Abstract: A method of synthesizing an electrode material for lithium ion batteries from Fe3O4 nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to yield (Fe3O4-NWNTs) composite heterostructures. The method includes linking the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes using a ?-? interaction synthesis process to yield the composite heterostructure electrode material. Since Fe3O4 has an intermediate voltage, it can be considered an anode (when paired with a higher voltage material) or a cathode (when paired with a lower voltage material).

Abstract: A method of fabricating nanocomposite anode material embodying a lithium titanate (LTO)-multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite intended for use in a lithium-ion battery includes providing multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNTs), including nanotube surfaces, onto which functional oxygenated carboxylic acid moieties are arranged, generating 3D flower-like, lithium titanate (LTO) microspheres, including thin nanosheets and anchoring the acid-functionalized MWNTs onto surfaces of the 3D LTO microspheres by ?-? interaction strategy to realize the nanocomposite anode material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating nanocomposite anode material embodying a lithium titanate (LTO)-multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite intended for use in a lithium-ion battery includes providing multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNTs), including nanotube surfaces, onto which functional oxygenated carboxylic acid moieties are arranged, generating 3D flower-like, lithium titanate (LTO) microspheres, including thin nanosheets and anchoring the acid-functionalized MWNTs onto surfaces of the 3D LTO microspheres by ?-? interaction strategy to realize the nanocomposite anode material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing ternary metal-based nanowire networks. The method comprises combining an aqueous mixture of a platinum hydrate, a ruthenium hydrate, and an iron hydrate with a solution of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide in chloroform to form an inverse micellar network; adding a reducing agent to reduce metal ions within the inverse micellar network; and isolating the nanowires. The relative amounts of the platinum, ruthenium and iron in the mixture correlate to the atomic ratio of the platinum, ruthenium and iron in the ternary nanowires. The diameters of the ternary nanowires are from about 0.5 nm to about 5 nm.

Abstract: A method of fabricating nanocomposite anode material embodying a lithium titanate (LTO)-multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite intended for use in a lithium-ion battery includes providing multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNTs), including nanotube surfaces, onto which functional oxygenated carboxylic acid moieties are arranged, generating 3D flower-like, lithium titanate (LTO) microspheres, including thin nanosheets and anchoring the acid-functionalized MWNTs onto surfaces of the 3D LTO microspheres by ?-? interaction strategy to realize the nanocomposite anode material.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing an electrode material for lithium ion batteries from Fe3O4 nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to yield (Fe3O4-NWNTs) composite heterostructures. The method includes linking the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes using a ?-? interaction synthesis process to yield the composite heterostructure electrode material. Since Fe3O4 has an intermediate voltage, it can be considered an anode (when paired with a higher voltage material) or a cathode (when paired with a lower voltage material).

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of producing a segmented 1D nanostructure. The method includes providing a vessel containing a template wherein on one side of the template is a first metal reagent solution and on the other side of the template is a reducing agent solution, wherein the template comprises at least one pore; allowing a first segment of a 1D nanostructure to grow within a pore of the template until a desired length is reached; replacing the first metal reagent solution with a second metal reagent solution; allowing a second segment of a 1D nanostructure to grow from the first segment until a desired length is reached, wherein a segmented 1D nanostructure is produced.

Abstract: Provided herein is a nanostructure refined by suspending an unrefined nanostructure with a solvent, dispersing the suspended nanostructure in an acidic solution and agitating the acidic solution to produce a refined nanostructure.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing activated electrocatalyst, preferably having a morphology of a nanostructure, is disclosed. The method includes safely and efficiently removing surfactants and capping agents from the surface of the metal structures. With regard to metal nanoparticles, the method includes synthesis of nanoparticle(s) in polar or non-polar solution with surfactants or capping agents and subsequent activation by CO-adsorption-induced surfactant/capping agent desorption and electrochemical oxidation. The method produces activated macroparticle or nanoparticle electrocatalysts without damaging the surface of the electrocatalyst that includes breaking, increasing particle thickness or increasing the number of low coordination sites.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing ternary metal-based nanowire networks. The method comprises combining an aqueous mixture of a platinum hydrate, a ruthenium hydrate, and an iron hydrate with a solution of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide in chloroform to form an inverse micellar network; adding a reducing agent to reduce metal ions within the inverse micellar network; and isolating the nanowires. The relative amounts of the platinum, ruthenium and iron in the mixture correlate to the atomic ratio of the platinum, ruthenium and iron in the ternary nanowires. The diameters of the ternary nanowires are from about 0.5 nm to about 5 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing ultrathin palladium-transitional metal composite nanowires. The method comprises mixing a palladium salt, a transitional melt salt, a surfactant and a phase transfer agent to form a mixture. The transitional metal is selected from the first row transitional metals. A reducing agent is added to the mixture; and the nanowires are isolated. The relative amount of the palladium and the transitional metal in the mixture correlate to the atomic ratio of the palladium and transitional metal in the composite nanowires. The amount of palladium is at least 60%. The diameters of the composite nanowires are from about 1 nm to about 10 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a crystalline rare earth phosphate nanostructure. The method comprising: providing a rare earth metal precursor solution and providing a phosphate precursor solution; placing a porous membrane between the metal precursor solution and the phosphate precursor solution, wherein metal cations of the metal precursor solution and phosphate ions of the phosphate precursor solution react, thereby producing a crystalline rare earth metal phosphate nanostructure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a crystalline metal sulfide nanostructure. The metal is a transitional metal or a Group IV metal. In the method, a porous membrane is placed between a metal precursor solution and a sulfur precursor solution. The metal cations of the metal precursor solution and sulfur ions of the sulfur precursor solution react, thereby producing a crystalline metal sulfide nanostructure.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of producing a segmented 1D nanostructure. The method includes providing a vessel containing a template wherein on one side of the template is a first metal reagent solution and on the other side of the template is a reducing agent solution, wherein the template comprises at least one pore; allowing a first segment of a 1D nanostructure to grow within a pore of the template until a desired length is reached; replacing the first metal reagent solution with a second metal reagent solution; allowing a second segment of a 1D nanostructure to grow from the first segment until a desired length is reached, wherein a segmented 1D nanostructure is produced.

Abstract: Provided herein is a nanostructure refined by suspending an unrefined nanostructure with a solvent, dispersing the suspended nanostructure in an acidic solution and agitating the acidic solution to produce a refined nanostructure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a crystalline metal sulfide nanostructure. The method comprising: providing a metal precursor solution and providing a sulfur precursor solution; placing a porous membrane between the metal precursor solution and the sulfur precursor solution, wherein metal cations of the metal precursor solution and sulfur ions of the sulfur precursor solution react, thereby producing a crystalline metal sulfide nanostructure, wherein the metal is a transitional metal or a Group IV metal.

Abstract: Nanoscale (less than 100 nm) ferroelectric materials are provided using a facile, largescale, environmentally friendly solid-state reaction. Specifically, the solid-state reaction produces perovskite nanowires, perovskite nanocubes, and/or perovskite nanoparticles which can be employed in numerous electronic applications. The solid-state reaction includes reacting a perovskite precursor, i.e., metal oxalate(s), and a metal oxide nanostructural template in the presence of an alkali salt and a surfactant.

Abstract: A single crystalline ternary nanostructure having the formula AxByOz, wherein x ranges from 0.25 to 24, and y ranges from 1.5 to 40, and wherein A and B are independently selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Cm, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, F, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Ho, I, In, Ir, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, Os, P, Pb, Pd, Pr, Pt, Rb, Re, Rh, Ru, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Tc, Te, Ti, Ti, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, and Zn, wherein the nanostructure is at least 95% free of defects and/or dislocations.

Abstract: The present invention includes pure single-crystalline metal oxide and metal fluoride nanostructures, and methods of making same. These nanostructures include nanorods and nanoarrays.

Abstract: A low-temperature hydrothermal reaction is provided to generate crystalline perovskite nanotubes such as barium titanate (BaTiO3) and strontium titanate (SrTiO3) that have an outer diameter from about 1 nm to about 500 nm and a length from about 10 nm to about 10 micron. The low-temperature hydrothermal reaction includes the use of a metal oxide nanotube structural template, i.e., precursor. These titanate nanotubes have been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and selected area electron diffraction (SAED).