Abstract: An aluminum borate whisker reinforced and toughened non-metallic matrix composite is provided, which specifically includes a non-metallic material reinforced and toughened with aluminum borate whiskers. The composite exhibits a higher bending strength and fracture toughness and a higher wear resistance. A method for preparing the composite is also provided. The method includes mixing the aluminum borate whiskers and the non-metallic material to form a mixture; and sintering the mixture by a vacuum hot press method, or molding the mixture.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing unsaturated hydrocarbons by black body photocatalytic (thermal radiative catalytic) conversion of saturated hydrocarbons. In this method, a saturated hydrocarbon reaction gas is introduced into a reaction furnace, and the saturated hydrocarbon is catalyzed to convert under heating and illumination conditions to prepare the unsaturated hydrocarbons. The photocatalysis is combined to the conventional thermal catalysis to improve the catalytic performance, accelerate the reaction speed, increase the conversion rate, and/or improve the selectivity of the catalytic reaction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing unsaturated hydrocarbons by black body photocatalytic (thermal radiative catalytic) conversion of saturated hydrocarbons. In this method, a saturated hydrocarbon reaction gas is introduced into a reaction furnace, and the saturated hydrocarbon is catalyzed to convert under heating and illumination conditions to prepare the unsaturated hydrocarbons. The photocatalysis is combined to the conventional thermal catalysis to improve the catalytic performance, accelerate the reaction speed, increase the conversion rate, and/or improve the selectivity of the catalytic reaction.

Abstract: An aluminum borate whisker reinforced and toughened non-metallic matrix composite is provided, which specifically includes a non-metallic material reinforced and toughened with aluminum borate whiskers. The composite exhibits a higher bending strength and fracture toughness and a higher wear resistance. A method for preparing the composite is also provided. The method includes mixing the aluminum borate whiskers and the non-metallic material to form a mixture; and sintering the mixture by a vacuum hot press method, or molding the mixture.

Abstract: A method for scaled-up synthesis of medium-entropy and high-entropy nanoparticles (NPs) including alloys and ceramics on various substrates such as carbon, metal and glass. The method requires only two steps to synthesize these NPs, including loading metal salt precursors with equal molar ratio onto a support and irradiating the support by highly intense laser pulses in liquid at ambient atmosphere. The method ensures multiple (3˜9) atoms to combine without segregation regardless of their mutual solubility. The method can easily tailor the particle size from nanometer to micrometer by controlling the parameters.

Abstract: A photocatalyst including a metal oxide semiconductor represented by the formula: In1?xMxAO4 wherein M represents a transition metal element, A represents an element belonging to the Group 5a of the Periodic Table and x is a number greater than 0 but smaller than 1.

Abstract: A photocatalyst including a metal oxide semiconductor represented by the formula:

Abstract: PrBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.Y exhibiting superconductivity is provided by a method including the steps of preparing a solvent consisting of a mixture of praseodymium oxide, at least one of barium oxide and barium carbonate, and copper oxide at a mixing ratio of between 1:3:5 and 1:8:20, disposing the solvent between a feed rod of PrBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 formed to a high density and a seed crystal, heating the solvent to a temperature of 880.degree.-980.degree. C. in an atmosphere of an inert gas of at least one of argon and nitrogen mixed with 0.01-2% oxygen to form a floating solvent zone, moving the floating solvent zone toward the feed rod at 0.1-1.0 mm/hr under a temperature gradient at the solid-liquid interface of 25.degree.-35.degree. C./mm to precipitate single crystal on the seed crystal, and heat-treating the single crystal obtained in an atmosphere containing not less than 15% oxygen. Another aspect of the invention provides a superconducting device including the superconducting PrBa.sub.2 Cu.