Systems and methods are disclosed for a rock-salt structure formed from an electrochemically-driven amorphous-to-crystalline (a-to-c) transformation of nanostructured Nb.sub.2O.sub.5, the rock-salt structure including, upon cycling with lithium ions (Li+), an insertion of lithium ions (Li+) into Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 to form the rock-salt structure (RS—Nb.sub.2O.sub.5).

Disclosed herein are electrolytes having increased proton conduction and steam tolerance for use in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). The disclosed SOECs provide an enhanced means for obtaining hydrogen. The disclosed SOECs provide enhanced conductivity and stability and, therefore, result in higher performance when used to fabricate electrolysis cells, fuel cells, and reversible cells.

A lithium titanate/titanium niobate core-shell composite material includes a core which comprises lithium titanate; and a shell which is cladded over the core and comprises titanium niobate. A preparation method of lithium titanate/titanium niobate core-shell composite material includes (A) mixing lithium titanate powder and titanium niobate powder; and (B) granulating the mixture produced by step (A) through a spray granulation process to obtain a lithium titanate/titanium niobate composite material with titanium niobate cladding over lithium titanate. The lithium titanate/titanium niobate core-shell composite material and the preparation method thereof can be applied to a battery.

A lithium titanate/titanium niobate core-shell composite material includes a core which comprises lithium titanate; and a shell which is cladded over the core and comprises titanium niobate. A preparation method of lithium titanate/titanium niobate core-shell composite material includes (A) mixing lithium titanate powder and titanium niobate powder; and (B) granulating the mixture produced by step (A) through a spray granulation process to obtain a lithium titanate/titanium niobate composite material with titanium niobate cladding over lithium titanate. The lithium titanate/titanium niobate core-shell composite material and the preparation method thereof can be applied to a battery.

The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprise a reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprise a reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

The present application discloses a dense lead metaniobate piezoelectric ceramic and a preparation method therefor. The chemical composition of the lead metaniobate piezoelectric ceramic is Pb.sub.1-xNb.sub.2O.sub.6, wherein x represents the Pb vacancy concentration of A sites in a tungsten bronze crystal structure, and x is greater than 0.00 and smaller than or equal to 0.20.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a niobium precursor compound is represented by Chemical Formula 1 or Chemical Formula 2 below:

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Therefore, the niobium precursor compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has excellent thermal stability, exists in a liquid state at room temperature, and has high volatility, thereby having an advantage which is advantageous for application to a thin film forming process. Further, the niobium thin film formed using the niobium precursor compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a small residual content and has uniform physical properties.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a niobium precursor compound is represented by Chemical Formula 1 or Chemical Formula 2 below:

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Therefore, the niobium precursor compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has excellent thermal stability, exists in a liquid state at room temperature, and has high volatility, thereby having an advantage which is advantageous for application to a thin film forming process. Further, the niobium thin film formed using the niobium precursor compound according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a small residual content and has uniform physical properties.

Described herein are new solid oxide fuel cell interconnects and methods for making same that may comprise a novel bilayer construct on an anode substrate to provide a dense microstructure, low area specific resistance, and negligible oxygen permeability to form a bilayer ceramic interconnect that is a strong candidate for next-generation, durable, and low-cost tubular solid oxide fuel cells.