The present invention relates to a composite that is-cost-effective, has an excellent catalytic activity, and significantly improves stability compared to a pure platinum catalyst according to the related art. Specifically, the composite according to the present invention contains a carbon support and a binary alloy consisting of platinum and an alkaline earth metal supported on the carbon support which satisfies a specific condition in a Pt 4f X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectrum of the binary alloy.

An electrocatalyst material comprising cuprous oxide and antimony, the process for the production thereof and its use in the electrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2 to CO with high selectivity and efficiency are described.

An electrocatalyst material comprising cuprous oxide and antimony, the process for the production thereof and its use in the electrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2 to CO with high selectivity and efficiency are described.

A method including collecting exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) at a wellsite to provide a collected exhaust gas, separating CO.sub.2 from the collected exhaust gas to provide a separated CO.sub.2, and forming an alcohol product utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO.sub.2. The alcohol product can include methanol, ethanol, a precursor thereof, or a combination thereof.

Systems and methods of synthesizing nanoparticles on substrates using rapid, high temperature thermal shock. A method involves depositing micro-sized particles or salt precursors on a substrate, and applying a rapid, high temperature thermal pulse or shock to the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors and the substrate to cause the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors to become nanoparticles on the substrate. A system may include a rotatable member that receives a roll of a substrate sheet having micro-sized particles or salt precursors; a motor that rotates the rotatable member so as to unroll consecutive portions of the substrate sheet from the roll; and a thermal energy source that applies a short, high temperature thermal shock to consecutive portions of the substrate sheet that are unrolled from the roll by rotating the first rotatable member. Some systems and methods produce nanoparticles on existing substrate. The nanoparticles may be metallic, ceramic, inorganic, semiconductor, or compound nanoparticles. The substrate may be a carbon-based substrate, a conducting substrate, or a non-conducting substrate. The high temperature thermal shock process may be enabled by electrical Joule heating, microwave heating, thermal radiative heating, plasma heating, or laser heating.

Provided are a method for preparing a vertical branched graphene comprising treating a pristine vertical graphene with an inert plasma in the absence of an introduced carbon source to develop a vertical branched graphene. The method may also include pre-treating a substrate surface with an inert plasma; depositing a pristine vertical graphene onto the substrate surface by contacting the substrate surface with a deposition plasma comprising a carbon source gas for a deposition period. Also provided are a vertical branched graphene attached to a substrate surface, the vertical branched graphene having a trunk portion extending from the substrate surface, said trunk possessing an increased degree of branching as the distance from the substrate surface increases; and a freestanding branched graphene with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising a trunk portion, the trunk portion possessing and increased degree of branching as the distance from the proximal end increases and the distance to the distal end decreases.

Provided are a method for preparing a vertical branched graphene comprising treating a pristine vertical graphene with an inert plasma in the absence of an introduced carbon source to develop a vertical branched graphene. The method may also include pre-treating a substrate surface with an inert plasma; depositing a pristine vertical graphene onto the substrate surface by contacting the substrate surface with a deposition plasma comprising a carbon source gas for a deposition period. Also provided are a vertical branched graphene attached to a substrate surface, the vertical branched graphene having a trunk portion extending from the substrate surface, said trunk possessing an increased degree of branching as the distance from the substrate surface increases; and a freestanding branched graphene with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising a trunk portion, the trunk portion possessing and increased degree of branching as the distance from the proximal end increases and the distance to the distal end decreases.

The present invention relates to the electrolytic splitting of water using a carbon-supported manganese oxide (MnO.sub.x) composite. Specifically, the present electrolytic splitting of water is carried under neutral electrolyte conditions with a high electrolytic activity, while using an oxygen evolution reaction (OER)-electrode comprising the present carbon-supported MnO.sub.x composite. Next, the present invention relates to a process for producing such a carbon-supported MnO.sub.x composite as well as to a composite obtainable by the present process for producing the same and to an OER-electrode comprising the carbon-supported MnO.sub.x composite obtainable by the present process.

The invention relates to an ultra-thin carbon-layer composite material modified by nickel nanoclusters and vanadium carbide particles, and its preparation method and application. The composite material comprises a two-dimensional ultra-thin carbon-layer as a matrix, in which nickel clusters and vanadium carbide nanoparticles are embedded to form coupling interfaces between Ni and C, VC and C, and Ni and VC. The thickness of the two-dimensional ultra-thin carbon-layer is less than 10 nm.

The invention relates to an ultra-thin carbon-layer composite material modified by nickel nanoclusters and vanadium carbide particles, and its preparation method and application. The composite material comprises a two-dimensional ultra-thin carbon-layer as a matrix, in which nickel clusters and vanadium carbide nanoparticles are embedded to form coupling interfaces between Ni and C, VC and C, and Ni and VC. The thickness of the two-dimensional ultra-thin carbon-layer is less than 10 nm.