Methods for synthesizing chalcogenide perovskites and chalcogenide perovskites synthesized thereby. Such s method includes providing a precursor solution containing a metal precursor, depositing the precursor solution onto a substrate to form a precursor film, and heating the precursor film in the presence of a chalcogen source to form a chalcogenide perovskite. The precursor solution is oxygen-free, and the steps of depositing and heating are conducted in an inert atmosphere.

A negative electrode active material contains a negative electrode active material particle; the negative electrode active material particle including a silicon compound particle containing a silicon compound (SiO.sub.x: 0.5≤x≤1.6), wherein the silicon compound particle contains a Li compound, and the negative electrode active material particle contains at least one kind of salt selected from salts of polyacrylic acid and salts of carboxymethyl cellulose, together with a metal salt containing at least one kind of metal selected from Mg and Al. This provides a negative electrode active material that is capable of stabilizing slurry that is produced in production of a negative electrode for a secondary battery, and improving initial charge-discharge characteristics and cycle performance when it is used as a negative electrode active material for a secondary battery.

A method for manufacturing a highly purified positive electrode active material is provided. Alternatively, a method for manufacturing a positive electrode active material whose crystal structure is not easily broken even when charge and discharge are repeated is provided. The method for manufacturing a positive electrode active material containing lithium and a transition metal includes a first step of preparing a lithium compound, a phosphorus compound, and water; a second step of forming a first mixture by mixing the lithium compound, the phosphorus compound, and the water; a third step of forming a second mixture by adding a first aqueous solution to the first mixture to adjust a pH; a fourth step of forming a third mixture by mixing an iron(II) compound with the second mixture; a fifth step of forming a fourth mixture by heating the third mixture; and a sixth step of obtaining a positive electrode active material by filtering, washing, and drying the fourth mixture. High-purity materials are used as the lithium compound, the phosphorus compound, the water, and the iron(II) compound.

A composite nanomaterial of ZnO impregnated by, e.g., a green copper phthalocyanine compound (CuPc) can be an efficient solar light photocatalyst for water remediation. The composite may include hollow shell microspheres and hollow nanospheres of CuPc-ZnO. CuPc may function as a templating and/or structure modifying agent, e.g., for forming hollow microspheres and/or nanospheres of ZnO particles. The composite can photocatalyze the degradation of organic pollutants such as crystal violet (CV) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as well as microbes in water under solar light irradiation. The ZnO—CuPc composite can be stable and recyclable under solar irradiation.

A composite nanomaterial of ZnO impregnated by, e.g., a green copper phthalocyanine compound (CuPc) can be an efficient solar light photocatalyst for water remediation. The composite may include hollow shell microspheres and hollow nanospheres of CuPc-ZnO. CuPc may function as a templating and/or structure modifying agent, e.g., for forming hollow microspheres and/or nanospheres of ZnO particles. The composite can photocatalyze the degradation of organic pollutants such as crystal violet (CV) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as well as microbes in water under solar light irradiation. The ZnO—CuPc composite can be stable and recyclable under solar irradiation.

The invention relates to active electrode materials and to methods for the manufacture of active electrode materials. Such materials are of interest as active electrode materials in lithium-ion or sodium-ion batteries. The invention provides an active electrode material comprising a mixture of (a) at least one lithium titanium oxide and (b) at least one mixed niobium oxide, wherein the mixed niobium oxide is expressed by the general formula [M1].sub.x[M2].sub.(1-x)[Nb].sub.y[O].sub.z.

A method for manufacturing Group-III nitride semiconductor nanoparticles includes synthesizing Group-III nitride semiconductor nanoparticles having a particle size of 16 nm or less by reacting materials containing one or more Group-III elements M in a liquid phase, wherein a coordination solvent is used, and trimethyl M is used as at least one Group-III element material among the materials containing one or more Group-III elements M.

A desilicated crystalline material having an MFI (ZSM-5) framework type, a molar silica to alumina ratio (SAR) of 15 or more, and mean crystal size of about 200 nm or less, is disclosed. The disclosed crystalline material has a mesopore volume of at least 0.40 cm.sup.3/g and a micropore volume of at least 0.10 cm.sup.3/g. A method of preparing a desilicated crystalline material is also disclosed. The method comprises mixing a starting ZSM-5 material having a mean crystal size of 200 nm or less in a base solution, collecting the solids by filtration or other separation methods, drying, and optionally calcining the solids.

A composite nanomaterial of ZnO impregnated by, e.g., a green copper phthalocyanine compound (CuPc) can be an efficient solar light photocatalyst for water remediation. The composite may include hollow shell microspheres and hollow nanospheres of CuPc-ZnO. CuPc may function as a templating and/or structure modifying agent, e.g., for forming hollow microspheres and/or nanospheres of ZnO particles. The composite can photocatalyze the degradation of organic pollutants such as crystal violet (CV) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as well as microbes in water under solar light irradiation. The ZnO—CuPc composite can be stable and recyclable under solar irradiation.

A material synthesis method may comprise: adding at least one liquid precursor solution to an atomizer device; generating by the atomizer device an aerosol comprising liquid droplets; transporting the aerosol to a reactive zone for evaporating one or more solvents from the aerosol; and collecting particles synthesized from at least evaporating the aerosol.