A method is provided for forming a metal battery electrode with a pyrolyzed coating. The method provides a metallorganic compound of metal (Me) and materials such as carbon (C), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and combinations of the above-listed materials, expressed as Me.sub.XC.sub.YN.sub.ZS.sub.XXO.sub.YY, where Me is a metal such as tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), or lead (Pb), or a metal alloy. The method heats the metallorganic compound, and as a result of the heating, decomposes materials in the metallorganic compound. In one aspect, decomposing the materials in the metallorganic compound includes forming a chemical reaction between the Me particles and the materials. An electrode is formed of Me particles coated by the materials. In another aspect, the Me particles coated with a material such as a carbide, a nitride, a sulfide, or combinations of the above-listed materials.

A method is provided for forming a sodium-containing particle electrolyte structure. The method provides sodium-containing particles (e.g., NASICON), dispersed in a liquid phase polymer, to form a polymer film with sodium-containing particles distributed in the polymer film. The liquid phase polymer is a result of dissolving the polymer in a solvent or melting the polymer in an extrusion process. In one aspect, the method forms a plurality of polymer film layers, where each polymer film layer includes sodium-containing particles. For example, the plurality of polymer film layers may form a stack having a top layer and a bottom layer, where with percentage of sodium-containing particles in the polymer film layers increasing from the bottom layer to the top layer. In another aspect, the sodium-containing particles are coated with a dopant. A sodium-containing particle electrolyte structure and a battery made using the sodium-containing particle electrolyte structure are also presented.

A reactive separator is provided for a metal-ion battery. The reactive separator is made up of a reactive layer that is chemically reactive to alkali or alkaline earth metals, and has a first side and a second side. A first non-reactive layer, chemically non-reactive with alkali or alkaline earth metals, is adjacent to the reactive layer first side. A second non-reactive layer, also chemically non-reactive with alkali or alkaline earth metals, is adjacent to the reactive layer second side. More explicitly, the first and second non-reactive layers are defined as having less than 5 percent by weight (wt %) of materials able to participate in electrochemical reactions with alkali or alkaline earth metals. The reactive layer may be formed as a porous membrane embedded with reactive components, where the porous membrane is carbon or a porous polymer. Alternatively, the reactive layer is formed as a polymer gel embedded with reactive components.

A method is provided for forming a metal battery electrode with a pyrolyzed coating. The method provides a metallorganic compound of metal (Me) and materials such as carbon (C), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and combinations of the above-listed materials, expressed as Me.sub.XC.sub.YN.sub.ZS.sub.XXO.sub.YY, where Me is a metal such as tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), or lead (Pb), or a metal alloy. The method heats the metallorganic compound, and as a result of the heating, decomposes materials in the metallorganic compound. In one aspect, decomposing the materials in the metallorganic compound includes forming a chemical reaction between the Me particles and the materials. An electrode is formed of Me particles coated by the materials. In another aspect, the Me particles coated with a material such as a carbide, a nitride, a sulfide, or combinations of the above-listed materials.

A method is provided for fabricating a battery using an anode preloaded with consumable metals. The method forms an ion-permeable membrane immersed in an electrolyte. A preloaded anode is immersed in the electrolyte, comprising Me.sub.aX, where X is a material such as carbon, metal capable of being alloyed with Me, intercalation oxides, electrochemically active organic compounds, and combinations of the above-listed materials. Me is a metal such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and combinations of the above-listed metals. A cathode is also immersed in the electrolyte and separated from the preloaded anode by the ion-permeable membrane. The cathode comprises M1.sub.YM2.sub.Z(CN).sub.N.MH.sub.2O. After a plurality of initial charge and discharge operations are preformed, an anode is formed comprising Me.sub.bX overlying the current collector in a battery discharge state, where 0b<a.

The present invention provides a method for producing a solution of nanosheets, comprising the step of contacting an intercalated layered material with a polar aprotic solvent to produce a solution of nanosheets, wherein the intercalated layered material is prepared from a layered material selected from the group consisting of a transition metal dichalcogenide, a transition metal monochalcogenide, a transition metal trichalcogenide, a transition metal oxide, a metal halide, an oxychalcogenide, an oxypnictide, an oxyhalide of a transition metal, a trioxide, a perovskite, a niobate, a ruthenate, a layered III-VI semiconductor, black phosphorous and a V-VI layered compound. The invention also provides a solution of nanosheets and a plated material formed from nanosheets.

A method is presented for fabricating an anode preloaded with consumable metals. The method provides a material (X), which may be one of the following materials: carbon, metals able to be electrochemically alloyed with a metal (Me), intercalation oxides, electrochemically active organic compounds, and combinations of the above-listed materials. The method loads the metal (Me) into the material (X). Typically, Me is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or a combination of the two. As a result, the method forms a preloaded anode comprising Me/X for use in a battery comprising a M1.sub.YM2.sub.Z(CN).sub.N.MH.sub.2O cathode, where M1 and M2 are transition metals. The method loads the metal (Me) into the material (X) using physical (mechanical) mixing, a chemical reaction, or an electrochemical reaction. Also provided is preloaded anode, preloaded with consumable metals.

Disclosed is a method for recovering phosphorus from sludge rich in chemical phosphorus precipitates using a high-protein biomass waste, comprising introducing the sludge rich in chemical phosphorus precipitates into an anaerobic fermenter, adding a certain amount of a high-protein biomass by-product, sealing the fermenter and fermenting for 4-7 days. The method can effectively increase the phosphorus release efficiency from the sludge, and also generate volatile short-chain fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen in high concentrations. After dewatering, phosphorus and part of ammonia nitrogen can be recovered in a form of high-purity struvite crystals only by addition of a magnesium salt and adjustment of pH to 7.5-9.0. The volatile short-chain fatty acids can be used as an economical carbon source. The method allows simultaneous utilization of two solid wastes to recover carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus resources, and can reduce the usage of chemical reagents, saving the treatment cost.

A method for phosphorus removal and recovery using an organic carbon source of urban sewage, including: first filling a biofilm reactor with sewage; stirring under anaerobic conditions, phosphorus being released from a polyphosphate biofilm using an organic carbon source in the sewage; discharging a portion of the sewage after the aforementioned treatment into a recovery tank and storing same as a recovery liquid; performing aerobic aeration on the remaining part of the sewage after anaerobic treatment, such that phosphorus is absorbed by the polyphosphate biofilm until the concentration of phosphorus reaches a requirement for discharge; turning off the aeration device and discharging the sewage; returning the recovery liquid to the biofilm reactor, simultaneously adding sewage to fill the reactor, and repeating the aforementioned steps multiple times; and obtaining a phosphorus recovery liquid when the concentration of phosphorus in the recovery liquid reaches the requirements for a phosphorus recovery process.