A single-step, in situ bipolar exfoliation system, and methods for exfoliations of multi-layer bulk black phosphorous into single-layer (two-dimensional), few-layer, or even nano-platelets phosphorene are provided. The bipolar exfoliation system can include: a first driving electrode; a second driving electrode electrically connected to the first driving electrode through an external power supply; at least one bipolar electrode comprising multi-layer bulk black phosphorous; and a solvent in physical contact with the first driving electrode, the second driving electrode, and the at least one bipolar electrode. The system can be configured such that the electric conditions between the first and second driving electrodes can be used to turn one end of the at least one bipolar electrode into an anodic pole and the other end of the at least one bipolar electrode into a cathodic pole such that the multi-layer black phosphorous is exfoliated into the single-layer, few-layer, or nano-platelets phosphorene.

The invention provides a method for producing sheet-like particles of zeolite that cannot be obtained by a top-down method, and provides sheet-like particles of zeolite having an 8-membered oxygen ring structure obtained by the method. A thickness of the sheet-like particles is 1 nm to 100 nm, and an aspect ratio (maximum width/thickness in particles) of the sheet-like particles is 100 or more.

An aluminum oxide article containing at least aluminum atoms and oxygen atoms is described. When observed under a transmission electron microscope, a cross section of the aluminum oxide article contains crystallized parts, in which a crystal lattice image is recognizable, and a non-crystallized part, in which no crystal lattice image is recognizable, and has an island-and-sea structure consisting of isolated parts containing the crystallized parts and the continuous non-crystallized part. The isolated parts correspond to island parts in the island-and-sea structure, the continuous non-crystallized part corresponds to a sea part, and a plurality of the island parts are uniformly distributed in the sea part. An aluminum oxide for improving the battery performance of a lithium ion secondary battery, the scratch resistance and hardness of a cured film, and the gas barrier properties of a gas barrier film is provided.

A black phosphorus crystal having a high photoelectric response rate, a two-dimensional black phosphorus PN junction, and preparation method and use thereof. The black phosphorus crystal is a single crystal with a spatial point group Cmca (No. 64), cell parameters a=3.2-3.4 , b=10.4-10.6 , c=4.3-4.5 , and an interlayer spacing of 4-6 , and is characterized by a high photoelectric response rate, an adjustable semiconductor type, and the like. The two-dimensional black phosphorus PN junction includes a two-dimensional black phosphorus film, a first area of the film forming an n-type semiconductor by n-type doping, a second area of the film is maintained as a p-type semiconductor, and the first area is adjacent to the second area, to enable the n-type semiconductor to be combined with the p-type semiconductor to form the PN junction. The two-dimensional black phosphorus PN junction has properties such as a unidirectional conductivity, or a special photovoltaic effect.

A new crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite comprising a new framework has been synthesized that has been designated UZM-55. This zeolite is represented by the empirical formula:
M.sup.+.sub.mR.sub.rAl.sub.1-xE.sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where M represents a metal or metals selected from zinc or Group 1 (IUPAC 1), Group 2 (IUPAC 2), Group 3 (IUPAC 3) or the lanthanide series of the periodic table including sodium, potassium or a combination of sodium and potassium cations, R is an organic structure directing agent or agents derived from reactants R1 and R2 such as where R1 is diisopropanolamine and R2 is a chelating diamine, and E is an element selected from the group consisting of gallium, iron, boron and mixtures thereof. Catalysts made from UZM-55 have utility in various hydrocarbon conversion reactions. The calcined zeolite is used in hydrocarbon conversion reactions.

The mechanochemical functionalization of silicon nanoparticles and functionalized silicon nanoparticles are described. The processes include applying shear forces to silicon metal the presence of an alkane and thereby functionalizing the silicon with an alkyl-functionalization, preferably an alkyl-hydride-functionalization. The resulting product includes a plurality of silicon nanoparticles each carrying an alkyl-functionalization, and preferably a hydride-functionalization, derived from an alkane.

The process of bi-functionalizing silicon nanoparticles and bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles are described. The processes include applying shear forces to silicon metal in the presence of an alkane, thereby providing an alkyl-hydride-functionalized silicon nanoparticle, which is then treated with a reactant, e.g., a compound that reacts with the hydride functionality, to provide the bi-functionalized silicon nanoparticles. The resulting product can include a plurality of functionalities on a silicon nanoparticle derived from alkenes, alkynes, aldehydes, alcohols, thiols, amines, carboxylates, and/or carboxylic acids.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chabazite zeolite which does not easily peel from a substrate such as a honeycomb body even when the substrate has been coated therewith, while exhibiting excellent durability. The present invention relates to a chabazite zeolite for substrate coating, which includes (i) to (iv) below. (i) Si and Al are contained, (ii) an SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio is in a range of 5<SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3<10, (iii) an average crystal size is in a range of 0.05 m<average crystal size<1 m, and (iv) in a spectrum measured by .sup.27Al-NMR, a ratio (A.sub.NFA/A.sub.Total) between an area (A.sub.Total) of all peaks in the spectrum and an area (A.sub.NFA) of peaks assigned to Al other than tetracoordinated Al is in a range of 20%(A.sub.NFA/A.sub.Total)70%.

Provided is an MgB.sub.2 superconductive thin film wire material allowing for lower costs while maintaining superconductive properties that are equal to or greater than those of the MgB.sub.2 superconductive thin film wire material of prior art, and to provide a production method for the superconductive thin film wire material. The MgB.sub.2 superconductive thin film wire material according to the present invention is a superconductive wire material comprising an MgB.sub.2 thin film formed over an elongated metal base material, characterized in that the MgB.sub.2 thin film exhibits a critical temperature of 30 K or higher, and has a microscopic organization wherein MgB.sub.2 columnar crystal grains stand densely packed on the surface of the elongated metal base material, and a layer of Mg oxide is formed in such a manner as to surround the MgB.sub.2 columnar crystal grains in the grain boundary regions of the MgB.sub.2 columnar crystal grains.

Provided is a sulfur-carbon composite comprising a highly graphitic carbon material and sulfur, wherein the carbon material has a high graphitization degree characterized by a ratio of the intensity of G band to the intensity of D band in Raman spectrum being more than 1.0, the material is either a graphitic microporous carbon substrate, or a core-shell material with a conductive core coated by a graphitic microporous carbon layer, and wherein sulfur is encapsulated into the porous structure of the carbon material. Also provided are an electrode and a lithium-sulfur battery comprising the sulfur-carbon composite, and a process for preparing the sulfur-carbon composite.