A device having a plurality of layers comprises a nucleation-inhibiting coating (NIC) disposed on a first layer surface in a first portion of a lateral aspect thereof; and a deposited layer comprised of a deposited material, disposed on a second layer surface, wherein an initial sticking probability against deposition of the deposited layer onto a surface of the NIC in the first portion is substantially less than the initial sticking probability against deposition of the deposited layer onto the second layer surface, such that the NIC is substantially devoid of a closed coating of the deposited material and wherein the NIC comprises a compound containing a rare earth element. The deposited layer can comprise a closed coating on the second layer surface in a second portion of the lateral aspect, and/or a discontinuous layer of at least one particle structure on a surface of the NIC.

A method of recovering a rare earth metal can include incubating a bacterial consortium in the presence of a rare earth metal source comprising a rare earth metal and iron. The bacterial consortium can include an acid secreting bacterium, a heavy metal resistant bacterium, an iron-sequestering molecule secreting bacterium, and a rare earth metal sequestering bacterium. The method can further include: producing an acid using the acid secreting bacterium; leaching iron and the rare earth metal from the rare earth metal source using the acid; protecting the bacterial consortium from metal using the heavy metal resistant bacterium; sequestering iron using the iron-sequestering molecule secreting bacterium; and sequestering the rare earth metal using the rare earth metal sequestering bacterium

A method of recovering a rare earth metal can include incubating a bacterial consortium in the presence of a rare earth metal source comprising a rare earth metal and iron. The bacterial consortium can include an acid secreting bacterium, a heavy metal resistant bacterium, an iron-sequestering molecule secreting bacterium, and a rare earth metal sequestering bacterium. The method can further include: producing an acid using the acid secreting bacterium; leaching iron and the rare earth metal from the rare earth metal source using the acid; protecting the bacterial consortium from metal using the heavy metal resistant bacterium; sequestering iron using the iron-sequestering molecule secreting bacterium; and sequestering the rare earth metal using the rare earth metal sequestering bacterium

The invention relates to a method for preparing a composite metal oxide hollow fibre. A certain stoichiometry of composite metal oxide raw material and a polymer binding agent are added to an organic solvent, and mixed mechanically to obtain an evenly dispersed spinning solution having a suitable viscosity. After defoaming treatment, the spinning solution is extruded through a spinneret and, after undergoing a certain dry spinning process, enters an external coagulation bath; during this period, a phase inversion process occurs and composite metal oxide hollow fibre blanks are formed. The blanks are immersed in the external coagulation bath and the organic solvent is displaced; after natural drying, the blanks undergo a heat treatment process; during this period, polymer burn off, in situ reaction, and in situ sintering processes occur to obtain the composite metal oxide hollow fibre.

Disclosed here is a method for making a monolithic rare earth oxide (REO) aerogel, comprising: preparing a reaction mixture comprising at least one rare earth metal nitrate, at least one epoxide, at least one base catalyst, and at least one organic solvent; curing the mixture to produce a wet gel; drying the wet gel to produce a dry gel; and thermally annealing the dry gel to produce the monolithic REO aerogel. Also disclosed is an REO aerogel comprising a network of REO nanostructures, wherein the REO aerogel is a monolith having at least one lateral dimension of at least 1 cm, wherein the REO aerogel has a density of about 40-500 mg/cm.sup.3 and/or a BET surface area of at least about 20 m.sup.2/g, and wherein the REO aerogel is substantially free of oxychloride.

Disclosed here is a method for making a monolithic rare earth oxide (REO) aerogel, comprising: preparing a reaction mixture comprising at least one rare earth metal nitrate, at least one epoxide, at least one base catalyst, and at least one organic solvent; curing the mixture to produce a wet gel; drying the wet gel to produce a dry gel; and thermally annealing the dry gel to produce the monolithic REO aerogel. Also disclosed is an REO aerogel comprising a network of REO nanostructures, wherein the REO aerogel is a monolith having at least one lateral dimension of at least 1 cm, wherein the REO aerogel has a density of about 40-500 mg/cm.sup.3 and/or a BET surface area of at least about 20 m.sup.2/g, and wherein the REO aerogel is substantially free of oxychloride.

A method for extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, said method comprising contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted; recovering the rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase; and processing the recovered rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide.

A method for extracting a rare earth metal from a mixture of one or more rare earth metals, said method comprising contacting an acidic solution of the rare earth metal with a composition which comprises an ionic liquid to form an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase into which the rare earth metal has been selectively extracted; recovering the rare earth metal from the non-aqueous phase; and processing the recovered rare earth metal into a rare earth metal oxide.

The invention provides a ceramic composite oxide of formula (I): (1−x)AaBbOy+xCcDdOz (I) wherein A, B, C and D are each independently selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, Mg, Al, P, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, In, Sn, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ta, W, Bi and mixtures thereof; x is 0.05 to 0.95; y and z are balanced by the charge of the cations; 0≤a, b, c, d≤1; and wherein said ceramic composite oxide has an average particle size diameter of 10 to 700 nm.

Rare earth compound particles are prepared by a step of heating an aqueous solution containing rare earth metal ions and urea to form a rare earth compound by a reaction of a hydrolysis product of urea, and the rare earth metal ions. In the heating step, heating the aqueous solution into which an acetylene glycol-ethylene oxide adduct is added.