A method of producing metallic sodium powders. The method includes immersing one or more solid pieces of sodium metal in an organic liquid containing a hydrocarbon oil. The solid piece(s) of sodium metal immersed in the hydrocarbon oil is (are) then subjected to ultrasonic irradiation, wherein the solid piece of sodium metal is fragmented to form sodium powder, resulting in a dispersion of the sodium powder in the organic liquid. The dispersed sodium powder is then separated from the organic liquid, resulting in metallic sodium powder. A method of presodiation of an anode in an electrochemical cell. The method includes adding sodium metal powders to the surface of the anode either as a dry powder or as a suspension of the sodium particles in an organic liquid. An anode in an electrochemical cell containing metallic sodium particles. An electrochemical cell comprising a presodiated anode.

A high saturation, low loss magnetic material suitable for high frequency electrical devices, including power converters, transformers, solenoids, motors, and other such devices.

A high saturation, low loss magnetic material suitable for high frequency electrical devices, including power converters, transformers, solenoids, motors, and other such devices.

A method of producing metallic sodium powders. The method includes immersing one or more solid pieces of sodium metal in an organic liquid containing a hydrocarbon oil. The solid piece (s) of sodium metal immersed in the hydrocarbon oil is (are) then subjected to ultrasonic irradiation, wherein the solid piece of sodium metal is fragmented to form sodium powder, resulting in a dispersion of the sodium powder in the organic liquid. The dispersed sodium powder is then separated from the organic liquid, resulting in metallic sodium powder. A method of presodiation of an anode in an electrochemical cell. The method includes adding sodium metal powders to the surface of the anode either as a dry powder or as a suspension of the sodium particles in an organic liquid. An anode in an electrochemical cell containing metallic sodium particles. An electrochemical cell comprising a presodiated anode.

Techniques are disclosed for milling an iron-containing raw material in the presence of a nitrogen source to generate anisotropically shaped particles that include iron nitride and have an aspect ratio of at least 1.4. Techniques for nitridizing an anisotropic particle including iron, and annealing an anisotropic particle including iron nitride to form at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain within the anisotropic particle including iron nitride also are disclosed. In addition, techniques for aligning and joining anisotropic particles to form a bulk material including iron nitride, such as a bulk permanent magnet including at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain, are described. Milling apparatuses utilizing elongated bars, an electric field, and a magnetic field also are disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, γ-Fe and magnesium nitride.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, γ-Fe and magnesium nitride.

A method of producing flakes containing nanostructures from a part made of a material. The method includes subjecting the part made of the material to peening by shots driven by ultrasonic energy for a period of time, wherein nano structures form on the surface of the part and, subsequently, damage to the part caused by continued peening of the part by the shots driven by ultrasonic energy results in separation of flakes containing nanostructures from the part made of the material. Nanocrystalline flakes containing fractured surfaces, microcracks, nanograins and nanolamellae. Sensors comprising nanocrystalline flakes containing fractured surfaces, microcracks, nanograins and nanolamellae.

Provided are a fine particle production apparatus and a fine particle production method that can control the particle sizes of fine particles, and efficiently produce a large amount of fine particles having good particle size uniformity. The present invention comprises: a raw material supply unit which supplies raw materials for fine particle production into thermal plasma flame; a plasma torch in which the thermal plasma flame is generated, and which evaporates the raw material supplied by the raw material supply unit by means of the thermal plasma flame to form a mixture in a gas phase state; and a plasma generation unit which generates thermal plasma flame inside the plasma torch. The plasma generation unit includes: a first coil which surrounds the plasma torch, a second coil which is installed below the first coil in the longitudinal direction of the plasma torch and surrounds the circumference of the plasma torch; a first power supply unit which supplies an amplitude-modulated first high-frequency current to the first coil; and a second power supply unit which supplies an amplitude-modulated second high-frequency current to the second coil. The degree of modulation of the first high-frequency current is smaller than the degree of modulation of the second high-frequency current.

Provided are a fine particle production apparatus and a fine particle production method that can control the particle sizes of fine particles, and efficiently produce a large amount of fine particles having good particle size uniformity. The present invention comprises: a raw material supply unit which supplies raw materials for fine particle production into thermal plasma flame; a plasma torch in which the thermal plasma flame is generated, and which evaporates the raw material supplied by the raw material supply unit by means of the thermal plasma flame to form a mixture in a gas phase state; and a plasma generation unit which generates thermal plasma flame inside the plasma torch. The plasma generation unit includes: a first coil which surrounds the plasma torch, a second coil which is installed below the first coil in the longitudinal direction of the plasma torch and surrounds the circumference of the plasma torch; a first power supply unit which supplies an amplitude-modulated first high-frequency current to the first coil; and a second power supply unit which supplies an amplitude-modulated second high-frequency current to the second coil. The degree of modulation of the first high-frequency current is smaller than the degree of modulation of the second high-frequency current.