An electrical power generator includes an M-gel layer that includes MXene and a hydrogel, first and second flexible layers that sandwich the M-gel layer so that the M-gel layer is sealed from an ambient, and a single terminal electrically connected to the M-gel layer. The M-gel layer is configured to transform acoustic energy into electrical energy.

This invention describes a method and apparatus for the capture, storage and release of carbon dioxide for use in the horticulture industry, the method including reduction of a transition metal oxide to form a transition metal and carbon dioxide; carburization or partial carburization of the transition metal to form metal carbide; carbonation of an alkaline metal oxide or alkaline earth metal oxide to form an alkaline metal carbonate or alkaline earth metal carbonate; contacting the metal carbide with air to produce a transition metal oxide and carbon dioxide; and calcining the alkaline metal carbonate or alkaline earth metal carbonate to form carbon dioxide and alkaline metal oxide or alkaline earth metal oxide. Also described is a sorbent material for use in the method and apparatus of the invention.

This invention describes a method and apparatus for the capture, storage and release of carbon dioxide for use in the horticulture industry, the method including reduction of a transition metal oxide to form a transition metal and carbon dioxide; carburization or partial carburization of the transition metal to form metal carbide; carbonation of an alkaline metal oxide or alkaline earth metal oxide to form an alkaline metal carbonate or alkaline earth metal carbonate; contacting the metal carbide with air to produce a transition metal oxide and carbon dioxide; and calcining the alkaline metal carbonate or alkaline earth metal carbonate to form carbon dioxide and alkaline metal oxide or alkaline earth metal oxide. Also described is a sorbent material for use in the method and apparatus of the invention.

Nanostructured carbide chemical compound is used to convert carbide to carbon. A method comprising: providing at least one carbide chemical compound and reducing a metal cation with use of the carbide chemical compound to form elemental carbon, wherein the carbide chemical compound is nanostructured. The nanostructured carbide chemical compound can be in the form of a nanoparticle, a nanowire, a nanotube, a nanofilm, a nanoline. The reactant can be a metal salt. Electrochemical reaction, or reaction in the melt or in solution, can be used to form the carbon. The nanostructured carbide chemical compound can be an electrode.

Nanostructured carbide chemical compound is used to convert carbide to carbon. A method comprising: providing at least one carbide chemical compound and reducing a metal cation with use of the carbide chemical compound to form elemental carbon, wherein the carbide chemical compound is nanostructured. The nanostructured carbide chemical compound can be in the form of a nanoparticle, a nanowire, a nanotube, a nanofilm, a nanoline. The reactant can be a metal salt. Electrochemical reaction, or reaction in the melt or in solution, can be used to form the carbon. The nanostructured carbide chemical compound can be an electrode.

Disclosed herein are structures comprising a titanium, zirconium, or hafnium powder particle with titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or hafnium carbide (respectively) nano-whiskers grown directly from and anchored to the powder particle. Also disclosed are methods for fabrication of such structures, involving heating the powder particles and exposing the particles to an organic gas.

Disclosed herein are structures comprising a titanium, zirconium, or hafnium powder particle with titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, or hafnium carbide (respectively) nano-whiskers grown directly from and anchored to the powder particle. Also disclosed are methods for fabrication of such structures, involving heating the powder particles and exposing the particles to an organic gas.

A manufacturing apparatus of carbide of the present disclosure includes a tank, a lid, a molten salt crucible, an electrode assembly, an air intake device and a heating device. The lid is connected to the tank to jointly delimit a compartment. The molten salt crucible is disposed in the compartment for containing a salt. The electrode assembly includes a working electrode and a counter electrode. An end of the working electrode and an end of the counter electrode both contact the salt in the molten salt crucible, and the end of the working electrode contacting the salt is for fixing a reactant tablet. The air intake device is configured to exchange the air in the compartment. The heating device is configured to heat the compartment.

A manufacturing apparatus of carbide of the present disclosure includes a tank, a lid, a molten salt crucible, an electrode assembly, an air intake device and a heating device. The lid is connected to the tank to jointly delimit a compartment. The molten salt crucible is disposed in the compartment for containing a salt. The electrode assembly includes a working electrode and a counter electrode. An end of the working electrode and an end of the counter electrode both contact the salt in the molten salt crucible, and the end of the working electrode contacting the salt is for fixing a reactant tablet. The air intake device is configured to exchange the air in the compartment. The heating device is configured to heat the compartment.

A manufacturing method of a carbide includes steps as follows. A carbon source is provided, a contacting step, a heating step and an electrochemical step are performed. The carbon source includes an amorphous carbon and a compound. The compound is a chalcogen compound, a pnictide compound, a halide, a hydroxide or a salt of a metal or a metalloid. In the contacting step, the carbon source is disposed in an alkaline earth metal halide to form a reactant. In the heating step, the reactant is heated to form a heated reactant. In the electrochemical step, a current is applied to the heated reactant, wherein the current passes through the carbon source, so as to make the alkaline earth metal halide, the amorphous carbon and the compound react with one another to form a carbide of the metal or the metalloid.