A method for forming a crystalline material having an anisotropic, quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes: mixing a plurality of precursor materials together to form a combined precursor material, the plurality of precursor materials including a transition-metal ion or a main group ion and at least one of an alkaline earth ion or an alkali metal ion; and reacting the combined precursor material to obtain the crystalline material, the crystalline material having a formula ABX3, wherein A is the at least one of the alkaline earth ion or the alkali metal ion and B is the transition-metal ion surrounded by six anions (X), and wherein the quasi-one-dimensional anisotropic crystal provides a birefringence of at least 0.03, defined as the absolute difference in the real part of the complex-refractive-index values along different crystal axes, in at least a portion of one or N both of the visible-wave spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

A ternary paraelectric having a Cc structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The ternary paraelectric having a Cc structure includes a material having a chemical formula of A.sub.2B.sub.4O.sub.11 that has a monoclinic system, is a space group No. 9, and has a dielectric constant of 150 to 250, wherein A is a Group 1 element, and B is a Group 5 element. A may include one of Na, K, Li and Rb. B may include one of Nb, V, and Ta. The A.sub.2B.sub.4O.sub.11 material may be Na.sub.2Nb.sub.4O.sub.11 in which bandgap energy thereof is greater than that of STO. The A.sub.2B.sub.4O.sub.11 material may have relative density that is greater than 90% or more.

A filtered nanofiber film can be used as an intervening layer between the nanofiber structure (e.g., a drawn nanofiber sheet and/or a nanofiber forest) and a final substrate. Filtered nanofiber films can adhere to other types of nanofiber structures (e.g., drawn nanofiber sheets and/or nanofiber forests) and also exhibit adhesion to non-nanofiber surfaces. Thus, when used as an intervening layer between another type of nanofiber structure and a final substrate, a filtered film can increase adhesion therebetween. Filtered nanofiber films can also be used as a releasable protective film to prevent contamination of a confronting major surface of the nanofiber structure.

A filtered nanofiber film can be used as an intervening layer between the nanofiber structure (e.g., a drawn nanofiber sheet and/or a nanofiber forest) and a final substrate. Filtered nanofiber films can adhere to other types of nanofiber structures (e.g., drawn nanofiber sheets and/or nanofiber forests) and also exhibit adhesion to non-nanofiber surfaces. Thus, when used as an intervening layer between another type of nanofiber structure and a final substrate, a filtered film can increase adhesion therebetween. Filtered nanofiber films can also be used as a releasable protective film to prevent contamination of a confronting major surface of the nanofiber structure.

The present invention relates to vanadium oxide and methods of controlling reaction processes for making such materials (e.g., powders). In particular embodiments, the method includes control of oxygen partial pressure in order to kinetically control the oxidation species of the crystalline vanadium oxide material. Other methods, uses, systems, protocols, and coatings are also described.

A CoVO.sub.x composite electrode and method of making is described. The composite electrode comprises a substrate with an average 0.5-5 m thick layer of CoVO.sub.x having pores with average diameters of 2-200 nm. The method of making the composite electrode involves contacting the substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent, a cobalt complex, and a vanadium complex. The CoVO.sub.x composite electrode is capable of being used in an electrochemical cell for water oxidation.

The invention discloses a positive electrode active material for a magnesium secondary battery or lithium ion secondary battery, including: a particle including a nucleus and a crystal of vanadium oxide grown from the nucleus as a starting point and having a maximum length of 5 m or less in the major axis direction.

A method for determining an average oxidation state (AOS) of a redox flow battery system includes measuring a charge capacity for a low potential charging period starting from a discharged state of the redox flow battery system to a turning point of a charge voltage; and determining the AOS using the measured charge capacity and volumes of anolyte and catholyte of the redox flow battery system. Other methods can be used to determine the AOS for a redox flow battery system or use discharge voltage instead of charging voltage.

A method for determining a storage capacity or average oxidation state (AOS) of a redox flow battery system including an anolyte and a catholyte includes discharging a portion of the anolyte and catholyte of the redox flow battery system at a discharge rate that is within 10% of a preselected discharge rate; after discharging the redox flow battery system, determining an end OCV; and determining the storage capacity or AOS from the end OCV. Other methods can be used to determine the storage capacity or AOS using a measured OCV.

A redox flow battery system includes an anolyte having chromium ions in solution; a catholyte having iron ions in solution, where a molar ratio of chromium in the anolyte to iron in the catholyte is at least 1.25; a first electrode in contact with the anolyte; a second electrode in contact with the catholyte; and a separator separating the anolyte from the catholyte.