The present invention provides a method for making materials and electrocatalytic materials comprising amorphous metals or metal oxides. This method provides a scalable preparative approach for accessing state-of-the-art electrocatalyst films, as demonstrated herein for the electrolysis of water, and extends the scope of usable substrates to include those that are non-conducting and/or three-dimensional electrodes.

A system for producing carbonaceous materials is disclosed that includes an energy source configured to emit microwave energy and a plasma reactor coupled to receive the microwave energy and configured to produce plasma in response to exposure of one or more process gases to the microwave energy. In some instances, the plasma reactor includes a first chamber having a rectangular cross-section and configured to receive the microwave energy from the energy source as sinusoidal waveform, a second chamber having a cylindrical cross-section and configured to receive microwave energy from the first chamber as a radial waveform having an energy maxima at a radial center of the cylindrical cross-section, the second chamber including an opening to receive one or more process gases and configured to ignite a plasma plume, and a gas-solid separator configured to separate solid materials from the plasma plume.

A process for producing an unsupported molybdenum sulfide nanocatalyst comprising atomizing a molybdenum oxide solution to form a molybdenum oxide aerosol, pyrolyzing the molybdenum oxide aerosol with a laser beam to form the unsupported molybdenum-based nanocatalyst, and pre-sulfiding at least a portion of the unsupported molybdenum-based nanocatalyst to form an unsupported molybdenum sulfide nanocatalyst, wherein the unsupported molybdenum-based nanocatalyst, the unsupported molybdenum sulfide catalyst or both are in the form of nanoparticles with a diameter of 1-10 nm and in a distorted rutile crystalline structure. A method of selective deep hydrodesulfurization whereby a hydrocarbon feedstock having at least one sulfur-containing component and at least one hydrocarbon is contacted with the unsupported molybdenum sulfide nanocatalyst.

Photoreduction of graphene oxide, by UV-generated ketyl radicals, to graphene. The photoreduction is versatile and can be carried out in solution, solid-state, and even in polymer composites. Reduction of graphene oxide can take place in various polymer matrixes. Methods for producing graphene-supported metal nanoparticles by photoreduction. Graphene oxide and a metal nanoparticle precursor are simultaneously reduced by the action of photogenerated ketyl radicals. Photoreduction is performed on polymer composite films in one embodiment.

The present invention provides a method for producing urea by means of energy irradiation, the method comprises contacting a nanostructure catalyst with at least one carbon-containing source, at least one nitrogen-containing source and at least one hydrogen-containing source, and irradiating the nanostructure catalyst, the carbon-containing source, the nitrogen-containing source and the hydrogen-containing source with energy, to produce urea molecules.

The present invention provides a method for producing urea by means of energy irradiation, the method comprises contacting a nanostructure catalyst with at least one carbon-containing source, at least one nitrogen-containing source and at least one hydrogen-containing source, and irradiating the nanostructure catalyst, the carbon-containing source, the nitrogen-containing source and the hydrogen-containing source with energy, to produce urea molecules.

Provided is a method for growing carbon nanotubes that enables the growth of high-density carbon nanotubes. A high frequency bias voltage is applied to a loading table on which a wafer W having a catalytic metal layer is mounted to generate a bias potential on the surface of the wafer W, and oxygen plasma is used to micronize the catalytic metal layer to form catalytic metal particles. Thereafter, hydrogen plasma is used to reduce the surface of the catalytic metal particles to form activated catalytic metal particles having an activated surface. By using each activated catalytic metal particles as a nucleus, carbon nanotubes are formed.

A catalytic nanoparticle can include a nanodiamond core, a thin-layer polymeric film applied to an outer surface of the nanodiamond core, and a catalyst immobilized at an outer surface of the thin-layer polymeric film. The nanoparticles can also be used in connection with a transducer to form a sensor. A method of catalysis can include contacting the catalytic nanoparticle with a reactant in a reaction area. The reactant can be capable of forming a reaction product via a reaction catalyzed by the catalyst. The method of catalysis can also include facilitating a catalytic interaction between the catalytic nanoparticle and the reactant.

A method of forming a carbon nanotube array substrate is disclosed. One embodiment comprises depositing a composite catalyst layer on the substrate, oxidizing the composite catalyst layer, reducing the oxidized composite catalyst layer, and growing the array on the composite catalyst layer. The composite catalyst layer may comprise a group VIII element and a non-catalytic element deposited onto the substrate from an alloy. In another embodiment, the composite catalyst layer comprises alternating layers of iron and a lanthanide, preferably gadolinium or lanthanum. The composite catalyst layer may be reused to grow multiple carbon nanotube arrays without additional processing of the substrate. The method may comprise bulk synthesis by forming carbon nanotubes on a plurality of particulate substrates having a composite catalyst layer comprising the group VIII element and the non-catalytic element. In another embodiment, the composite catalyst layer is deposited on both sides of the substrate.

A nanocomposite coating and method of making and using the coating. The nanocomposite coating is disposed on a base material, such as a metal or ceramic; and the nanocomposite consists essentially of a matrix of an alloy selected from the group of Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt and Re which are catalytically active for cracking of carbon bonds in oils and greases and a grain structure selected from the group of borides, carbides and nitrides.