A molybdic acid solution is provided containing 0.1 to 40.0 mass % of molybdenum in terms of MoO.sub.3, and has a particle size of 20 nm or less as measured by particle size distribution measurement using a dynamic light scattering method. A production method of the molybdic acid solution includes a step of adding an acidic molybdenum aqueous solution containing 1 to 100 g/L of molybdenum in terms of MoO.sub.3 to a 10 to 30 mass % ammonia aqueous solution to generate a molybdenum-containing precipitate, and a step of adding an organic nitrogen compound to a molybdenum-containing precipitation slurry in which the molybdenum-containing precipitate is formed into a slurry state to generate a molybdic acid solution.

A functionalized fiber. The functionalized fiber includes a fiber strand and silica nanoparticles at least partially encapsulating the fiber strand. The silica nanoparticles are synthesized by hydrolyzing a tetramethyl orthosilicate in hydrochloric acid to form silicic acid monomers. The silicic acid monomers are diluted in acetone and irradiated for a time that is less than 90 seconds with an energy source configured to generate microwave frequency energy to polymerize the silicic acid monomers into the silica nanoparticles.

A functionalized fiber. The functionalized fiber includes a fiber strand and silica nanoparticles at least partially encapsulating the fiber strand. The silica nanoparticles are synthesized by hydrolyzing a tetramethyl orthosilicate in hydrochloric acid to form silicic acid monomers. The silicic acid monomers are diluted in acetone and irradiated for a time that is less than 90 seconds with an energy source configured to generate microwave frequency energy to polymerize the silicic acid monomers into the silica nanoparticles.

A composite material comprising an amorphous, porous material with nanocrystalline material in its pores has been found to be a UV absorber. The porous material is a matrix of pores that act as a scaffold for the nanocrystalline material. The particles of the nanocrystalline material are isolated, which mean that they do not connect to each other. In some embodiments, the nanocrystalline material is completely inside the pores of the porous material. In some embodiments, the nanocrystalline material may stick out of some or all of the pores of the porous material. In some embodiments, the nanocrystalline material is a cerium oxide material. In some embodiments, the nanocrystallite ranges in size from 2 to about 100 nm on its longest axis, with an aspect ratio from about 1 to about 1.5.

According to the present disclosure, a method for synthesizing a free-standing flexible electrode is provided. The method includes the steps of mixing a solution comprising vanadium powder, molybdenum powder and hydrogen peroxide to form a mixture comprising nanofibers represented by the formula of V.sub.0.07Mo.sub.0.93O.sub.3nH.sub.2O, filtering the mixture to form an electrode comprising the nanofibers, treating the electrode with an acidic solution, contacting the acid-treated electrode with a solution comprising monomers of a conductive polymer, and polymerizing the monomers in a medium comprising an oxidizing agent to form the conductive polymer. According to the present disclosure, there is also a free-standing flexible electrode comprising nanofibers comprised of molybdenum, vanadium and a conductive polymer, wherein the electrode is represented by a formula of XV .sub.0.07Mo.sub.0.93O.sub.3n-H.sub.2O. In this formula, X is the conductive polymer and n is independently 1 or 2. According to the present disclosure, storage devices comprising the electrode as defined above, are also provided.

According to the present disclosure, a method for synthesizing a free-standing flexible electrode is provided. The method includes the steps of mixing a solution comprising vanadium powder, molybdenum powder and hydrogen peroxide to form a mixture comprising nanofibers represented by the formula of V.sub.0.07Mo.sub.0.93O.sub.3nH.sub.2O, filtering the mixture to form an electrode comprising the nanofibers, treating the electrode with an acidic solution, contacting the acid-treated electrode with a solution comprising monomers of a conductive polymer, and polymerizing the monomers in a medium comprising an oxidizing agent to form the conductive polymer. According to the present disclosure, there is also a free-standing flexible electrode comprising nanofibers comprised of molybdenum, vanadium and a conductive polymer, wherein the electrode is represented by a formula of XV .sub.0.07Mo.sub.0.93O.sub.3n-H.sub.2O. In this formula, X is the conductive polymer and n is independently 1 or 2. According to the present disclosure, storage devices comprising the electrode as defined above, are also provided.

A method of synthesizing silica nanoparticles. The method includes hydrolyzing a silica precursor to form a plurality of monomers, each monomer of the plurality comprising a microwave reactive silicon species. The plurality of monomers is irradiated by an energy source configured to generate microwave frequency energy. Irradiation cases the plurality of monomers polymerize into a silica nanoparticle.

A method of synthesizing silica nanoparticles. The method includes hydrolyzing a silica precursor to form a plurality of monomers, each monomer of the plurality comprising a microwave reactive silicon species. The plurality of monomers is irradiated by an energy source configured to generate microwave frequency energy. Irradiation cases the plurality of monomers polymerize into a silica nanoparticle.

Disclosed is a desulfurization catalyst for hydrocarbon oils, comprising a support and at least one metal promoter selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, iron and manganese, the support comprising at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of Group IIB, Group VB and Group VIB metals and a refractory inorganic oxide, wherein the support further comprises at least about 5% by weight of vanadium carbide, based on the total weight of the desulfurization catalyst for hydrocarbon oils. The desulfurization catalyst for hydrocarbon oils shows a good stability, a high desulfurization activity, an excellent abrasion resistance, and a long service life. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the desulfurization catalyst for hydrocarbon oils, and use of the catalyst in the desulfurization of sulfur-containing hydrocarbon oils.

The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.