According to one embodiment, there is provided an active substance. The active substance contains active material particles. The active material particles comprise a compound represented by the formula: Ti.sub.1-xM1.sub.xNb.sub.2-yM2.sub.yO.sub.7. The active material particles has a peak A attributed to a (110) plane which appears at 2 ranging from 23.74 to 24.14, a peak B attributed to a (003) plane which appears at 2 ranging from 25.81 to 26.21 and a peak C attributed to a (602) plane which appears at 2 ranging from 26.14 to 26.54 in an X-ray diffraction pattern of the active material particles. An intensity I.sub.A of the peak A, an intensity I.sub.B of the peak B, and an intensity I.sub.C of the peak C satisfy the relation (1): 0.80I.sub.B/I.sub.A1.12; and the relation (2) I.sub.C/I.sub.B0.80.

This invention provides a redox fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane; means for supplying a fuel to the anode region of the cell; means for supplying an oxidant to the cathode region of the cell; means for providing an electrical circuit between the anode and the cathode; a non-volatile catholyte solution flowing in fluid communication with the cathode, the catholyte solution comprising a polyoxometallate redox couple being at least partially reduced at the cathode in operation of the cell, and at least partially re-generated by reaction with the oxidant after such reduction at the cathode, the catholyte solution further comprising vanadium species that result from the speciation of the polyoxometallate at an elevated temperature and/or pressure.

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.

A lithium-ion battery anode layer, comprising an anode active material embedded in pores of a solid graphene foam composed of multiple pores and pore walls, wherein (a) the pore walls contain a pristine graphene or a non-pristine graphene material; (b) the anode active material contains particles of a niobium-containing composite metal oxide and is in an amount from 0.5% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the graphene foam and the anode active material combined, and (c) the multiple pores are lodged with particles of the anode active material. Preferably, the solid graphene foam has a density from 0.01 to 1.7 g/cm.sup.3, a specific surface area from 50 to 2,000 m.sup.2/g, a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mK per unit of specific gravity, and/or an electrical conductivity no less than 1,000 S/cm per unit of specific gravity.

A graphene-enabled hybrid particulate for use as a lithium-ion battery anode active material, wherein the hybrid particulate is formed of a single or a plurality of graphene sheets and a single or a plurality of fine primary particles of a niobium-containing composite metal oxide, having a size from 1 nm to 10 m, and the graphene sheets and the primary particles are mutually bonded or agglomerated into the hybrid particulate containing an exterior graphene sheet or multiple exterior graphene sheets embracing the primary particles, and wherein the hybrid particulate has an electrical conductivity no less than 10.sup.4 S/cm and said graphene is in an amount of from 0.01% to 30% by weight based on the total weight of graphene and the niobium-containing composite metal oxide combined.

A luminescent composite material and a preparation method therefor. The luminescent composite material is prepared by mixing a precursor of a quantum dot and an oxide or a precursor thereof followed by high-temperature calcination. Compared with traditional methods, the method provided herein is a simple and low-cost synthesis process without using solvents, and is suitable for large-scale production. The luminescent composite material has high quantum efficiency, luminous intensity and luminous color purity and good photothermal stability, which can provide basis for theoretical research and applications of the luminescent composite material in high-performance photoluminescence devices, lasers and nonlinear optical devices.

The present invention relates to Mn-activated luminescent materials, to a process for preparation thereof and to the use thereof as luminophores or conversion luminophores in light sources. The present invention further relates to a radiation-converting mixture comprising the luminescent material of the invention and a light source comprising the luminescent material of the invention or the radiation-converting mixture. The present invention further provides light sources, especially LEDs, and lighting units comprising a primary light source and the luminescent material of the invention or the radiation-converting mixture. The Mn-activated luminescent materials of the invention are especially suitable for creation of warm white light in LEDs.

A perovskite material represented by Formula 1:
Li.sub.xA.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.3-?Formula 1 wherein in Formula 1, 0<x?1, 0<y?1, 0<x+y<1, 0<z?1.5, 0???1, A is H, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, or a combination thereof, and M is Ni, Pd, Pb, Fe, Ir, Co, Rh, Mn, Cr, Ru, Re, Sn, V, Ge, W, Zr, Mo, Hf, U, Nb, Th, Ta, Bi, Li, H, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Mg, Al, Si, Sc, Zn, Ga, Ag, Cd, In, Sb, Pt, Au, or a combination thereof.

A ceramic material of the present invention contains a LaMo-based composite oxide and at least one first element selected from the group consisting of Si and Al, in which the amount of first element contained is more than 0% by mass and 0.5% or less by mass.

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.