A method of making a vacuum insulating panel, the vacuum insulating panel including a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate, a plurality of spacers provided in a gap between at least the first and second glass substrates, and a seal provided between at least the first and second glass substrates, the seal comprising a first seal layer. The method may include: providing first seal material for the first seal layer in a location at least partially between at least the first and second glass substrates; laser heating, using a laser beam from a continuous wave near-IR laser, the first seal material in order to form the first seal layer; wherein said laser heating may comprise using the laser beam, having a size of from about 2-15 mm, so that the laser beam at least partially passes through at least one of the glass substrates to fire and/or sinter the first seal material thereby forming the first seal layer, in a manner so that the first seal layer a density of from about 2.8-4.0 g/cm.sup.3; and after forming the first seal layer, evacuating the gap to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

The gas adsorbent of one aspect according to the present invention includes is included in the glass panel unit. The gas adsorbent includes: a substrate made of fiber or a porous substance, of inorganic material; and a liquid containing a getter attached to the substrate.

The present invention provides a composition that includes a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure, the composition having higher cesium adsorptivity than conventional compositions. The present invention also provides a production method for the composition that includes a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure. The production method does not require the use of hazardous or deleterious materials, can generate a product using a compound that is easily acquired, and can use a general-purpose autoclave. Also provided is a silicotitanate composition that has higher strontium adsorptivity than the present invention. Provided is a silicotitanate composition that contains niobium and a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure, the composition having at least two or more diffraction peaks selected from the group consisting of 2=8.80.5, 2=10.00.5, and 2=29.60.5.

Proposed is a method of obtaining inorganic sorbents for extracting lithium from lithium-containing natural and technological brines. The method is carried by contacting a soluble niobate (V) with an acid in the presence of at least one zirconium (IV) salt to obtain a precipitate of a mixed hydrated niobium and zirconium oxide. Subsequent steps include granulating the precipitate by freezing, converting the product of granulation into a Li-form, calcining the Li-form, and converting the obtained granulated mixed lithium, niobium, and zirconium oxide into an ion-exchanger in an H-form. In the obtained H-form the inorganic sorbent is ready for use in lithium extraction processes.

The present invention provides a composition that includes a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure, the composition having higher cesium adsorptivity than conventional compositions. The present invention also provides a production method for the composition that includes a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure. The production method does not require the use of hazardous or deleterious materials, can generate a product using a compound that is easily acquired, and can use a general-purpose autoclave. Also provided is a silicotitanate composition that has higher strontium adsorptivity than the present invention. Provided is a silicotitanate composition that contains niobium and a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure, the composition having at least two or more diffraction peaks selected from the group consisting of 2=8.80.5, 2=10.00.5, and 2=29.60.5.

A getter is provided. The getter consists essentially of from about 0% to 50% of titanium, from about 0% to 50% zirconium, and from about 5% to 50% of tantalum. A MEMS device is provided. The MEMS device includes a substrate and a getter over the substrate. The getter consists essentially of from about 0% to 50% of titanium, from about 0% to 50% zirconium, and from about 5% to 50% of tantalum. A method of forming a MEMS device is provided. The method includes the following operations: providing a substrate; and providing a getter over the substrate, wherein the getter consists essentially of from about 0% to 50% of titanium, from about 0% to 50% zirconium, and from about 5% to 50% of tantalum, and wherein all of the percentages are atomic percentages.

Multi-functional materials for use in reversible, high-capacity hydrogen separation and/or storage are described. Also described are systems incorporating the materials. The multi-functional materials combine a hydrogen absorbing material with a high-efficiency and anon-contact energy absorbing material in a composite nanoparticle. The non-contact energy absorbing material include magnetic and/or plasmonic materials. The magnetic or plasmonic materials of the composite nanoparticles can provide localized heating to promote release of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage component of the composite nanoparticles.

A process for removing Pb.sup.2+ toxins from bodily fluids is disclosed. The process involves contacting the bodily fluid with an ion exchange composition to remove the metal toxins in the bodily fluid, including blood and gastrointestinal fluid. Alternatively, blood can be contacted with a dialysis solution which is then contacted with the ion exchange composition. The ion exchange compositions are represented by the following empirical formula:

A.sub.mTi.sub.aNb.sub.1-aSi.sub.xO.sub.y

having either the pharmacosiderite, sitinakite, pharmacosiderite-sitinakite intergrowth topologies or mixtures thereof. A composition comprising the above ion exchange compositions in combination with bodily fluids or dialysis solution is also disclosed. The ion exchange compositions may be supported by porous networks of biocompatible polymers such as carbohydrates or proteins.

A gas purification getter for purifying a gas. The getter includes a canister having a cylinder body including a corrugated wall, an inlet end cap coupled to an inlet end of the cylinder body and an outlet end cap coupled to an outlet end of the cylinder body so that the cylinder body, the inlet end cap and the outlet end cap define a sealed chamber. The getter also includes a powder bed of a getter material provided within the chamber so that a flow of the gas from the inlet end to the outlet end is purified by the getter material. Voids in the powder bed when the canister is horizontally oriented are limited to raised portions in the corrugated wall so that there is no short circuit path for the gas to flow from the inlet end to the outlet end.

The present invention provides a composition that includes a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure, the composition having higher cesium adsorptivity than conventional compositions. The present invention also provides a production method for the composition that includes a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure. The production method does not require the use of hazardous or deleterious materials, can generate a product using a compound that is easily acquired, and can use a general-purpose autoclave. Also provided is a silicotitanate composition that has higher strontium adsorptivity than the present invention. Provided is a silicotitanate composition that contains niobium and a silicotitanate that has a sitinakite structure, the composition having at least two or more diffraction peaks selected from the group consisting of 2=8.80.5, 2=10.00.5, and 2=29.60.5.