Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing metal-containing particles, the method comprising subjecting an aqueous solution comprising a metal salt, Eh, lowering reducing agent, pH adjusting agent, and water to conditions that maintain the Eh value of the solution within the bounds of an Eh-pH stability field corresponding to the composition of the metal-containing particles to be produced, and producing said metal-containing particles in said aqueous solution at a selected Eh value within the bounds of said Eh-pH stability field. The invention is also directed to the resulting metal-containing particles as well as devices in which they are incorporated.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing metal-containing (e.g., non-oxide, oxide, or elemental) nano-objects, which may be nanoparticles or nanowires, the method comprising contacting an aqueous solution comprising a metal salt and water with an electrically powered electrode to form said metal-containing nano-objects dislodged from the electrode, wherein said electrode possesses a nanotextured surface that functions to confine the particle growth process to form said metal-containing nano-objects. The invention is also directed to the resulting metal-containing compositions as well as devices in which they are incorporated.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus and a method for continuously generating a hydride gas of M1 which is substantially free of oxygen in a divided electrochemical cell. An impermeable partition or a combination of an impermeable partition and a porous diaphragm can be used to divide the electrochemical cell. The divided electrochemical cell has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein the cathode chamber has a cathode comprising M1, the anode chamber has an anode comprising M2 and is capable of generating oxygen, an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising a hydroxide M3OH partially filling the divided electrochemical cell. Hydride gas generated in the cathode chamber and oxygen generated in the anode chamber are removed through independent outlets. M1 can be selenium, phosphorous, silicon, metal or metal alloy, M2 is metal or metal alloy suitable for anonic oxygen generation, and M3 is NH4 or an alkali or alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to the electrolysis of aqueous electrolyte solutions containing GeO2; hydroxide and water with metal alloy electrodes, such as, copper or tin rich alloy electrodes with alloying elements such as Sn, Pb, Zn, Cu etc, to generate Germane (GeH4). Cu-rich alloy electrodes have been demonstrated to increase the GeH4 current efficiency by almost 20% compared to Cu metal electrodes. Germanium deposition has been found to be either absent or minimal by using Cu-rich alloy electrodes. Several different methods for maintaining the cell performance or restoring the cell performance after a reduction in current efficiency over time, have been identified. A titration-based method for the analysis of the electrolyte, to obtain the concentration of GeO2 and the concentration of hydroxide has also been disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the electrolysis of aqueous electrolyte solutions containing GeO2; hydroxide and water with metal alloy electrodes, such as, copper or tin rich alloy electrodes with alloying elements such as Sn, Pb, Zn, Cu etc, to generate Germane (GeH4). Cu-rich alloy electrodes have been demonstrated to increase the GeH4 current efficiency by almost 20% compared to Cu metal electrodes. Germanium deposition has been found to be either absent or minimal by using Cu-rich alloy electrodes. Several different methods for maintaining the cell performance or restoring the cell performance after a reduction in current efficiency over time, have been identified. A titration-based method for the analysis of the electrolyte, to obtain the concentration of GeO2 and the concentration of hydroxide has also been disclosed.

Abstract: A dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus including a concentration gradient generating unit, a method of separating a target material in a sample solution using the DEP apparatus, and a method of screening the optimum condition for separating a target material are provided.

Abstract: Method and Systems for extracting a concentrated sample of particles include priming a concentrate reservoir by passing a fluid through the concentrate reservoir to remove air. The concentrate reservoir has a first end with an opening and second end with an opening. The second end of the concentrate reservoir is closed off, and particles are accumulated within the concentrate reservoir by use of a particle concentrator. Thereafter, the first end of the concentrate reservoir is closed off, isolating the concentrate reservoir from particle concentrator, from which the particles were obtained. The second end of the concentrate reservoir is thereafter opened, and the particles of the concentrated sample in the concentrate reservoir are extracted to a sample capture reservoir through the second end opening of the concentrate reservoir.

Abstract: Using a solution mining procedure, an ore (10) is treated with a solution of acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide so as to form a leachate containing lead ions. Lead ions (and other metal ions such as zinc and manganese) are stripped (22, 24, 26) by solvent extraction from the leachate to form separate aqueous solutions. The aqueous solution containing lead ions is treated electrochemically in the anodic compartment of a separated electrochemical cell (42) to form a precipitate of lead oxide. Manganese dioxide can be produced similarly (72). A precipitate of zinc hydroxide can be formed in the cathode compartment of a separated electrochemical cell (56). In the cells (42, 72) extracting lead ions and manganese ions, the cathode compartment is used to generate hydrogen peroxide (for use in making the leachant), either directly or indirectly.