A mixture contains metal oxide particles that are coated with an organic compound. The organic compound is represented by Formula I:

R.sup.1COR.sup.2(I), wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic residue having 8 to 32 carbon atoms, wherein R.sup.2 is either OM or comprises the moiety XR.sup.3, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NR.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic residue, wherein R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic residue, and wherein M is a cation. The mixture may be used to connect components and/or to produce a module. A method for producing the mixture is also provided.

A mixture contains metal oxide particles that are coated with an organic compound. The organic compound is represented by Formula I:

R.sup.1COR.sup.2(I), wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic residue having 8 to 32 carbon atoms, wherein R.sup.2 is either OM or comprises the moiety XR.sup.3, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NR.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic residue, wherein R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic residue, and wherein M is a cation. The mixture may be used to connect components and/or to produce a module. A method for producing the mixture is also provided.

The recovery of noble metal(s) from noble-metal-containing material is generally described. The noble metal(s) can be recovered selectively, in some cases, such that noble metal(s) is at least partially separated from non-noble-metal material within the material. Noble metal(s) may be recovered from noble-metal-containing material using mixtures of acids, in some instances. In some cases, the mixture can comprise nitric acid and/or another source of nitrate ions and at least one supplemental acid, such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and/or a sulfonic acid. The amount of nitrate ions within the mixture can be, in some instances, relatively small compared to the amount of supplemental acid within the mixture. In some cases, the recovery of noble metal(s) using the acid mixtures described herein can be enhanced by transporting an electric current between an electrode and the noble metal(s) of the noble-metal-containing material. In some cases, acid mixtures can be used to recover silver from particular types of scrap materials, such as scrap material comprising silver metal and cadmium oxide and/or scrap material comprising silver metal and tungsten metal.

The recovery of noble metal(s) from noble-metal-containing material is generally described. The noble metal(s) can be recovered selectively, in some cases, such that noble metal(s) is at least partially separated from non-noble-metal material within the material. Noble metal(s) may be recovered from noble-metal-containing material using mixtures of acids, in some instances. In some cases, the mixture can comprise nitric acid and/or another source of nitrate ions and at least one supplemental acid, such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and/or a sulfonic acid. The amount of nitrate ions within the mixture can be, in some instances, relatively small compared to the amount of supplemental acid within the mixture. In some cases, the recovery of noble metal(s) using the acid mixtures described herein can be enhanced by transporting an electric current between an electrode and the noble metal(s) of the noble-metal-containing material. In some cases, acid mixtures can be used to recover silver from particular types of scrap materials, such as scrap material comprising silver metal and cadmium oxide and/or scrap material comprising silver metal and tungsten metal.

The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods of killing fungi using a surface plasmon coupled to a photosensitizer. A nanostructure (10) may include a silver nanoparticle core (12), a mesoporous silica shell (14), and a photosensitizer (16). A method of killing fungi may include contacting fungi with a nanostructure (10) including a silver nanoparticle core (12), a mesoporous silica shell (14), and a photosensitizer (16) to form a blend and exposing the blend to light.

According to an embodiment, a cryogenic regenerator material contains a silver oxide. A molar ratio of silver atoms to oxygen atoms contained in the cryogenic regenerator material: Ag/O is 1.0 or more and 4.0 or less. The cryogenic regenerator material contains at least one selected from AgO, Ag.sub.2O and Ag.sub.3O as the silver oxide.

According to an embodiment, a cryogenic regenerator material contains a silver oxide. A molar ratio of silver atoms to oxygen atoms contained in the cryogenic regenerator material: Ag/O is 1.0 or more and 4.0 or less. The cryogenic regenerator material contains at least one selected from AgO, Ag.sub.2O and Ag.sub.3O as the silver oxide.

Disclosed here is a method for making a nanoporous material, comprising aerosolizing a solution comprising at least one metal salt and at least one solvent to obtain an aerosol, freezing the aerosol to obtain a frozen aerosol, and drying the frozen aerosol to obtain a nanoporous metal compound material. Further, the nanoporous metal compound material can be reduced to obtain a nanoporous metal material.

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles from plant extract includes providing a solution including silver nitrate; providing an aqueous extract of the Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) plant or plant part; mixing the silver nitrate solution and the extract solution to form an aqueous mixture; and resting the aqueous mixture for a period of time to form silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The resulting silver nanoparticles demonstrate antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens.

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles from plant extract includes providing a solution including silver nitrate; providing an aqueous extract of the Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) plant or plant part; mixing the silver nitrate solution and the extract solution to form an aqueous mixture; and resting the aqueous mixture for a period of time to form silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The resulting silver nanoparticles demonstrate antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens.