A method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid has excellent dispersibility and dispersion stability. In this method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid having improved fine particle dispersibility, impurities included in an agglomeration of fine particles contained in the fine particle dispersion liquid are released into the dispersion liquid by applying physical energy to the agglomeration and performing dispersion processing for dispersion into particles that are smaller than the agglomeration of fine particles. The impurities are removed from the dispersion liquid by means of a removal unit provided with a filtration membrane before reagglomeration is caused by the impurities.

A method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid has excellent dispersibility and dispersion stability. In this method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid having improved fine particle dispersibility, impurities included in an agglomeration of fine particles contained in the fine particle dispersion liquid are released into the dispersion liquid by applying physical energy to the agglomeration and performing dispersion processing for dispersion into particles that are smaller than the agglomeration of fine particles. The impurities are removed from the dispersion liquid by means of a removal unit provided with a filtration membrane before reagglomeration is caused by the impurities.

A metal bronze compound is provided. The metal bronze compound is a compound represented by formula (1) below. In formula (1), “A” represents at least one type of cation. “M” represents at least two types of ions selected from a transition metal and a metalloid. “x” represents the sum of the number of the at least one type of cation used as “A”. “y” represents the sum of the number of the at least two types of ions selected from the transition metal and the metalloid used as “M”. “z” represents the number of oxygen ion. The values of “x”, “y” and “z” balance the charge number of formula (1).
A.sub.xM.sub.yO.sub.z  (1)

A continuous flow reactor for the efficient synthesis of nanoparticles with a high degree of crystallinity, uniform particle size, and homogenous stoichiometry throughout the crystal is described. Disclosed embodiments include a flow reactor with an energy source for rapid nucleation of the .[.procurors following.]. .Iadd.precursors to form nucleates followed .Iaddend.by a separate heating source for growing the nucleates. Segmented flow may be provided to facilitate mixing and uniform energy absorption of the precursors, and post production quality testing in communication with a control system allow automatic real-time adjustment of the production parameters. The nucleation energy source can be monomodal, multimodal, or multivariable frequency microwave energy and tuned to allow different precursors to nucleate at substantially the same time thereby resulting in a substantially homogenous nanoparticle. A shell application system may also be provided to allow one or more shell layers to be formed onto each nanoparticle.

A method of making highly an active mixed transition metal oxide material has been developed. The method may include sulfiding the metal oxide material to generate metal sulfides which are used as catalyst in a conversion process such as hydroprocessing. The hydroprocessing may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.

A silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating is disclosed in which color characteristics, particularly reflectivity are controlled, and a method of producing a composition for coating is disclosed which is used by blending the composition for coating to a paint constituting a coated body in which weather resistance is required. The silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating in which weather resistance is required includes silicon oxide-coated oxide particles wherein at least a part of the surface of the oxide particles is coated with silicon oxide, wherein the silicon oxide is amorphous for the purpose of controlling color characteristics of the silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating. The method of producing the composition for coating, wherein color characteristics of the oxide particles are controlled, includes producing the oxide particles by selecting presence or absence of amorphous silicon oxide covering at least a part of the surface of the oxide particles, and presence or absence of an acetyl group as a functional group contained in the silicon oxide-coated oxide particles.

A silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating is disclosed in which color characteristics, particularly reflectivity are controlled, and a method of producing a composition for coating is disclosed which is used by blending the composition for coating to a paint constituting a coated body in which weather resistance is required. The silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating in which weather resistance is required includes silicon oxide-coated oxide particles wherein at least a part of the surface of the oxide particles is coated with silicon oxide, wherein the silicon oxide is amorphous for the purpose of controlling color characteristics of the silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating. The method of producing the composition for coating, wherein color characteristics of the oxide particles are controlled, includes producing the oxide particles by selecting presence or absence of amorphous silicon oxide covering at least a part of the surface of the oxide particles, and presence or absence of an acetyl group as a functional group contained in the silicon oxide-coated oxide particles.

The present invention states a method of producing new cathode materials for lithium ion batteries by recycling metals from depleted lithium-ion batteries using green reagents, and a method of deriving green reagents from agricultural products. The green reagents are used to replace corrosive acids that are used in the recycling process of depleted lithium-ion batteries. Metal ions, such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium are recovered as precipitates from the depleted lithium-ion batteries which can further be sintered to produce lithium-containing transition metal oxides that can be used as new cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.

A multi-channel direct-deposit assembly method is disclosed to high-throughput synthesize three-dimensional macroporous/mesoporous (3DMM) material array with precisely controlled composition, pore size, and pore structure. The macropore size of the synthesized 3DMM material is in the range of 50-1000 nm; the mesopore size of the synthesized 3DMM material is in the range of 1-50 nm. The surface area of the 3DMM material is in the range of 20-1000 m.sup.2/g. The 3DMM material array can be used for rapid synthesis, screening and manufacture of catalysts and nanosensors.

A production method for metal oxide particles includes: obtaining precursor particles of a metal oxide by performing a synthesis reaction of the precursor particles in the presence of an organic compound; and converting the obtained precursor particles into metal oxide particles by heating an aqueous solution containing the precursor particles to 300 C. or higher and pressurizing the aqueous solution at a pressure of 20 MPa or higher.