The invention relates to a mineral compound, referred to as synthetic mica, with formula A.sub.t(Si.sub.x-Ge.sub.1x).sub.4M.sub.zO.sub.10(OH).sub.2, wherein: A designates at least one monovalent interfoliar cation of a metal element, A having the formula Li.sub.w(1)Na.sub.w(2)K.sub.w(3)Rb.sub.w(4)Cs.sub.sw(5), each instance of w(i) representing a real number in the interval [0; 1], such that the sum of the instances of w(i) is equal to 1; t is a real number in the interval [0.3; 1]; x is a real number in the interval [0; 1]; M designates at least one divalent metal having the formula Mg.sub.y(1)Co.sub.y(2)Zn.sub.y(3)Cu.sub.y(4)Mn.sub.y(5)Fe.sub.y(6)Ni.sub.y(7)Cr, each instance of y(i) representing a real number in the interval [0; 1], such as the formula (A); and z is a real number in the interval [2.50; 2.85]. The invention also relates to a composition comprising such a compound and a method for preparing such a compound. $\underset{i=1}{\overset{5}{.Math.}}w\left(i\right)=1^{″}$$\underset{i=1}{\overset{8}{.Math.}}y\left(i\right)=1^{″}$

A method for producing a nickel cobalt complex hydroxide includes first crystallization of supplying a solution containing Ni, Co and Mn, a complex ion forming agent and a basic solution separately and simultaneously to one reaction vessel to obtain nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles, and a second crystallization of, after the first crystallization, further supplying a solution containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese, a solution of a complex ion forming agent, a basic solution, and a solution containing said element M separately and simultaneously to the reaction vessel to crystallize a complex hydroxide particles containing nickel, cobalt, manganese and said element M on the nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles crystallizing a complex hydroxide particles comprising Ni, Co, Mn and the element M on the nickel cobalt complex hydroxide particles.

A method and apparatus produce materials by exfoliation from a bulk material, by disposing bulk material in suspension in a liquid in a chamber; applying superimposed ultrasound fields in the chamber, the superimposed ultrasound fields generating cavitation in the liquid at least at a zone of field superimposition; measuring cavitation in the chamber while applying the superimposed cavitation fields, at least at the zone of field superimposition; and adjusting at least one of the ultrasound fields on the basis of measured cavitation so as to control cavitation energy applied to the material and thereby to control exfoliation of the bulk material and the formation of materials therefrom. Inertial cavitation is controlled, resulting in significantly greater production yields compared to prior art systems and methods. A high intensity focused ultrasound transducer is provided to impart suspension energy to the liquid in the chamber for suspending bulk material in the zone of field superimposition.

One example of a flexible printed article includes a non-conductive, graphene oxide membrane base substrate; and an electronic component positioned on the non-conductive, graphene oxide membrane base substrate. An example method for generating this example of the flexible printed article includes inkjet printing a conductive ink directly on the non-conductive graphene oxide membrane base substrate.

A method for synthesizing two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets comprises heating a bulk material in a solvent. The process is scalable and can be used to produce solution-processable 2D nanosheets with uniform properties in large volumes.

The disclosure discloses a nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide, a cathode material, a preparation method thereof and a lithium ion battery. The nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide comprises a core and an outer layer covering the outside of the core. The core comprises flaky particles, the D.sub.50 particle diameter of the flaky particles in the core is 5-8 μm, and the D.sub.50 particle diameter of particles in the outer layer is 0.1-5 μm.

The invention relates to a method of preparing a sodium metal oxide material comprising Na.sub.xM.sub.yCo.sub.zO.sub.2-δ, where M is one or more of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn, Si, Ga, Ge, Sb, W, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, 0.7≤x≤1.3, 0.9≤y≤1.1, 0≤z<0.15, 0≤δ≤0.2 and wherein the average length of primary particles of said sodium metal oxide material is between 2 and 10 μm, preferably between 5 and 10 μm. The invention also relates to such a material.

Disclosed a method of preparing composite particles comprising a non-porous spherical particulate inorganic material deposited on a plate-like inorganic material, where refractive index of said particulate inorganic material is greater than that of said plate-like inorganic particulate material, wherein, said spherical material occupies 20 to 80% of total surface area of said plate-like material and wherein the amount of said spherical material accounts for 2 to 20 wt % of said composite particles, further wherein said plate-like inorganic material is mica and said non-porous spherical particulate inorganic material is silicone dioxide, said method comprising the steps of: (iv) silanization of said plate-like inorganic material to get a silanized material having functional groups “A”; (v) silanization of said non-porous spherical particulate inorganic material to get a silanized material having functional groups “B”, where A≠B; and where said “A” and said “B” are capable of reacting with each other such that by way of their reaction, said non-porous spherical particulate inorganic material deposits on said plate-like inorganic material; and, (vi) reacting said silanized material having functional groups “A” with said silanized material having functional groups “B”.

Described herein is a nanocrystalline ferrite having the formula Ni.sub.1−x−yM.sub.yCo.sub.xFe.sub.2+zO.sub.4, wherein M is at least one of Zn, Mg, Cu, or Mn, x is 0.01 to 0.8, y is 0.01 to 0.8, and z is −0.5 to 0.5, and wherein the nanocrystalline ferrite has an average grain size of 5 to 100 nm. A method of forming the nanocrystalline ferrite can comprise high energy ball milling.

The present invention provides an efficient and effective method to produce a graphene material by a high shear mechanical process to exfoliate a natural graphite dispersion in a solvent, followed by supercritical exfoliation and drying. The method exfoliates all graphitic flakes into mostly few-layer graphene flakes. This method is more efficient than traditional mechanical exfoliation techniques and completely avoids the need of multiple sampling/centrifugation cycles. The graphene flakes are generally uniform in both size (area) and thickness and show no clumping or aggregation. After drying, this graphene material has high dispersibility in a suitable solvent; the prepared graphene dispersion is stable for at least three months and shows no indication of settling or separation.