The present invention relates to a process for modifying a layered double hydroxide (LDH), the process comprising, a. providing a water-wet layered double hydroxide of formula:

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x].sup.a+(X.sup.n).sub.a/r.bH.sub.2O (1) wherein M and M are metal cations, z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, x is 0.1 to 1, preferably x<1, more preferably x=0.1-0.9, b is greater than 0 to 10, X is an anion, r is 1 to 3, n is the charge on the anion X and a is determined by x, y and z, preferably a=z(1-x)+xy-2; b. maintaining the layered double hydroxide water-wet, and c. contacting the water-wet layered double hydroxide with at least one solvent, the solvent being miscible with water and preferably having a solvent polarity (P) in the range 3.8 to 9,
as well as to a layered double hydroxide prepared according to that process.

The present invention relates to magnetocaloric materials comprising manganese, iron, silicon, phosphorus, nitrogen and optionally boron.

The invention relates to electrodes that contain active materials of the formula: A.sub.aM.sub.bX.sub.xO.sub.y wherein A is one or more alkali metals selected from lithium, sodium and potassium; M is selected from one or more transition metals and/or one or more non-transition metals and/or one or more metalloids; X comprises one or more atoms selected from niobium, antimony, tellurium, tantalum, bismuth and selenium; and further wherein 0<a6; b is in the range: 0<b4; x is in the range 0<x1 and y is in the range 2y10. Such electrodes are useful in, for example, sodium and/or lithium ion battery applications.

Provided is a lepidocrocite-type titanate capable of suppressing the interference with the curing of a thermosetting resin and a resin composition having excellent wear resistance. A lepidocrocite-type titanate has a layered structure formed by chains of TiO.sub.6 octahedra, wherein part of Ti sites is substituted with ions of two or more metals selected from the group consisting of Li, Mg, Zn, Ni, Cu, Fe, Al, Ga, and Mn and runs of at least one metal selected from alkali metals other than Li are contained between layers of the layered structure.

A solar power system and materials capable of storing heat energy by thermochemical energy storage are disclosed. Thermal energy is stored as chemical potential in these materials through a reversible reduction-oxidation reaction. Thermal energy from concentrated sunlight drives a highly endothermic reduction reaction that liberates lattice oxygen from the oxide to form O.sub.2 gas, leaving energy-rich, oxygen-depleted particles. When desired, the heat is recovered as the particles are re-oxidized in an exothermic reaction upon exposure to air. The system may be integrated with a power generation system to generate power.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of batteries, and in particular, to a modified lithium ion negative electrode material, and preparation therefor and use thereof. The preparation method includes the following steps: dropwise adding a mixed solution of a titanium source and a lithium source into a mixed solution of an iron salt and an organic acid, adjusting the pH to 5.0-7.0, and stirring to obtain a wet gel; drying and crushing the wet gel, and then calcinating to obtain a LiFeTiO.sub.4 composite oxide; and reducing the LiFeTiO.sub.4 composite oxide to obtain the modified lithium ion negative electrode material. In the present disclosure, a spinel modified negative electrode material lithium iron titanium oxide is synthesized by using a citric acid sol-gel method, thereby not only greatly improving the charging and discharging capacity thereof, but also improving the large-current charging and discharging capability thereof.

The disclosure discloses a method for recycling a lithium iron phosphate waste battery, and belongs to the technical field of battery recycling. In the method for recycling the lithium iron phosphate waste battery according to the disclosure, it takes a cathode material of the waste lithium iron phosphate battery as a main body, uses a lithium source, a ferric source and a phosphorus source to supplement lithium to the cathode material for repairing, and meanwhile, rebuilds a new lithium iron phosphate coating layer containing a carbon layer cross-linked structure on a surface of the cathode material to realize regeneration of the lithium iron phosphate The disclosure also provides a regenerated lithium iron phosphate/C cathode material prepared by the recycling method.

A negative electrode active material for a lithium-ion battery has the following formula (I): Li1-xOHFe1+xS (I). x varies from 0.00 to 0.25, preferably from 0.05 to 0.20.

A method of producing high performance carbon coated LiFePO4 powders for making the battery grade cathode for lithium ion battery, comprising the steps of: a) mixing of Li2CO3, FeC2O4, and NH4H2PO4 precursors with different concentrations (3-10%) of citric acid in a stoichiometric ratio of 1.05:1:1; b) adding 2 to 5% stearic acid; c) milling in a attrition milling unit maintained with the ball to powder ratio of 10:1-12:1 at 250-550 rpm for 2-12 hrs; d) repeating the process of milling by increasing and decreasing the speed for a period of 2 to 24 hrs; e) discharging the milled powders on completion of milling; f) pelletizing them; g) annealing of them under argon atmosphere in large scale furnace at a temperature of 650-700? C. with a heating rate of 2-5? C./min for 2-10 hrs; and h) grinding the annealed pellets to a fine powder.

A main object of the present disclosure is to provide an anode active material having excellent electron conductivity and ion conductivity. The present disclosure achieves the object by providing an anode active material to be used for a lithium ion battery, the anode active material including at least a Sr element and a S element, and a Perovskite type of crystal phase belonging to a space group of I4/mmm, and a molar ratio of the S element with respect to the Sr element is larger than 0.1.