A visible light sensitive photocatalyst including a compound represented by Formula 1:
A.sub.a-xM.sup.1.sub.xSi.sub.b-yM.sup.2.sub.yO.sub.c  Formula 1
wherein A is one or more metals selected from Ag, Cu, and Au; M.sup.1 is one or more metals selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs; M.sup.2 is one or more metals selected from Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, and Hf, and 1.7≦a≦2.3, 0.7≦b≦1.3, 2.7≦c≦3.3, 0≦x<a, and 0≦y<b.

A visible light sensitive photocatalyst including a compound represented by Formula 1:
A.sub.a-xM.sup.1.sub.xSi.sub.b-yM.sup.2.sub.yO.sub.c  Formula 1
wherein A is one or more metals selected from Ag, Cu, and Au; M.sup.1 is one or more metals selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs; M.sup.2 is one or more metals selected from Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, and Hf, and 1.7≦a≦2.3, 0.7≦b≦1.3, 2.7≦c≦3.3, 0≦x<a, and 0≦y<b.

Methods of forming plasmonic diamond films are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises forming a first layer of diamond on a substrate; depositing a layer of a metal on a surface of the first layer of diamond to form an as-deposited layer of metal; exposing the as-deposited layer of metal to a plasma treatment to convert the as-deposited layer of metal to a plurality of discrete regions of the metal on the surface of the first layer of diamond; and forming a second layer of diamond on the plurality of discrete regions of metal to form the plasmonic diamond film comprising a plurality of plasmonic nanoparticles.

Methods of forming plasmonic diamond films are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises forming a first layer of diamond on a substrate; depositing a layer of a metal on a surface of the first layer of diamond to form an as-deposited layer of metal; exposing the as-deposited layer of metal to a plasma treatment to convert the as-deposited layer of metal to a plurality of discrete regions of the metal on the surface of the first layer of diamond; and forming a second layer of diamond on the plurality of discrete regions of metal to form the plasmonic diamond film comprising a plurality of plasmonic nanoparticles.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a base material powder having a carbon nanocoating layer, the method including adding a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon to a base material powder, heating the mixture to a temperature that is higher than or equal to the boiling point of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and is lower than or equal to the relevant boiling point temperature +300° C., and that is higher than or equal to the thermal decomposition temperature of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and thereby coating the surface of the base material powder with a layer of carbon having a thickness of 0.1 nm to 10 nm. According to the method, when a source of carbon that covers a base material powder is appropriately selected, the base material powder having the carbon nanocoating layer can be provided, which does not have a possibility of causing inconveniences in the applications of a final manufactured product of the base material powder and exhibits satisfactory productivity of the base material powder, and from which a modified final manufactured product is obtained.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a base material powder having a carbon nanocoating layer, the method including adding a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon to a base material powder, heating the mixture to a temperature that is higher than or equal to the boiling point of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and is lower than or equal to the relevant boiling point temperature +300° C., and that is higher than or equal to the thermal decomposition temperature of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and thereby coating the surface of the base material powder with a layer of carbon having a thickness of 0.1 nm to 10 nm. According to the method, when a source of carbon that covers a base material powder is appropriately selected, the base material powder having the carbon nanocoating layer can be provided, which does not have a possibility of causing inconveniences in the applications of a final manufactured product of the base material powder and exhibits satisfactory productivity of the base material powder, and from which a modified final manufactured product is obtained.

An electrocatalytic process for carbon dioxide conversion includes combining a Catalytically Active Element and a Helper Polymer in the presence of carbon dioxide, allowing a reaction to proceed to produce a reaction product, and applying electrical energy to said reaction to achieve electrochemical conversion of said carbon dioxide reactant to said reaction product. The Catalytically Active Element can be a metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. The reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO.sup.−, H.sub.2CO, (HCO.sub.2).sup.−, H.sub.2CO.sub.2, CH.sub.3OH, CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.4, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.3COO.sup.−, CH.sub.3COOH, C.sub.2H.sub.6, (COOH).sub.2, (COO.sup.−).sub.2, and CF.sub.3COOH.

A method of reducing silver(I) salts to silver nanoparticles employing a carbohydrate reductant in the presence of an inorganic base, a surfactant and optionally a polymer. The method is performed in an aqueous solution at a temperature up to 60° C. and for a duration of up to 40 minutes.

A method of reducing silver(I) salts to silver nanoparticles employing a carbohydrate reductant in the presence of an inorganic base, a surfactant and optionally a polymer. The method is performed in an aqueous solution at a temperature up to 60° C. and for a duration of up to 40 minutes.

The present disclosure provides a catalyst product having particular three-dimensional plate-like shape and comprising catalyst nanoparticles and a method for manufacturing same. The present product may be useful in fuel cells or battery applications. In certain embodiments the present catalysts show good catalytic activity and durability even at low catalyst loads.