In this work, we investigated the blood platelet adhesion and activation of truly superhemophobic surfaces and compared them with that of hemophobic surfaces and hemophilic surfaces. Our analysis indicates that only those superhemophobic surfaces with a robust Cassie-Baxter state display significantly lower platelet adhesion and activation. The understanding gained through this work will lead to the fabrication of improved hemocompatible, superhemophobic medical implants.

There has been demand for a titanium oxide organosol that has a high transparency and a high refractive index and that also exhibits an excellent viscosity stability over time. The rutile-type titanium oxide organosol according to the present invention comprises a silane coupling agent, a basic additive acting as a deflocculant, a water-insoluble solvent, and rutile-type titanium oxide particles that have been surface-treated with a hydrous oxide of at least one metal species selected from Zr, Ce, Sn, and Fe, the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol being characterized in that the Ti ratio contained in the colloidal particles in the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol is at least 60 mass% when calculated as the oxide, and the ratio of metal species at the colloidal particle surface derived from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is 20-50 mass%.

A positive electrode active material that is used in a high-temperature operation type lithium ion solid secondary battery, wherein the positive electrode active material is made of oxide particles, which contains a first transition element and does not include an alkali metal.

Novel coatings disclosed herein can be used to mitigate dust adhesion. In one embodiment, a method of making a dust repellant coating includes combining a titanium dioxide sol with colloidal silica to form a mixture. The method also includes adding solvent to the mixture, stirring the mixture for about an hour, and filtering the mixture into a solution of titanium dioxide and silica dioxide.

Highly heat-resistant anatase-type titanium oxide particles stably retard an anatase-type crystal phase having excellent reactivity in a temperature range of 700° C., and have fine particles and a uniform particle size distribution. The highly heat-resistant anatase-type titanium oxide includes titanium oxide particles having a content of an anatase crystal phase in the total crystal phases of 85% or more and a modification layer provided on the surfaces of the titanium oxide particles. The modification layer is obtained by modifying an organic acid having a molecular weight of 200 or less with an acidic solution containing 1.5×10.sup.−4 mol/L or more and 0.12 mol/L or less. The pH of the acidic solution is 0.2 to 5.

An efficient green method for the synthesis of noble metal/transition metal oxide nanocomposite comprising reducing noble metal salt and a templating metal oxide is disclosed. The method is a one-step method comprises mixing coffee seed husk extract, a noble metal precursor, and a transition metal precursor; and filtering and drying the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite prepared by the method of the invention displays all the characteristics and biocidal activity of a composite prepared by traditional methods.

Provided is a method for producing a porous metal oxide. The method includes: preparing a slurry by mixing a metal source, a pore forming agent and an aqueous solvent; drying the slurry to obtain a metal oxide precursor; and sintering the metal oxide precursor to generate a porous metal oxide. The metal source is an organometallic compound or hydrolyzate thereof containing a metal that makes up the porous metal oxide; the pore forming agent is an inorganic compound that generates a gas by decomposing at a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature at which the metal oxide precursor is sintered; and the slurry is prepared using 50 parts by weight or more of the pore forming agent with respect to 100 parts by weight of the metal source.

Described herein are acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) materials useful in applications such as a battery electrode or photovoltaic component, in which the AMO material is used in conjunction with one or more acidic species. Advantageously, batteries constructed of AMO materials and incorporating acidic species, such as in the electrode or electrolyte components of the battery exhibit improved capacity as compared to a corresponding battery lacking the acidic species.

Described herein are acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) materials useful in applications such as a battery electrode or photovoltaic component, in which the AMO material is used in conjunction with one or more acidic species. Advantageously, batteries constructed of AMO materials and incorporating acidic species, such as in the electrode or electrolyte components of the battery exhibit improved capacity as compared to a corresponding battery lacking the acidic species.

A method of making a titanium dioxide nanowire array includes contacting a substrate with a solvent comprising a titanium (III) precursor, an acid, and an oxidant while microwave heating the solvent, thereby forming a hydrogen titanate H2Ti2O5.H2O nanowire array. The hydrogen titanate nanowire array is annealed to form a titanium dioxide nanowire array. The substrate is seeded with titanium dioxide before starting the hydrothermal synthesis of the hydrogen titanate nanowire array. The titanium dioxide nanowire array is loaded with a platinum group metal to form an exhaust gas catalyst. The titanium dioxide nanowire array can be used to catalyze oxidation of combustion exhaust.