Cellulose-nanofiber carbon which can achieve a large specific surface area, and a method of producing the same are provided. The method for heat treating a cellulose nanofiber for carbonization includes: a freezing step of freezing a solution or gel containing the cellulose nanofiber to obtain a frozen product a drying step of drying the frozen product in a vacuum to obtain a dried product and a carbonizing step of heating and carbonizing the dried product in an atmosphere which does not burn the dried product to obtain the cellulose-nanofiber carbon.

A negative electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary cell, comprising carbon particles having an oxygen content of 0.15% by mass or less.

The method of making carbon-zinc oxide (C—ZnO) nanoparticles includes grinding a mixture of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O) and furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) to produce a ground mixture. As a non-limiting example, the zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O) and the furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) may be placed in a mortar and ground, by hand with a pestle, for approximately 10 minutes. The ground mixture is then heated to produce the C—ZnO nanoparticles. As a non-limiting example, the ground mixture may be heated in a quartz tube at a temperature of approximately 500° C.

A solid oxide fuel cell assembly (SOFC) and a method for making the SOFC are provided. An exemplary method includes forming a functionalized zeolite templated carbon (ZTC). The functionalized ZTC is formed by forming a CaX zeolite, depositing carbon in the CaX zeolite using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a carbon/zeolite composite, treating the carbon/zeolite composite with a solution comprising hydrofluoric acid to form a ZTC, and treating the ZTC to add catalyst sites. The functionalized ZTC is incorporated into electrodes by forming a mixture of the functionalized ZTC with a calcined solid oxide electrolyte and calcining the mixture. The method includes forming an electrode assembly, forming the SOFC assembly, and coupling the SOFC assembly to a cooling system.

An apparatus containing at least one electrochemical cell with an electrode structure. The electrode structure contains at least one carbide chemical compound. The carbide chemical compound may be a salt-like carbide. The electrode may contain at least one electronically conductive element different from the carbide. Carbon compositions of various forms may be formed by the methods and apparatus using the electrode structure. Large pieces of pure carbon may be produced. Post-reaction processing of the carbon may be carried out such as exfoliation.

An apparatus containing at least one electrochemical cell with an electrode structure. The electrode structure contains at least one carbide chemical compound. The carbide chemical compound may be a salt-like carbide. The electrode may contain at least one electronically conductive element different from the carbide. Carbon compositions of various forms may be formed by the methods and apparatus using the electrode structure. Large pieces of pure carbon may be produced. Post-reaction processing of the carbon may be carried out such as exfoliation.

To provide a carbon electrode material which is capable of decreasing cell resistance during initial charging and discharging while improving oxidation resistance to Mn ions. A carbon electrode material for a redox flow battery, including carbon fibers (A), graphite particles (B), and a carbon material (C) for binding the carbon fibers (A) and the graphite particles (B), the carbon electrode material satisfying (1) Lc(C), (2) Lc(C)/Lc(A), (3) an average curvature of the carbon fibers (A), and (4) a number of oxygen atoms bound to a surface of the carbon electrode material.

A method is provided for producing a biochar solution. The method comprises the steps of collecting biochar particles, dispersing the biochar particles in a liquid solution and adding a stabilizing agent to keep the biochar in flowable suspension. The stabilizing agent may be added to the liquid solution or to the biochar prior to placing the biochar in solution.

A method is provided for producing a biochar solution. The method comprises the steps of collecting biochar particles, dispersing the biochar particles in a liquid solution and adding a stabilizing agent to keep the biochar in flowable suspension. The stabilizing agent may be added to the liquid solution or to the biochar prior to placing the biochar in solution.

There are provided a composite plated product, which has little uneven appearance, a low contact resistance and good wear resistance, and a method for producing the same without the need of any silver-plating solutions containing cyanides and any silver-plating solutions containing silver nitrate as a silver salt. After carbon particles are caused to be suspended in water, an oxidizing agent is added thereto for carrying out a wet oxidation treatment of the carbon particles, and a silver-plating solution, which contains at least one sulfonic acid and the carbon particles treated by the wet oxidation treatment, is used for electroplating a base material to form a coating film of a composite material, which contains the carbon particles in a silver layer, on the base material to produce a composite plated product.