There are provided processes for preparing a metal hydroxide comprising (i) at least one metal chosen from nickel and cobalt and optionally (ii) at least one metal chosen from manganese, lithium, copper, magnesium and aluminum, the process comprising: reacting a metal sulfate comprising (i) at least one metal chosen from nickel and cobalt and optionally (ii) at least one metal chosen from manganese, lithium, copper, magnesium and aluminum with lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide and optionally a chelating agent in order to obtain a solid comprising the metal hydroxide and a liquid comprising lithium sulfate, sodium sulfate and/or potassium sulfate; separating the liquid and the solid from one another to obtain the metal hydroxide; submitting the liquid comprising lithium sulfate, sodium sulfate and/or potassium sulfate to an electromembrane process for converting the lithium sulfate, sodium sulfate and/or potassium sulfate into lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide respectively; reusing the sodium hydroxide obtained by the electromembrane process for reacting with the metal sulfate; and reusing the lithium hydroxide obtained by the electromembrane process for reacting with the metal sulfate and/or with the metal hydroxide.

Provided are processes for producing metal oxides, including pigmentary TiO.sub.2. In embodiments, a process for producing a metal oxide comprises combining a metal halide and an oxidant in a liquid phase medium under conditions to oxidize the metal halide in the liquid phase medium to produce a metal oxide therefrom.

A method of purifying a plurality of metal oxide particles produced from a synthesis process comprising the step of washing a plurality of metal oxide particles in a first solvent composition comprising of at least one aliphatic ether, and at least one flocculant. In one embodiment, the plurality of metal oxide particles are iron oxide particles produced from a thermal decomposition synthesis process between an iron-oleate complex and oleic acid in 1-octadecene, wherein the first solvent composition comprises a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of an aliphatic ether in the form of diethyl ether and a flocculant in the form of methanol. The washed iron oxide particles are further washed in a second solvent composition comprising a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of hexane and ethanol, and then finally dispersed in hexane. The resulting iron oxide particles find use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or as magnetic particles in magnetic separation, magnetism-directed targeting or magnetism-induced heating.

A method of purifying a plurality of metal oxide particles produced from a synthesis process comprising the step of washing a plurality of metal oxide particles in a first solvent composition comprising of at least one aliphatic ether, and at least one flocculant. In one embodiment, the plurality of metal oxide particles are iron oxide particles produced from a thermal decomposition synthesis process between an iron-oleate complex and oleic acid in 1-octadecene, wherein the first solvent composition comprises a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of an aliphatic ether in the form of diethyl ether and a flocculant in the form of methanol. The washed iron oxide particles are further washed in a second solvent composition comprising a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of hexane and ethanol, and then finally dispersed in hexane. The resulting iron oxide particles find use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or as magnetic particles in magnetic separation, magnetism-directed targeting or magnetism-induced heating.

The present development is a process for the preparation of nanowire synthesis, coatings and uses thereof. Lithium titanate (LTO) nanowires are synthesized using a continuous hydrocarbon/plasma flame process technology combined with the dry impregnation method. The resulting LTO nanowires can be used as electro active anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The coating parameters, such as thickness, porosity of the film, packing density, and viscosity are controlled using the length of the nanowires, calendaring pressure, and slurry composition.

The present development is a process for the preparation of nanowire synthesis, coatings and uses thereof. Lithium titanate (LTO) nanowires are synthesized using a continuous hydrocarbon/plasma flame process technology combined with the dry impregnation method. The resulting LTO nanowires can be used as electro active anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The coating parameters, such as thickness, porosity of the film, packing density, and viscosity are controlled using the length of the nanowires, calendaring pressure, and slurry composition.

A continuous process for producing a material of a battery cell using a system having a mist generator, a drying chamber, one or more gas-solid separators and a reactor is provided. A mist generated from a liquid mixture of two or more metal precursor compounds in desired ratio is dried inside the drying chamber. Heated air or gas is served as the gas source for forming various gas-solid mixtures and as the energy source for reactions inside the drying chamber and the reactor. One or more gas-solid separators are used in the system to separate gas-solid mixtures from the drying chamber into solid particles mixed with the metal precursor compounds and continuously deliver the solid particles into the reactor for further reaction to obtain final solid material particles with desired crystal structure, particle size, and morphology.

A continuous process for producing a material of a battery cell using a system having a mist generator, a drying chamber, one or more gas-solid separators and a reactor is provided. A mist generated from a liquid mixture of two or more metal precursor compounds in desired ratio is dried inside the drying chamber. Heated air or gas is served as the gas source for forming various gas-solid mixtures and as the energy source for reactions inside the drying chamber and the reactor. One or more gas-solid separators are used in the system to separate gas-solid mixtures from the drying chamber into solid particles mixed with the metal precursor compounds and continuously deliver the solid particles into the reactor for further reaction to obtain final solid material particles with desired crystal structure, particle size, and morphology.

A nanoparticle containing monoclinic lutetium oxide. A method of: dispersing a lutetium salt solution in a stream of oxygen gas to form droplets, and combusting the droplets to form nanoparticles containing lutetium oxide. The combustion occurs at a temperature sufficient to form monoclinic lutetium oxide in the nanoparticles. An article containing lutetium oxide and having an average grain size of at most 10 microns.

A nanoparticle containing monoclinic lutetium oxide. A method of: dispersing a lutetium salt solution in a stream of oxygen gas to form droplets, and combusting the droplets to form nanoparticles containing lutetium oxide. The combustion occurs at a temperature sufficient to form monoclinic lutetium oxide in the nanoparticles. An article containing lutetium oxide and having an average grain size of at most 10 microns.