A hybrid photoactive heterojunction including a copper vanadate, Cu.sub.2V.sub.2O.sub.7 (CVO) and a zinc vanadate, Zn.sub.2V.sub.2O.sub.6 (ZVO). Particles of the ZVO are dispersed in particles of the CVO to form the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. The hybrid photoactive heterojunction in the form of a photoactive film includes a substrate which is at least partially coated with the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. A method of photodegrading a dye includes contacting the photoactive film and the dye in a solution and exposing the solution to light. A method of photoelectrochemically oxidizing water includes contacting the photoactive film with water in a solution and exposing the solution to light.

The invention relates to a mechanochemical process to produce exfoliated nanoparticles comprising the steps of providing a solid feedstock comprising a carbonaceous and/or mineral-based material; providing a flow of an oxidizing gas; introducing the solid feedstock and the flow of an oxidizing gas into a mechanical agitation unit, subjecting the material of the solid feedstock in the presence of the oxidizing gas to a mechanical agitation operation in the mechanical agitation unit at a pressure of at least 1 atm (15 psi).

The invention further relates to nanoparticles obtainable by the mechanochemical process and to the use of such nanoparticles.

The invention relates to a mechanochemical process to produce exfoliated nanoparticles comprising the steps of providing a solid feedstock comprising a carbonaceous and/or mineral-based material; providing a flow of an oxidizing gas; introducing the solid feedstock and the flow of an oxidizing gas into a mechanical agitation unit, subjecting the material of the solid feedstock in the presence of the oxidizing gas to a mechanical agitation operation in the mechanical agitation unit at a pressure of at least 1 atm (15 psi). The invention further relates to nanoparticles obtainable by the mechanochemical process and to the use of such nanoparticles.

Provided is a white pigment for cosmetics capable of giving a cosmetic having an excellent performance smoothly applicable onto the skin. A white pigment for cosmetics of the present invention includes a titanium phosphate powder, the titanium phosphate powder includes crystal particles of titanium phosphate, and the titanium phosphate powder has an average friction coefficient (MIU) of less than 1.45.

A nickel-based active material for a lithium secondary battery, a method of preparing the nickel-based active material, and a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode including the nickel-based active material, the nickel-based active material comprising a secondary particle having an outer portion with a radially arranged structure and an inner portion with an irregular porous structure, wherein the inner portion of the secondary particle has a larger pore size than the outer portion of the secondary particle.

An apparatus is disclosed for producing flakes, the apparatus comprising: a) a support structure for supporting each of two supply cylinders, made of a first material from which flakes are to be produced, and a fatiguing rod assembly including at least one fatiguing rod made of a second material, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders; b) a compression mechanism for urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod, and c) a drive mechanism for causing the supply cylinders to rotate while making rolling line contact with each fatiguing rod.

The contact pressure between the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod is set sufficiently high to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes of the first material from the surfaces of the supply cylinders.

A nickel-based active material precursor includes a particulate structure including a core portion, an intermediate layer portion on the core portion, and a shell portion on the intermediate layer portion, wherein the intermediate layer portion and the shell portion include primary particles radially arranged on the core portion, and each of the core portion and the intermediate layer portion includes a cation or anion different from that of the shell portion. The cation includes at least one selected from boron (B), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), tungsten (W), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zirconium (Zr), and aluminium (Al), and the anion includes at least one selected from phosphate (PO.sub.4), BO.sub.2, B.sub.4O.sub.7, B.sub.3O.sub.5, and F.

A composition suitable for coating a metallic substrate that is susceptible to corrosion is disclosed. The composition comprises a carrier medium and graphene platelets in which the graphene platelets comprise between 0.002 wt % and 0.09 wt % of the coating, and the graphene platelets comprise one of or a mixture of two or more of graphene nanoplates, bilayer graphene nanoplates, few-layer graphene nanoplates, and/or graphite flakes in which the graphite flakes have one nanoscale dimension and 25 or less layers.

The present invention relates to interference pigments based on platelet-shaped substrates which are coated with at least four high refractive layers and to the use thereof, inter alia in paints, coatings, printings inks, plastics and in particular in cosmetic formulations. The interference pigments show a moderate chroma and can be used as effect pigments, as filler pigments and as protection agent against near infrared radiation, VIS and high energy light.

According to the present invention, there are provided ferrite particles for bonded magnets and a resin composition for bonded magnets which are capable of producing a bonded magnet molded product having a good tensile elongation and exhibiting excellent magnetic properties, as well as a bonded magnet molded product such as a rotor which is obtained by using the resin composition. The present invention relates to ferrite particles for bonded magnets having a bulk density of not less than 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 and less than 0.6 g/cm.sup.3 and a degree of compaction of not less than 65%, a resin composition for bonded magnets using the ferrite particles, and a molded product obtained by using the ferrite particles and the resin composition.