An MXene or a derivative thereof, on which nitrous oxide reductase is immobilized, wherein the MXene has a formula of M.sub.n+1X.sub.nT.sub.s, wherein M is a transition metal of Groups 3, 4, 5, 6, or a combination thereof, of the Periodic Table of the Elements, X is carbon, nitrogen, or a combination thereof, T is oxide, epoxide, hydroxide, C1-C5 alkoxide, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, or a combination thereof, and n is 1, 2, or 3, and s is 0, 1, or 2.

A vehicle containing an nonaqueous electrolyte battery, the nonaqueous electrolyte battery including: a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material; a positive electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte, where the negative electrode active material contains a composite oxide of formula:

Li.sub.x(Nb.sub.1-yTa.sub.y).sub.2-zTi.sub.1+0.5zM.sub.0.5zO.sub.7, where 0x5, 0y1, and 0.4z1, and M is at least one metal element selected from Mo and W.

The present invention relates to a coating for high-temperature applications with tribological stress. The coating comprises a multi-layer system and a top lubrication layer, the top lubricant layer containing, as a main component, molybdenum.

The current disclosure relates to an anode material with the general formula M.sub.ySb-MO.sub.xC, where M and M are metals and MO.sub.xC forms a matrix containing M.sub.ySb. It also relates to an anode material with the general formula M.sub.ySn-MC.sub.xC, where M and M are metals and MC.sub.xC forms a matrix containing M.sub.ySn. It further relates to an anode material with the general formula Mo.sub.3Sb.sub.7C, where C forms a matrix containing Mo.sub.3Sb.sub.7. The disclosure also relates to an anode material with the general formula M.sub.ySb-MC.sub.xC, where M and M are metals and MC.sub.xC forms a matrix containing M.sub.ySb. Other embodiments of this disclosure relate to anodes or rechargeable batteries containing these materials as well as methods of making these materials using ball-milling techniques and furnace heating.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an active material. The active material contains a composite oxide represented by a following general formula:
the general formula: Li.sub.x(Nb.sub.1yTa.sub.y).sub.2zTi.sub.1+0.5zM.sub.0.5zO.sub.7, in which 0x5, 0y1, and 0<z1, and M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W.

According to one embodiment, an active material including a monoclinic niobium-titanium composite oxide is provided. In the active material, a portion of niobium (Nb) or titanium (Ti) as a constituent element of Nb.sub.2TiO.sub.7 is substituted by an element. Here, the substitution of Nb or Ti satisfies any one of following formulas (1) to (3):

Ti(IV).fwdarw.0.75M(V)+0.25M(I)(1)

Ti(IV).fwdarw.0.6M(VI)+0.4M(I)(2)

Nb(V).fwdarw.0.8M(VI)+0.2M(I)(3),

where M(VI) is at least one of Mo and W, M(V) is at least one of Nb, Ta, and V, and M(I) is at least one of Na, K, Rb, and Cs.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an active material. The active material includes secondary particles. The secondary particles include first primary particles and second primary particles. The first primary particles include an orthorhombic Na-containing niobium-titanium composite oxide. The second primary particles include at least one selected from the group consisting of a carbon black, a graphite, a titanium nitride, a titanium carbide, a lithium titanate having a spinel structure, a titanium dioxide having an anatase structure, and a titanium dioxide having a rutile structure.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an active material. The active material includes a composite oxide. The composite oxide has a monoclinic crystal structure. The composite oxide is represented by a general formula of Li.sub.wNa.sub.4-xM1.sub.yTi.sub.6-zM2.sub.zO.sub.14+. In the general formula, the M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Rb, Cs, K and H; the M2 is at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sn, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Fe, Co, Mn and Al; w is within a range of 0w<12; x is within a range of 0<x<4; y is within a range of 0y<2; z is within a range of 0<z<6; and is within a range of 0.30.3.

The present invention relates to a coating for high-temperature uses with tribological stress. The coating comprises a multi-layer system and a top lubricant layer, the top lubricant layer containing molybdenum as a main component.

Methods for removing impurities from precursors and related systems are provided. A method comprises at least one thermal cycle. The at least one thermal cycle comprises one or more of the following steps: heating a vessel comprising a precursor and at least one impurity to a temperature for a duration sufficient to vaporize at least a portion of the at least one impurity; measuring a vapor pressure within the vessel to obtain a measured vapor pressure and comparing the measured vapor pressure to a set point vapor pressure; and when the measured vapor pressure is above or within the set point vapor pressure, removing, from the vessel, at least a portion of a vapor comprising the at least one impurity. Other methods and systems are provided herein.