A method of making a graphene-containing material comprising the steps of: electrolytically reducing a transition metal oxide to a transition metal in an electrolytic cell using a molten salt electrolyte and a carbon anode; followed by extracting a dry graphene material from the electrolytic cell. Also provided is a graphene-containing material obtainable by the method of the invention.

A carbon-based anode material with high ramp capacity, a preparation method therefore, and a use thereof. The method includes placing a carbon source precursor into a crucible and heating to 400° C-1000° C. at a heating rate of 0.2° C./min-30° C./min under an inert atmosphere, wherein the precursor includes any one or a combination of at least two of fossil fuel, biomass, resin, and organic chemicals; and carrying out heat treatment on the precursor at a temperature of 400° C. to 1000° C. for 0.5-48 hours to carbonize the precursor to obtain a carbon-based negative electrode material. The specific surface area of the anode material is less than 10 m.sup.2/g. and assembling the obtained electrode material into a sodium ion battery and then carrying out charging and discharging between 0 and 2.5 V, to obtain a voltage curve. The ramp capacity being above 180 mAh/g and the first-cycle Coulombic efficiency is above 75%.

The present invention relates to methods of fabrication of hollow shells/spheres/particles, core-shell particles and composite materials made from these particles.

The present disclosure relates to a method for extracting lithium from salt lake brine and simultaneously preparing aluminum hydroxide. This method includes: a. adding an aluminum salt to the brine to obtain a mixed salt solution A, adding an alkali solution to the mixed salt solution A for co-precipitation reaction, then subjecting to crystallization reaction and solid-liquid separation at the end of the reaction to obtain magnesium-aluminum hydrotalcite solid product and lithium-containing brine, wherein in step a, the alkali solution is an alkali solution free of carbonate ion; b. evaporating and concentrating the lithium-containing brine to obtain a lithium-rich brine, adding an aluminum salt to the lithium-rich brine to obtain a mixed salt solution B, adding an alkali solution dropwise to the mixed salt solution B to perform a co-precipitation reaction and solid-liquid separation after the end of the reaction to obtain a lithium-containing liquid and a lithium-containing layered material filter cake, wherein in step b, the alkali solution is an alkali solution free of carbonate ion; c. dispersing the lithium-containing layered material filter cake in deionized water to form a suspension slurry, then adjusting the pH value of the suspension slurry so as to carry out a lithium deintercalation reaction; d. filtering the slurry obtained after the lithium deintercalation reaction to obtain a lithium-containing solution and aluminum hydroxide filter cake; e. washing the aluminum hydroxide filter cake with deionized water and drying to obtain aluminum hydroxide solid.

A composite oxide including a metal element represented by the composition of general formula:

A.sub.nX.sub.y,

represents an element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, and a trivalent lanthanoid; X represents an element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba; n is 0<n<1; y is 0<y<1; and n+y=1. Also, a metal-supported material in which cobalt particles are supported on the composite oxide.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to compositions including discrete nanostructures (e.g., nanostructures including a functionalized graphene layer and a core species bound to the functionalized graphene layer), and related articles and methods. A composition may have a coefficient of friction of less than or equal to 0.02. Discrete nanostructures may have a substantially non-planar configuration. A core species may reversibly covalently bind a first portion of a functionalized graphene layer to a second portion of the functionalized graphene layer. Articles, e.g., articles including a plurality of discrete nanostructures and a means for depositing the plurality of discrete nanostructures on a surface, are also provided. Methods (e.g., methods of forming a layer) are also provided, including depositing a composition onto a substrate surface and/or applying a mechanical force to the composition, e.g., such that the composition exhibits a coefficient of friction of less than or equal to 0.02.

A technique disclosed herein provides a positive electrode active material having a granular shape and used for a positive electrode of a secondary battery. The positive electrode active material includes, as an essential component, a lithium transition metal composite oxide containing at least manganese as a transition metal element and having a layered rock salt structure. A concentration difference between an average Mn concentration and a local maximum Mn concentration is equal to or less than 4 atm %, the average Mn concentration being measured based on ICP emission spectroscopic analysis of the positive electrode active material, and the local maximum Mn concentration being measured based on energy dispersive X-ray analysis with a transmission electron microscope.

The present invention relates to a method for fabrication of blue-fluorescent and non-toxic nanodiamonds from atmospheric particulate matters including total solid suspended particulate matter (TSPM) and particulate matter with size less than 10μ (PM.sub.10). Mostly, the present invention provides an efficient mitigation process for particulate pollutant by conversion of these pollutants (PM and TSPM) into non-toxic high-value product such as nanodiamond by using the ultrasonic-assisted chemical oxidation method. This method is environmental friendly, simple, and biocompatible for the production of nanodiamonds from such atmospheric particulate matter.

A system for utilizing zinc oxide includes a first electrode comprising a zinc oxide reagent material, a current collector electrically connected to the zinc oxide reagent material, and a second electrode. The zinc oxide reagent material is capable of electrochemical intercalation and de-intercalation reactions with an electrolyte, and the zinc oxide reagent material comprises a zinc oxide intercalated with electrons. The current collector is configured to provide electrons and voltage control to the zinc oxide reagent material. The electrolyte in contact with the zinc oxide reagent material and is capable of executing intercalation reactions with the zinc oxide reagent material. The electronics are configured to control electrochemical voltage of the current collector and the zinc oxide reagent material, and the second electrode comprises a counter-electrode or a reference electrode electrically coupled to one or more electronics.

With an aim to 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 M-OH bond/M-O bond ratio, which is a ratio of a M-OH bond between an element (M) and a hydroxide group (OH) to a ratio of an M-O bond between the element (M) and oxygen (O), where the element (M) is one 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/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.