Provided is a negative electrode active material which is excellent in capacity, capacity retention ratio, and a coulombic efficiency when charging/discharging is repeated. The chemical composition of the alloy particles of the negative electrode active material of the present disclosure includes 0.50 to 3.00 mass % of oxygen, and alloy elements containing Sn: 13.0 to 40.0 at % and Si: 6.0 to 40.0 at %, with the balance being Cu and impurities. The structure of the alloy particles includes: one or more types selected from the group consisting of a phase having a D0.sub.3 structure, and a δ phase; one or more types selected from the group consisting of an ε phase and an η′ phase; and a SiO.sub.x phase (x=0.50 to 1.70). The SiO.sub.x phase (x=0.50 to 1.70) has a volume fraction of 5.0 to 60.0% and the η′ phase has a volume fraction of 0 to 60.0%.

Tin containing precursors and methods of forming tin-containing thin films are described. The tin precursor has a tin-diazadiene bond and is homoleptic or heteroleptic. A suitable reactant is used to provide one of a metallic tin film or a film comprising one or more of an oxide, nitride, carbide, boride and/or silicide. Methods of forming ternary materials comprising tin with two or more of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, boron, silicon, titanium, ruthenium and/or tungsten are also described.

Tin containing precursors and methods of forming tin-containing thin films are described. The tin precursor has a tin-diazadiene bond and is homoleptic or heteroleptic. A suitable reactant is used to provide one of a metallic tin film or a film comprising one or more of an oxide, nitride, carbide, boride and/or silicide. Methods of forming ternary materials comprising tin with two or more of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, boron, silicon, titanium, ruthenium and/or tungsten are also described.

An electrochemical cell is provided herein as well as methods for preparing electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode includes a prelithiated electroactive material including a lithium silicide. Lithium is present in the prelithiated electroactive material in an amount corresponding to greater than or equal to about 10% of a state of charge of the negative electrode. The electrochemical cell has a negative electrode capacity to positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of greater than or equal to about 1, and the electrochemical cell is capable of operating at an operating voltage of less than or equal to about 5 volts.

Described herein are Uranium silicide materials as advanced nuclear fuel replacements for uranium dioxide fuel in light water reactors (LWRs) that have advantages over currently used uranium dioxide (UO.sub.2) via a substantially higher thermal conductivity and, thus, are capable of operating in a reactor at significantly lower temperatures for the same level of power production, plus the heat capacity of a silicide is lower than that of an oxide so that less heat is stored in the fuel that would need to be removed under accident conditions.

The present invention provides a thermoelectric material excellent in heat resistance with less degradation of thermoelectric characteristics even in a high temperature environment. The thermoelectric material comprises a compound represented by a chemical formula Mg.sub.2Si.sub.1−xSn.sub.x(0<x<1) wherein at least one of the Si site and the Sn site of the compound is replaced with at least one of Sb and Bi, and an added Fe.

Polycrystalline magnesium silicide containing only carbon as a dopant and having carbon distributed at the crystal grain boundaries and within the crystal grains, a thermoelectric conversion material obtained using the polycrystalline magnesium silicide, a sintered compact, a thermoelectric conversion element, and a thermoelectric conversion module, and methods for producing polycrystalline magnesium silicide and a sintered compact.

Polycrystalline magnesium silicide containing only carbon as a dopant and having carbon distributed at the crystal grain boundaries and within the crystal grains, a thermoelectric conversion material obtained using the polycrystalline magnesium silicide, a sintered compact, a thermoelectric conversion element, and a thermoelectric conversion module, and methods for producing polycrystalline magnesium silicide and a sintered compact.

A method for preparing a hydrocarbylhydrocarbyloxysilane of formula R.sub.aH.sub.pSi(OR).sub.(4-a-b), where each R is independently a hydrocarbyl group and subscript a is 1 to 4 and subscript b is 1 to 2 is disclosed. The method includes heating ingredients including a hydrocarbyl carbonate and a source of silicon and catalyst. The method can be used to make dimethyldimethoxysilane.

A method is useful for preparing alkylalkoxysilanes, such as alkylalkoxysilanes, particularly dimethyldimethoxysilane. The method includes heating at a temperature of 150° C. to 400° C., ingredients including an alkyl ether and carbon dioxide, and a source of silicon and catalyst. The carbon dioxide eliminates the need to add halogenated compounds during the method.