A method of making molecularly doped nanodiamond. A versatile method for doping diamond by adding dopants into a carbon precursor and producing diamond at high pressure, high temperature conditions. Molecularly doped nanodiamonds that have direct incorporation of dopants and therefore without the need for ion implantation. Molecularly-doped diamonds that have fewer lattice defects than those made with ion implantation.

There is provided a novel gelator which enables formation of gel by a simpler technique. A gelator including two or more alkylamide compounds of General Formula [I]: ##STR00001##
(where R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1-30 aliphatic group optionally having a substituent) or two or more alkylurea compounds of General Formula [II]: ##STR00002##
(where R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1-30 aliphatic group optionally having a substituent), wherein the gelator forms a gel exhibiting thixotropic properties.

Disclosed herein is a method of preparing a silica aerogel. The silica aerogel is prepared by adding a first water glass solution and an acid catalyst to a reactor to form a first silica wet gel. The method further includes adding a second water glass solution and an acid catalyst to the first silica wet gel. The method further includes adding a surface modifier solution to the first silica wet gel to form a second silica wet gel. The method further includes drying a silica wet gel including the first silica wet gel and the second silica wet gel. The prepared silica aerogel has a tap density of 0.032 to 0.070 g/mL and a carbon content of 11.2 to 12.1 wt %.

The present invention relates to a method for producing microcapsules having a calibrated diameter and at least one parameter characteristic of the mechanical properties of an equally calibrated microcapsule, characterized in that the method includes the steps of: producing microcapsules by means of injection into a microsystem (10) of three fluids (f1, f2, f3); deforming the microcapsules by means generating a flow within a capillary tube (20); observing and acquiring the outline of at least one deformed microcapsule observed by an optical acquisition means (30); comparing the acquired outline with outlines from a collection of reference microcapsule outlines; determining the diameter and said at least one parameter characteristic of the mechanical properties of the observed microcapsule; and modifying the flow rates (Q1, Q2, and/or Q3) of the fluids (f1, f2, f3). The present invention also relates to a system for producing calibrated microcapsules.

The present invention relates to a method for producing microcapsules having a calibrated diameter and at least one parameter characteristic of the mechanical properties of an equally calibrated microcapsule, characterized in that the method includes the steps of: producing microcapsules by means of injection into a microsystem (10) of three fluids (f1, f2, f3); deforming the microcapsules by means generating a flow within a capillary tube (20); observing and acquiring the outline of at least one deformed microcapsule observed by an optical acquisition means (30); comparing the acquired outline with outlines from a collection of reference microcapsule outlines; determining the diameter and said at least one parameter characteristic of the mechanical properties of the observed microcapsule; and modifying the flow rates (Q1, Q2, and/or Q3) of the fluids (f1, f2, f3). The present invention also relates to a system for producing calibrated microcapsules.

An aerogel that includes an open-cell structured polymer matrix that can have 5 wt. % to 50 wt. % of a polyamic amide polymer, based on the total weight of the aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel can have a density of 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.35 g/cm.sup.3 and can be thermally stable to resist browning at 330° C.

The invention relates to carbon aerogels with particle sizes less than 1 μm. The carbon aerogels are prepared by (A)reacting a mono- and/or polyhydroxybenzene, an aldehyde and a catalyst in a reactor at a reaction temperature T in the range from 75-200° C. at a pressure of 80-2400 kPa, (B) then spraying the reaction mixture from process step (A) into an acid, (C) drying the resulting product from process step (B) and (D) carbonizing it. The carbon aerogels according to the invention can be used as filler, reinforcing filler, UV stabilizer, electrode material, sound absorbents, thermal insulating material, catalyst, catalyst support, conductivity additive, absorbent for gas and/or liquid preparation or pigment.

An aqueous solution of alkali hexahydroxo platinate is produced. As a alkali hexahydroxo platinate, sodium hexahydroxoplatinate or potassium hexahydroxoplatinate is used. The aqueous solution of alkali hexahydroxo platinate is passed through a hydrogen form cation exchange resin layer in a cation exchange resin tower. The aqueous solution of alkali hexahydroxo platinate makes contact with the hydrogen form cation exchange resin of the hydrogen form cation exchange resin layer, thus a suspension of hexahydroxo platinic is generated. If gamma rays are irradiated to the suspension, a platinum oxide colloidal solution in which colloidal particles including a platinum dioxide, a platinum monoxide, and a platinum hydroxide exist is generated. In a platinum oxide colloidal solution, the content of impurities is little and a noble metal compound is dispersed stably in water.

This disclosure relates to a glucose-sensing electrode including a nanoporous metal layer and a maltose-blocking layer formed over the nanoporous metal layer. The nanoporous metal layer is capable of oxidizing both glucose and maltose without an enzyme specific to glucose or maltose in the glucose-sensing electrode. The maltose-blocking layer has porosity that permits glucose to pass therethrough and inhibits maltose from passing therethrough toward the nanoporous metal layer.

A process is described for preparing stable suspensions of metal nanoparticles by means of a microwave-assisted metal nanoparticle synthesis undertaken in an aqueous environment at low temperature and at ambient pressure and atmosphere.