Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.

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.

The invention includes apparatus and methods for instantiating rare earth metals in a nanoporous carbon powder.

The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a synthetic fuel comprising gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass to generate a raw synthesis gas; supplying the raw synthesis gas to a primary clean-up zone to wash particulates and ammonia or HCl out of the raw synthesis gas; contacting the synthesis gas in a secondary clean-up zone with a physical solvent for sulphurous materials; contacting the desulphurised raw synthesis gas in a tertiary clean-up zone with a physical solvent for CO.sub.2 effective to absorb CO.sub.2; removing at least part of the absorbed CO.sub.2 in a solvent regeneration stage to recover CO.sub.2 in a form sufficiently pure for sequestration or other use; and supplying the clean synthesis gas to a further reaction train to generate a synthetic fuel.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

A composition of matter having the following chemical structure: $\left[H_x{O}_{\frac{\left(x-1\right)}{2}}\right]Z_y$ wherein x is and odd integer ≥3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from Groups 14 through 17 having a charge value between −1 and −3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between −1 and −3.

A composition of matter having the following chemical structure: $\left[H_x{O}_{\frac{\left(x-1\right)}{2}}\right]Z_y$ wherein x is and odd integer ≥3; y is an integer between 1 and 20; and Z is one of a monoatomic ion from Groups 14 through 17 having a charge value between −1 and −3 or a polyatomic ion having a charge between −1 and −3.