Disclosed is a cordierite sintered body comprising from 90 to 98% by volume of a cordierite crystal phase as measured using x ray diffraction, SEM and image processing methods wherein the cordierite sintered body has at least one surface comprising pores having a diameter of from 0.1 to 5 um as measured using SEM and image processing methods. The cordierite sintered body has a Young's modulus of about 125 GPa or greater, and volumetric porosity of less than about 4%. Methods of making the cordierite sintered body are also disclosed.

A powder for coating or sintering exhibits a peak assigned to orthorhombic YAlO.sub.3 in an X-ray diffractometry. Of peaks exhibited in the X-ray diffractometry, the peak assigned to the (112) plane of orthorhombic YAlO.sub.3 is a peak that has the highest peak intensity. Preferably, the value of the ratio of S2 to S1, S2/S1, is less than 1 in an X-ray diffractometry using CuKα radiation, where SI represents the peak intensity of the peak assigned to the (112) plane of orthorhombic YAlO.sub.3 and S2 represents the peak intensity of the peak assigned to the (104) plane of trigonal Al.sub.2O.sub.3.

The present invention relates to novel sulfur-doped carbonaceous porous materials. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these materials and to the use of these materials in applications such as gas adsorption, mercury and gold capture, gas storage and as catalysts or catalyst supports.

A hydrogenation catalyst with a small amount of supported metal that is excellent in stability and inhibition of side reactions is provided. The catalyst hydrogenates an aromatic hydrocarbon compound into an alicyclic hydrocarbon compound, and a Group X metal represented by nickel is supported in a composite support including at least alumina and titania. The composite support preferably includes at least an alumina substrate coated with titania. It is also preferable that the Group X metal is prereduced by hydrogen. In the case that the Group X metal is nickel, the nickel content is preferably 5-35 wt % as nickel oxide in the catalyst. The substrate includes, for example, a porous structure formed by a plurality of needle-shaped or column-shaped intertwined three-dimensionally.

A phosphorus-containing or phosphorus-modified ZSM-5 molecular sieve is characterized in that in its 27Al MAS-NMR, the ratio of peak area for the resonance signal having a chemical shift of 39±3 ppm to peak area for the resonance signal having a chemical shift of 54 ppm±3 ppm is ≥1; or in its surface XPS elemental analysis, the value of n1/n2 is ≤0.1. n1 represents the mole number of phosphorus, n2 represents the total mole number of silicon and aluminum. A cracking auxiliary or cracking catalyst contains the phosphorus-containing/phosphorus-modified ZSM-5 molecular sieve can be made using the phosphorus-containing or phosphorus-modified ZSM-5 molecular sieve.

A negative electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery containing a composite (C) that contains a porous carbon (A) and a Si-containing compound (B). The porous carbon (A) satisfies V.sub.1/V.sub.0>0.80 and V.sub.2/V.sub.0<0.10. When a total pore volume at the maximum value of a relative pressure P/P.sub.0 is defined as V.sub.0 and P.sub.0 is a saturated vapor pressure, a cumulative pore volume at a relative pressure P/P.sub.0=0.1 is defined as V.sub.1, and a cumulative pore volume at a relative pressure P/P.sub.0=10.sup.−7 is defined as V.sub.2 in a nitrogen adsorption test. Further, the porous carbon (A) has a BET specific surface area of 800 m.sup.2/g or more, and the Si-containing compound (B) is contained in pores of the porous carbon (A). Also disclosed is a negative electrode sheet including the negative electrode material and a lithium-ion secondary battery including the negative electrode sheet.

A lithium ion conductor includes a compound of Formula 1:

Li.sub.7−a*α−(b−4)*β−xM.sup.αLa.sub.3Zr.sub.2−βM.sup.b.sub.βO.sub.12−x−δX.sub.xN.sub.δ  Formula 1 wherein in Formula 1, M.sup.a is a cationic element having a valence of a, M.sup.b is a cationic element having a valence of b, and X is an anion having a valence of −1, wherein, when M.sup.a comprises H, 0≤α≤5, otherwise 0≤a≤0.75, and wherein 0≤β≤1.5, 0≤x≤1.5, (a*α+(b-4)β+x)>0, and 0<δ≤6.

A membrane sorbent is described, which comprises 1-6 wt % silicon carbide nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may comprise polysulfone and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The membrane sorbent is used for separating oil from a contaminated water mixture. The silicon carbide nanoparticles of the membrane sorbent may be made from rice husk ash.

Provided is a hydrogen isotope adsorbent with differential binding properties and including mesoporous silica doped with fluorine.

Provided herein are TiO.sub.2-x nanoparticles and materials that show unusual photophysical and optical properties. These TiO.sub.2-x particles and materials can be used as efficient photocatalysts for the reduction of CO.sub.2 with H.sub.2O to produce CH.sub.4. Also provided herein are methods of making TiO.sub.2-x nanoparticles using a polymer-derived mesoporous carbon (PDMC) as a template.