A positive-electrode active material contains a lithium composite oxide containing manganese. The crystal structure of the lithium composite oxide belongs to a space group Fd-3m. The integrated intensity ratio I.sub.(111)/I.sub.(400) of a first peak I.sub.(111) on the (111) plane to a second peak I.sub.(400) on the (400) plane in an XRD pattern of the lithium composite oxide satisfies 0.05I.sub.(111)/I.sub.(400)0.90.

The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+[MM.sub.12X.sub.8O.sub.yR.sub.zH.sub.q].sup.m or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

A method for preparing a nano-titanate, a nano-titanic acid and a nano-TiO.sub.2 containing embedded A nanoparticles is provided respectively. In this method, a Ti-T alloy with a A-group element solidly dissolved therein is used as a titanium source, and reacted with an alkali solution under a certain condition. In combination with subsequent treatment, the preparation of a titanate nanotube, a titanic acid nanotube, and a TiO.sub.2 nanotube/rod containing embedded A nanoparticles, respectively, is further achieved with high efficiency and low cost. Moreover, a method for preparing metal nanoparticles is also provided by removing the matrix of the composites. The present preparation methods is characterized by simple process, easy operation, high efficiency, low cost. The product is of promising application in polymer-based nanocomposites, ceramic materials, catalytic materials, photocatalytic materials, hydrophobic materials, effluent degrading materials, bactericidal coatings, anticorrosive coatings, marine coatings.

A method of making a mercury based compound, a mercury based compound, and methods of using the mercury based compound and uses of the mercury based compound are disclosed. The mercury-based compound is in powder form and has the general chemical formula: M1.sub.aX.sub.b, where M1 is Hg, MxcMyd or a combination thereof, with Mx being Hg and My being an arbitrary element; wherein X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, sulphate nitrate or a combination thereof, wherein a, b, c and d are numbers between 0.1 and 10, wherein particles of the powder have a minimum average dimension of width of at least 50 nm and a maximum average dimension of width of at most 20 ?m, and wherein the mercury-based compound is paramagnetic and is present in an excited state.

Solid-state electrolytes for use in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, as well as methods of synthesizing the same, methods of preparing the same into a film, and methods of using the same in a Li-ion battery, are provided. Solid-state electrolyte pellets can be prepared in a solution, and a film using the synthesized pellet can be formed and used in a Li-ion battery.

A composite material of one aspect includes a resin matrix phase, and a ruthenium oxide having Ca.sub.2RuO.sub.4 structure and included in the resin matrix phase. The ruthenium oxide may be represented by a general formula (1): Ca.sub.2xR.sub.xRu.sub.1y1M.sub.yO.sub.4+z, in which R may represent at least one element selected from among alkaline earth metals and rare earth elements, M may represent at least one element selected from among Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Ga, and the values x, y, and z may satisfy 0x<0.2, 0y<0.3, and 1<z<0.02.

This invention relates to the identification of modified cytosine residues, such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and 5-formylcytosine (5fC) to be distinguished from cytosine (C) in a sample nucleotide sequence. Methods may comprise oxidizing or reducing a first portion of polynucleotides which comprise the sample nucleotide sequence; treating the oxidized or reduced first portion and a second portion of polynucleotides with bisulfite; sequencing the polynucleotides in the first and second portions of the population following steps ii) and iii) to produce first and second nucleotide sequences, respectively and; identifying the residue in the first and second nucleotide sequences which corresponds to a cytosine residue in the sample nucleotide sequence. These methods may be useful, for example in the analysis of genomic DNA and/or of RNA.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for a Li-ion secondary battery containing a Li-transition metal composite oxide. This Li-transition metal composite oxide has a layered rock salt crystal structure, and is represented by a formula (1): (1?x)Li.sub.2RuO.sub.3xLiMnO.sub.2 (Mn is trivalent Mn, and x is a real number satisfying 0<x<1). In addition, when part of Ru and/or Mn of the Li-transition metal composite oxide is replaced with a metal M such as Ti, durability can be improved. According to the present invention, a reduced amount of Ru but a higher capacity can be achieved for a positive electrode active material containing Li.sub.2RuO.sub.3.

A sodium-containing oxide positive electrode material and a preparation method therefor and use thereof are disclosed. Also disclosed are a positive electrode plate and uses thereof.

A method of forming a metal oxide material having a rod shape or polyhedral nanostructure includes preparing a first reverse micro-emulsion system comprising an aqueous precipitating agent dispersion and a second reverse micro-emulsion system containing an aqueous metal salt dispersion; combining the micro-emulsions together to initiate a reaction; allowing the reaction to continue to form a product mixture comprising a metal oxide gel and aqueous media; separating the metal oxide gel from the aqueous media; collecting the metal oxide gel; and calcining the metal oxide gel to form the metal oxide material. The metal oxide material corresponds to the chemical formula of La.sub.2M.sub.xNi.sub.1-xO.sub.4, Pr.sub.2-yA.sub.yNiO.sub.4, or La.sub.2-zD.sub.zNiO.sub.4, wherein M is copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, aluminum, or platinum; A is lanthanum or neodymium; D is calcium, barium or strontium; x ranges from 0 to 1; y ranges from 0 to 2; and z ranges from 0 to 0.25.