The Li-ion paradigm of battery technology is fundamentally constrained by the monovalency of the Li-ion. A straightforward solution is to transition to multivalent ion chemistries, with Mg.sup.2+ the most obvious candidate due to considerations of size and mass. Despite early interest, the realization of Mg batteries has faced myriad obstacles, including a sparse selection of cathode materials demonstrating the ability to reversibly insert divalent ions. Disclosed herein is evidence of reversible topochemical and electrochemical insertion of Mg.sup.2+ into a metastable one-dimensional polymorph of V.sub.2O.sub.5. Not only does -V.sub.2O.sub.5 represent a rare addition to the pantheon of functional Mg battery cathode materials, but is also distinctive in exhibiting a combination of high stability, high specific capacity due to ion insertion, and moderately high operating voltage.

A highly scalable process has been developed for stabilizing large quantities of the zeta-polymorph of V.sub.2O.sub.5, a metastable kinetically trapped phase, with high compositional and phase purity. The process utilizes a beta-Cux V.sub.2O.sub.5 precursor which is synthetized from solution using all-soluble precursors. The copper can be leached from this structure by a room temperature post-synthetic route to stabilize an empty tunnel framework entirely devoid of intercalating cations. The metastable -V.sub.2O.sub.5 thus stabilized can be used as a monovalent-(Li, Na) or multivalent-(Mg, Ca, Al) ion battery cathode material.

A powder of carbonaceous matrix particles with silicon-based sub-particles dispersed therein, wherein the particles have a harmonic mean value of their average Vickers hardness value and their average elastic modulus value, both values of hardness and elasticity being measured by nanoindentation and expressed in MPa, being superior or equal to 7000 MPa and inferior or equal to 20000 MPa.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to graphene fibers and, more particularly, to graphene fibers comprising intercalated large-sized graphene oxide (LGGO)/graphene sheets and small-sized graphene oxide (SMGO)/graphene sheets having high thermal and electrical conductivities and high mechanical strength. In one embodiment, the invention provides a graphene fiber comprising: a plurality of intercalated graphene sheets including: a plurality of large-sized graphene sheets; and a plurality of small-sized graphene sheets, wherein at least one of the plurality of small-sized graphene sheets is disposed between at least two of the plurality of large-sized graphene sheets.

A method to produce high quality single or a few atomic layers thick samples of a topological insulating layered dichalcogenide. The overall process involves grinding layered dichalcogenides, adding them to an ionic liquid, and then using a mechanical method to cause intercalation of the ionic liquid into the van der Waals (VDW) gap between the layers of the metal chalcogenide.

A desalination battery includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an intercalation compound contained in the first electrode, a container configured to contain a saline water solution, and a power source. The intercalation compound includes at least one of a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal oxychloride, a metalloid oxychloride, and a hydrate thereof with each having a ternary or higher order. The first and second electrodes are configured to be arranged in fluid communication with the saline water solution. The power source is configured to supply electric current to the first and second electrodes in different operating states to induce a reversible intercalation reaction within the intercalation compound. The intercalation compound reversibly stores and releases target anions from the saline water solution to generate a fresh water solution in one operating state and a wastewater solution in another operating state.

Disclosed are: a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, the positive electrode active material including a nickel-based active material containing 60 mol % or more of nickel, and including a large crystal particle which has a size of 1 ?m to 10 ?m and contains a lanthanide element therein; a method of manufacturing the same; and a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode including the positive electrode active material.

Methods for manufacturing an object comprising beryllium by depositing layers of beryllium and metal inoculants are disclosed. Grain refinement allows the beryllium article to have beneficial properties in terms of strength and durability.

To provide an inorganic solid material that has a hydrogen sulfide sustained releasability at ordinary temperature in the air atmosphere and is capable of being handled safely and a method for producing the same, and a method for generating hydrogen sulfide using the material. A layered double hydroxide having HS? and/or Sk2? (wherein k represents a positive integer) intercalated among layers (sulfide ion-containing LDH) is produced, and the sulfide ion-containing LDH is hermetically housed in a packaging material to provide a package. In generating hydrogen sulfide, the packaging material of the package is opened, and the sulfide ion-containing LDH is exposed to the air atmosphere to sustainably release hydrogen sulfide.

An electrode active material for an electrochemical element of the present invention is a monoclinic niobium complex oxide, and Db/Da is 1.5 or more, where Da is a crystallite size in the a-axis direction, and Db is a crystallite size in the b-axis direction. An electrode material for an electrochemical element of the present invention contains the electrode active material for an electrochemical element of the present invention. An electrode for an electrochemical element of the present invention contains the electrode active material for an electrochemical element of the present invention or the electrode material for an electrochemical element of the present invention. In an electrochemical element of the present invention, either one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode is the electrode for an electrochemical element of the present invention. A movable body of the present invention includes the electrochemical element of the present invention.