The photoelectric conversion device includes a quantum dot accumulation zone, a base layer having current collecting properties which is disposed on at least one major surface of the quantum dot accumulation zone, and a plurality of columnar carrier collection zones, each extending from the base layer into the quantum dot accumulation zone and having an open end. Each of the carrier collection zones is composed mainly of metal oxide. An open end part has a higher mole ratio of oxygen to metal than a body part other than the open end part.

A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method for recycling a spent alkaline battery comprising: dissolving insoluble metal ions in aqueous solution thereby producing pregnant leach solution; extracting zinc sulfate from aqueous solution thereby producing zinc sulfate product and raffinate solution comprising manganese sulfate and potassium sulfate; separating manganese hydroxide from raffinate solution thereby producing manganese sulfate product and aqueous potassium sulfate solution; crystallizing aqueous potassium sulfate solution to produce solid potassium sulfate product. A system for recycling spent alkaline battery comprising: first liquid-solid extraction unit capable of dissolving insoluble metal ions in aqueous solution thereby producing pregnant leach solution; liquid-liquid extraction unit capable of extracting zinc from pregnant leach solution; second liquid-solid extraction unit capable of precipitating manganese hydroxide from raffinate produced by liquid-liquid extraction unit; and third liquid-solid extraction unit capable of crystallizing aqueous potassium sulfate solution produced by second liquid-solid extraction unit.

A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method for recycling a spent alkaline battery comprising: dissolving insoluble metal ions in aqueous solution thereby producing pregnant leach solution; extracting zinc sulfate from aqueous solution thereby producing zinc sulfate product and raffinate solution comprising manganese sulfate and potassium sulfate; separating manganese hydroxide from raffinate solution thereby producing manganese sulfate product and aqueous potassium sulfate solution; crystallizing aqueous potassium sulfate solution to produce solid potassium sulfate product. A system for recycling spent alkaline battery comprising: first liquid-solid extraction unit capable of dissolving insoluble metal ions in aqueous solution thereby producing pregnant leach solution; liquid-liquid extraction unit capable of extracting zinc from pregnant leach solution; second liquid-solid extraction unit capable of precipitating manganese hydroxide from raffinate produced by liquid-liquid extraction unit; and third liquid-solid extraction unit capable of crystallizing aqueous potassium sulfate solution produced by second liquid-solid extraction unit.

The present disclosure relates to a process for obtaining and formulating functional silica particles and other materials with active ingredients/compounds for use in polymers, paints, mortars, ceramic, cement, textile, pharmaceutics, varnishes, paper, clays, cosmetics, sensors and effluents.

The present disclosure describes a functional particle for binding to a substrate comprising:

a granule comprising oxide or hydroxide of an element selected from the following list: silica, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, aluminum, gold, titanium, or mixtures thereof having a size between 90 nm-500 nm;

a binder comprising silane-based compounds which binds the outer granule to the substrate;

a functional compound/active compound bound to the surface of the granule, to the binder, or to both;

wherein the functional compound is at least one of the following compounds: anti-mosquito/repellent/anti-insect, fungicide, antimicrobial/bactericide, antimycotic, anti-fire, UV protectors, larvicides, hydrophobics, vitaminics, moisturizers, cosmetics, drugs, mechanical properties, magnetic properties enhancement, or mixtures thereof.

The present disclosure relates to a process for obtaining and formulating functional silica particles and other materials with active ingredients/compounds for use in polymers, paints, mortars, ceramic, cement, textile, pharmaceutics, varnishes, paper, clays, cosmetics, sensors and effluents.

The present disclosure describes a functional particle for binding to a substrate comprising:

a granule comprising oxide or hydroxide of an element selected from the following list: silica, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, aluminum, gold, titanium, or mixtures thereof having a size between 90 nm-500 nm;

a binder comprising silane-based compounds which binds the outer granule to the substrate;

a functional compound/active compound bound to the surface of the granule, to the binder, or to both;

wherein the functional compound is at least one of the following compounds: anti-mosquito/repellent/anti-insect, fungicide, antimicrobial/bactericide, antimycotic, anti-fire, UV protectors, larvicides, hydrophobics, vitaminics, moisturizers, cosmetics, drugs, mechanical properties, magnetic properties enhancement, or mixtures thereof.

The present invention provides a novel anion conductor which comprises a layered metal hydroxide and can be used as an alkaline electrolyte film for use in a fuel cell or the like. An anion conductor characterized by comprising a molded product of a layered metal hydroxide represented by formula (1): [M.sub.x(OH).sub.y(A).sub.(αx-y)/z-nH.sub.2O] (wherein M represents a metal that can serve as a bivalent or trivalent cation; α represents the number of valency of the metal M, A represents an atom or an atomic group that can serve as an anion, and z represents the number of valency of the anion A, wherein, when (αx-y)/z is 2 or greater, A's may be different types of anions which can serve as anions having the same valencies as each other, or may be anions having different valencies from each other; and n represents the average number of molecules of interlayer water contained per one repeating unit). The anion conductor according to the present invention is composed of an inorganic material, and therefore has excellent heat resistance and physical strength and can be operated for a longer period at a higher temperature compared with the conventional ones when used as an anion conductor for a fuel cell, an air cell or the like.

The present invention provides a novel anion conductor which comprises a layered metal hydroxide and can be used as an alkaline electrolyte film for use in a fuel cell or the like. An anion conductor characterized by comprising a molded product of a layered metal hydroxide represented by formula (1): [M.sub.x(OH).sub.y(A).sub.(αx-y)/z-nH.sub.2O] (wherein M represents a metal that can serve as a bivalent or trivalent cation; α represents the number of valency of the metal M, A represents an atom or an atomic group that can serve as an anion, and z represents the number of valency of the anion A, wherein, when (αx-y)/z is 2 or greater, A's may be different types of anions which can serve as anions having the same valencies as each other, or may be anions having different valencies from each other; and n represents the average number of molecules of interlayer water contained per one repeating unit). The anion conductor according to the present invention is composed of an inorganic material, and therefore has excellent heat resistance and physical strength and can be operated for a longer period at a higher temperature compared with the conventional ones when used as an anion conductor for a fuel cell, an air cell or the like.

A solution containing a diketone compound having an alkoxy group, a dialkylzinc represented by general formula (1) and/or a partial hydrolysate of the dialkylzinc, and a solvent is described. A method for producing a zinc oxide thin film involves applying the dialkylzinc solution or a solution containing a dialkylzinc partial hydrolysate to a base material.
ZnR.sup.10.sub.2  (1)
In the formula, R.sup.10 is a C.sub.1-6 linear or branched alkyl group. The solution containing dialkylzinc or dialkylzinc partial hydrolysate can be handled in air, making it possible to form a transparent thin film having high adhesiveness to a substrate even with film formation in air.

A solution containing a diketone compound having an alkoxy group, a dialkylzinc represented by general formula (1) and/or a partial hydrolysate of the dialkylzinc, and a solvent is described. A method for producing a zinc oxide thin film involves applying the dialkylzinc solution or a solution containing a dialkylzinc partial hydrolysate to a base material.
ZnR.sup.10.sub.2  (1)
In the formula, R.sup.10 is a C.sub.1-6 linear or branched alkyl group. The solution containing dialkylzinc or dialkylzinc partial hydrolysate can be handled in air, making it possible to form a transparent thin film having high adhesiveness to a substrate even with film formation in air.

The present application discloses a method for preparing metal oxide nanoparticles, including the following steps: providing an organic reagent with a molecular formula of X—(SO.sub.2)—Y and a metal oxide nanoparticle sample, in which the metal oxide nanoparticle sample is an aqueous metal oxide nanoparticle; in X—(SO.sub.2)—Y, X contains polar functional groups; mixing the organic reagent and the metal oxide nanoparticle sample in a liquid medium and adding an alkaline reagent to a mixed solution of the organic reagent and the metal oxide nanoparticle sample to prepare the metal oxide nanoparticles. The method provided in the present application can reduce the surface defect state of metal oxide nanoparticles, thereby improving the stability of metal oxide nanoparticles.