Thermoelectric materials based on tetrahedrite structures for thermoelectric devices and methods for producing thermoelectric materials and devices are disclosed.

A negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery, comprising silicon, copper and oxygen as major constitutional elements, the negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery, containing fine particles of silicon having an average crystallite diameter (D.sub.x) measured by an X-ray diffractometry of 50 nm or less, and having elemental ratios, expressed by molar ratios, Cu/(Si+Cu+O) and O/(Si+Cu+O) of from 0.02 to 0.30, wherein the negative electrode active material contains an intermetallic compound of silicon and copper.

An extruded, solid honeycomb body comprises a copper-promoted, small pore, crystalline molecular sieve catalyst for converting oxides of nitrogen in the presence of a reducing agent, wherein the crystalline molecular sieve contains a maximum ring size of eight tetrahedral atoms, which extruded, solid honeycomb body comprising: 20-50% by weight matrix component comprising diatomaceous earth, wherein 2-20 weight % of the extruded, solid honeycomb body is diatomaceous earth; 80-50% by weight of the small pore, crystalline molecular sieve ion-exchanged with copper; and 0-10% by weight of inorganic fibres.

Disclosed are a superconducting ceramic and methods for producing the same. The superconducting ceramic is represented by Formula 1, which is described in the specification. The methods are suitable for producing the superconducting ceramic. The superconducting ceramic exhibits superconductivity at room temperature and ambient pressure.

A hard material which, when used as a material of a sintered material, makes it possible to obtain a sintered material with excellent abrasion resistance, a sintered material, a cutting tool including the sintered material, a method for manufacturing the hard material and a method for manufacturing the sintered material are provided. The hard material contains aluminum, nitrogen, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, and silicon, and has a cubic rock salt structure.

A method of fabricating a diamond compact includes functionalizing surfaces of diamond nanoparticles with fluorine; combining the functionalized diamond nanoparticles with a non-group-VIII metal to form a particle mixture; and subjecting the particle mixture to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond nanoparticles. A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes a plurality of grains of diamond material; a plurality of diamond nanoparticles bonded to the plurality of grains of diamond material; and a non-group-VIII metal fluoride disposed within interstitial spaces between the grains of diamond material and the plurality of diamond nanoparticles. The cutting element is substantially free of a metal-solvent catalyst.

A method of and an apparatus for making a composite material is provided. The composite is able to be formed by mixing a binder and a physical property enhancing material to form a mixer. The binder is able to be pitch, such as mesophase pitch. The physical property enhancing material is able to be fiber glass. The mixer is able to be processed through a lamination process, stabilization/cross-link process, and carbonization. The composite material is able to be applied in the field of electronic components and green technology, such as a substrate of a photovoltaic cell.

A friction material includes a fiber base material, a friction modifier and a binder. The friction modifier includes two or more kinds of titanate compounds. The two or more kinds of titanate compounds have a median diameter (D50) of 20 m or more. At least one of the two or more kinds of titanate compounds is a porous titanate compounds. The friction material includes no copper component.

An extruded, solid honeycomb body comprises a copper-promoted, small pore, crystalline molecular sieve catalyst for converting oxides of nitrogen in the presence of a reducing agent, wherein the crystalline molecular sieve contains a maximum ring size of eight tetrahedral atoms, which extruded, solid honeycomb body comprising: 20-50% by weight matrix component comprising diatomaceous earth, wherein 2-20 weight % of the extruded, solid honeycomb body is diatomaceous earth; 80-50% by weight of the small pore, crystalline molecular sieve ion-exchanged with copper; and 0-10% by weight of inorganic fibers.

A method of fabricating a diamond compact includes functionalizing surfaces of diamond nanoparticles with fluorine; combining the functionalized diamond nanoparticles with a non-group-VIII metal to form a particle mixture; and subjecting the particle mixture to high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond nanoparticles. A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes a plurality of grains of diamond material; a plurality of diamond nanoparticles bonded to the plurality of grains of diamond material; and a non-group-VIII metal fluoride disposed within interstitial spaces between the grains of diamond material and the plurality of diamond nanoparticles. The cutting element is substantially free of a metal-solvent catalyst.