Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for making nanoparticles of metals, metal alloys, metal oxides and multi-metallic oxides, which comprises the steps of reacting a metal salt dissolved in water with an alkali metal salt of C4-25 carboxylic acid dissolved in a first solvent selected from the group consisting of C5-10 aliphatic hydrocarbon and C6-10 aromatic hydrocarbon to form a metal carboxylate complex; and heating the metal carboxylate complex dissolved in a second solvent selected from the group consisting of C6-25 aromatic, C6-25 ether, C6-25 aliphatic hydrocarbon and C6-25 amine to produce the nanoparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an Cu/Zn/Al-catalyst containing copper oxide and zinc oxide as catalytically active components and aluminium oxide as thermostabilising component. The catalyst is characterized in that the Cu/Zn atomic ratio is <2.8 and the aluminium oxide component is obtained from an aluminium hydroxide sol.

Abstract: Nanocrystalline forms of metal oxides, including binary metal oxide, perovskite type metal oxides, and complex metal oxides, including doped metal oxides, are provided. Methods of preparation of the nanocrystals are also provided. The nanocrystals, including uncapped and uncoated metal oxide nanocrystals, can be dispersed in a liquid to provide dispersions that are stable and do not precipitate over a period of time ranging from hours to months. Methods of preparation of the dispersions, and methods of use of the dispersions in forming films, are likewise provided. The films can include an organic, inorganic, or mixed organic/inorganic matrix. The films can be substantially free of all organic materials. The films can be used as coatings, or can be used as dielectric layers in a variety of electronics applications, for example as a dielectric material for an ultracapacitor, which can include a mesoporous material. Or the films can be used as a high-K dielectric in organic field-effect transistors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spinel article. The article comprises a spinel material, wherein the spinel material has a monomodal grain size distribution with average grain sizes of less than or equal to about 15 micrometers, and a biaxial flexural strength of greater than or equal to about 300 megapascals when measured by a ring-on-ring flexural test as per ASTM Standard C1499-08. Disclosed herein too is a spinel article manufactured by a method comprising calcining a spinel powder; milling the powder in a milling medium; granulating the powder; screening the powder to a mesh size of about 40 to about 200 mesh; pressing the powder to form an article; burning out organics from the article; sintering the article; and hot isostatically pressing the article.

Abstract: Crystalline scintillator materials comprising nano-scale particles of metal oxides, metal oxyhalides and metal oxysulfides are provided. The nano-scale particles are less than 100 nm in size. Methods are provided for preparing the particles. In one method, used to form oxyhalides and oxysulfides, metal salts are dissolved in water, and then precipitated out as fine particles using an aqueous base. After the particles are separated from the solution, they are annealed under a flow of a water saturated hydrogen anion gas, such as HCl or H2S, to form the crystalline scintillator particles. The other methods take advantage of the characteristics of microemulsion solutions to control droplet size, and, thus, the particle size of the final nano-particles. For example, in one method, a first micro-emulsion containing metal salts if formed. The first micro-emulsion is mixed with an aqueous base in a second micro-emulsion to form the final nano-scale particles.

Abstract: There is provided a manganese oxide material, wherein the material comprises a host material QqMnyMzOx, where Q and M are each any element, y is any number greater than zero, and q and z are each any number greater than or equal to zero, and at least one dopant substituted into the host material, the manganese oxide material having a layered structure in which the ions are arranged in a series of generally planar layers, or sheets, stacked one on top of another. In a particularly preferred material Q is Li and M is either Co, Ni, Al, or Li. Particularly preferred combinations of M and a dopant are Ni,Co; Al,Co; Li,Cu; Li,Al; and Li,Zn. A method of preparing the material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-lead composition for use as a thick-film resistor paste in electronic applications. The composition comprises particles of Li2RuO3 of diameter between 0.5 and 5 microns and a lead-free frit. The particles have had the lithium at or near primarily the surface of the particle at least partially exchanged for atoms of other metals.

Abstract: A method for making zinc aluminate nano-material, the method comprises the following steps. Firstly, providing a growing substrate and a growing device, and the growing device comprising a heating apparatus and a reacting room. Secondly, placing the growing substrate and a quantity of reacting materials into the reaction room, and the reacting materials comprising zinc and aluminum. Thirdly, introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the reaction room. Lastly, heating the reaction room to a temperature of 660˜1100° C.

Abstract: A method for reducing heavy metals, in particular in mercury, present in flue gases, includes the step of bringing the flue gases into contact with a particular class of sorbent material in the dry state. A preferred class of dry sorbent materials can be provided from a mineral compound selected from among halloysites and phyllosilicates of the palygorskite subgroup and the sepiolite subgroup of the palygorskite-sepiolite group according to the Dana classification. Mineral compounds of this group have been shown to provide a reduction in heavy metals, in particular in mercury, present in flue gases.

Abstract: The invention relates to nanoscale rutile or oxide powder that is obtained by producing amorphous TiO2 by mixing an alcoholic solution with a titanium alcoholate and with an aluminum alcohalate and adding water and acid. The amorphous, aluminum-containing TiO2 is isolated by removing the solvent, and is redispersed in water in the presence of a tin salt. Thermal or hydrothermal post-processing yields rutile or oxide that can be redispersed to primary particle size. The n-rutile or the obtained oxide having a primary particle size ranging between 5 and 20 nm can be incorporated into all organic matrices so that they remain transparent. Photocatalytic activity is suppressed by lattice doping with trivalent ions. If the amorphous precursor is redispersed in alcohol, or not isolated, but immediately crystallized, an anatase is obtained that can be redispersed to primary particle size.

Abstract: A particulate material is ground more efficiently using a mixture of at least two different sizes of yttrium-stabilized zirconia balls. The method facilitates preparation of photocatalysts with high activity.

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: Process for preparing mixed metal oxide powders Abstract Process for preparing a mixed metal oxide powder, in which oxidizable starting materials are evaporated in an evaporation zone of a reactor and oxidized in the vaporous state in an oxidation zone of this reactor, the reaction mixture is cooled after the reaction and the pulverulent solids are removed from gaseous substances, wherein at least one pulverulent metal, together with one or more combustion gases, is fed to the evaporation zone, the metal is evaporated completely in the evaporation zone under nonoxidizing conditions, an oxygen-containing gas and at least one metal compound are fed, separately or together, in the oxidation zone to the mixture flowing out of the evaporation zone, the oxygen content of the oxygen-containing gas being at least sufficient to oxidize the metal, the metal compound and the combustion gas completely.

Abstract: Process for the production of a metal oxide powder having a BET surface area of at least 20 m2/g by reacting an aerosol with oxygen in a reaction space at a reaction temperature of more than 700° C. and then separating the resulting powder from gaseous substances in the reaction space, wherein the aerosol is obtained by atomisation using a multi-component nozzle of at least one starting material, as such in liquid form or in solution, and at least one atomising gas, the volume-related mean drop diameter D30 of the aerosol is from 30 to 100 ?m and the number of aerosol drops larger than 100 ?m is up to 10%, based on the total number of drops, and metal oxide powder obtainable by this process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing metal oxides from metal containing solutions. Metal containing solutions are mixed with heated aqueous oxidizing solutions and processed in a continuous process reactor or batch processing system. Combinations of temperature, pressure, molarity, Eh value, and pH value of the mixed solution are monitored and adjusted so as to maintain solution conditions within a desired stability area during processing. This results in metal oxides having high or increased pollutant loading capacities and/or oxidation states. These metal oxides may be processed according to the invention to produce co-precipitated oxides of two or more metals, metal oxides incorporating foreign cations, metal oxides precipitated on active and inactive substrates, or combinations of any or all of these forms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel sol-gel methods in which metal oxide precursor and an alcohol-based solution are mixed to form a reaction mixture that is then allowed to react to produce nanosized metal oxide particles. The methods of the present invention are more suitable for preparing nanosized metal oxide than are previously-described sol-gel methods. The present invention can provide for nanosized metal oxide particles more efficiently than the previously-described sol-gel methods by permitting higher concentrations of metal oxide precursor to be employed in the reaction mixture. The foregoing is provided by careful control of the pH conditions during synthesis and by ensuring that the pH is maintained at a value of about 7 or higher.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline solution containing a tin salt dissolved therein is mixed with a zinc compound, and an aqueous solution of an indium salt is added to the mixture. The resultant hydroxide or hydrate containing tin, indium and zinc is treated by heating at a temperature of 110 to 300° C. in the present of water. Then, the resultant product is filtered, dried and treated by heating at a temperature of 300 to 1,000° C. in an air and further reduced at a temperature of 150 to 400° C. under a reducing atmosphere to obtain composite indium oxide particles of zinc oxide and tin-containing indium oxide, which have an average particle size of 5 to 100 nm. The resultant composite particles of zinc oxide and tin-containing indium oxide are suitably used to form a transparent conductive coating film having a UV-shielding effect.

Abstract: The preparation of finely divided, alkali metal-containing metal oxide powders which contain at least one alkali metal and at least one further metal from the group consisting of the transition metals, the remaining main group metals, the lanthanides and actinides is described. Precursor compounds of these components are introduced in solid form or in the form of a solution or a suspension into a pulsation reactor having a gas flow resulting from a flameless combustion and partly or completely converted into the desired multicomponent metal oxide powder.

Abstract: Crystalline scintillator materials comprising nano-scale particles of metal oxides, metal oxyhalides and metal oxysulfides are provided. The nano-scale particles are less than 100 nm in size. Methods are provided for preparing the particles. In one method, used to form oxyhalides and oxysulfides, metal salts are dissolved in water, and then precipitated out as fine particles using an aqueous base. After the particles are separated from the solution, they are annealed under a flow of a water saturated hydrogen anion gas, such as HCl or H2S, to form the crystalline scintillator particles. The other methods take advantage of the characteristics of microemulsion solutions to control droplet size, and, thus, the particle size of the final nano-particles. For example, in one method, a first micro-emulsion containing metal salts if formed. The first micro-emulsion is mixed with an aqueous base in a second micro-emulsion to form the final nano-scale particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a Polyoxometalate (POM) represented by the formula: (An)m+[HqM16X8W48O184(OH)32]m? or solvates thereof, wherein: A represents a cation, n is the number of the cations A, m is the charge of the polyoxoanion, q is the number of protons and varies from 0 to 12, M represents a transition metal, and X represents a heteroatom selected from P, As and mixtures thereof. This invention also relates to a process to produce such POMs and to a process for the homogeneous or heterogeneous oxidation of organic substrates comprising contacting the organic substrate with such POMs.

Abstract: Lattice doped stoichiometric-nanostructured materials having a plurality of discrete nanocrystalline particles, which are at least 95% crystalline, and a dopant either substituted in at least one nanocrystalline particle crystal lattice or interstitially located between crystal lattices or crystal planes of the nanocrystalline particles.

Abstract: A method of making Cu, Zn, and/or Cu/Zn alloy nanoparticles subjects one or more targets to laser energy to form a vapor and condenses the vapor to form nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than 20 nm. The optional application of an electric field results in nanoparticles with aspect ratios greater than 1.0. The target(s) can be a single target or separate targets comprising a mixture of copper, zinc, and/or copper/zinc. When separate targets are used, the laser beam can be split to form two separate beams each of which is made incident upon one of the targets. The nanoparticles can be formed in a chamber having an inert atmosphere or a reactive atmosphere and a convection current is created in the chamber by maintaining the top plate at a lower temperature than the bottom plate.

Abstract: Methods of producing a safe and hygienic method for industrially and efficiently producing a perovskite-type composite oxide are provided that can maintain the catalytic activity of a noble metal at a high level. Methods include preparing a precursor of the perovskite-type composite oxide by mixing organometal salts of elementary components of the perovskite-type composite oxide and heat treating the precursor. The precursor may be prepared by mixing all elementary components constituting the perovskite-type composite oxide, or by mixing one or more organometal salts of part of the elementary components with the other elementary components prepared as alkoxides, a coprecipitate of salts, or a citrate complex of the respective elements.

Abstract: An anode in a Direct Carbon Fuel Cell (DCFC) operating in a temperature range between 500 and 1200 degrees Celsius is provided. The anode material has high catalytic activity and selectivity for carbon oxidation, sufficient oxygen non-stoichiometry, rapid oxygen chemical diffusion, wide thermodynamic stability window to withstand reducing environment, sufficient electronic conductivity and tolerance to sulfur and CO2 environments. The anode has doped ruthenate compositions A1?xA?xRuO3, AB1?yRuyO3, or A1?xA?xB1?yRuyO3. A and A? may be divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent cation, and B is a multivalent cation. A is among lanthanide series elements La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er or Yb, and dopant A? is from Group IIA, IIIB, or IVB elements. The doped ruthenates can also be a (AB1?yRuyO3) structure or an ordered Ruddlesden-Popper series ((A1?xAx?)n+1(B1?yRuy)nO3n+1) structure where n=1 or 2. The dopant B is among Group IVB, VB, VIB, VIII, IB, and IIB elements.

Abstract: Method for producing metal oxide nanoparticles. The method includes generating an aerosol of solid metallic microparticles, generating plasma with a plasma hot zone at a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the microparticles into metal vapor, and directing the aerosol into the hot zone of the plasma. The microparticles vaporize in the hot zone into metal vapor. The metal vapor is directed away from the hot zone and into the cooler plasma afterglow where it oxidizes, cools and condenses to form solid metal oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: A meso porous transition metal oxide comprising one or more transition metal oxides, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, W and Re, and the pore wall of the meso pore thereof has a crystalline structure; and a method for preparing the meso porous transition metal oxide, characterized as comprising a step of carrying out a secondary calcination at 600-800° C. for 10 minutes to 10 hours.

Abstract: A ceramic powder having a perovskite structure is manufactured by synthesizing a ceramic powder by a dry synthesis process and then heat-treating the synthesized ceramic powder in a solution. The dry synthesis method includes a solid phase synthesis method, an oxalate method, a citric acid method and a gas phase synthesis method.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of preparing magnetic ferrites from layered precursors in which Fe2+ is first introduced into the layers of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in order to prepare Me-Fe2+—Fe3+ LDHs, and then by utilizing the easily oxidized nature of Fe2+, binary or multi-component ferrite materials containing Fe3+ in a single crystalline phase can be prepared. Values of the saturation magnetization of ferrites prepared by the method are significantly increased compared with ferrites prepared by traditional methods. Because the metal elements in the layered precursor have the characteristics of a high degree of dispersion, high activity and small particle size (average particle size 40-200 nm), no milling is required before calcination, thus simplifying the production process, shortening the production period, reducing capital investment in equipment and economizing on energy costs. In addition, the method does not corrode production equipment and does not pollute the environment.

Abstract: Nanoparticles comprising titanium, such as nanoscale doped titanium metal compounds, inorganic titanium compounds, and organic titanium compounds, their methods of manufacture, and methods of preparation of products from nanoparticles comprising titanium are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is the method for preparation of transition metal oxide having micro-mesoporous structure whose average fine pores size is not less than 1 nm and not more than 2 nm comprising, adding and dissolving transition metal salt which is a precursor of transition metal oxide and/or metal alkoxide in the solution prepared by dissolving polymer surfactant in organic solvent, hydrolyzing said transition metal salt and/or metal alkoxide and preparing sol solution which is polymerized and self organized, then obtaining gel whose organization is stabilized from said sol solution and removing said polymer surfactant by using water of room temperature or water to which alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ion is added.

Abstract: A method is described for the manufacture of hydrotalcites by using at least one compound of a bivalent metal (Component A) and at least one compound of a trivalent metal (Component B), wherein at least one of these components is not used in the form of a solution, characterized in that a) at least one of the Components A and/or B which is not used in the form of a solution, shortly before or during mixing of the components, and/or b) the mixture containing the Components A and B is subjected to intensive grinding until an average particle size (D50) in the range of approx. 0.1 to 5 ?m is obtained, and optionally, after aging treatment or hydrothermal treatment, the resulting hydrotalcite product is separated, dried, and optionally calcinated.

Abstract: Mesoporous aluminum oxides with high surface areas have been synthesized using inexpensive, small organic templating agents instead of surfactants. Optionally, some of the aluminum can be framework-substituted by one or more other elements. The material has high thermal stability and possesses a three-dimensionally randomly connected mesopore network with continuously tunable pore sizes. This material can be used as catalysts for dehydration, hydrotreating, hydrogenation, catalytic reforming, steam reforming, amination, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and Diels-Alder synthesis, etc.

Abstract: Process for preparing mixed oxides by reacting alkoxides of the elements titanium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum or mixtures thereof with metal hydroxides, metal carboxylates, metal hydroxycarbonates, metal carbonates or mixtures thereof of the elements lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc, cadmium, aluminum, gallium, yttrium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, dysprosium, europium, lead, bismuth or mixtures thereof in a C1–C8-alkanol, in a glycol ether or in a mixture thereof at from 50 to 200° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a complex oxide having a BET specific surface area of about 10 to about 200 m2/g, comprising zinc oxide as a primary component, containing crystalline structures of both zinc oxide and silica, and exhibiting diffraction peaks in lattice planes (100), (002), and (101), which are X-ray crystallographically specific to diffraction peaks of crystalline zinc oxide, and in a lattice plane (101) which is X-ray crystallographically specific to the diffraction peak of crystalline silica.

Abstract: A method for producing nanostructured multi-component or doped oxide particles and the particles produced therein. The process includes the steps of (i) dissolving salts of cations, which are either dopants or components of the final oxide, in an organic solvent; (ii) adding a dispersion of nanoparticles of a single component oxide to the liquid solution; (iii) heating the liquid solution to facilitate diffusion of cations into the nanoparticles; (iv) separating the solids from the liquid solution; and (v) heat treating the solids either to form the desired crystal structure in case of multi-component oxide or to render the homogeneous distribution of dopant cation in the host oxide structure. The process produces nanocrystalline multi-component or doped oxide nanoparticles with a particle size of 5–500 nm, more preferably 20–100 nm; the collection of particles have an average secondary (or aggregate) particle size is in the range of 25–2000 nm, preferably of less than 500 nm.

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).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a highly-crystallized double oxide powder composed of a single crystal phase which can be used as a phosphor material, a dielectric material, a magnetic material, etc. The method involves forming fine droplets of a raw material solution containing a raw material compound that includes at least one metal element and/or at least one semi-metal element that constitutes a double oxide, and heating these droplets at a high temperature, wherein the raw material solution is a solution which exhibits only one main peak attributable to the decomposition reaction of the raw material compound or a reaction intermediate thereof in a DTA profile when the solution is dried and solidified and subjected to TG-DTA measurement.

Abstract: A method of forming metal oxide powders includes the steps of solid state mixing of at least one metal nitrate salt, such as Fe(NO3)3 or a combination of metal nitrate salts such as Zn(NO3)3,6H2O and Ga(NO3)3, xH2O, and at least one reducing organic acid, such as tartaric or citric acid. The mixture is heated to form a metal oxide powder, such as alpha-iron oxide (?-Fe2O3) or a mixed metal powder such as zinc gallate phosphor (ZnGa2O4). A metal oxide precursor intermediate can be formed and then heated to form the metal oxide powder.

Abstract: The oxide materials are of the class of ternary mesoporous mixed oxide materials including lanthanum, a metal M selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, and zirconium or cerium such a mesoporous La—Co—Zr mixed oxide material designated as Meso LCZ[x] where x is the atomic ratio (La+Co)/La+Co+Zr. They are useful as catalysts since they show high activities for hydrocarbon oxidation and good resistance against poisoning agents. These highly ordered mesoporous mixed oxides are synthesized by: preparing an amorphous solution of a La-M precursor and adding a salt of zirconium or cerium thereto; acidifying the amorphous solution in the presence of a surfactant under conditions to obtain a clear homogeneous solution; adjusting pH of the solution under conditions to form a solid precipitate; separating the solution and surfactant from the precipitate; and calcinating the precipitate.

Abstract: A method for making ferrite powder may include providing ferrite feed materials in a form of particles having different sizes and irregular shapes, and exposing the ferrite feed materials to a plasma to provide a more spherical shape to irregularly shaped particles to thereby make the ferrite powder. An apparatus for making ferrite powder may include a feeder for ferrite feed materials and a plasma generator for exposing the ferrite feed materials to a plasma.

Abstract: A ZnO/sapphire substrate includes an R-plane sapphire substrate whose (0 1-1 2) planes are parallel to the surface thereof and a ZnO epitaxial film formed on the R-plane sapphire substrate. The (1 1-2 0) planes of the ZnO epitaxial film are disposed with an interplanar spacing in the range of about 1.623 to 1.627 Å parallel to the (0 1-1 2) planes of the R-plane sapphire substrate.

Abstract: A method of producing fine particles of an oxide of a metal, comprising the steps of: preparing an acidic solution which contains ions of the metal; precipitating fine particles of a hydroxide of the metal by adding an alkaline solution to the acidic solution; collecting the fine particles of the hydroxide of the metal precipitated in a mixed solution of the acidic solution and the alkaline solution; mixing fine particles of a carbon with the collected fine particles of the hydroxide of the metal; and heat-treating a mixture of the fine particles of the hydroxide of the metal and the fine particles of the carbon at a predetermined temperature in a non-reducing atmosphere, whereby the fine particles of the oxide of the metal are produced.

Abstract: A method for producing a barium-containing composite metal oxide, comprising calcining a mixture of a barium compound and a metal compound comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, europium, manganese, strontium, calcium, terbium, zinc and titanium, or calcining a barium-containing composite metal salt comprising barium and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, europium, manganese, strontium, calcium, terbium, zinc and titanium, in a gas comprising a hydrogen halide and water vapor.