A catalyst-free synthesis method for the formation of a metalorganic compound comprising a desired (first) metal may include, for example, selecting another (second) metal and an organic solvent, with the second metal being selected to (i) be more reactive with respect to the organic solvent than the first metal and (ii) form, upon exposure of the second metal to the organic solvent, a reaction by-product that is more soluble in the organic solvent than the metalorganic compound. An alloy comprising the first metal and the second metal may be first produced (e.g., formed or otherwise obtained) and then treated with the organic solvent in a liquid phase or a vapor phase to form a mixture comprising (i) the reaction by-product comprising the second metal and (ii) the metalorganic compound comprising the first metal. The metalorganic compound may then be separated from the mixture in the form of a solid.

The invention relates to a filament comprising a core material (CM) comprising an inorganic powder (IP) and the core material (CM) is coated with a layer of shell material (SM) comprising a thermoplastic polymer. Further, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of said filament, as well as to three-dimensional objects and a process for the preparation thereof.

A catalyst-free synthesis method for the formation of a metalorganic compound comprising a desired (first) metal may include, for example, selecting another (second) metal and an organic solvent, with the second metal being selected to (i) be more reactive with respect to the organic solvent than the first metal and (ii) form, upon exposure of the second metal to the organic solvent, a reaction by-product that is more soluble in the organic solvent than the metalorganic compound. An alloy comprising the first metal and the second metal may be first produced (e.g., formed or otherwise obtained) and then treated with the organic solvent in a liquid phase or a vapor phase to form a mixture comprising (i) the reaction by-product comprising the second metal and (ii) the metalorganic compound comprising the first metal. The metalorganic compound may then be separated from the mixture in the form of a solid.

An extrusion method and apparatus are described for producing ceramics, glass, glass-ceramics, or composites suitable for use as proppants. The method includes forming one or more green body materials, extruding the green body materials to form a green body extrudate, separating and shaping the green body extrudate into individual green bodies, and sintering the green bodies to form proppants. The apparatus includes a means for forming an intimate mixture of green body materials, means to produce a green body extrudate, means for separating and shaping the green body extrudate into individual green bodies, and means to sinter the green green bodies to form proppants.

Traditionally, the manufacturing of ceramic metal oxide membranes is often expensive and extremely labor intensive due to the often necessary post-processing steps. The present invention discloses to a novel single-step process, to produce ceramic metal oxide membranes. More specifically, this invention relates to reactive electrospinning where a sol-gel solution containing alkoxides is electrically charged and formed a Taylor cone at the tip of a needle in an environment controlled chamber, and the Taylor cone rejects a continuous stream of alkoxide nanofibers which polymerized to form a ceramic metal oxide membrane (with and without a polymer substrate present). The manufactured membranes may be used for various applications, including dye sensitized solar cells and for carbon dioxide capturing.

Organic-inorganic hybrid nanofibres comprising two phases: a first mineral phase comprising a structured mesoporous network with open porosity; and a second organic phase comprising an organic polymer, wherein said organic phase is basically not present inside the pores of the structured mesoporous network. A membrane and an electrode comprising said nanofibres. A fuel cell comprising said membrane and/or said electrode. A method of preparing said nanofibres by electrically assisted extrusion (electrospinning).