A lead-based alloy containing alloying additions of bismuth, antimony, arsenic, and tin is used for the production of doped leady oxides, lead-acid battery active materials, lead-acid battery electrodes, and lead-acid batteries.

Methods of synthesizing Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of spheres as well as properties of these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles are described. Methods of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants employing these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles and methods of preventing or reducing microbial growth on a surface by applying these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of a solution or an antimicrobial product onto the surface are also specified.

Methods of synthesizing Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of spheres as well as properties of these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles are described. Methods of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants employing these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles and methods of preventing or reducing microbial growth on a surface by applying these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of a solution or an antimicrobial product onto the surface are also specified.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula Li.sub.3aBi.sub.1bSn.sub.b, in which the range of values a and b is: 0a<0.0003, and a+0.0003b0.016; or 0.0003a0.085, and 0<bexp[0.079(ln(a)).sup.21.43ln(a)10.5], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF.sub.3-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula Li.sub.3-aBi.sub.1-bGe.sub.b, in which the range of values a and b is: 0a0.0003, and a+0.0003b0.108; 0.0003a0.003, and 0b0.108; or 0.003a0.085, and 0bexp[0.157(In(a)).sup.22.22In(a)9.81], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF.sub.3-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.

Methods of synthesizing Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of spheres as well as properties of these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles are described. Methods of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants employing these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles and methods of preventing or reducing microbial growth on a surface by applying these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of a solution or an antimicrobial product onto the surface are also specified.

Methods of synthesizing Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of spheres as well as properties of these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles are described. Methods of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants employing these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles and methods of preventing or reducing microbial growth on a surface by applying these Bi.sub.2S.sub.3CdS particles in the form of a solution or an antimicrobial product onto the surface are also specified.

Systems for separating Ra from a mixture comprising at least Ra, Pb, Bi, and Th are provided. The systems can include: a first vessel housing a first media and Th or Bi; a second vessel in fluid communication with the first vessel, the second vessel housing a second media and Pb; and a third vessel in fluid communication with the second vessel, the third vessel housing a third media and Ra, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third medias are different from the other media.

Methods for separating Ra from Pb, Bi, and Th are provided, the methods can include: providing a first mixture comprising Ra, Pb, Bi, and/or Th; providing a system that can include: a first vessel housing a first media; a second vessel in fluid communication with the first vessel, the second vessel housing a second media; and a third vessel in fluid communication with the second vessel, the third vessel housing a third media; and exposing the first mixture to the first media within the first vessel then, through the fluid communication, exposing the first remainder to the second media in the second vessel, then, through fluid communication, exposing the next remainder to the third media in the third vessel, the exposing separating the Th and Bi from the Ra and Pb, and the Ra from the Pb.

Methods for separating Ra from being associated with a media are also provided. The methods can include: exposing the Ra and media to a chelating agent to form a mixture comprising the Ra complexed with the chelating agent.

A method for making MnBi.sub.2Te.sub.4 single crystal is provided. The method includes: providing a mixture of polycrystalline MnTe and polycrystalline Bi.sub.2Te.sub.3 in Molar ratio of 1.1:11:1.1; heating the mixture in a vacuum reaction chamber to 700 C.900 C., cooling the mixture to 570 C.600 C. slowly with a speed less than or equal to 1 C./hour, and annealing the mixture at 570 C.600 C. for a time above 10 days to obtain an intermediate product; and air quenching the intermediate product from 570 C.600 C. to room temperature. The method for making MnBi.sub.2Te.sub.4 single crystal is simple and has low cost.

A liquid composition for forming a piezoelectric film formed of a metal oxide including at least Bi, Na, and Ti. A raw material of the Na is a sodium alkoxide, a raw material of the Ti is a titanium alkoxide, a diol and an amine-based stabilizer are included, and a molar ratio of the amine-based stabilizer with respect to the titanium alkoxide (titanium alkoxide:amine-based stabilizer) is 1:0.5 to 1:4. It is preferable that the metal oxide is included as 4% by mass to 20% by mass with respect to 100% by mass of the liquid composition.