According to one embodiment, nano metal compound particles are provided. The nano metal compound particles have an average particle size of 50 nm or less. The nano metal compound particles have a peak .sub.t of 2.8 eV or less. The peak .sub.t corresponds to a resonant frequency of an oscillator according to a spectroscopic ellipsometry method fitted to a Lorentz model.

Methods and apparatus for increasing vacancies in a metallic structure are disclosed and for improving a hydrogen loading ratio in the metallic structure. The metallic structure comprises one or more transition metals or metal alloys. The metallic structure is prepared by forming a metal organic precursor and reducing the precursor to a metallic structure, in which a coordination number of the metal atoms is reduced and the vacancies in the metallic structure are increased.

An iridium-based catalyst and method of making the catalyst are described. The catalyst comprises a catalytic material comprising iridium oxide or a mixture of iridium and iridium oxide nanoplates. It may have a BET surface area of at least 50 m.sup.2/g and a pore volume of at least 0.10 cc/g. The nanoplates are less than 50 nm thick. The catalyst is made using organic and inorganic structure directing agents.

A microelectronic device includes a substrate a platinum-containing layer over the substrate. The platinum-containing layer includes a first segment and a second segment adjacent to the first segment, and has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface closer to the substrate than the first surface. A first spacing between the first segment and the second segment at the first surface is greater than a second spacing between the first segment and the second segment at the second surface. A width of the first segment along the first surface is less than twice a thickness of the first segment, and the second spacing is less than twice the thickness of the first segment.

A microelectronic device is formed by forming a platinum-containing layer on a substrate of the microelectronic device. A cap layer is formed on the platinum-containing layer so that an interface between the cap layer and the platinum-containing layer is free of platinum oxide. The cap layer is etchable in an etch solution which also etches the platinum-containing layer. The cap layer may be formed on the platinum-containing layer before platinum oxide forms on the platinum-containing layer. Alternatively, platinum oxide on the platinum-containing layer may be removed before forming the cap layer. The platinum-containing layer may be used to form platinum silicide. The platinum-containing layer may be patterned by forming a hard mask or masking platinum oxide on a portion of the top surface of the platinum-containing layer to block the wet etchant.

A method for making iridium oxide nanoparticles includes dissolving an iridium salt to obtain a salt-containing solution, mixing a complexing agent with the salt-containing solution to obtain a blend solution, and adding an oxidating agent to the blend solution to obtain a product mixture. A molar ratio of a complexing compound of the complexing agent to the iridium salt is controlled in a predetermined range so as to permit the product mixture to include iridium oxide nanoparticles.

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.

A method of producing ceria nanocrystals is provided. The method includes providing a gas that includes ozone to a solution that includes a cerium salt, and obtaining ceria nanocrystals from the solution after the gas is provided to the first solution. A method of producing nanoparticles is provided. The method includes providing a gas that includes ozone to a solution that includes a metal salt that includes at least one of a transition metal or a lanthanide, and producing at least one of metal oxide nanoparticles, metal oxynitrate nanoparticles, or metal oxyhydroxide nanoparticles from the solution after the gas is provided to the solution.

A method of separating Osmium from Iridium, including receiving a powdered mixture of Osmium and Iridium, oxidizing the Osmium of the powdered mixture, capturing the oxidized Osmium in a trapping solution, reducing the oxidized Osmium from the solution to release the Osmium.

Methods for leaching and extraction of precious metals. For example, methods of leaching palladium, rhodium, platinum from a substance comprising palladium, rhodium, and/or platinum (such as a platinum group metal (PGM) concentrate, and a catalytic converter) using an organic solvent that is water-miscible