The invention relates to a process for preparing composite particles, the process comprising contacting the plurality of particles in the reaction zone with a gas comprising at least 25 vol % of a silicon-containing precursor at a temperature effective to cause deposition of silicon in the pores of the porous particles. A controlled temperature differential between the maximum temperature of the internal surfaces of the reaction zone and the simultaneous minimum temperature within the plurality of porous particles is maintained during the contacting step.

The present invention provides a method for producing a solution of nanosheets, comprising the step of contacting an intercalated layered material with a polar aprotic solvent to produce a solution of nanosheets, wherein the intercalated layered material is prepared from a layered material selected from the group consisting of a transition metal dichalcogenide, a transition metal monochalcogenide, a transition metal trichalcogenide, a transition metal oxide, a metal halide, an oxychalcogenide, an oxypnictide, an oxyhalide of a transition metal, a trioxide, a perovskite, a niobate, a ruthenate, a layered III-VI semiconductor, black phosphorous and a V-VI layered compound. The invention also provides a solution of nanosheets and a plated material formed from nanosheets.

Provided is a water-swelling layered double hydroxide characterized by having an organic sulfonic acid anion (A.sup.) between layers, and by being represented by the below mentioned general formula (1): Q.sub.ZR(OH).sub.2(Z+1)(A.sup.).sub.(1y)(X.sup.n).sub.y/n.mH.sub.2O . . . (1). Here, Q is a divalent metal, R is a trivalent metal, A.sup. is an organic sulfonic acid anion, m is a real number greater than 0, and z is in the range of 1.8z4.2. X.sup.n is the n-valent anion remaining without A.sup. substitution, n is 1 or 2, y represents the remaining portion of X.sup.n, and 0y<0.4.

A silicon carbon composite material includes a carbon matrix and a silicon material, the carbon matrix has a cross-linked porous structure internally, and the silicon material is at least partially distributed in the cross-linked porous structure. A value of flexibility C1 of the silicon carbon composite material satisfies 0.4C12. C1 is a factor by which a compression deformation variable of the silicon carbon composite material is scaled to be equal to its rebound deformation variable, representing flexibility of the silicon carbon composite material. When the C1 value satisfies 0.4C12, the silicon carbon composite material has good flexibility, reducing overall impact of expansion stress of silicon on the silicon carbon composite material, and allowing for a certain degree of contractility of the carbon matrix framework, so that residual stress can be received and released, thereby maintaining overall stability of the silicon carbon composite material.

A film that includes two-dimensional particles having one or plural layers, and N-methylformamide. The one or plural layers include a layer body represented by: M.sub.mX.sub.n wherein M is at least one Group 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 metal, X is a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, or a combination thereof, n is 1 to 4, and m>n and m5; and at least one modifier or terminal T is present on a surface of the layer body, wherein each T is a hydroxyl group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, an oxygen atom, or a hydrogen atom. The N-methylformamide is disposed between two adjacent layers of the one or plural layers, and a content of the N-methylformamide in the film is 0.104 mol or more with respect to 1 mol of M.sub.mX.sub.n.

Provided herein are composite materials for use in an electrical energy storage system (e.g., high-capacity batteries) and methods for preparing the same. The composite materials of the present disclosure comprise a three-dimensional carbon network and optional silicon particles. The composite materials further comprise macropores, at least some of which are formed by carbonizing sacrificial particles dispersed throughout a three-dimensional network. The macropores advantageously provide a space to accommodate the strain and stress in the electrode structure due to volume changes of silicon (particles) during charging and discharging of the electrical energy storage systems.

A positive electrode active material characterized by containing a lithium transition metal compound that contains, relative to the total number of moles of metal elements other than Li, from 80% by mole to 94% mole (inclusive) of Ni and from 0.1% by mole to 0.6% by mole (inclusive) of Nb, and the amount of Nb (n1) in a first sample solution is obtained by adding 0.2 g of the lithium transition metal compound into an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution composed of 5 mL of pure water and 5 mL of 35% hydrochloric acid and the amount of Nb (n2) in a second sample solution that is obtained by immersing a filter that is used for filtration of the first sample solution into a fluoronitric acid composed of 5 mL of 46% hydrofluoric acid and 5 mL of 63% nitric acid satisfy the condition 75%n1/(n1+n2)<100% in terms of moles.

A transparent or semi-transparent conducting thin film structure or pattern which facilitates the insertion of dopant atoms, ions, or molecules into layered 2D materials, the film structure including: a planar sheet of layered 2D material, the layered 2D material having at least one layer disposed in a respective plane, an electrically isolative material, where the electrically isolative material is disposed below the layered 2D material, where the layered 2D material has at least one layer, where the layered 2D material is divided into islands of the 2D material, where separation of the islands of 2D material with respect to each other is greater than 0.5 nm and less than 1 meter, and where the islands of 2D material are intercalation doped with at least one dopant, and where the at least one dopant includes intercalation doping agents.

A composite that includes a layered MXene comprising at least two layers, and an amount of a chalcogen confined between the at least two layers. An electrode that includes a composite that includes a layered MXene comprising at least two layers, and an amount of a chalcogen confined between the at least two layers. Power cells that include the composite. A method, comprising: with an intercalant spacer, effecting an increase in an interlayer spacing in a multilayered MXene composition; and effecting intercalation of a chalcogen into the interlayer spacing so as to confine the chalcogen between layers of the multilayered MXene composition, and optionally effecting removal of the intercalant spacer.

A transparent or semi-transparent conducting thin film structure or pattern which facilitates the insertion of dopant atoms, ions, or molecules into layered 2D materials, the film structure including: a planar sheet of layered 2D material, the layered 2D material having at least one layer disposed in a respective plane, an electrically isolative material, where the electrically isolative material is disposed below the layered 2D material, where the layered 2D material has at least one layer, where the layered 2D material is divided into islands of the 2D material, where separation of the islands of 2D material with respect to each other is greater than 0.5 nm and less than 1 meter, and where the islands of 2D material are intercalation doped with at least one dopant, and where the at least one dopant includes intercalation doping agents.