An apparatus for preparing dimeric and trimeric silicon compounds is provided. The apparatus includes a reactor for generating a nonthermal plasma; a collecting vessel in product flow communication with the nonthermal plasma reactor; and a series of at least three rectification columns in flow communication with the collecting vessel.

An apparatus for preparing dimeric and trimeric silicon compounds is provided. The apparatus includes a reactor for generating a nonthermal plasma; a collecting vessel in product flow communication with the nonthermal plasma reactor; and a series of at least three rectification columns in flow communication with the collecting vessel.

A method including exciting a nanophosphor tracer of a compound of formula MgAl.sub.xGe.sub.yO.sub.3:zPr.sup.3+ nanoparticles, where x+y=1, and z is 0.1-0.5% with light, and further injecting the nanophosphor tracer at a first location in a subterranean geological reservoir where the nanophosphor tracer mixes with a subsurface fluid in the subterranean geological reservoir. The method further includes collecting a fluid sample from a second location in the subterranean geological reservoir and analyzing the fluid sample to detect the presence of the nanophosphor tracer in the fluid sample.

Methods for making a synthetic mineral and methods for making synthetic mineral precursors and the products of said methods.

A solid electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery having a novel crystal structure and a method for producing the same is provided. The solid electrolyte has excellent lithium-ion conductivity and is chemically stable. The solid electrolyte comprises lithium (Li), germanium (Ge), and sulfur (S), forming a ternary compound with Ge.sub.2S.sub.7 polyhedra and GeS.sub.4 tetrahedra in a unit cell. The electrolyte may include compounds such as Li.sub.16Ge.sub.5S.sub.18 and demonstrates lithium-ion conductivity of at least 8.710.sup.6 S.Math.cm.sup.1 at 25 C. Production methods involve either milling lithium and germanium sulfides to form an amorphous intermediate material, followed by heat treatment, or using crystalline raw materials like Li.sub.2GeS.sub.3 and Li.sub.4GeS.sub.4 directly. Both methods produce a stable, high-conductivity solid electrolyte suitable for all-solid-state lithium batteries, addressing safety and performance limitations of conventional electrolytes.