Provided is a stannous oxide powder that can be suitably used for supplying tin ions, and has improved solubility and at the same time has an improved handling property. A stannous oxide powder comprising stannous oxide and inevitable impurities, wherein a content of stannous oxide in a dry mass is 99.9% by mass or more; a specific surface area is from 0.1 to 1.0 m.sup.2/g; a TAP density is from 2 to 4 g/cm; a 50% particle diameter is from 30 to 60 μm; and an angle of repose is from 10 to 33°.

A battery comprising an acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) material, preferably in monodispersed nanoparticulate form 20 nm or less in size, having a pH<7 when suspended in a 5 wt % aqueous solution and a Hammett function H.sub.0>−12, at least on its surface.

A battery comprising an acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) material, preferably in monodispersed nanoparticulate form 20 nm or less in size, having a pH<7 when suspended in a 5 wt % aqueous solution and a Hammett function H.sub.0>−12, at least on its surface.

A method comprising providing a sol comprising a solvent; contacting the sol with a precipitation initiator to initiate precipitation of the sol, wherein the precipitation initiator is different to the solvent; and applying the precipitating sol to a product. The methods of the invention may be used with sols comprising a solvent, a metal alkoxide, and optionally a biopolymer and/or a catalyst, with alkoxides comprising metals, organically modified alkoxides comprising metals, alkoxides comprising metalloids, and organically modified alkoxides comprising metalloids all being encompassed by the term ‘metal alkoxide’. Also disclosed is an apparatus for use in the method comprising a first storage vessel; a second storage vessel; one or more pumps; and one or more delivery means.

A one dimensional (1D) nanoarray of SnO nanostructures on a substrate is disclosed. The nanostructures of SnO have diameters of 200 nm-1 μm and lengths of 500 nm-3 μm, and are attached to and substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The one-dimensional nanoarray may have a nanostructure density of 220-300 nanostructures per 100 μm.sup.2 substrate and a band gap energy of 2.36-2.46 eV. The one-dimensional nanoarray may be formed by anodization of Sn foil in an electrochemical cell subjected to a voltage of 15-25 V for 1-3 hours at room temperature. The formed one-dimensional nanoarray may be used for the photo-electrochemical decomposition of water into O.sub.2 and H.sub.2.

A one dimensional (1D) nanoarray of SnO nanostructures on a substrate is disclosed. The nanostructures of SnO have diameters of 200 nm-1 μm and lengths of 500 nm-3 μm, and are attached to and substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The one-dimensional nanoarray may have a nanostructure density of 220-300 nanostructures per 100 μm.sup.2 substrate and a band gap energy of 2.36-2.46 eV. The one-dimensional nanoarray may be formed by anodization of Sn foil in an electrochemical cell subjected to a voltage of 15-25 V for 1-3 hours at room temperature. The formed one-dimensional nanoarray may be used for the photo-electrochemical decomposition of water into O.sub.2 and H.sub.2.

The present invention relates to a “safety-by-design” method for the preparation of nanoparticles, to a method for the preparation of a nanocomposite material, and to the use of a direct liquid injection device so as to prepare nanoparticles or nanocomposite materials in a “safety-by-design” process.

The present invention relates to a “safety-by-design” method for the preparation of nanoparticles, to a method for the preparation of a nanocomposite material, and to the use of a direct liquid injection device so as to prepare nanoparticles or nanocomposite materials in a “safety-by-design” process.

The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprising reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprising reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.