An array includes a support substrate, surface structures protruding from a surface of the support substrate formed from or coated with a first material, a second material deposited on at least some of the surface structures such that the second material is in contact with the first material; and wherein the first material, the second material or the first and second material is conducting or semiconducting, and wherein the first and second material at least partially form a composite.

A process produces methyl methacrylate by direct oxidative esterification of methacrolein. Methyl methacrylate is used in large amounts for producing polymers and copolymers with other polymerizable compounds. An optimized workup of the reactor discharge from the oxidative esterification of methacrolein allows for co-discharged fine catalyst particles to be very efficiently separated and optionally removed or recycled. In addition, this process can reduce the formation of byproducts in extended continuous operation compared to known variant. A reactor system contains stirrer configurations which allow virtually abrasion-free operation and thus a catalyst on-stream time of several years.

Disclosed is catalyst composition, a process for preparing the catalyst composition, and a use of the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition comprises 1 wt % to 4 wt % of free azacarbene, 1 wt % to 2 wt % of azacarbene iron, 15 wt % to 30 wt % of a phase transfer catalyst, 1 wt % to 5 wt % of a hydrogen donor, 5 wt % to 10 wt % of phosphoric acid, 0.5 wt % to 1 wt % of emulsifier, with the rest being solvent. This disclosure also provides a process for preparing the catalyst composition, comprising: mixing the free azacarbene and the azacarbene iron with the solvent according to a ratio, then adding and mixing the phase transfer catalyst and the hydrogen donor, then adding and mixing the phosphoric acid and the emulsifier to obtain the catalyst composition. The beneficial effect of this disclosure is: only less azacarbene iron and free azacarbene are needed to achieve rapid and efficient viscosity reduction of heavy oil.

This invention provides an anisotropic nanostructure represented by the formula:
Ru.sub.xM.sub.1-x,
wherein 0.6≤x≤0.999, and M represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ir, Rh, Pt, Pd, and Au, and wherein Ru and M form a solid solution at the atomic level, and the anisotropic nanostructure has an anisotropic hexagonal close-packed structure (hcp).

Described herein are heterogeneous materials comprising a mixture of a first n-type semiconductor and a second n-type semiconductor. The first n-type semiconductor may be a single or plural phase TiO.sub.2 material. The second n-type semiconductor includes a metal titanate and/or a noble metal. Upon activation with ultraviolet light, the photocatalytic material mixtures described herein efficiently decompose volatile chemical compounds. Furthermore, the photocatalytic materials disclosed herein are observably more stable, relative to known semiconductor materials, to inactivation by deposition.

Provided is a method for producing organic molecules having at least two carbon atoms chained together by the reaction of a hydrogen-containing source, a carbon-containing source and an optional nitrogen-containing source in the presence of a nanostructure or nanostructures, wherein the reaction is initiated by heat.

A nanocomposite has a core-shell structure with an outer shell and an inner core. The, outer shell is a graphitized carbon film, and the inner core contains nickel oxide and alumina, with a nickel oxide content of 59%-80%, an alumina content of 19%-40%, and a carbon content of not more than 1%, based on the total weight of the nanocomposite. The process for catalytic combustion of volatile organic compounds may utilize the nanocomposite as a catalyst.

This invention is related to an additive composition comprising metal-based quantum clusters (QCs) dispersed in a hydrocarbon medium. The additive composition is useful as a fuel additive, as it acts as a combustion improver for liquid and gaseous fuels. The invention describes a process for the synthesis of the additive composition comprising metal-based materials in atomic cluster form in hydrocarbon dispersible medium. The stable liquid dispersion of the QC has been doped into the hydrocarbon fuels at required concentrations. The measurable flame temperature of the fuels, e.g., commercial LPG on burner has been observed to increase by at least 60-80° C. The flame with high heat through put can be used for efficient cooking, heating, annealing and other high thermal applications. The additive composition may also be used to improve the fuel economy of the liquid hydrocarbon fuels.

Provided are a composite structure, in which metal nanoparticle-perovskite oxide is bound to metal oxide supports (i.e., sensing materials), and a preparation method thereof. The composite structure has improved durability, in which metal nanoparticles uniform in size are evenly distributed on the surface of perovskite oxide. Provided is also a high-performance gas sensor having excellent target gas detection performances by including the composite structure.

A method of purifying air polluted by smoke and fumes, such as from wildfires and other hazard, may deploy a series of fluid filled vessels that act as filters to trap and/or neutralize components that would foul an aqueous suspension of gold nanoparticles that is effective in converting toxic carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Non-toxic fluids may be used. As the gold nanoparticles are effective in a basic solution, the solution may contain a visible pH indicator or an apparatus that deploys the method may continuously monitor the pH thereof.