The present invention relates an indicator system for assessing a reduction state of unconsolidated material that includes a delivery tube defining an interior chamber, and a substrate disposed within the interior chamber and including a reactive coating thereon. The reactive coating is at least partially removable from the substrate upon exposure to a reducing condition of unconsolidated material over a period of time. An indicator device including a reactive coating comprising a manganese oxide is also disclosed.

The present invention relates an indicator system for assessing a reduction state of unconsolidated material that includes a delivery tube defining an interior chamber, and a substrate disposed within the interior chamber and including a reactive coating thereon. The reactive coating is at least partially removable from the substrate upon exposure to a reducing condition of unconsolidated material over a period of time. An indicator device including a reactive coating comprising a manganese oxide is also disclosed.

A process for producing a cathode or anode material adapted for use in the manufacture of fast rechargeable ion batteries. The process may include the steps of Selecting an precursor material that, upon heating in a gas stream, releases volatile compounds to create porous materials to generate a material compound suitable for an electrode in an ion battery. Grinding the precursor material to produce a powder of particles with a first predetermined particle size distribution to form a precursor powder. Calcining the precursor powder in a flash calciner reactor segment with a first process gas at a first temperature to produce a porous particle material suitable for an electrode in an ion battery, and having the pore properties, surface area and nanoscale structures for applications in such batteries. Processing the hot precursor powder in a second calciner reactor segment with a second process gas to complete the calcination reaction, to anneal the material to optimise the particle strength, and to modify the oxidation state of the product for maximising the charge density when the particle is activated in a battery cell to form a second precursor powder. Quenching the second precursor powder. Activating the particles of the second precursor powder in an electrolytic cell by the initial charging steps to intercalate electrolyte ions in the particles.

A composite material includes electro-deposited manganese dioxide particles of up to 110 micron in size and in a form of γ-modification of manganese dioxide; and single-walled carbon nanotubes with a diameter of 1 to 2 nm and a length of 1 to 5 μm, wherein a content of the carbon nanotubes is 0.0001 to 0.1 wt % of the composite material. Optionally, the particles have an average size of about 40-60 microns. Optionally, the carbon nanotubes form a coating on a surface of the particles and extend inward from the surface. Optionally, the single-wall carbon nanotubes form a three-dimensional conductive network in the material.

A composite material includes electro-deposited manganese dioxide particles of up to 110 micron in size and in a form of γ-modification of manganese dioxide; and single-walled carbon nanotubes with a diameter of 1 to 2 nm and a length of 1 to 5 μm, wherein a content of the carbon nanotubes is 0.0001 to 0.1 wt % of the composite material. Optionally, the particles have an average size of about 40-60 microns. Optionally, the carbon nanotubes form a coating on a surface of the particles and extend inward from the surface. Optionally, the single-wall carbon nanotubes form a three-dimensional conductive network in the material.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods of producing a hydrogen-selective oxygen carrier material comprising combining one or more core material precursors and one or more shell material precursors to from a precursor mixture and heat-treating the precursor mixture at a treatment temperature to form the hydrogen-selective oxygen carrier material. The treatment temperature is greater than or equal to 100° C. less than the melting point of a shell material, and the hydrogen-selective oxygen carrier material comprises a core comprising a core material and a shell comprising the shell material. The shell material may be in direct contact with at least a majority of an outer surface of the core material.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods of producing a hydrogen-selective oxygen carrier material comprising combining one or more core material precursors and one or more shell material precursors to from a precursor mixture and heat-treating the precursor mixture at a treatment temperature to form the hydrogen-selective oxygen carrier material. The treatment temperature is greater than or equal to 100° C. less than the melting point of a shell material, and the hydrogen-selective oxygen carrier material comprises a core comprising a core material and a shell comprising the shell material. The shell material may be in direct contact with at least a majority of an outer surface of the core material.

Process for producing a coated mixed lithium transition metal oxide, wherein a mixed lithium transition metal oxide and a pyrogenically produced zirconium dioxide and/or a pyrogenically produced mixed oxide comprising zirconium are subjected to dry mixing by means of an electric mixing unit having a specific electrical power of 0.05-1.5 kW per kg of the mixed lithium transition metal oxide; coated mixed lithium transition metal oxide obtainable by this process; cathode for a lithium battery and lithium battery comprising such coated particles.

Process for producing a coated mixed lithium transition metal oxide, wherein a mixed lithium transition metal oxide and a pyrogenically produced zirconium dioxide and/or a pyrogenically produced mixed oxide comprising zirconium are subjected to dry mixing by means of an electric mixing unit having a specific electrical power of 0.05-1.5 kW per kg of the mixed lithium transition metal oxide; coated mixed lithium transition metal oxide obtainable by this process; cathode for a lithium battery and lithium battery comprising such coated particles.

A supercapacitor electrode comprises a mixture of graphene sheets and humic acid. The humic acid occupies 0.1% to 99% by weight of the mixture and the graphene sheets are selected from a pristine graphene material having essentially zero % of non-carbon elements, or a non-pristine graphene material having 0.001% to 5% by weight of non-carbon elements. The non-pristine graphene is selected from graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene fluoride, graphene chloride, graphene bromide, graphene iodide, hydrogenated graphene, nitrogenated graphene, chemically functionalized graphene, or a combination thereof. The mixture has a specific surface area greater than 500 m.sup.2/g.