The invention discloses the internal structures and processes to synthesize the structure of self-healing materials, especially metallic materials, metal matrix micro and nanocomposites. Self-healing is imparted by incorporation of macro, micro or nanosize hollow reinforcements including nanotubes, filled with low melting healing material or incorporation of healing material in pockets within the metallic matrix; the healing material melts and fills the crack. In another concept, macro, micro and nanosize solid reinforcements including ceramic and metallic particles, and shape memory alloys are incorporated into alloy matrices, specially nanostructured alloy matrices, to impart self healing by applying compressive stresses on the crack or diffusing material into voids to fill them. The processes to synthesize these self-healing and nanocomposite structures, including pressure or pressureless infiltration, stir mixing and squeeze casting in addition to solid and vapour phase consolidation processes are part of this invention.

The invention discloses the internal structures and processes to synthesize the structure of self-healing materials, especially metallic materials, metal matrix micro and nanocomposites. Self-healing is imparted by incorporation of macro, micro or nanosize hollow reinforcements including nanotubes, filled with low melting healing material or incorporation of healing material in pockets within the metallic matrix; the healing material melts and fills the crack. In another concept, macro, micro and nanosize solid reinforcements including ceramic and metallic particles, and shape memory alloys are incorporated into alloy matrices, specially nanostructured alloy matrices, to impart self healing by applying compressive stresses on the crack or diffusing material into voids to fill them. The processes to synthesize these self-healing and nanocomposite structures, including pressure or pressureless infiltration, stir mixing and squeeze casting in addition to solid and vapour phase consolidation processes are part of this invention.

In one aspect, a composite porous composition is disclosed, which comprises a porous structure including a plurality of pores, and a plurality of functional particles distributed within at least some of said pores of the porous structure, wherein the particles comprise porous particles.

In one aspect, a composite porous composition is disclosed, which comprises a porous structure including a plurality of pores, and a plurality of functional particles distributed within at least some of said pores of the porous structure, wherein the particles comprise porous particles.

A hard composite composition may comprise a binder and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. The polymodal blend of matrix powder may have at least one first local maxima at a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 m, at least one second local maxima at a particle size of about 200 m to about 10 mm, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 m to about 200 m that has a value that is less than the first local maxima.

The present invention relates to hollow nanoparticles having inside their cavity a metal core constituted by metal seeds agglomerated with a cationic polyelectrolyte, useful in medicine as well as in the bio-imaging and/or radio-therapeutic or chemo-therapeutic techniques and also in the industry as starting materials for preparing catalysts or metamaterials in non-linear optical processes.

The present invention relates to hollow nanoparticles having inside their cavity a metal core constituted by metal seeds agglomerated with a cationic polyelectrolyte, useful in medicine as well as in the bio-imaging and/or radio-therapeutic or chemo-therapeutic techniques and also in the industry as starting materials for preparing catalysts or metamaterials in non-linear optical processes.

An electrode material which may be used in an electrochemical cell used to convert carbon dioxide into useful products, such as synthetic fuel. The electrode material may comprise nano-sized core-shell catalyst (i.e., core-shell nanoparticles, or CSNs) having a catalytic core component encompassed by one or more outer shells, wherein at least one of the outer shells has a mesoporous structure. Electrochemical cells, electrochemical cell electrodes, and methods of making CSNs are also provided.

A hard composite composition may comprise a binder and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. The polymodal blend of matrix powder may have at least one first local maxima at a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 m, at least one second local maxima at a particle size of about 200 m to about 10 mm, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 m to about 200 m that has a value that is less than the first local maxima.

A hollow sphere structure of metal-containing tungsten carbide is provided, which includes a porous shell of metal-containing metal carbide surrounding a hollow core. The hollow sphere structure has a diameter of 5 micrometers to 45 micrometers, and the porous shell has a thickness of 0.1 micrometers to 12 micrometers. The metal is cobalt, nickel, or a combination thereof.