A process for manufacturing a compound in powder form, wherein said compound is the reaction product of (i) at least one metal and/or metalloid, and (ii) at least one further element that is more electronegative than the metal and/or metalloid, which process includes steps of: mixing at least one oxide of said at least one metal and/or metalloid with a reducing agent including Ca or Mg granules or powder, and/or calcium hydride or magnesium hydride in granule or powder form, to form a mixture; exposing the mixture to a source of said at least one further element; maintaining said mixture under a H.sub.2 atmosphere at a temperature of from 950 C. to 1500 C. for 1-10 hours; and, recovering said compound in powder form; wherein said at least one further element is selected from carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon and mixtures thereof. A compound in powder form obtainable by such a process.

A process for manufacturing a compound in powder form, wherein said compound is the reaction product of (i) at least one metal and/or metalloid, and (ii) at least one further element that is more electronegative than the metal and/or metalloid, which process includes steps of: mixing at least one oxide of said at least one metal and/or metalloid with a reducing agent including Ca or Mg granules or powder, and/or calcium hydride or magnesium hydride in granule or powder form, to form a mixture; exposing the mixture to a source of said at least one further element; maintaining said mixture under a H.sub.2 atmosphere at a temperature of from 950 C. to 1500 C. for 1-10 hours; and, recovering said compound in powder form; wherein said at least one further element is selected from carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon and mixtures thereof. A compound in powder form obtainable by such a process.

The present invention(s) is directed to novel conductive M.sub.n+1X.sub.n(T.sub.s) compositions exhibiting high volumetric capacitances, and methods of making the same. The present invention(s) is also directed to novel conductive M.sub.n+1X.sub.n(T.sub.s) compositions, methods of preparing transparent conductors using these materials, and products derived from these methods.

Tin containing precursors and methods of forming tin-containing thin films are described. The tin precursor has a tin-diazadiene bond and is homoleptic or heteroleptic. A suitable reactant is used to provide one of a metallic tin film or a film comprising one or more of an oxide, nitride, carbide, boride and/or silicide. Methods of forming ternary materials comprising tin with two or more of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, boron, silicon, titanium, ruthenium and/or tungsten are also described.

Tin containing precursors and methods of forming tin-containing thin films are described. The tin precursor has a tin-diazadiene bond and is homoleptic or heteroleptic. A suitable reactant is used to provide one of a metallic tin film or a film comprising one or more of an oxide, nitride, carbide, boride and/or silicide. Methods of forming ternary materials comprising tin with two or more of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, boron, silicon, titanium, ruthenium and/or tungsten are also described.

A hydrocarbon feed stream is exposed to heat in an absence of oxygen to the convert the hydrocarbon feed stream into a solids stream and a gas stream. The gas stream is separated into an exhaust gas stream and a first hydrogen stream. The carbon is separated from the solids stream to produce a carbon stream. Electrolysis is performed on a water stream to produce an oxygen stream and a second hydrogen stream. A solid carbon block is formed. Alumina is smelted using the solid carbon block to produce aluminum. At least a portion of the oxygen of the oxygen stream and a second portion of the carbon of the carbon stream are combined to generate power and a carbon dioxide stream. At least a portion of the aluminum and a third portion of the carbon of the carbon stream are combined and heated to produce aluminum carbide.

A hydrocarbon feed stream is exposed to heat in an absence of oxygen to the convert the hydrocarbon feed stream into a solids stream and a gas stream. The gas stream is separated into an exhaust gas stream and a first hydrogen stream. The carbon is separated from the solids stream to produce a carbon stream. Electrolysis is performed on a water stream to produce an oxygen stream and a second hydrogen stream. A solid carbon block is formed. Alumina is smelted using the solid carbon block to produce aluminum. At least a portion of the oxygen of the oxygen stream and a second portion of the carbon of the carbon stream are combined to generate power and a carbon dioxide stream. At least a portion of the aluminum and a third portion of the carbon of the carbon stream are combined and heated to produce aluminum carbide.

Processes for the production of microporous carbon material, for use in electrodes of supercapacitors and secondary batteries, in which particulate metal carbide material is fluidized with a halogen gas at a high temperature in a fluidized bed reactor, the halogen gas is desorbed at a lower temperature of 150? C. to at most 250? C. under vacuum, and then the material is passivated using hydrogen gas and then milled.

A carbide-coated carbon material including a base material containing carbon as a main component and chlorine, and a carbide layer containing a carbide as a main component and chlorine, the carbide layer being disposed on the base material. The base material has, near an interface between the base material and the carbide layer, a base material buffer region where a chlorine concentration continuously changes in a direction toward the carbide layer. The carbide layer has, near the interface between the base material and the carbide layer, a carbide layer buffer region where the chlorine concentration continuously changes in a direction toward the base material. The carbide-coated carbon material has sufficient adhesion strength in the interface between the carbide layer and the base material containing carbon as a main component.

A carbide-coated carbon material including a base material containing carbon as a main component and chlorine, and a carbide layer containing a carbide as a main component and chlorine, the carbide layer being disposed on the base material. The base material has, near an interface between the base material and the carbide layer, a base material buffer region where a chlorine concentration continuously changes in a direction toward the carbide layer. The carbide layer has, near the interface between the base material and the carbide layer, a carbide layer buffer region where the chlorine concentration continuously changes in a direction toward the base material. The carbide-coated carbon material has sufficient adhesion strength in the interface between the carbide layer and the base material containing carbon as a main component.