The present invention relates to a ferrite particle, containing a crystal phase component containing a perovskite crystal represented by the compositional formula:

RZrO.sub.3 (provided that R represents an alkaline earth metal element), and having an apparent density in a range represented by the following formula:

1.90≤Y≤2.45

provided that Y in the formula is the apparent density (g/cm.sup.3) of the ferrite particle.

Provided is a method for producing a calcium carbonate sintered body whereby a good sintered body can be obtained without having to use any sintering aid. A method for producing a calcium carbonate sintered body includes the steps of: compacting calcium carbonate to make a green body; heating the green body under a condition of a temperature of 500° C. or lower to remove an organic component contained in the green body; and sintering the green body under conditions of a carbon dioxide atmosphere and a temperature of 450° C. or higher to obtain a calcium carbonate sintered body.

This application belongs to the field of energy storage technology, and specifically discloses a negative active material including SiO.sub.x particles and a modified polymer coating layer covering the SiO.sub.x particles, in which 0<x<2; wherein the negative active material has a peak intensity I.sub.1 at the Raman shift ranging from 280 cm.sup.−1 to 345 cm.sup.−1, a peak intensity 12 at the Raman shift ranging from 450 cm.sup.−1 to 530 cm.sup.−1, and a peak intensity 13 at the Raman shift ranging from 900 cm.sup.−1 to 960 cm.sup.−1, and I.sub.1, I.sub.2 and I.sub.3 satisfy 0.1≤I.sub.1/I.sub.2≤0.6, and 0.2≤I.sub.3/I.sub.2≤1.0. This application also discloses a method for preparing a negative active material and related secondary batteries, battery modules, battery packs and apparatus.

A process can be used for the functionalization of graphene material by mixing graphene material with at least one silane. The functionalized graphene material is useful, for example, in thermoplastics.

A powderous positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery has the general formula Li.sub.1+x[Ni.sub.1−a−b−cM.sub.aM′.sub.bM″.sub.c].sub.1−xO.sub.2−z. M is one or more elements of the group Mn, Zr and Ti. M′ is one or more elements of the group Al, B and Co. M″ is a dopant different from M and M′, and x, a, b and c are expressed in mol with −0.02≤x≤0.02, 0≤c≤0.05, 0.10≤(a+b)≤0.65 and 0≤z≤0.05. The material has an unconstrained cumulative volume particle size distribution value (Γ.sup.0(D10.sub.P=0)), a cumulative volume particle size distribution value after having been pressed at a pressure of 200 MPa (Γ.sup.P(D10.sub.P=200)) and a cumulative volume particle size distribution value after having been pressed at a pressure of 300 MPa (Γ.sup.P(D10.sub.P=300)). When Γ.sup.P(D10.sub.P=200) is compared to Γ.sup.0(D10.sub.P=0), the relative increase in value is less than 100%. When Γ.sup.P(D10.sub.P=300) is compared to Γ.sup.0(D10.sub.P=0), the relative increase in value is less than 120%.

A method is described to make a metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material that is synthesized from furan-ring containing compounds. The metals described in the process include lithium and transition metals, including transition metal oxides like lithium titanates. The non-amorphous hard-carbon component of the metal-containing non-amorphous hard-carbon composite material is characterized by a d.sub.002 peak—in the X-ray diffraction patterns—that corresponds to an interlayer spacing of >3.6 Å, along with a prominent D-band peak in the Raman spectra. These metal-containing hard-carbon composites are used for constructing electrodes for Li-ion batteries and Li-ion capacitors.

Provided is a method of preparing a metal oxide-silica composite aerogel and a metal oxide-silica composite aerogel having an excellent weight reduction property prepared by the method. The method comprises adding an acid catalyst to a first water glass solution to prepare an acidic water glass solution (step 1); adding a metal ion solution to the acidic water glass solution to prepare a precursor solution (step 2); and adding a second water glass solution to the precursor solution and performing a gelation reaction (step 3).

CNT foams and methods are provided. The methods may include forming, in a non-solvent liquid, a suspension of CNTs and particles of a pyrolytic polymer; removing the non-solvent liquid; and removing the particles of the pyrolytic polymer to produce a CNT foam having cells that at least substantially correspond to the dimensions of the particles of the pyrolytic polymer. CNT foams having porous structures also are provided.

A scintillator for positron emission tomography is provided. The scintillator includes a garnet compound of a formula of A.sub.3B.sub.2C.sub.3O.sub.12 and an activator ion consisting of cerium. A.sub.3 is A.sub.2X. X consists of at least one lanthanide element. A.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of (i), (ii), (iii), and any combination thereof, wherein (i) consists of at least one lanthanide element, (ii) consists of at least one group I element selected from the group consisting of Na and K, and (iii) consists of at least one group II element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba. B.sub.2 consists of Sn, Ti, Hf, Zr, and any combination thereof. C.sub.3 consists of Al, Ga, Li, and any combination thereof. The garnet compound is doped with the activator ion.

Provided is a laminated graphitic layer as an elastic heat spreader, the layer comprising: (A) a plurality of graphitic or graphene films prepared from (i) graphitization of a polymer film or pitch film, (ii) aggregation or bonding of graphene sheets, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), wherein the graphitic or graphene film has a thermal conductivity of at least 200 W/mK, an electrical conductivity no less than 3,000 S/cm, and a physical density from 1.5 to 2.25 g/cm.sup.3; and (B) a conducting polymer network adhesive that bonds together the graphitic or graphene films to form the laminated graphitic layer; wherein the conductive polymer network adhesive is in an amount from 0.001% to 30% by weight and wherein the laminated graphitic layer preferably has a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 1% to 50% and an in-plane thermal conductivity from 100 W/mK to 1,750 W/mK.