The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component comprising at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals. The invention is also directed to non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticle compositions produced as above and having distinctive properties.

Provide are a method of manufacturing a cathode material including (A) synthesizing a precursor including a metal compound and a carbon compound, (B) carbonizing the precursor in an inert atmosphere to produce a metal-carbon composite, (C) sulfurizing the metal-carbon composite in a sulfur atmosphere to produce a metal-metal sulfide-carbon composite, (D) removing metal particles from the metal-metal sulfide-carbon composite to produce a metal sulfide-carbon composite, and (E) synthesizing sulfur particles in the metal sulfide-carbon composite to produce a metal sulfide-sulfur-carbon composite, and a cathode active material.

Provided is a sulfur-based active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a large charge/discharge capacity and excellent cycle characteristics which is inexpensively and easily provided, an electrode comprising the sulfur-based active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising the electrode, as well as a producing method thereof. The sulfur-based active material is obtainable by calcinating a raw material, the raw material comprising (1) a heat-expandable particle comprising an outer shell comprising an acryl-based copolymer and a hydrocarbon included inside the outer shell, the heat-expandable particle having an expansion starting temperature of 150° C. or lower, and (2) sulfur.

Disclosed is a method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte including a step of processing a slurry by at least one treatment selected from drying and heating, wherein a solid electrolyte raw material containing a lithium element, a sulfur element, a phosphorus element and a halogen element, and a complexing agent are mixed in a reactor to give a complex slurry containing a complex formed of the solid electrolyte raw material and the complexing agent, and the complex slurry is transferred into an intermediate tank equipped with a cooling device and cooled therein.

Disclosed is a method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte including a step of processing a slurry by at least one treatment selected from drying and heating, wherein a solid electrolyte raw material containing a lithium element, a sulfur element, a phosphorus element and a halogen element, and a complexing agent are mixed in a reactor to give a complex slurry containing a complex formed of the solid electrolyte raw material and the complexing agent, and the complex slurry is transferred into an intermediate tank equipped with a cooling device and cooled therein.

Methods of synthesizing transition metal dichalcogenide nanoparticles include forming a metal-amine complex, combining the metal-amine complex with a chalcogen source in at least one solvent to form a solution, heating the solution to a first temperature for a first period of time, and heating the solution to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature for a second period of time.

Methods of synthesizing transition metal dichalcogenide nanoparticles include forming a metal-amine complex, combining the metal-amine complex with a chalcogen source in at least one solvent to form a solution, heating the solution to a first temperature for a first period of time, and heating the solution to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature for a second period of time.

Disclosed is a method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte including a step of processing a slurry by at least one treatment selected from drying and heating, wherein a solid electrolyte raw material containing a lithium element, a sulfur element, a phosphorus element and a halogen element, and a complexing agent are mixed in a reactor to give a complex slurry containing a complex formed of the solid electrolyte raw material and the complexing agent, and the complex slurry is transferred into an intermediate tank equipped with a cooling device and cooled therein.

Disclosed is a method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte including a step of processing a slurry by at least one treatment selected from drying and heating, wherein a solid electrolyte raw material containing a lithium element, a sulfur element, a phosphorus element and a halogen element, and a complexing agent are mixed in a reactor to give a complex slurry containing a complex formed of the solid electrolyte raw material and the complexing agent, and the complex slurry is transferred into an intermediate tank equipped with a cooling device and cooled therein.

Systems for improving metal leach kinetics and metal recovery during atmospheric or substantially atmospheric leaching of a metal sulfide are disclosed. In some embodiments, an oxidative leach circuit 200 may employ Mechano-Chemcial/Physico-Chemical processing means for improving leach kinetics and/or metal recovery. In preferred embodiments, the Mechano-Chemcial/Physico-Chemical means comprises various combinations of stirred-tank reactors 202 and shear-tank reactors 212. As will be described herein, the stirred-tank reactors 202 and shear-tank reactors 212 may be arranged in series and/or in parallel with each other, without limitation. In some non-limiting embodiments, a shear-tank reactor 212 may also be disposed, in-situ, within a stirred-tank reactor 202.