Abstract: Disclosed is a niobium suboxide powder for the manufacture of capacitors with higher break down voltages, higher temperatures of operation and elongated lifetimes. The powder is doped with nitrogen which is at least partly present in the form homogeneously distributed, x-ray detectable Nb2N-crystal domains. The niobium suboxide powder contains niobium suboxide particles having a bulk nitrogen content of between 500 to 20,000 ppm.

Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes mixing the niobium oxide and niobium powder to form a powder mixture that is then heat treated to form heat treated particles which then undergo reacting in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the niobium powder, and at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Oxygen reduced niobium oxides having high porosity are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides.

Abstract: A method for producing a tantalum oxide particle including preparing tantalum alkoxide in a container and hydrolyzing the tantalum alkoxide in the container, wherein a maximum temperature T (° C.) in the container and a maximum pressure P (MPa) in the container in the hydrolysis satisfy the following formulae (1) and (2): 205?T<300 ??(1), and P?0.9 ??(2).

Abstract: Provided is a roasting method capable of reducing both C and S components in minerals down to 0.5% or less, respectively, and securing a yield ratio of 90% or more for the Mo component. In a rotary kiln 7, a V, Mo and Ni containing material containing C and S components is subjected to oxidizing roasting to remove the C and S components from the material before reducing the material by means of a reducing agent in order to recover valuable metals composed of V, Mo and Ni. The rotary kiln is equipped with a burner 11 disposed on a material charge side 8a of the roasting furnace 8 to which the material is charged. In the roasting furnace, a direction along which the material moves and a flow of oxygen-containing gas introduced into the roasting furnace 8 are set to be parallel with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to effectively inhibit the oxidization of VO(acac)2 in solution for months. It is believed that VO(acac)2 forms a ?-complex with as many as three allylic alcohols which precludes reaction with any oxygen in the system. Although saturated and homo-allylic alcohols were also tested, this effect appears only in the allylic-alcohol based solutions. This ability to inhibit oxidation of VO(acac)2 allows these solutions to be used for making thermochromic VO2 film much more easily and economically as it avoids the requirement of operating under low oxygen level conditions. Thus the present invention provides a method of stabilizing vanadium oxyacetylacetonate (VO(acac)2) in solution against oxidation for extended periods of time, comprising the steps of mixing the oxyacetylacetonate precursor in an allylic alcohol prior to spin-coating for VO2 film formation. The allylic alcohol may be (?-methallyl alcohol.

Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes mixing the niobium oxide and niobium powder to form a powder mixture that is then heat treated to form heat treated particles which then undergo reacting in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the niobium powder, and at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Oxygen reduced niobium oxides having high porosity are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides.

Abstract: A process for the production of a valve metal oxide powder, in particular an Nb2O5 or Ta2O5 powder by continuous reaction of a fluoride-containing valve metal compound with a base in the presence of water and calcination of the resultant product, wherein the reaction is performed in just one reaction vessel and at a temperature of at least 45° C. Valve metal oxide powders obtainable in said manner which exhibit a spherical morphology, a D50 value of 10 to 80 ?m and an elevated BET surface area.

Abstract: Particles having a thermochromic property include rod-shaped single crystals including vanadium dioxide (VO2). The aspect ratio of the long axis to the short axis of the rod-shaped single crystals is greater than 3 and less than or equal to 100, and the average length of the short axes of the rod-shaped single crystals is less than or equal to 500 nm.

Abstract: Processes are provided for making dense, spherical mixed-metal carbonate or phosphate precursors that are particularly well suited for the production of active materials for electrochemical devices such as lithium ion secondary batteries. Exemplified methods include precipitating dense, spherical particles of metal carbonates or metal phosphates from a combined aqueous solution using a precipitating agent such as ammonium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, or a mixture that includes sodium hydrogen carbonate. Other exemplified methods include precipitating dense, spherical particles of metal phosphates using a precipitating agent such as ammonium hydrogen phosphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium phosphate, sodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. Further provided are compositions of and methods of making dense, spherical metal oxides and metal phosphates using the dense, spherical metal precursors.

Abstract: Nb1-xTaxO powder wherein x is 0.1 to 0.5 is described. Further, this powder, as well as niobium suboxide powders, can be doped with at least one dopant oxide. Pressed bodies of the powder, sintered bodies, capacitor anodes, and capacitors are also described.

Abstract: Porous anode bodies suitable for use in solid state capacitors, the porous anode bodies prepared by processes which include providing a niobium suboxide powder comprising niobium suboxide particles having a bulk nitrogen content of 500 to 20,000 ppm, and agglomerating and coalescing the powder; and capacitors incorporating such anode bodies.

Abstract: Titanium oxide (usually titanium dioxide) catalyst support particles are doped for electronic conductivity and formed with surface area-enhancing pores for use, for example, in electro-catalyzed electrodes on proton exchange membrane electrodes in hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells. Suitable compounds of titanium and a dopant are dispersed with pore-forming particles in a liquid medium. The compounds are deposited as a precipitate or sol on the pore-forming particles and heated to transform the deposit into crystals of dopant-containing titanium dioxide. If the heating has not decomposed the pore-forming particles, they are chemically removed from the, now pore-enhanced, the titanium dioxide particles.

Abstract: A metal oxide electrode catalyst which includes a metal oxide (Y) obtained by heat treating a metal compound (X) under an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The valence of the metal in the metal compound (X) is smaller than the valence of the metal in the metal oxide (Y). Further, the metal oxide electrocatalyst has an ionization potential in the range of 4.9 to 5.5 eV.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing nanostructures. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of heating a reaction mixture at an elevated temperature, T, for a period of time effective to allow the growth of desired nanostructures. The reaction mixture contains an amount, P, of a carboxylate salt and an amount, L, of a fatty acid ligand, defining a molar ratio of the fatty acid ligand to the carboxylate salt, ?=L/P, and a hydrocarbon solvent. The reaction mixture is characterizable with a critical ligand protection, ?, associating with the chemical structure of the carboxylate salt such that when ?<?, the reaction mixture is in a limited ligand protection (LLP) domain, and when ?>?, the reaction mixture is in a sufficient ligand protection (SLP) domain.

Abstract: Nanocrystalline metal powders comprising tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium or niobium can be synthesized using a combustion reaction. Methods for synthesizing the nanocrystalline metal powders are characterized by forming a combustion synthesis solution by dissolving in water an oxidizer, a fuel, and a base-soluble, ammonium precursor of tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, or niobium in amounts that yield a soichiometric burn when combusted. The combustion synthesis solution is then heated to a temperature sufficient to substantially remove water and to initiate a self-sustaining combustion reaction. The resulting powder can be subsequently reduced to metal form by heating in a reducing gas environment.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a niobium monoxide able to realize large capacitance in a miniature sized capacitor. The invention relates to a niobium monoxide having a porous structure comprising particles, characterized in that the niobium monoxide has a full-width at half maximum of an X-ray diffraction peak corresponding to a (111) plane or an X-ray diffraction peak corresponding to a (200) plane of 0.21° to 1.0°. The niobium monoxide has a large specific surface area and porosity, and is especially suitable for use in a capacitor.

Abstract: A method for producing pig iron by direct processing of ferrotitania sands, by the steps of: (a) mixing carbonaceous reductant, a fluxing agent, and a binder with titanium-containing materials selected from iron sands, metallic oxides, and/or iron ore concentrates, to form a mixture; (b) forming agglomerates from the mixture (c) introducing the agglomerates to a melting furnace; (d) melting the agglomerates at a temperature of from 1500 to 1760 C and forming hot metal with a slag thereon; (e) removing the slag; (f) tapping the hot metal; and (g) recovering the titanium and vanadium values.

Abstract: At least one of a valve metal sintered capacitor anode body and a suboxide valve metal sintered capacitor anode body with a particle density of >88% of a theoretical density.

Abstract: A composition and a method for controlling a fungal disease, such as rust, in a crop, such as a grain crop, where said composition contains a vanadium containing compound that can be applied to the seed, or to the crop, or to the ground before, during or after seeding.

Abstract: A closed loop combustion system for the combustion of fuels using a molten metal oxide bed.

Abstract: Vanadium dioxide nanoparticles prepared by an inverse micelle hydrolysis of vanadium alkoxide in the presence of a basic catalyst.

Abstract: A method of depositing a material on a substrate comprises placing a substrate into a process space in fluidic communication with a Gaede pump stage (GPS). A precursor gas is then injected into the process space while injecting a draw gas at a draw gas flow rate into the GPS such that the injected precursor gas achieves a precursor pressure and a precursor gas flow rate in the process space. Subsequently, substantially all of the precursor gas remaining in the process space is swept from the process space by injecting a sweep gas into the process space such that the injected sweep gas achieves a sweep pressure and sweep gas flow rate in the process space. The precursor pressure is higher than the sweep pressure, and the precursor gas flow rate is lower than the sweep gas flow rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to amphiphilic, nanoscalar particles comprising lipophilic hydrolyzable groups on their surface. The invention also relates to methods for producing amphiphilic, nanoscalar particles and to compositions containing said particles.

Abstract: Nanoplatelet forms of metal hydroxide and metal oxide are provided, as well as methods for preparing same. The nanoplatelets are suitable for use as fire retardants and as agents for chemical or biological decontamination.

Abstract: Provided are methods for producing nanostructures and nanostructures obtained thereby. The methods include heating a certain point of a substrate dipped into a precursor solution of the nanostructures so that the nanostructures are grown in a liquid phase environment without evaporation of the precursor solution. The methods show excellent cost-effectiveness because of the lack of a need for precursor evaporation at high temperature. In addition, unlike the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process performed in a vapor phase, the method includes growing nanostructures in a liquid phase environment, and thus provides excellent safety and eco-friendly characteristics as well as cost-effectiveness. Further, the method includes locally heating a substrate dipped into a precursor solution merely at a point where the nanostructures are to be grown, so that the nanostructures are grown directly at a desired point of the substrate. Therefore, it is possible to grow and produce nanostructures directly in a device.

Abstract: A process of producing a ceramic powder including providing a plurality of precursor materials in solution, wherein each of the plurality of precursor materials in solution further comprises at least one constituent ionic species of a ceramic powder, combining the plurality of precursor materials in solution with an onium dicarboxylate precipitant solution to cause co-precipitation of the ceramic powder precursor in a combined solution; and separating the ceramic powder precursor from the combined solution. The process may further include calcining the ceramic powder precursor.

Abstract: A porous metal oxide is formed by creating a metal oxide material with a hydrolysis reaction in solution. The hydrolysis reaction or reaction products of a metal oxide precursor react simultaneously or in conjunction with a metal salt or a disassociation species of a metal salt. The metal oxide material is conditioned, and is refined to produce metal oxide particles having a porous structure containing crystallites.

Abstract: The vanadium sesquioxide nanocomposite is useful for applications in thermistors, current switching devices, static charge dissipation devices, and electromagnetic shielding. Vanadium sesquioxide nanoparticles are produced using a sol-gel process that results in a V2O5 gel. The gel is heated in a reducing atmosphere of about 5% H2-95% argon at 850° C. for about four hours. The resulting product is dried at about 50° C. for twenty-four hours to produce V2O3 powder having particles about 23 nm in size. The nanocomposite is prepared by mixing the sesquioxide nanoparticles with epoxy resin and hardener in a centrifuge, casting the mixture in a Teflon mold, heating the mixture at 60° C. for 30 minutes, and curing the product at 150 KN/m2 at 100° C. for two hours. The nanocomposite contains about 80-90 wt % epoxy resin-hardener mixture and about 10-20 wt % vanadium sesquioxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: Dielectric oxide materials prepared by producing a sol from a mixture of a metal oxide precursor, a solvent, and an epoxide, and preparing a metal oxide material from the sol. In various versions, the mixture can also include a cosolvent, one or more additional metal oxide precursors, water, or a precursor to a glassforming oxide, or any combination thereof. The prepared dielectric oxide materials can be in the form of thin films having high ? values, low electrical leakage, and low dielectric loss tangent values.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are capacitors having an anode based on niobium and a barrier layer based on niobium pentoxide, at least the barrier layer having a content of vanadium and process for their preparation and use.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solid dopant for doping a conductive polymer, which has a high dispersibility in a solvent by a plasma treatment, a method and an apparatus for preparing the solid dopants, a solid doping method of a conductive polymer using the solid dopants, and a solid doping method of a conductive polymer using plasma.

Abstract: A material comprising a plurality of nanoparticles. Each of the plurality of nanoparticles includes at least one of a metal phosphate, a metal silicate, a metal oxide, a metal borate, a metal aluminate, and combinations thereof. The plurality of nanoparticles is substantially monodisperse. Also disclosed is a method of making a plurality of substantially monodisperse nanoparticles. The method includes providing a slurry of at least one metal precursor, maintaining the pH of the slurry at a predetermined value, mechanically milling the slurry, drying the slurry to form a powder; and calcining the powder at a predetermined temperature to form the plurality of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A process comprises (a) combining (1) at least one base and (2) at least one metal carboxylate salt comprising (i) a metal cation selected from metal cations that form amphoteric metal oxides or oxyhydroxides and (ii) a lactate or thiolactate anion, or metal carboxylate salt precursors comprising (i) at least one metal salt comprising the metal cation and a non-interfering anion and (ii) lactic or thiolactic acid, a lactate or thiolactate salt of a non-interfering, non-metal cation, or a mixture thereof; and (b) allowing the base and the metal carboxylate salt or metal carboxylate salt precursors to react.

Abstract: A mold which is processed by ion beam irradiation or electron beam irradiation and in which a throughput of the mold is high and a decrease in the throughput or electrostatic discharge due to charging does not occur, a method of producing the mold, and a method of producing a molded article produced using the mold. When molding a plastic resin, at least one of a cavity and a core is provided on the surface of a conductive glass substrate. A method of producing a mold for molding a plastic resin or the like includes forming at least one of a cavity and a core by irradiating an ion beam on the surface of a conductive vanadate glass substrate that contains vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) as a main component and that has an electric conductivity in the range of 1.0×10?1 to 1.0×10?8 S/cm.

Abstract: A material comprising a plurality of nanoparticles. Each of the plurality of nanoparticles includes at least one of a metal phosphate, a metal silicate, a metal oxide, a metal borate, a metal aluminate, and combinations thereof. The plurality of nanoparticles is substantially monodisperse. Also disclosed is a method of making a plurality of substantially monodisperse nanoparticles. The method includes providing a slurry of at least one metal precursor, maintaining the pH of the slurry at a predetermined value, mechanically milling the slurry, drying the slurry to form a powder; and calcining the powder at a predetermined temperature to form the plurality of nanoparticles.

Abstract: Electrocatalyst layers include an electrocatalyst having high oxygen reduction activity that is useful as an alternative material to platinum catalysts. Uses of the electrocatalyst layers are also disclosed. The electrocatalyst layer includes an electrocatalyst that is formed of a metal oxide obtained by thermally decomposing a metal organic compound. The metal element forming the electrocatalyst is preferably one selected from the group consisting of niobium, titanium, tantalum and zirconium.

Abstract: Catalyst layers include an electrocatalyst having high oxygen reduction activity that is useful as an alternative material to platinum catalysts. Uses of the catalyst layers are also disclosed. A catalyst layer of the invention includes an electrode substrate and an electrocatalyst on the surface of the electrode substrate, and the electrocatalyst is formed of a metal compound obtained by hydrolyzing a metal salt or a metal complex.

Abstract: A dispersed ingredient having metal-oxygen bonds which is obtained by hydrolyzing a metal alkoxide in an organic solvent in the absence of an acid, a base, and/or a dispersion stabilizer, either with 0.5 to less than 1 mol of water per mol of the metal alkoxide or at ?20° C. or lower with 1.0 to less than 2.0 mol of water per mol of the metal alkoxide. In the organic solvent, the dispersed ingredient is stably dispersed without aggregating. Use of the dispersed ingredient enables a thin metal oxide film and a homogeneous organic/inorganic composite to be produced at a temperature as low as 200° C. or below.

Abstract: (1) A niobium monoxide powder for a capacitor represented by formula: NbOx (x=0.8 to 1.2) and optionally containing other elements in an amount of 50 to 200,000 ppm, having a tapping density of 0.5 to 2.5 g/ml, an average particle size of 10 to 1000 ?m, angle of repose from 10° to 60°, the BET specific surface area from 0.5 to 40 m2/g and a plurality of pore diameter peak tops in the pore distribution, and a producing method thereof; (2) a niobium monoxide sintered body, which is obtained by sintering the above niobium monoxide powder and, having a plurality of pore diameter peak tops in a range of 0.01 ?m to 500 ?m, preferably, the peak tops of two peaks among the plurality of pore diameter peak tops having a highest relative intensity are present in the range of 0.2 to 0.7 ?m and in the range of 0.7 to 3 ?m, respectively, and a producing method thereof; (3) a capacitor using the above sintered body and a producing method thereof; and (4) an electronic circuit and electronic device using the above capacitor.

Abstract: A process for recovering catalytic metals from fine catalyst slurried in heavy oil comprises pyrolizing fine catalyst slurried in heavy oil to provide one or more lighter oil products and a coke-like material and recovering catalytic metals from the coke-like material.

Abstract: An insulating target material for obtaining an insulating complex oxide film represented by a general formula AB1-XCXO3, an element A including at least Pb, an element B including at least one of Zr, Ti, V, W, and Hf, and an element C including at least one of Nb and Ta.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing powders of niobium suboxides or niobium, wherein the process comprising: mixing the niobium oxides as raw material with reducing agent, conducting a reaction at a temperature in the range of 600˜1300° C. in an atmosphere of vacuum or inert gas or hydrogen gas, leaching the reaction product to remove the residual reducing agent and the oxides of the reducing agent and other impurities, heat treating at a temperature of the range of 1000˜1600° C. in an atmosphere of vacuum or inert gas, and screening to obtain the powders of niobium suboxide or niobium of capacitor grade. According to the present invention, the niobium oxides were directly reduced into capacitor grade niobium suboxides or niobium with reducing agents which can be easily removed by mineral acids, wherein the speed of the reaction can be controlled and the reaction can directly reduce the niobium oxides into capacitor grade niobium suboxides or niobium powder.

Abstract: Disclosed are adhesive coating compositions containing a metal peroxide for producing clear colorless adhesive coatings on substrates, particularly micro particulate substrates. In one preferred embodiment the nanoparticle coatings are chemically active and function at a high level of efficiency due to the high total surface area of the micro particulate substrate. Also disclosed are coated substrates and compositions having nanoparticles bound to a substrate by the coating compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the chemical beneficiation of raw material containing tantalum-niobium such as wastes, scoria, concentrates and ores.

Abstract: An ultra hard alloy is a hard material with a high degree of toughness. Small amounts of various materials are added to achieve these properties. One such material is vanadium carbide (VC). However, a crushed carbide raw material has a large grain size, meaning the properties of a product cannot be improved uniformly. Vanadium trioxide (V2O3) was substituted for a carbide as one of the structural raw materials for a material used in producing a tool such as a hob. Because vanadium trioxide is softer than vanadium carbide, it can be readily converted to fine grains in the ball mill mixing process performed during raw material preparation. As a result, the effects of the uniformly dispersed vanadium trioxide results in improved hardness for the sintered ultra hard alloy.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for forming metal oxide on a substrate, a source gas including metal precursor flows along a surface of the substrate to form a metal precursor layer on the substrate. An oxidizing gas including ozone flows along a surface of the metal precursor layer to oxidize the metal precursor layer so that the metal oxide is formed on the substrate. A radio frequency power is applied to the oxidizing gas flowing along the surface of the metal precursor layer to accelerate a reaction between the metal precursor layer and the oxidizing gas. Acceleration of the oxidation reaction may improve electrical characteristics and uniformity of the metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of solid state capacitors and in particular high performance capacitors for use in modern electronic devices. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method by which powders of valve-action material may be modified to make them suitable for use in the formation of capacitor anodes for solid state electrolytic capacitors. According to the present invention there is provided a method of modifying raw valve-action material powder into capacitor grade structured powder comprising: (i) providing a raw powder to be converted; (ii) compressing a portion of the powder to form a porous solid mass of powder (iii) heating the solid mass to a pre-determined sintering temperature and maintaining the temperature for a pre-determined time period to form a sintered body, (iv) pulverising the sintered body to form a processed powder and (v) optionally grading the powder particles within pre-determined size ranges so as to collect capacitor grade powder.

Abstract: A process for the production of a valve metal oxide powder, in particular an Nb2O5 or Ta2O5 powder by continuous reaction of a fluoride-containing valve metal compound with a base in the presence of water and calcination of the resultant product, wherein the reaction is performed in just one reaction vessel and at a temperature of at least 45° C. Valve metal oxide powders obtainable in said manner which exhibit a spherical morphology, a D50 value of 10 to 80 ?m and an elevated BET surface area.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing oxide-based nano-structured materials using a chemical wet process, and thus, the method can be employed to manufacture oxide-based nano-structured materials having uniform composition and good electrical characteristics in large quantities, the method having a relatively simple process which does not use large growing equipment. The method includes preparing a first organic solution that comprises a metal, mixing the first organic solution with a second organic solution that contains hydroxyl radicals (—OH), filtering the mixed solution using a filter in order to extract oxide-based nano-structured materials formed in the mixed solution, drying the extracted oxide-based nano-structured materials to remove any remaining organic solution, and heat treating the dried oxide-based nano-structured materials.

Abstract: A process for the production of a valve metal oxide powder, in particular an Nb2O5 or Ta2O5 powder by continuous reaction of a fluoride-containing valve metal compound with a base in the presence of water and calcination of the resultant product, wherein the reaction is performed in just one reaction vessel and at a temperature of at least 45° C. Valve metal oxide powders obtainable in said manner which exhibit a spherical morphology, a D50 value of 10 to 80 ?m and an elevated BET surface area.