Mixed-metal oxides and lithiated mixed-metal oxides are disclosed that involve compounds according to, respectively, Ni.sub.xMn.sub.yCo.sub.zMe.sub.O.sub. and Li.sub.1+Ni.sub.xMn.sub.yCo.sub.zMe.sub.O.sub.. In these compounds, Me is selected from B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ag, In, and combinations thereof; 0x1; 0y1; 0z<1; x+y+z>0; 00.5; and x+y+>0. For the mixed-metal oxides, 15. For the lithiated mixed-metal oxides, 0.11.0 and 1.93. The mixed-metal oxides and the lithiated mixed-metal oxides include particles having an average density greater than or equal to 90% of an ideal crystalline density.

A hydrothermal synthesis for LiFePO.sub.4 is provided. First, each raw material solution is prepared using a degassed water in advance, second, those solution are mixed by dripping in a fixed order, and then those materials are reacted in a hydrothermal synthesis, so that LiFePO.sub.4 is obtained in a predesigned form.

Nanowires useful as heterogeneous catalysts are provided. The nanowires catalysts are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to ethylene. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

Provided is a method for producing a near infrared-reflective black pigment containing at least the element calcium, the element titanium, and the element manganese, wherein the method produces a pigment that exhibits little of the elution of the element calcium and the element manganese that is caused by contact with acid. At least a calcium compound, a titanium compound, and a manganese compound are mixed by a wet grinding method and are calcined to provide a BET specific surface area of at least 1.0 m.sup.2/g and less than 3.0 m.sup.2/g. In another method, the element bismuth and/or the element aluminum is incorporated in a near infrared-reflective black pigment containing at least the element calcium, the element titanium, and the element manganese.

A system, method, and articles of manufacture for a surface-modified transition metal cyanide coordination compound (TMCCC) composition, an improved electrode including the composition, and a manufacturing method for the composition according to Formula IIIAn electrochemical cell including a system having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte wherein the anode includes a material, including the material including at least one composition represented by Formula III: A.sub.xMn.sub.y[Mn(CN).sub.(6)].sub.z(Vac).sub.(1-z).n(H.sub.2O)m(Che) wherein, in Formula III, A includes one or more alkali metals including Na; and wherein 0<j4, 0k0.1, 1.2<x4, 0<y1, 0.8<z1, 0<n4; 0m0.2 and wherein x+2y4z=0.

A manganese nickel composite hydroxide which serves as a starting material for positive electrode active materials for secondary batteries, and the secondary battery having low resistance and high output characteristics. A manganese nickel composite hydroxide according to the present invention is represented by general formula (A) Mn.sub.1xyNi.sub.xM.sub.y(OH).sub.2+(wherein 00.27, 0y0.05, 00.5, and M represents at least one element selected from among Mg, Al, Ca, Ba, Sr, Ti, V, Fe, Cr, Co, Cu, Zr, Nb, Mo and W), and has an SO.sub.4 content of 0.90% by weight or less, an Na content of 0.04% by weight or less, a BET specific surface area of from 40 m.sup.2/g to 70 m.sup.2/g (inclusive), and a value obtained by [(d.sub.90-d.sub.10)/(average particle diameter)] of 0.90 or less, said value being an index indicating the expanse of the particle size distribution.

A positive-electrode active material contains a lithium composite oxide containing at least one selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, N, and S. The crystal structure of the lithium composite oxide belongs to a space group C2/m. An XRD pattern of the lithium composite oxide comprises a first peak within the first range of 44 degrees to 46 degrees of a diffraction angle 2 and a second peak within the second range of 18 degrees to 20 degrees of the diffraction angle 2. The ratio of the second integrated intensity of the second peak to the first integrated intensity of the first peak is within a range of 0.05 to 0.90.

A system, method, and articles of manufacture for a surface-modified transition metal cyanide coordination compound (TMCCC) composition, an improved electrode including the composition, and a manufacturing method for the composition which may include multiple chelation species (Che x). The composition, compound, device, and uses thereof according to A.sub.xMn.sub.(y-k)M.sup.j.sub.k[Mn.sup.m(CN).sub.(6-p-q)(NC).sub.p(Che_I).sup.r.sub.q].sub.z. CHE_GROUP (Vac).sub.(1-z).nH.sub.2O, wherein CHE_GROUP includes one or more chelation materials selected from the group consisting of (Che_I).sup.r.sub.w, (Che_II).sup.s.sub.v, and combinations thereof, and wherein 0<j4, 0k0.1, 0(p+q)6, 0<x4, 0<y1, 0<z1, 0<w0.2; 3r3; 0<v0.2; 3s3; and 0n6; wherein x+2(yk)+jk+(m+(r+1)q6)z+wr+vs=0.

A system, method, and articles of manufacture for a surface-modified transition metal cyanide coordination compound (TMCCC) composition, an improved electrode including the composition, and a manufacturing method for the composition which may include multiple chelation species (Che_x). The composition, compound, device, and uses thereof according to A.sub.xMn.sub.(y-k)M.sup.j.sub.k[Mn.sup.m(CN).sub.(6-p-q)(NC).sub.p(Che_I).sup.r.sub.q].sub.z. CHE_GROUP (Vac).sub.(1-z).nH.sub.2O, wherein CHE_GROUP includes one or more chelation materials selected from the group consisting of (Che_I).sup.r.sub.w, (Che_II).sup.s.sub.v, and combinations thereof, and wherein 0<j4, 0k0.1, 0(p+q)6, 0<x4, 0<y1, 0<z1, 0<w0.2; 3r3; 0<v0.2; 3s3; and 0n6; wherein x+2(yk)+jk+(m+(r+1)q6)z+wr+vs=0.

The present invention provides a positive-electrode active material for non-aqueous secondary battery comprising a sodium transition metal composite oxide represented by Formula:
Na.sub.xFe.sub.1-yM.sub.yO.sub.2, wherein 0.4x0.7, 0.25y<1.0, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of manganese, cobalt and nickel, the sodium transition metal composite oxide having a crystal structure substantially composed of P6.sub.3/mmc alone.