Nanowires useful as heterogeneous catalysts are provided. The nanowire catalysts are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C2 hydrocarbons. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

A nanocrystal-sized cerium-zirconium-aluminum mixed oxide material includes at least 20% by mass zirconium oxide; between 5% to 55% by mass cerium oxide; between 5% to 60% by mass aluminum oxide; and a total of 25% or less by mass of at least one oxide of a rare earth metal selected from the group of lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, or yttrium. The nanocrystal-sized cerium-zirconium-aluminum mixed oxide exhibits hierarchically ordered aggregates having a dso particle size less than 1.5 m, and retains at least 80% of surface area and pore volume after ageing at temperature higher than 1000 C. for at least 6 hours. The nanocrystal-sized cerium-zirconium-aluminum mixed oxide material is prepared using a co-precipitation method followed by milling the dried and calcined oxide material. The nanocrystal-sized cerium-zirconium-aluminum mixed oxide material forms a particulate filter that may be used in an exhaust system arising from a gas or diesel engine.

A method for making a metal oxide material and catalyzing the oxidative coupling of methane, including mixing a metal cation-containing oxidizer portion and a reducing fuel portion with water to define an aqueous solution, evaporatively removing water from the aqueous solution to yield a concentrated liquid, burning the concentrated liquid yield an homogeneous metal oxide powder, flowing methane from a first source and oxygen from a second source over the homogeneous metal oxide powder, and catalyzing an oxidative coupling of methane reaction with the homogeneous metal oxide powder. The homogeneous metal oxide powder contains metal oxides selected from the group including LaSrAlO.sub.4, LaAlO.sub.3, Sr.sub.3Al.sub.2O.sub.6, Na.sub.2WO.sub.4Mn/SiO.sub.2, and combinations thereof.

Various embodiments relate to separation of terbium(III,IV) oxide. In various embodiments, present invention provides a method of separating terbium(III,IV) oxide from a composition. The method can include contacting a composition including terbium(III,IV) oxide and one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides with a liquid including acetic acid to form a mixture. The contacting can be effective to dissolve at least some of the one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides into the liquid. The method can include separating undissolved terbium(III,IV) oxide from the mixture, to provide separated terbium(III,IV) oxide.

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a method for recovering a solid state electrolyte from an all-solid-state battery, which simultaneously recovers rare metals through a hydrometallurgical process. In order to achieve the purpose, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for recovering a solid state electrolyte from an all-solid-state battery, the method comprising steps of: (a) crushing or grinding the all-solid-state battery; (b) acid leaching the crushed or ground all-solid-state battery to form a leaching solution; (c) adding a first precipitant to the leaching solution to separate the leaching solution into a first precipitate and a first leachate; (d) adding a pH modifier to the first leachate to separate the first leachate into a second precipitate and a second leachate; and (e) adding a second precipitant to the second leachate to recover a third precipitate.

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a method for recovering a solid state electrolyte from an all-solid-state battery, which simultaneously recovers rare metals through a hydrometallurgical process. In order to achieve the purpose, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for recovering a solid state electrolyte from an all-solid-state battery, the method comprising steps of: (a) crushing or grinding the all-solid-state battery; (b) acid leaching the crushed or ground all-solid-state battery to form a leaching solution; (c) adding a first precipitant to the leaching solution to separate the leaching solution into a first precipitate and a first leachate; (d) adding a pH modifier to the first leachate to separate the first leachate into a second precipitate and a second leachate; and (e) adding a second precipitant to the second leachate to recover a third precipitate.

A method for extracting a rare earth from a rare earth sample using magnetic-based concentration and separation of an ore containing a selected rare earth from a lanthanide series of elements. The method steps include selecting and grinding a rare earth sample into particle size from the lanthanide series of elements, treating the rare earth sample to variable weak electromagnets, treating the rare earth sample to a variable strong electromagnets and separating non-magnetic minerals. Then heating the rare earth sample in a thermal decomposition oven and then treating the rare earth sample to second variable strong electromagnets for a magnetic gradient ion exchange fixed bed separation. Finally, creating high grade rare earth oxides for further production of rare earth contained products.

A method for extracting a rare earth from a rare earth sample using magnetic-based concentration and separation of an ore containing a selected rare earth from a lanthanide series of elements. The method steps include selecting and grinding a rare earth sample into particle size from the lanthanide series of elements, treating the rare earth sample to variable weak electromagnets, treating the rare earth sample to a variable strong electromagnets and separating non-magnetic minerals. Then heating the rare earth sample in a thermal decomposition oven and then treating the rare earth sample to second variable strong electromagnets for a magnetic gradient ion exchange fixed bed separation. Finally, creating high grade rare earth oxides for further production of rare earth contained products.

The present invention generally relates to a lanthanum oxide (La.sub.2O.sub.3)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite-based humidity sensor device designed for high-performance detection across a wide relative humidity range of 11-95%. The sensor comprises an interdigitated electrode (IDE) substrate featuring a plurality of electrodes patterned on an insulating base. A sensing layer composed of a nanocomposite of La.sub.2O.sub.3 and rGO in the ratio of (x)La.sub.2O.sub.3+(1x)rGO, where x ranges from 0.1 to 0.3, is deposited on the IDE using a drop-casting method. The slurry used for deposition includes ethanol as a solvent, and the coated substrate is subjected to mild heating at 60 C. to 80 C. for 1 to 2 hours to enhance adhesion and uniformity. The IDEs, made of gold, silver, or their composition, are connected to external leads interfaced with a measurement unit that enables real-time monitoring and quantification of humidity changes in the surrounding environment.

The present invention generally relates to a lanthanum oxide (La.sub.2O.sub.3)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite-based humidity sensor device designed for high-performance detection across a wide relative humidity range of 11-95%. The sensor comprises an interdigitated electrode (IDE) substrate featuring a plurality of electrodes patterned on an insulating base. A sensing layer composed of a nanocomposite of La.sub.2O.sub.3 and rGO in the ratio of (x)La.sub.2O.sub.3+(1x)rGO, where x ranges from 0.1 to 0.3, is deposited on the IDE using a drop-casting method. The slurry used for deposition includes ethanol as a solvent, and the coated substrate is subjected to mild heating at 60 C. to 80 C. for 1 to 2 hours to enhance adhesion and uniformity. The IDEs, made of gold, silver, or their composition, are connected to external leads interfaced with a measurement unit that enables real-time monitoring and quantification of humidity changes in the surrounding environment.