A non-stoichiometric nanocomposite coating and method of making and using the coating. The non-stoichiometric nanocomposite coating is disposed on a base material, such as a metal or ceramic; and the nanocomposite consists essentially of a matrix of an alloy selected from the group of Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt and Re which are catalytically active for cracking of carbon bonds in oils and greases and a grain structure selected from the group of borides, carbides and nitrides.

An apparatus comprising a substrate, one or more nanowire pillars, each having a base portion and a tip portion, a first electrode connected to the tip portions of the one or more nanowire pillars, an internal hollow cavity positioned between the substrate and the first electrode, such that at least a portion of each of the one or more nanowire pillars extend through the internal hollow cavity, and a second electrode proximate the first side of the substrate. High-performance broadband photodetectors and other optoelectronics for converting light to electricity with enhanced absorption and carrier collection.

A process for fabricating a thermochromic film is disclosed which includes the steps of dispersing a predetermined amount of vanadium dioxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticles in a predetermined amount of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), stirring a mixture thereof for a first predetermined amount of time, generating cross-links to molecule chains of the PMMA in the mixture, and blade coating a predetermined thickness of the cross-linked mixture on a substrate to form the thermochromic film.

Described herein are improved composite anodes and lithium-ion batteries made therefrom. Further described are methods of making and using the improved anodes and batteries. In general, the anodes include a porous composite having a plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites. At least one of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites is formed from a dendritic particle, which is a three-dimensional, randomly-ordered assembly of nanoparticles of an electrically conducting material and a plurality of discrete non-porous nanoparticles of a non-carbon Group 4A element or mixture thereof disposed on a surface of the dendritic particle. At least one nanocomposite of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites has at least a portion of its dendritic particle in electrical communication with at least a portion of a dendritic particle of an adjacent nanocomposite in the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites.

Described herein are improved composite anodes and lithium-ion batteries made therefrom. Further described are methods of making and using the improved anodes and batteries. In general, the anodes include a porous composite having a plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites. At least one of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites is formed from a dendritic particle, which is a three-dimensional, randomly-ordered assembly of nanoparticles of an electrically conducting material and a plurality of discrete non-porous nanoparticles of a non-carbon Group 4A element or mixture thereof disposed on a surface of the dendritic particle. At least one nanocomposite of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites has at least a portion of its dendritic particle in electrical communication with at least a portion of a dendritic particle of an adjacent nanocomposite in the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles and their use to form nanocomposite material, in particular bionanocomposite material, specifically wherein the nanoparticles are formed using plant virus attached to a scaffold of cellulosic material and/or cellulose derived materials, in particular wherein said cellulosic material further comprises plant cell components, for example hemicellulose, pectin, protein or combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles and their use to form nanocomposite material, in particular bionanocomposite material, specifically wherein the nanoparticles are formed using plant virus attached to a scaffold of cellulosic material and/or cellulose derived materials, in particular wherein said cellulosic material further comprises plant cell components, for example hemicellulose, pectin, protein or combinations thereof.

The invention relates to metallic substrates surface coated with a coating layer comprising a metal and an additive.

The present invention relates to a material comprising (i) an inner part comprising or consisting of bulk silicon, (ii) an outer part comprising or consisting of a silicon-based compound, said silicon-based compound comprising of silicon and a non-metal element, and (iii) clusters comprising or consisting of a transition metal. The present invention relates to preparation and applications of said material.

A production method of a carbon nanotube yarn includes the steps of: (1) obtaining a web 40 including a large number of carbon nanotubes 36; (2) bringing a slider 24a into contact with the carbon nanotubes 36; and (3) moving the slider 24a in a direction to bundle the carbon nanotubes 36, the direction being inclined with respect to a direction in which the web 40 extends.