A composite material is provided having functionalized carbon nanotubes and a metal matrix. It is obtained by a process including dispersing functionalized carbon nanotubes or a mixture of functionalized carbon nanotubes and of at least one metal, in an open-pore or semi-open-pore metal foam, in order to form a composite structure, and compacting the composite structure obtained in the preceding stage in order to form the composite material in the form of a solid mass.

A composite material is provided having functionalized carbon nanotubes and a metal matrix. It is obtained by a process including dispersing functionalized carbon nanotubes or a mixture of functionalized carbon nanotubes and of at least one metal, in an open-pore or semi-open-pore metal foam, in order to form a composite structure, and compacting the composite structure obtained in the preceding stage in order to form the composite material in the form of a solid mass.

A method for preparing an aluminum carbon composite by using a foam aluminum includes the following steps. Electromagnetic stirring and drying are performed on the foam aluminum and a carbon material to obtain a foam aluminum preform; an aluminum block is melted into aluminum liquid, the aluminum liquid is adjusted to qualified aluminum liquid, the qualified aluminum liquid is cooled to a temperature of 620650 C. and keeping the temperature to make the qualified liquid aluminum become a semi-solid state, then the foam aluminum preform is pressed into the qualified liquid aluminum and performing electromagnetic stirring. A mold is heated to a certain temperature and extrusion molding is performed to obtain a carbon reinforced aluminum matrix composite material. The method overcomes a problem that the carbon material and the aluminum matrix have poor wettability and are not easy to be added into the aluminum matrix.

A printable lithium composition is provided. The printable lithium composition includes lithium metal powder; a polymer binder, wherein the polymer binder is compatible with the lithium powder; and a rheology modifier, wherein the rheology modifier is compatible with the lithium powder and the polymer binder. The printable lithium composition may further include a solvent compatible with the lithium powder and with the polymer binder.

Novel date palm charcoal iron oxide nanocomposites (DPC-Fe.sub.3O.sub.4) are presented, as well as processes for making the same. These synthesized magnetic DPC-Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposites have wide potential significant applications such as in energy storage devices, electronic devices, sensors, in drug delivery and medicine, catalytic application and also in water purification as an effective strong adsorbent.

A method for forming graphene-oxide (GO) embedded with gallium-iron alloy (galfenol) nanoparticles. The method includes submerging galfenol bulk material in a solution comprising deionized water and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The method includes ablating, a first time, the galfenol bulk material submerged in the solution with a laser. The method includes removing the galfenol bulk material from the solution after ablating with the laser. The method includes drying the galfenol bulk material after removing the galfenol bulk material from the solution. The method includes submerging galfenol bulk material in deionized water after drying the galfenol bulk material. The method includes ablating, a second time, the galfenol bulk material submerged in the deionized water and ablating a second time the galfenol bulk material submerged in the deionized water.

The dual-function impeller can be rotated in molten metal in a direction of rotation, as part of a rotary injector. The impeller can have a body having an axis, a plurality of blades circumferentially interspaced around an axis, and an aperture coinciding with the axis. The blades having both a radially extending portion facing the direction of rotation and collectively generating a radial flow component upon said rotation, and a slanted portion also facing the direction of rotation, inclined relative to a radial plane, and collectively generating an axial flow component directed away from the rotary injector upon said rotation.

A solid-state battery comprising a cathode, an anode and a solid electrolyte is provided. In one embodiment, the cathode, anode and/or solid electrolyte is formed from a printable lithium composition including lithium metal powder, a polymer binder compatible with the lithium metal powder, a rheology modifier compatible with the lithium metal powder, and a solvent compatible with the lithium metal powder and with the polymer binder. In another embodiment, lithium is deposited onto the solid electrolyte with a lithium printable lithium composition including lithium metal powder, a polymer binder compatible with the lithium metal powder, a rheology modifier compatible with the lithium metal powder, and a solvent compatible with the lithium metal powder and with the polymer binder.

A method for depositing lithium on a substrate to form an electrode is provided. The method includes applying a printable lithium composition comprised of lithium metal powder, a polymer binder compatible with the lithium metal powder, a rheology modifier compatible with the lithium metal powder and a solvent compatible with the lithium metal powder and with the polymer binder, to a substrate.

Method of refining metal alloys A method of refining the grain size of (i) an alloy comprising aluminum and at least 3% w/w silicon or (ii) an alloy comprising magnesium, comprises the steps of (a) adding sufficient niobium and boron to the alloy in order to form niobium diboride or Al.sub.3Nb or both, or (b) adding niobium diboride to the alloy, or (c) adding Al.sub.3Nb to the alloy, or (d) any combination thereof.