An electrochromic device comprising a substrate, a set of electrodes disposed on or within the substrate, and a layer comprising ε-WO.sub.3 disposed in electrical communication with the set of electrodes, wherein the layer of ε-WO.sub.3 exhibits polarization switching are described. Methods of making and using the electrochromic devices are also described. The electrochromic devices are used for detecting acetone in a fluid. The observed change in color of the ε-WO.sub.3 layer can be correlated with a subject's medical condition, such as diabetes.

A core shell quantum dot including a core including a first semiconductor nanocrystal and including zinc, tellurium, and selenium and a semiconductor nanocrystal shell disposed on the core and including a zinc chalcogenide, a method of manufacture thereof, and a device including the same are disclosed, wherein the core shell quantum dot does not include cadmium, lead, mercury, or a combination thereof, wherein in an X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the quantum dot, a peak area for Te oxide to a peak area for Te3d.sub.5/2 as an area percentage is less than or equal to about 25%.

A quantum dot according to an embodiment includes a core including a first semiconductor nanocrystal including zinc, selenium, and tellurium and a semiconductor nanocrystal shell on the core, the semiconductor nanocrystal shell including a zinc chalcogenide, wherein the quantum dot does not include cadmium, the zinc chalcogenide includes zinc and selenium, the quantum dot further includes gallium and a primary amine having 5 or more carbon atoms, and the quantum dot is configured to emit light having a maximum emission peak in a range of greater than about 450 nanometers (nm) and less than or equal to about 480 nm by excitation light. A method of producing the quantum dot and an electronic device including the same are also disclosed.

A black material of the present invention consists of a zirconium nitride powder containing yttrium. The amount of the yttrium is 1.0% by mass to 12.0% by mass with respect to a total 100% by mass of the zirconium nitride powder and the yttrium. In a transmission spectrum obtained from a dispersion in which the concentration of the zirconium nitride powder containing yttrium is 50 ppm, assuming that the light transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm is denoted by X.sub.1, and the light transmittance at a wavelength of 365 nm is denoted by X.sub.2, X.sub.1 is 7.5% or less, X.sub.2 is 25% or more, and X.sub.2/X.sub.1 is 3.5 or more.

A seed layer for inducing nucleation to form a layer of material is described. In an embodiment, the seed layer comprising a layer of two-dimensional monolayer amorphous material having a disordered atomic structure adapted to create localised electronic states to form electric potential wells for bonding adatoms to a surface of the seed layer via van der Waals interaction to form the layer of material, wherein each of the electric potential wells has a potential energy larger in magnitude than surrounding thermal energy to capture adatoms on the surface of the seed layer. Embodiments in relation to a method for forming the seed layer, a heterostructure comprising the seed layer, a method for forming the heterostructure comprising the seed layer, a device comprising the heterostructure and a method of enhancing vdW interaction between adatoms and a surface of the seed layer are also described.

Provided is a white pigment for cosmetics capable of giving a cosmetic that gives a coating film having less stickiness and higher long-lasting properties. 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 a ratio (oil absorption value/specific surface area) of an oil absorption value (ml/100 g) to a specific surface area (m.sup.2/g) of the crystal particles is 2.0 or more.

The invention pertains to the use of porous, chemically interconnected, isotropic carbon-nanofibre-comprising carbon networks for electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI). The invention also relates to a A composite assembly comprising a thermoplastic, elastomeric and/or thermoset polymer matrix and at least 15 wt%, preferably at least 20 wt%, more preferably 20 - 80 wt% of porous, chemically interconnected, crystalline carbon-nanofibres comprising carbon networks based on the total assembly weight.

A method for producing a fluoride fluorescent material comprises: preparing fluoride particles having a composition containing at least one element or ion A selected from the group consisting of alkaline metal elements and NH.sub.4.sup.+, at least one element M selected from the group consisting of Group-4 elements and Group-14 elements, Mn.sup.4+, and F, in which a molar ratio of A in 1 mol of the composition is 2, a total molar ratio of M and Mn.sup.4+ is 1, a molar ratio of Mn.sup.4+ is in a range of more than 0 and less than 0.2, and a molar ratio of F is 6; subjecting the fluoride particles to a first heat treatment at a temperature of 500° C. or more in an inert gas atmosphere; washing the first heat-treated fluoride particles with a washing liquid; and bringing the washed fluoride particles into contact with a fluorine-containing substance and subjecting the resulting fluoride particles to a second heat treatment at a temperature of 400° C. or more.

A method is disclosed for producing flakes of a first material, the method comprising: a) supporting two supply cylinders of the first material and a fatiguing rod assembly, that includes at least one textured fatiguing rod, so that each fatiguing rod is sandwiched between the two cylinders, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders and being made of a second harder material; b) urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod; and c) causing the supply cylinders and the fatiguing rod(s) to rotate while making rolling line contact with one another; wherein the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod are urged against one another with sufficiently high contact pressure to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes from the surfaces of the cylinders.

Compositions and methods for determining the origin location of a subterranean sample are provided. Compositions include a polymer-clay composite tag. The tag includes a nanoclay including a plurality of layers, and a polymer intercalated between the layers of the nanoclay. The polymer is functionalized with a fluorescent dye. A method to determine the origin location of a subterranean sample includes mixing a barcoded polymer-clay composite tag into a fluid, flowing the fluid through a work string into a subterranean formation, recovering subterranean samples from the subterranean formation, and determining the origin location of the subterranean sample by detecting the presence of the barcoded polymer-clay composite tag.