The invention relates to a method for producing a scandium-containing concentrate from the wastes of alumina production and extracting high-purity scandium oxide from the same. Provided is a method for producing a scandium-containing concentrate from a red mud, wherein the Sc.sub.2O.sub.3 content therein is least of 15 wt. %, the TiO.sub.2 content not more than 3 wt. %, the ZrO.sub.2 content not more than 15 wt. %, and wherein scandium in the concentrate is in form of a mixture of Sc(OH).sub.3 hydroxide with ScOHCO.sub.3.4H.sub.2O. Also provided is a method for producing high-purity scandium oxide, with a purity of approximately 99 wt. %.

A solid-state electrolyte having a garnet-type crystal structure represented by the formula (Li.sub.7−ax+yA.sub.x)La.sub.3(Zr.sub.2−yB.sub.y)O.sub.12, where A is at least one element selected from Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, and Sc, a is a valence of A, B is at least one element selected from Al, Ga, Sc, Yb, Dy, and Y, x is more than 0 and less than 1.0, y is more than 0 and less than 1.0, and 7−ax+y is more than 5.5 and less than 7.0).

A solid-state electrolyte having a garnet-type crystal structure represented by the formula (Li.sub.7−ax+yA.sub.x)La.sub.3(Zr.sub.2−yB.sub.y)O.sub.12, where A is at least one element selected from Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, and Sc, a is a valence of A, B is at least one element selected from Al, Ga, Sc, Yb, Dy, and Y, x is more than 0 and less than 1.0, y is more than 0 and less than 1.0, and 7−ax+y is more than 5.5 and less than 7.0).

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an all solid fluoride ion battery that has a favorable capacity property. The present disclosure achieves the object by providing an all solid fluoride ion battery comprising: a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer formed between the cathode layer and the anode layer; wherein the anode layer includes a metal fluoride containing an M1 element, an M2 element, and a F element; the M1 element is a metal element that fluorination and defluorination occur at a potential, versus Pb/PbF.sub.2, of −2.5 V or more; the M2 element is a metal element that neither fluorination nor defluorination occur at a potential, versus Pb/PbF.sub.2, of −2.5 V or more; and the M2 element is a metal element that, when in a form of a fluoride, fluoride ion conductivity is 1×10.sup.−4 S/cm or more at 200° C.

The present disclosure is directed to novel functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) that are used, for example, for enhanced recovery and separation of rare earth elements from aqueous solutions. The liquids and processes disclosed herein lead to greater separation efficiency, increased stability of separation materials, increased selectivity, and a reduced amount of waste materials.

A scintillator for positron emission tomography is provided. The scintillator includes a garnet compound of a formula of A.sub.3B.sub.2C.sub.3O.sub.12 and an activator ion consisting of cerium. A.sub.3 is A.sub.2X. X consists of at least one lanthanide element. A.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of (i), (ii), (iii), and any combination thereof, wherein (i) consists of at least one lanthanide element, (ii) consists of at least one group I element selected from the group consisting of Na and K, and (iii) consists of at least one group II element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba. B.sub.2 consists of Sn, Ti, Hf, Zr, and any combination thereof. C.sub.3 consists of Al, Ga, Li, and any combination thereof. The garnet compound is doped with the activator ion.

A film-forming material of the present invention contains an oxyfluoride of yttrium represented by YO.sub.XF.sub.Y (X and Y are numbers satisfying 0<X and X<Y) and YF.sub.3, wherein a ratio I.sub.2/I.sub.1 of a peak height I.sub.2 of the (020) plane of YF.sub.3 to a peak height I.sub.1 of the main peak of YO.sub.XF.sub.Y as analyzed by XRD is from 0.005 to 100. It is preferable that a ratio I.sub.4/I.sub.1 of a peak height I.sub.4 of the main peak of Y.sub.2O.sub.3 to the peak height I.sub.1 of the main peak of YO.sub.XF.sub.Y as analyzed by XRD is 0.01 or less.

Embodiments relate to methods for generating selected materials from a natural brine. A natural brine comprising at least a portion of a selected material is heated. CO.sub.2 is added and mixes with the natural brine forming a mixture such that the CO.sub.2/P is a first predetermined value. The mixture is held so that impurities in the natural brine precipitate as solids leaving a second brine substantially comprising the selected material. The second brine is heated. CO.sub.2 gas is injected into the second brine, mixing so that the CO.sub.2/P is a second predetermined value. The mixture is held so that the selected material precipitates out and are removed.

The present disclosure discloses a method for growing a crystal without annealing. The method may include compensating a weight of a reactant, introducing a flowing gas, improving a volume ratio of oxygen during a cooling process, providing a heater in a temperature field, and optimizing parameters. According to the method, problems may be solved, for example, cracking and component deviation of the crystal during a crystal growth process, and without oxygen-free vacancy. The method for growing the crystal may have excellent repeatability and crystal performance consistency.

The invention relates to a system and a method for the processing of minerals containing the lanthanide series and the production of rare earth oxides, which allow a completely closed and continuous treatment of the different materials and desorbent agents involved in the process, thus improving the efficiency in the extraction and avoiding environmental risks associated. The method comprising the steps of: reception and conditioning of the raw material; desorption of valuable product through a plurality of mixing and reaction stages in which the raw material is contacted in countercurrent with a stream of desorbent solution; separation of fine solids; precipitation of secondary minerals through the use of a first reactive solution; precipitation of rare earth carbonates through the use of a second reactive solution; and drying and roasting of the rare earth carbonates to obtain rare earth oxides; wherein the method further comprises a secondary process that allows further processing of the residual mineral, and a dewatering and washing step wherein the residual mineral from the desorption step is washed and a lanthanide-containing liquid is recovered.