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.

Gadolinia particles containing molybdenum. A method for producing the gadolinia particles, including calcining a gadolinium compound in the presence of a molybdenum compound.

There is provided molybdenum oxide for an active material of an electricity storage device having excellent rate characteristics and structural stability. A turbostratic material 1 has a turbostratic structure composed of a plurality of nanosheets 2, where the nanosheets have the composition MoO.sub.2.

There is provided molybdenum oxide for an active material of an electricity storage device having excellent rate characteristics and structural stability. A turbostratic material 1 has a turbostratic structure composed of a plurality of nanosheets 2, where the nanosheets have the composition MoO.sub.2.

Provided is a novel polyoxometalate and a method for producing the polyoxometalate. The polyoxometalate is represented by the compositional formula: M.sub.xO.sub.y in which M is tungsten, molybdenum or vanadium; 4x1000; and 2.5y/x7.

Nanocrystalline metal powders comprising tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium or niobium can be synthesized using a combustion reaction. Methods for synthesizing the nanocrystalline metal powders are characterized by forming a combustion synthesis solution by dissolving in water an oxidizer, a fuel, and a base-soluble, ammonium precursor of tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, or niobium in amounts that yield a soichiometric burn when combusted. The combustion synthesis solution is then heated to a temperature sufficient to substantially remove water and to initiate a self-sustaining combustion reaction. The resulting powder can be subsequently reduced to metal form by heating in a reducing gas environment.

The present invention discloses a polymer-metal compound composite ink, a preparation method and application thereof. The composite ink comprises: at least one polymer; at least one metal compound material, the metal compound material being selected from polyoxometalate compounds and nanocrystalline metal oxides; at least one solvent which is used for forming a disperse system in the form of a uniform fluid together with the remaining components in the composite ink. The present invention also discloses a method for preparing the composite ink. The composite ink of the present invention is easily available in raw material, easy to prepare and low in cost, and can be manufactured into a composite thin film by spin-coating, printing or in other ways. The composite thin film, as an electrode modification layer, can be applied to photoelectric devices such as solar cells or light-emitting diodes, so as to improve the contact performance between an electrode and an organic active layer and thus enhance the performance and yield of photoelectric devices.

The invention provides a process for exfoliating a 3-dimensional layered material to produce a 2-dimensional material, said process comprising the steps of mixing the layered material in a solvent to provide a mixture; applying energy, for example ultrasound, to said mixture, and removing the energy applied to the mixture, such that sedimentation of the 2-dimensional material out of solution as a weakly re-aggregated, exfoliated 2-dimensional material is produced. The invention provides a fast, simple and high yielding process for separating 3-dimensional layered materials into individual 2-dimensional layers or flakes, which do not strongly re-aggregate, without utilising hazardous solvents.

The invention provides a process for exfoliating a 3-dimensional layered material to produce a 2-dimensional material, said process comprising the steps of mixing the layered material in a solvent to provide a mixture; applying energy, for example ultrasound, to said mixture, and removing the energy applied to the mixture, such that sedimentation of the 2-dimensional material out of solution as a weakly re-aggregated, exfoliated 2-dimensional material is produced. The invention provides a fast, simple and high yielding process for separating 3-dimensional layered materials into individual 2-dimensional layers or flakes, which do not strongly re-aggregate, without utilising hazardous solvents.

The present invention provides a plasma treatment detection indicator including a color-changing layer that changes color by plasma treatment, exhibiting excellent heat resistance, with the gasification of the color-changing layer or the scattering of the fine debris of the color-changing layer caused by the plasma treatment being suppressed to such a degree as to not affect the electronic device properties. Specifically, the present invention provides a plasma treatment detection indicator including a color-changing layer that changes color by plasma treatment, the color-changing layer containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Sn, V, Ce, Te, and Bi in the form of a simple substance and/or an inorganic compound containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Sn, V, Ce, Te, and Bi.