Hollow structure particles which contain titanium oxide and silica, in which the crystal type of the titanium oxide is rutile type; a method for producing the hollow structure particles; a white ink which contains these hollow structure particles as a coloring agent; use of the white ink in inkjet recording; and an inkjet recording method which uses the white ink.

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon-containing colloids or composite colloids have a silicon-containing shell which surrounds the hollow colloids or composite colloids. The colloids have a spherical geometry. The silicon-containing composite colloids have a spherical geometry and a diameter of between 2 nm and 7 nm in scanning electron micrographs, and the silicon-containing colloids have a spherical geometry with a cavity and a diameter of between 50 and 200 nm in scanning transmission electron micrographs. The cavity is surrounded by a shell with a thickness of between 3 and 10 nm.

A method is presented for producing hollow microspheres of metal oxides (HMOMS) and/or hollow metal silicates microspheres (HMSMS) in a transforming solution. The transforming solution contains an atom M, or an M-ion, or a radical containing M. M in the transforming solution has the thermodynamic ability to replace silicon atoms in hollow silica microspheres (HSMS) and/or hollow glass microspheres (HGMS). The maximum temperature for transformation is set by the chemical physical properties of the transforming solution, and the viscosity of the silica in the walls of the HSMS and/or the glass in the walls of the HGMS. Viscosity, of enough magnitude, helps retain the desired shape of the hollow sphere as it is transformed to HMOMS and/or HMSMS. Non-spherical shapes can be produced by increasing the transformation temperature whereby the viscosity of the walls of the HSMS and/or the HGMS is reduced. Transformation can take place at a single temperature or at several temperatures, each temperature for a separate hold time.

Methods are presented for: 1. production of micro composite castings and continuous production of sheets of micro composites, both consisting of hollow spheres in a matrix, 2. harvesting of HMOMS and HMSMS, and 3. specialty castings for anisotropic properties using 3-dimensional printing

A positive electrode active material precursor for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including-nickel composite hydroxide particles, is provided, wherein a cross section of each nickel composite hydroxide particle includes voids, and an average value of a ratio of an area of the voids in an area of each of the plurality of regions partitioned by predetermined boundary lines, is greater than or equal to 0.5% and less than or equal to 5.0%, and a standard deviation of the ratio of the area of the voids in the area of each of the plurality of regions partitioned by the predetermined boundary lines, is less than or equal to 1.0.

Provided are inorganic nanocages. The inorganic nanocages may be non-metal nanocages, transition metal oxide nanocages, or transition metal nanocages. Non-metal nanocages may include metal oxides. The inorganic nanocages can be made using micelles formed using pore expander molecules. The inorganic nanocages may be used as catalysts, drug delivery agents, diagnostic agents, therapeutic agents, and theranostic agents.

Disclosed herein are graphene coatings characterized by a porous, three-dimensional, spherical structure having a hollow core, along with methods for forming such graphene coatings on glasses, glass-ceramics, ceramics, and crystalline materials. Such coatings can be further coated with organic or inorganic layers and are useful in chemical and electronic applications.

There is provided a paint formulation comprising a composite pigment, said composite pigment being selected from the group consisting of metal oxide/silica, metal oxide/silicate, metal oxide/alumina, metal oxide/metal oxide and metal oxide/zirconia, wherein the size and amount of said composite pigment are selected to increase the opacity of said paint formulation.

An essentially carbon-free cathode for a lithium/air secondary battery and methods for making are provided. The cathode includes a hollow porous conductive metal oxide particle such as indium tin oxide, an optional functional layer, and an electrically conductive binder.

There is provided a spherical organic-inorganic composite particle having good biodegradability. The organic-inorganic composite particle according to the present invention includes 1 to 79% by weight of a silica component and 21 to 99% by weight of a biodegradable plastic. The organic-inorganic composite particle has an average particle diameter d.sub.1 of 0.5 to 25 m, a true density of 1.03 to 2.00 g/cm.sup.3, and a sphericity of 0.80 or more. A cosmetic product including the organic-inorganic composite particle having such properties has excellent texture properties.

A method for synthesizing calcium-silicate-based porous particles (CSPPs) is described. Control over CSPP morphology and pore size is achieved through a refined solution-based synthesis, allowing loading of a variety of sealants. These particles, upon external stimuli, release the loaded sealant into the surrounding material. Methods of loading the CSPPs with loading sealant are described. The CSPPs may be used in pure form or mixed with another material to deliver self-healing, sealing and multi-functional properties to a physical structure. The composition of the CSPPs is described, along with methods of use of the CSPPs.