The invention pertains to a process for the production of crystalline carbon structure networks in a reactor 3 which contains a reaction zone 3b and a termination zone 3c, by injecting a thermodynamically stable micro-emulsion c, comprising metal catalyst nanoparticles, into the reaction zone 3b which is at a temperature of above 600° C., preferably above 700° C., more preferably above 900° C., even more preferably above 1000° C., more preferably above 1100° C., preferably up to 3000° C., more preferably up to 2500° C., most preferably up to 2000° C., to produce crystalline carbon structure networks e, transferring these networks e to the termination zone 3c,and quenching or stopping the formation of crystalline carbon structure networks in the termination zone by spraying in water d.

The present invention provides a porous carbon fiber which has an excellent permeation amount and excellent pressure resistance, which is prevented from the occurrence of detachment or cracking at an interface, and which can exhibit excellent properties needed for use as a support for a fluid separation membrane. The present invention is a porous carbon fiber having a bicontinuous porous structure, wherein

the average value R.sub.ave of the R value of the outer surface and the R value of the inside is 1.0 or more and 1.8 or less,

the absolute value ΔR of the difference between the R value of the outer surface and the R value of the inside is 0.05 or less, and

R value is a carbonization progression degree calculated from a Raman spectrum in accordance with the following formula:

R value=(intensity of scattering spectrum at 1360 cm.sup.−1)/(intensity of scattering spectrum at 1600 cm.sup.−1).

Passivated silicon-carbon composite materials and related processes are disclosed that overcome the challenges for providing amorphous nano-sized silicon entrained within porous carbon. Compared to other, inferior materials and processes described in the prior art, the materials and processes disclosed herein find superior utility in various applications, including energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.

This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise a plurality of silicon nanoparticles dispersed within a conductive carbon matrix. The particulate material comprises 40 to 65 wt % silicon, at least 6 wt % and less than 20% oxygen, and has a weight ratio of the total amount of oxygen and nitrogen to silicon in the range of from 0.1 to 0.45 and a weight ratio of carbon to silicon in the range of from 0.1 to 1. The particulate electroactive materials are useful as an active component of an anode in a metal ion battery.

Composites of silicon and various porous scaffold materials, such as carbon material comprising micro-, meso- and/or macropores, and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The compositions find utility in various applications, including electrical energy storage electrodes and devices comprising the same.

A porous carbon material having a first peak positioned in a pore diameter range of 3 nm or larger and smaller than 10 nm and a second peak positioned in a pore diameter range of 10 nm or larger and 10 μm or smaller in a pore size distribution measured by a mercury intrusion method.

A porous carbon material having a first peak positioned in a pore diameter range of 3 nm or larger and smaller than 10 nm and a second peak positioned in a pore diameter range of 10 nm or larger and 10 μm or smaller in a pore size distribution measured by a mercury intrusion method.

A process for the preparation of a porous carbon material using an improved amphiphilic species. Also disclosed are a porous carbon material, devices comprising the porous carbon material and use of an amphiphilic compound for the preparation of a porous carbon material. The process for preparing a porous carbon material comprises the process steps: (a) providing a carbon source comprising a first carbon source compound; (b) providing an amphiphilic species comprising a first amphiphilic compound, the first amphiphilic compound comprising two or more adjacent ethylene oxide-based repeating units; (c) contacting the carbon source and the amphiphilic species to obtain a precursor; and (d) heating the precursor to obtain the porous carbon material.

A process for preparing a porous carbon material. The process comprises the process steps: providing a carbon source; providing an amphiphilic species; contacting the carbon source and the amphiphilic species to obtain a precursor; and heating the precursor to obtain the porous carbon material; wherein the carbon source comprises a carbon source compound, wherein the carbon source compound comprises an aromatic ring having one or more attached OH groups and an ester link.

A carbide-coated carbon material including a base material containing carbon as a main component and chlorine, and a carbide layer containing a carbide as a main component and chlorine, the carbide layer being disposed on the base material. The base material has, near an interface between the base material and the carbide layer, a base material buffer region where a chlorine concentration continuously changes in a direction toward the carbide layer. The carbide layer has, near the interface between the base material and the carbide layer, a carbide layer buffer region where the chlorine concentration continuously changes in a direction toward the base material. The carbide-coated carbon material has sufficient adhesion strength in the interface between the carbide layer and the base material containing carbon as a main component.