A substance is treated using a device having: (a) a volute or cyclone head, (b) a throat connected to the volute or cyclone head, (c) a parabolic reflector connected to the throat, (d) a first wave energy source comprising a first electrode within the volute or cyclone head that extends through the outlet into the opening of the throat along the central axis, and a second electrode extending into the parabolic reflector and spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode, and (e) a second wave energy source disposed inside the throat, embedded within the throat or disposed around the throat. The substance is directed to the inlet of the volute or cyclone head and irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the first and second wave energy sources as the substance passes through the device.

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a core-shell catalyst, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a core-shell catalyst, in which a particle in the form of a core-shell in which the metal nanoparticle is coated with platinum is manufactured by substituting copper and platinum through a method of manufacturing a metal nanoparticle by emitting a laser beam to a metal ingot, and providing a particular electric potential value, and as a result, it is possible to continuously produce nanoscale uniform core-shell catalysts in large quantities.

The invention relates to macro- and micro-liquid marbles (i.e. droplets of liquid with a particulate-based shell), and in particular, to photo-responsive macro- and micro-liquid marbles encapsulating a substance therein. Methods for forming the macro- and micro-liquid marbles, and use of the macro- and micro-liquid marbles, in controlled release applications are also disclosed.

Provided herein are methods and systems for converting natural gas, and specifically methane, into higher-value oxycarbon products, such as methanol, methyl formate, and formic acid. The natural gas is introduced into an aqueous solution with hydroxyl radicals and reacted in ambient conditions to form the desired products in the presence of a metal catalyst. The methods described herein overcome the over-activation dilemma of prior art methods that lead to the formation of undesirable carbon oxide compounds. Methods and apparatus for forming hydrogen peroxide via electrolysis and for forming hydroxyl radicals from the hydrogen peroxide via reaction with ferrous ions are also provided.

An anisotropic composite film includes a plurality of effectively parallel lines of particles with a polymeric or other solid matrix. The composite films are prepared by dispersion of the particles within a precursor to the matrix, such as a monomer, and acoustically stimulating the dispersion to form effectively parallel lines of the particles that are fixed by polymerizing the monomer or otherwise solidifying a matrix. The composite film is anisotropic and the transmittance of the composite film can exceed 50%. The composite films can be rigid or flexible. The composite film can be electrically conductive. The composite films can be employed as transparent electrodes for, displays, solar cells, and wearable devices.

A method for preparation of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution through pulsed laser, comprises firstly preparing an aqueous solution including HAuCl.sub.4.H.sub.2O and H.sub.2O.sub.2, followed by allowing a catalytic light source to emit into the aqueous solution for catalysis, such that a plurality of gold nanoparticles are formed in the aqueous solution, the catalytic light source being a pulsed laser. Additionally, it is also possible for firstly placing a porous silicon substrate into the aqueous solution, and then allowing the catalytic light source to emit into the aqueous solution for catalysis, such that the gold nanoparticles are grown on the surface of the porous silicon substrate. In this way, the gold nanoparticles of smaller particle diameters with more uniform size may be obtained without adding a surfactant during the preparation.

Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.

A method to increase a probability of interaction of one molecule with a second molecule includes applying a sequence of temporally varying perturbations by acoustic forces and/or by electromagnetic fields or any combination thereof in at least two non-aligned directions to a volume containing the molecules. The sequence of temporally varying perturbations is chosen to produce a sequence of perturbed molecular configurations for the molecule in the volume and the sequence of perturbations is selected so as to cause the increase in probability. Initially data is obtained relating to orientations of the molecules and the sequence is selected based on the data. The data can be obtained by observation or by creating a known orientation using selected fields.

A flow reactor for photochemical reactions comprises an extended flow passage (20) surrounded by one or more flow passage walls (22), the flow passage having a length and a light diffusing rod (30) having a diameter of at least 500 m and a length, with at least a portion of the length of the rod (30) extending inside of and along the flow passage (20) for at least a portion of the length of the flow passage (20).

Provided is a method for preparing boron nitride nanotubes, the method including: injecting a boron-metal catalyst composite into a reaction chamber; injecting a nitrogen precursor into the reaction chamber; producing a decomposition product of the boron-metal catalyst composite in a gas state by irradiating the boron-metal catalyst composite with a carbon dioxide laser or a free electron laser; and forming boron nitride nanotubes by reacting the decomposition product of the boron-metal catalyst composite in the gas state with the nitrogen precursor.