This disclosure relates to photocatalytic polyoxometalate compositions of tungstovanadates and uses as water oxidation catalysts. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to compositions comprising water, a complex of a tetra-metal oxide cluster and VW.sub.9O.sub.34 ligands, and a photosensitizer. Typically, the metal oxide cluster is Co. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to electrodes and other devices comprising water oxidation catalysts disclosed herein and uses in generating fuels and electrical power from solar energy.

With an aim to provide a method for producing an oxide particle with controlled color characteristics and also provide an oxide particle with controlled color characteristics, the present invention provides a method for producing an oxide particle, wherein the color characteristics of the oxide particle are controlled by controlling a ratio of an M-OH bond between an element (M) and a hydroxide group (OH) or an M-OH bond/M-O bond ratio, where the element (M) is one element or plural different elements other than oxygen or hydrogen included in the oxide particle selected from metal oxide particles and semi-metal oxide particles. According to the present invention, by controlling the M-OH bond or the M-OH bond/M-O bond ratio of the metal oxide particle or the semi-metal oxide particle, the oxide particle with controlled color characteristics of any of reflectance, transmittance, molar absorption coefficient, hue, and saturation can be provided.

An object is to provide a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element which has favorable characteristics. A manufacturing method of the present invention includes the steps of: forming a first conductive layer which functions as a gate electrode over a substrate; forming a first insulating layer to cover the first conductive layer; forming a semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer so that part of the semiconductor layer overlaps with the first conductive layer; forming a second conductive layer to be electrically connected to the semiconductor layer; forming a second insulating layer to cover the semiconductor layer and the second conductive layer; forming a third conductive layer to be electrically connected to the second conductive layer; performing first heat treatment after forming the semiconductor layer and before forming the second insulating layer; and performing second heat treatment after forming the second insulating layer.

Acidified metal oxides combined with non-acidified metal oxides used as a battery electrode active material.

An object is to reduce variation in shape of crystals that are to be formed. Solutions containing respective raw materials are made in an environment where an oxygen concentration is lower than that in air, the solutions containing the respective raw materials are mixed in an environment where an oxygen concentration is lower than that in air to form a mixture solution, and with use of the mixture solution, a composite oxide is formed by a hydrothermal method.

A method of preparing a positive electrode active material includes mixing a lithium raw material and a nickel-containing transition metal hydroxide precursor containing nickel in an amount of 65 mol % or more based on a total number of moles of transition metals and performing a first heat treatment to prepare a nickel-containing lithium transition metal oxide. The method also includes mixing a boron and carbon-containing raw material and a cobalt-containing raw material with the nickel-containing lithium transition metal oxide to form a mixture, and performing a second heat treatment on the mixture to form a coating material including B and Co on a surface of the lithium transition metal oxide. A positive electrode active material prepared by the preparation method is formed, and a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery which include the positive electrode active material.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode additive for a lithium secondary battery, a manufacturing method thereof, a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery including the same, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.

The positive electrode additive for a lithium secondary battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is represented by Chemical Formula 1 below.

Li.sub.6xCo.sub.1-yM.sub.yO.sub.4  [Chemical Formula 1] (In the Chemical Formula 1, 0.9≤x≤1.1, 0<y≤0.1, My=B.sub.aW.sub.b, 0≤a≤0.1, 0≤b≤0.1, and, a and b are not simultaneously 0.)

Another positive electrode additive for a lithium secondary battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a core represented by Chemical Formula 2 below; and a coating layer comprising at least one of boron (B) and tungsten (W).

Li.sub.6xCoO.sub.4  [Chemical Formula 2] (In the Chemical Formula 2, 0.9≤x≤1.1.)

Provided is a precursor of a positive electrode active material containing, in a reduced amount, impurities which do not contribute to a charge/discharge reaction but rather corrode a firing furnace and peripheral equipment and thus having excellent battery characteristics and safety, and production method thereof. A method for producing a precursor of a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having a hollow structure or porous structure includes obtaining the precursor by washing nickel-manganese composite hydroxide particles having a particular composition ratio and a pore structure in which pores are present within the particles with an aqueous carbonate solution having a carbonate concentration of 0.1 mol/L or more.

Thermochemical storage materials having the general formula A.sub.xA′.sub.1-xB.sub.yB′.sub.1-yO.sub.3-δ, where A=La, Sr, K, Ca, Ba, Y and B=Mn, Fe, Co, Ti, Ni, Cu, Zr, Al, Y, Cr, V, Nb, Mo, are disclosed. These materials have improved thermal storage energy density and reaction kinetics compared to previous materials. Concentrating solar power thermochemical systems and methods capable of storing heat energy by using these thermochemical storage materials are also disclosed.

This application provides a lithium-ion battery and an apparatus. The lithium-ion battery includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. A positive active material of the positive electrode plate includes Li.sub.x1Co.sub.y1M.sub.1-y1O.sub.2-z1Q.sub.z1, where 0.5≤x1≤1.2, 0.8≤y1≤1.0, 0≤z1≤0.1, M is selected from one or more of Al, Ti, Zr, Y, and Mg, and Q is selected from one or more of F, Cl, and S. The electrolyte contains an additive A that is a polynitrile six-membered nitrogen-heterocyclic compound with a relatively low oxidation potential. The lithium-ion battery has superb cycle performance and storage performance, especially under high-temperature and high-voltage conditions.