Methods and systems for removing impurities from electrolyte solutions having three or more valence states. In some embodiments, a method includes electrochemically reducing an electrolyte solution to lower its valence state to a level that causes impurities to precipitate out of the electrolyte solution and then filtering the precipitate(s) out of the electrolyte solution. In embodiments in which the electrolyte solution is desired to be at a valence state higher than the precipitation valence state, a method of the disclosure includes oxidizing the purified electrolyte solution to the target valence.

Methods and systems for removing impurities from electrolyte solutions having three or more valence states. In some embodiments, a method includes electrochemically reducing an electrolyte solution to lower its valence state to a level that causes impurities to precipitate out of the electrolyte solution and then filtering the precipitate(s) out of the electrolyte solution. In embodiments in which the electrolyte solution is desired to be at a valence state higher than the precipitation valence state, a method of the disclosure includes oxidizing the purified electrolyte solution to the target valence.

A method of forming a composite material for use as an isolator or circulator in a radiofrequency device comprises providing a low temperature fireable outer material, the low fireable outer material having a garnet or scheelite structure, inserting a high dielectric constant inner material having a dielectric constant above 30 within an aperture in the low temperature fireable outer material, and co-firing the lower temperature fireable outer material and the high dielectric constant inner material together at temperature between 650-900° C. to shrink the low temperature fireable outer material around an outer surface of the high dielectric constant inner material to form an integrated magnetic/dielectric assembly without the use of adhesive or glue.

A method of forming a composite material for use as an isolator or circulator in a radiofrequency device comprises providing a low temperature fireable outer material, the low fireable outer material having a garnet or scheelite structure, inserting a high dielectric constant inner material having a dielectric constant above 30 within an aperture in the low temperature fireable outer material, and co-firing the lower temperature fireable outer material and the high dielectric constant inner material together at temperature between 650-900° C. to shrink the low temperature fireable outer material around an outer surface of the high dielectric constant inner material to form an integrated magnetic/dielectric assembly without the use of adhesive or glue.

A CoVO.sub.x composite electrode and method of making is described. The composite electrode comprises a substrate with an average 0.5-5 μm thick layer of CoVO.sub.x having pores with average diameters of 2-200 nm. The method of making the composite electrode involves contacting the substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent, a cobalt complex, and a vanadium complex. The CoVO.sub.x composite electrode is capable of being used in an electrochemical cell for water oxidation.

A positive electrode material for lithium secondary batteries capable of easily doping vanadium oxide with molybdenum, and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method of manufacturing a positive electrode material for lithium secondary batteries includes (a) reacting vanadium oxide with a water-soluble molybdenum-based compound in the presence of a solvent; and (b) thermally treating the reaction product of (a).

A preparation method of a vanadium oxide powder with high phase-transition latent heat includes steps of taking vanadium pentoxide, oxalic acid and PVP as raw materials, preparing a B-phase VO.sub.2 nano-powder modified by the PVP, and then annealing the B-phase VO.sub.2 nano-powder modified by the PVP at high temperature in an oxygen atmosphere, and obtaining the vanadium oxide powder with high phase-transition latent heat which includes M-phase VO.sub.2 with a mass percentage in a range of 96-99% and V.sub.6O.sub.13 with a mass percentage in a range of 1-4%, and has the phase-transition latent heat larger than 50 J/g. Compared with the vanadium oxide powder prepared by a traditional method without PVP modification and using a vacuum annealing process, the phase-transition latent heat of the vanadium oxide powder provided by the present invention is increased by at least 60%.

A preparation method of a vanadium oxide powder with high phase-transition latent heat includes steps of taking vanadium pentoxide, oxalic acid and PVP as raw materials, preparing a B-phase VO.sub.2 nano-powder modified by the PVP, and then annealing the B-phase VO.sub.2 nano-powder modified by the PVP at high temperature in an oxygen atmosphere, and obtaining the vanadium oxide powder with high phase-transition latent heat which includes M-phase VO.sub.2 with a mass percentage in a range of 96-99% and V.sub.6O.sub.13 with a mass percentage in a range of 1-4%, and has the phase-transition latent heat larger than 50 J/g. Compared with the vanadium oxide powder prepared by a traditional method without PVP modification and using a vacuum annealing process, the phase-transition latent heat of the vanadium oxide powder provided by the present invention is increased by at least 60%.

The invention provides a method for continuously producing composite nanoparticles, the method comprising heating a precursor mixture with supercritical water, wherein the mixture contains a first compound capable of transitioning from a monoclinic to a tetragonal rutile crystal state; cooling the heated mixture to obtain core particles of a predetermined shape and size; encapsulating the core particle with a second precursor to create a core-shell construct; and encapsulating the construct with an organic material. Also provided is a device for continuously synthesizing composite nanoparticles, the device comprising a water supply and a precursor supply; a means for heating the water, a continuous flow hydrothermal reaction chamber adapted to receive the heated water and precursor, a means for chilling the heated water and precursor, and a capping agent supply positioned downstream of the reaction chamber. The invention also provides a nanocomposite particle comprising a core region, and a conformal organic overcoat.

The invention provides a method for continuously producing composite nanoparticles, the method comprising heating a precursor mixture with supercritical water, wherein the mixture contains a first compound capable of transitioning from a monoclinic to a tetragonal rutile crystal state; cooling the heated mixture to obtain core particles of a predetermined shape and size; encapsulating the core particle with a second precursor to create a core-shell construct; and encapsulating the construct with an organic material. Also provided is a device for continuously synthesizing composite nanoparticles, the device comprising a water supply and a precursor supply; a means for heating the water, a continuous flow hydrothermal reaction chamber adapted to receive the heated water and precursor, a means for chilling the heated water and precursor, and a capping agent supply positioned downstream of the reaction chamber. The invention also provides a nanocomposite particle comprising a core region, and a conformal organic overcoat.