Methods and systems for producing graphene from spent lithium-ion batteries are disclosed. One method includes applying an acid leaching solution to an anode of a lithium-ion battery to produce expanded graphite, applying a hydrothermal process to the expanded graphite to produce purified graphite, and subjecting the purified graphite to a shear mixing process to produce dispersed graphene. In some examples, the shear mixing process is combined with a hydrogen passivation process, which collectively improves each of graphene quality, graphene conversion rate, and graphene production efficiency.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In particular, the process may comprise generating a liquid metal film comprising a metal oxide surface layer, and exfoliating the metal oxide surface layer to form a metal oxide nanosheet. The present disclosure also relates generally to devices comprising the metal oxide nanosheets, such as piezoelectric generators and sensors.

A method embodiment involves preparing single metal or mixed transition metal chalcogenide using exfoliation of two or more different bulk transition metal dichalcogenides in a manner to form an intermediate hetero-layered transition metal chalcogenide structure, which can be treated to provide a single-phase transition metal chalcogenide.

The present invention provides iron oxide magnetic particles containing iron oxide and MX.sub.n, wherein M as a transition metal containing electrons in a 5d orbital on the periodic table includes one or more selected from the group consisting of Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, and Hg, X includes one or more selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, and I, and n is an integer of 1 to 6.

A composite anode active material includes: a silicon-containing composite structure; a first carbon-based coating layer on the silicon-containing composite structure and including first amorphous carbon; and second amorphous carbon within the silicon-containing composite structure, wherein the silicon-containing composite structure includes porous silicon secondary particles; and first carbon flakes on the porous silicon secondary particles, the porous silicon secondary particles each including an agglomerate of a plurality of silicon composite primary particles, wherein the silicon composite primary particles include silicon, a silicon suboxide (SiO.sub.x, 0<x<2) on the silicon, and second carbon flakes on the silicon suboxide, and wherein the second amorphous carbon is in pores of the porous silicon secondary particles, and the second amorphous carbon includes a heterogeneous element belonging to at least one of Group 15 or Group 17 of the Periodic Table.

A lithium metal composite oxide includes a primary particle having a hexagonal crystal structure, and a primary particle having a cubic crystal structure.

The invention provides methods of preparing carbon/sulfur composites. In certain embodiments, the composites comprise multidimensional carbon tubular and/or spherical networks loaded with elemental sulfur, as well as compositions comprising such composites.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to forming a two-dimensional crystalline dichalcogenide by positioning a substrate in an annealing apparatus. The substrate includes an amorphous film of a transition metal and a chalcogenide. The film is annealed at a temperature from 500 C. to 1200 C. In response to the annealing, a two-dimensional crystalline structure is formed from the film. The two-dimensional crystalline structure is according to a formula MX.sub.2, M includes one or more of molybdenum (Mo) or tungsten (W) and X includes one or more of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), or tellurium (Te).

A method of making Nanostructured Zinc Silicate from renewable sources comprising preparing powders of husks, preparing powders of ZnO, mixing the powders of husks and the powders of ZnO and forming a homogenous sample powder, pressing the homogenous sample and forming pellets, heating the pellets and forming nanostructured zinc silicate. The nanostructured zinc silicate from renewable sources product of the process of preparing powders of husks, preparing powders of ZnO, mixing the powders of husks and the powders of ZnO and forming a homogenous sample powder, pressing the homogenous sample and forming pellets, heating the pellets and forming nanostructured zinc silicate.

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.