This invention relates to a method of increasing the size of particulates in a gas comprising particulates, e.g. a gas that is formed from the combustion of fuels. The method comprises mixing an ionised gas stream with the gas comprising particulates.

A system and method of forming a silicon-hybrid anode material. The silicon-hybrid anode material including a microparticle mixture of a quantity of silicon microparticles and a quantity of metal microparticles intermixed with the quantity of silicon microparticles in a selected ratio. The microparticle mixture is formed in a silicon-hybrid anode material layer having a thickness of between about 2 and about 15 m.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a production method of magnesium hydride that is free of carbon dioxide and has high production efficiency, a power generation system that does not emit carbon dioxide or radiation using magnesium hydride, and an apparatus for producing magnesium hydride; therefore, the method for producing magnesium hydride of the present disclosure comprises a procedure for irradiating a magnesium compound different from magnesium hydride with hydrogen plasma, and a procedure for depositing a magnesium product containing magnesium hydride on a depositor for depositing magnesium hydride disposed within the range in which hydrogen plasma is present, wherein the surface temperature of the depositor is kept no more than a predetermined temperature at which magnesium hydride precipitates.

A method of manufacturing a graphene-tin oxide nanocomposite comprises dispersing graphene and tin oxide in an organic solvent to prepare a dispersion solution, drying the dispersion solution to obtain a powdery mixture, and irradiating the mixture with microwaves to obtain a graphene-tin oxide nanocomposite. Irradiation of graphene and tin oxide with microwaves results in the simplification of the manufacturing process of graphene-tin oxide nanocomposites and a decrease in manufacturing time and cost, and produce graphene-tin oxide nanocomposites at low temperatures. Further, the graphene-tin oxide nanocomposite with improved sensitivity to NO2 gas may be produced.

The present invention relates to a process, reactor and system to produce self-standing two-dimensional nanostructures, using a microwave-excited plasma environment. The process is based on injecting, into a reactor, a mixture of gases and precursors in stream regime. The stream is subjected to a surface wave electric field, excited by the use of microwave power which is introduced into a field applicator, generating high energy density plasmas, that break the precursors into its atomic and/or molecular constituents. The system comprises a plasma reactor with a surface wave launching zone, a transient zone with a progressively increasing cross-sectional area, and a nucleation zone. The plasma reactor together with an infrared radiation source provides a controlled adjustment of the spatial gradients, of the temperature and the gas stream velocity.

The present invention relates to pyrazine derivatives such as those represented by Formulas I and II. X.sup.1 to X.sup.4 of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron withdrawing groups, while Y.sup.1 to Y.sup.4 of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron donating groups. Pyrazine derivatives of the present invention may be utilized in assessing organ (e.g., kidney) function. In a particular example, an effective amount of a pyrazine derivative that is capable of being renally cleared may be administered into a patient's body. The pyrazine derivative may capable of one or both absorbing and emanating spectral energy of at least about 400 nm (e.g., visible and/or infrared light). At least some of the derivative that is in the body may be exposed to spectral energy and, in turn, spectral energy may emanate from the derivative. This emanating spectral energy may be detected and utilized to determine renal function of the patient. ##STR00001##

A system and method of forming a silicon-hybrid anode material. The silicon-hybrid anode material including a microparticle mixture of a quantity of silicon microparticles and a quantity of metal microparticles intermixed with the quantity of silicon microparticles in a selected ratio. The microparticle mixture is formed in a silicon-hybrid anode material layer having a thickness of between about 2 and about 15 m.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to relates to heterogeneous catalysts useful for the synthesis of ammonia under microwave irradiation, processes for preparing the disclosed heterogeneous catalysts, and processes for synthesizing ammonia using the heterogeneous catalysts with microwave irradiation. In various aspects, the disclosed heterogeneous catalysts comprise: a metal selected from Group 7, Group 8, Group 9, Group 10, Group 11, or combinations thereof; a metal oxide support; and optionally a promoter material. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A TiO.sub.2-graphene-silver hybrid nanocomposite and a method of preparing the TiO.sub.2-graphene-silver hybrid nanocomposite is disclosed. The TiO.sub.2-graphene-silver hybrid nanocomposite at an average particle size ranging from 12-15 nanometers and having a surface area of 140.5 m.sup.2/g includes titanium oxide, graphene oxide and silver, the silver ranging from about 2 weight % to 10 weight %. The method of preparation includes introducing sol gel to a microwave irradiation to prepare an irradiated sample of TiO.sub.2-graphene oxide sample, wherein the sol gel includes TiO.sub.2 containing gel along with graphene containing sol, followed by adding AgNO.sub.3 solution to the TiO.sub.2-graphene oxide sample for preparing a TiO.sub.2-graphene-silver hybrid suspension. The TiO.sub.2-graphene-silver hybrid suspension undergoes microwave irradiation to prepare dried TiO.sub.2-graphene-silver hybrid composite.

The invention relates to a pressure vessel, having: a reaction chamber (2) as a pressure space for the initiation and/or facilitation of chemical and/or physical pressure reactions of samples (P) accommodated in the reaction chamber (2); a fluid inlet (20) with a feed valve (21) which is adjustable between an open position, for the feed of a fluid, preferably a flushing gas, into the reaction chamber (2), and a closed position, for stopping the feed of the fluid; a fluid outlet (30) with a discharge valve (31), which is adjustable between an open position, for the discharge of a fluid out of the reaction chamber (2), and a closed position, for stopping the discharge of the fluid out of the reaction chamber (2); and an oxygen sensor (33) for detecting an oxygen content in the reaction chamber (2). The pressure vessel (1) furthermore has a control device which is configured to control the feed valve (21) and the discharge valve (31) on the basis of the oxygen content detected by the oxygen sensor (33), such that the reaction chamber (2) is flushed via the feed and discharge valves (21, 31) situated in the open position, and at least the discharge valve (31) switches from the open position into the closed position as soon as a predetermined oxygen content is undershot. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.