Provided is a copper powder which can be suitably utilized in applications such as an electrically conductive paste and an electromagnetic wave shield. A copper powder according to the present invention has a dendritic shape having a linearly grown main stem and a plurality of branches separated from the main stem, the main stem and the branches are constituted as flat plate-shaped copper particles having a cross-sectional average thickness of from 0.02 m to 5.0 m to be determined by scanning electron microscopic SEM observation gather, the average particle diameter D50 of the copper powder is from 1.0 m to 100 m, and the maximum height in the vertical direction with respect to the flat plate-shaped surface of the copper particles is 1/10 or less with respect to the maximum length in the horizontal direction of the flat plate-shaped surface of the copper particles.

The present invention is directed to composite nanoparticles comprising a metal, a rare earth element, and, optionally, a complexing ligand. The invention is also directed to composite nanoparticles having a core-shell structure and to processes for preparation of composite nanoparticles of the invention.

The present invention is directed to composite nanoparticles comprising a metal, a rare earth element, and, optionally, a complexing ligand. The invention is also directed to composite nanoparticles having a core-shell structure and to processes for preparation of composite nanoparticles of the invention.

Provided is a silver-coated copper powder that has a dendritic shape, that ensures excellent conductivity as a result of having an increased number of points of contact when silver-coated dendritic copper particles are in contact, prevents aggregation, and that can be suitably used in a conductive paste, and an electromagnetic wave shield. The silver-coated copper powder comprises amassed dendritic copper particles having a linearly grown main trunk and a plurality of branches branching from the main trunk. The surface of the copper particles is coated with silver. The main trunk and the branches of the copper particles have a flat plate shape in which the average cross-sectional thickness is more than 1.0 m but no more than 5.0 m. The silver-coated copper powder has a flat plate shape configured from a layered structure of one layer or a plurality of stacked layers. The average particle size (D50) is 1.0-100 m.

Lead from lead acid battery scrap is recovered in two separate production streams as clean grid lead and as high-purity lead without smelting. In preferred aspects, lead recovery is performed in a continuous process that uses an aqueous electroprocessing solvent and electro-refining, and spent electroprocessing solvent can be recycled to the recovery process.

Lead from lead acid battery scrap is recovered in two separate production streams as clean grid lead and as high-purity lead without smelting. In preferred aspects, lead recovery is performed in a continuous process that uses an aqueous electroprocessing solvent and electro-refining, and spent electroprocessing solvent can be recycled to the recovery process.

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma apparatus for synthesizing metal particles is provided. The DBD plasma apparatus includes an electrolyte vessel for receiving an electrolyte solution comprising metal ions; an electrode spaced-apart from the electrolyte vessel; a dielectric barrier interposed between the electrolyte vessel and the electrode such that, when the electrolyte solution is present in the electrolyte vessel, the dielectric barrier and an upper surface of the electrolyte solution are spaced-apart from each other and define a discharge area therebetween; and gas inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the discharge area such that supplying gas in the discharge area while applying an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the electrolyte solution cause a plasma to be produced onto the electrolyte solution, the plasma interacting with the metal ions and synthesizing metal particles. A method for synthesizing metal particles using a DBD plasma apparatus is also provided.

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma apparatus for synthesizing metal particles is provided. The DBD plasma apparatus includes an electrolyte vessel for receiving an electrolyte solution comprising metal ions; an electrode spaced-apart from the electrolyte vessel; a dielectric barrier interposed between the electrolyte vessel and the electrode such that, when the electrolyte solution is present in the electrolyte vessel, the dielectric barrier and an upper surface of the electrolyte solution are spaced-apart from each other and define a discharge area therebetween; and gas inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the discharge area such that supplying gas in the discharge area while applying an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the electrolyte solution cause a plasma to be produced onto the electrolyte solution, the plasma interacting with the metal ions and synthesizing metal particles. A method for synthesizing metal particles using a DBD plasma apparatus is also provided.

Provided is a copper powder that has an increased number of points of contact between copper powder particles, that ensures excellent conductivity, and that can be suitably used in a conductive paste, an electromagnetic wave shield, or the like. The copper powder is configured from flat plate-shaped copper particles that form a dendritic shape having a linearly grown main trunk and a plurality of branches branching from the main trunk. The main trunk and the branches have an average cross-sectional thickness of more than 1.0 m but no more than 5.0 m. The copper powder has a flat plate shape that is configured from a layered structure of one layer or a plurality of stacked layers. The average particle size (D50) is 1.0-100 m.

This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. The continuous process causes at least one liquid to flow into, through and out of at least one trough member, such liquid being processed, conditioned and/or effected in said trough member(s). Results include constituents formed in the liquid including micron-sized particles and/or nanoparticles (e.g., metallic-based nanoparticles) of novel size, shape, composition and properties present in a liquid.