, and provides metal nanoparticles of very small dimension and high purity for a wide range of metals. The electrodes utilizing these nanoparticles thus may have superior capability. Electrochemical cells employing said electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metallic nanoparticles.

Abstract: A nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material composed of a Bi2(Te1-xSex)3 thermoelectric conversion material (where 0?x<1) as a matrix in which ceramic phonon scattering particles are dispersed. The nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material produced by adjusting a first aqueous solution of a Bi complex to a higher pH value than an isoelectric point of phonon scattering particles, adding phonon scattering particles not modified on their surface to the pH adjusted first aqueous solution, and mixing the first aqueous solution to which phonon scattering particles have been added and a second aqueous solution including at least the former of Te anions and Se anions.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a liquid from other substances comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, an inlet connected to the first chamber, an outlet connected to the second chamber, a bypass conduit passing from the inlet, through the first chamber, and into the second chamber, and a passage between the first and second chambers and configured to allow the liquid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, the passage located below the bypass conduit, wherein the bypass conduit comprises a first orifice located within the first chamber and a second orifice located in the second chamber.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material that comprises a ternary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of a Group 2 or Group 12 metal oxide dispersed therein. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material that comprises a ternary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of a Group 2 or Group 12 metal oxide dispersed therein. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of nanoparticles.

Abstract: Reversible thermal rectifiers for selectively controlling the direction of heat flow include a plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects disposed in a fluid medium, wherein each of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects include a refractive side and a reflective side such that heat flows past the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the refractive side, and heat is reflected from the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the reflective side, and a bidirectional field actuator system that selectively orients the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects between a first orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a first direction, and a second orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material that comprises a ternary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of transition metal oxide dispersed therein. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of transition metal oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: Superparamagnetic core shell nanoparticles having a core of a iron cobalt ternary alloy and a shell of a silicon oxide directly on the core and a particle size of 2 to 200 nm are provided. Methods to prepare the nanoparticles are also provided.

Abstract: A process for forming thermoelectric nanoparticles includes the steps of providing a reducing agent, and at least one first metal; mixing the reducing agent and at least one first metal forming a premixed reducing solution; providing a second metal containing compound, and a core material; mixing the second metal containing compound and the core material forming a premixed second metal reaction solution separate from the premixed reducing solution; and mixing and reacting the premixed second metal reaction solution with the premixed reducing solution. A spontaneous alloying occurs about the core material forming thermoelectric composite nanoparticles.

Abstract: A transmit chain comprises a transmit path with a quadrature up-converter which up-converts quadrature signal components to RF. An observation path samples a portion of the RF signal and a quadrature down-converter down-converts the RF signal to baseband quadrature signal components. A local oscillator signal source provides the up-converter and the down-converter with a local oscillator signal and is operable in two states. In a second of the states the local oscillator signal is applied to the up-converter and the down-converter and a phase shift is made to the signal applied to up-converter or the down-converter compared to the first of the states. A processor monitors properties of the down-converted signal while the local oscillator signal source is operating in the first state and the second state. The processor calculates a correction to apply to the baseband observation signal to correct for errors introduced by the observation path.

Abstract: A method of producing a nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material which has a high thermoelectric conversion performance without modifying the surface of the phonon scattering particles and thereby preventing the conventional defects due to an organic phase derived from a modifier. The method produces a nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material comprised of a Bi2(Te1-x,Sex)3 thermoelectric conversion material (where 0?x<1) as a matrix in which ceramic phonon scattering particles are dispersed, characterized by including a step of adjusting a first aqueous solution of a Bi complex to a higher pH value than an isoelectric point of phonon scattering particles, a step of adding phonon scattering particles not modified on their surface to the pH adjusted first aqueous solution, and a step of mixing the first aqueous solution to which phonon scattering particles have been added and a second aqueous solution including at least the former of Te anions and Se anions.