A microelectronic device is formed by forming a platinum-containing layer on a substrate of the microelectronic device. A cap layer is formed on the platinum-containing layer so that an interface between the cap layer and the platinum-containing layer is free of platinum oxide. The cap layer is etchable in an etch solution which also etches the platinum-containing layer. The cap layer may be formed on the platinum-containing layer before platinum oxide forms on the platinum-containing layer. Alternatively, platinum oxide on the platinum-containing layer may be removed before forming the cap layer. The platinum-containing layer may be used to form platinum silicide. The platinum-containing layer may be patterned by forming a hard mask or masking platinum oxide on a portion of the top surface of the platinum-containing layer to block the wet etchant.

Process for the production of high purity iridium(III) chloride hydrate, comprising the steps of: (1) providing at least one material selected from the group consisting of solid H.sub.2[IrCl.sub.6] hydrate, aqueous, at least 1 wt. % H.sub.2[IrCl.sub.6] solution, and solid IrCl.sub.4 hydrate; (2) adding, to the at least one material provided in step (1), at least one monohydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of monohydroxy compounds that are miscible with water at any ratio, primary monoalcohols comprising 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and secondary monoalcohols comprising 4 to 6 carbon atoms at a molar ratio of Ir(IV):monohydroxy compound =1:0.6 to 1000, and allowing to react for 0.2 to 48 hours in a temperature range from 20 to 120 C., followed by removing volatile components from the reaction mixture thus formed.

A room temperature hydrogen gas sensor comprising tin(IV) oxide and platinum layered on an electrode substrate is described. The tin(IV) oxide may be polycrystalline with an average layer thickness of 10-700 nm, and topped with platinum having an average layer thickness of 1-15 nm. The room temperature hydrogen gas sensor may be used to detect and measure levels of H.sub.2 gas at room temperature and at concentrations of 50-1800 ppm, with fast response and high stability. A method of making the room temperature hydrogen gas sensor is also described, and involves sputtering to deposit tin(IV) oxide and platinum on a substrate, which is then subjected to low-temperature annealing step.

A room temperature hydrogen gas sensor comprising tin(IV) oxide and platinum layered on an electrode substrate is described. The tin(IV) oxide may be polycrystalline with an average layer thickness of 10-700 nm, and topped with platinum having an average layer thickness of 1-15 nm. The room temperature hydrogen gas sensor may be used to detect and measure levels of H.sub.2 gas at room temperature and at concentrations of 50-1800 ppm, with fast response and high stability. A method of making the room temperature hydrogen gas sensor is also described, and involves sputtering to deposit tin(IV) oxide and platinum on a substrate, which is then subjected to low-temperature annealing step.

A method for preparing a nano-titanate, a nano-titanic acid and a nano-TiO.sub.2 containing embedded A nanoparticles is provided respectively. In this method, a Ti-T alloy with a A-group element solidly dissolved therein is used as a titanium source, and reacted with an alkali solution under a certain condition. In combination with subsequent treatment, the preparation of a titanate nanotube, a titanic acid nanotube, and a TiO.sub.2 nanotube/rod containing embedded A nanoparticles, respectively, is further achieved with high efficiency and low cost. Moreover, a method for preparing metal nanoparticles is also provided by removing the matrix of the composites. The present preparation methods is characterized by simple process, easy operation, high efficiency, low cost. The product is of promising application in polymer-based nanocomposites, ceramic materials, catalytic materials, photocatalytic materials, hydrophobic materials, effluent degrading materials, bactericidal coatings, anticorrosive coatings, marine coatings.

A method for making iridium oxide nanoparticles includes dissolving an iridium salt to obtain a salt-containing solution, mixing a complexing agent with the salt-containing solution to obtain a blend solution, and adding an oxidating agent to the blend solution to obtain a product mixture. A molar ratio of a complexing compound of the complexing agent to the iridium salt is controlled in a predetermined range so as to permit the product mixture to include iridium oxide nanoparticles.

A method of making a mercury based compound, a mercury based compound, and methods of using the mercury based compound and uses of the mercury based compound are disclosed. The mercury-based compound is in powder form and has the general chemical formula: M1.sub.aX.sub.b, where M1 is Hg, MxcMyd or a combination thereof, with Mx being Hg and My being an arbitrary element; wherein X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, sulphate nitrate or a combination thereof, wherein a, b, c and d are numbers between 0.1 and 10, wherein particles of the powder have a minimum average dimension of width of at least 50 nm and a maximum average dimension of width of at most 20 ?m, and wherein the mercury-based compound is paramagnetic and is present in an excited state.

Solid-state electrolytes for use in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, as well as methods of synthesizing the same, methods of preparing the same into a film, and methods of using the same in a Li-ion battery, are provided. Solid-state electrolyte pellets can be prepared in a solution, and a film using the synthesized pellet can be formed and used in a Li-ion battery.

A method for recovery of platinum group metals from a spent catalyst is described. The method includes crushing the spent catalyst to obtain a catalyst particulate material including particles having a predetermined grain size. The method includes subjecting the catalyst particulate material to a chlorinating treatment in the reaction zone at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time period by putting the catalyst particulate material in contact with the chlorine containing gas. The method also includes applying an electromagnetic field to the chlorine-containing gas in the reaction zone to provide ionization of chlorine; thereby to cause a chemical reaction between platinum group metals and chlorine ions and provide a volatile platinum group metal-containing chloride product in the reaction zone. Following this, the volatile platinum group metal-containing chloride product is cooled to convert the product into solid phase platinum group metal-containing materials.

A composite material of one aspect includes a resin matrix phase, and a ruthenium oxide having Ca.sub.2RuO.sub.4 structure and included in the resin matrix phase. The ruthenium oxide may be represented by a general formula (1): Ca.sub.2xR.sub.xRu.sub.1y1M.sub.yO.sub.4+z, in which R may represent at least one element selected from among alkaline earth metals and rare earth elements, M may represent at least one element selected from among Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Ga, and the values x, y, and z may satisfy 0x<0.2, 0y<0.3, and 1<z<0.02.