Methods are disclosed for dispersing nanoparticles in solvents, involving the use of a cationic species and an anionic species, where at least one of the ionic species is soluble in the nonpolar solvent and the other ionic species has a relatively strong affinity for the surface of the nanoparticles. The cationic species and the anionic species together form a cluster of ion pairs shielding the nanoparticles and enhancing their dispersibility in the nonpolar solvent.

Ultrafast flash Joule heating synthesis methods and systems, and more particularly, ultrafast synthesis methods to recover precious metals recovery and other metals from electronic waste (e-waste).

An additive manufacturing method of producing a metal alloy article may involve: Providing a supply of a metal alloy in powder form; providing a supply of a nucleant material, the nucleant material lowering the nucleation energy required to crystallize the metal alloy; blending the supply of metal alloy powder and nucleant material to form a blended mixture; forming the blended mixture into a first layer; subjecting at least a portion of the first layer to energy sufficient to raise the temperature of the first layer to at least the liquidus temperature of the metal alloy; allowing at least a portion of the first layer to cool to a temperature sufficient to allow the metal alloy to recrystallize; forming a second layer of the blended mixture on the first layer; and repeating the subjecting and allowing steps on the second layer to form an additional portion of the metal alloy article.

An additive manufacturing method of producing a metal alloy article may involve: Providing a supply of a metal alloy in powder form; providing a supply of a nucleant material, the nucleant material lowering the nucleation energy required to crystallize the metal alloy; blending the supply of metal alloy powder and nucleant material to form a blended mixture; forming the blended mixture into a first layer; subjecting at least a portion of the first layer to energy sufficient to raise the temperature of the first layer to at least the liquidus temperature of the metal alloy; allowing at least a portion of the first layer to cool to a temperature sufficient to allow the metal alloy to recrystallize; forming a second layer of the blended mixture on the first layer; and repeating the subjecting and allowing steps on the second layer to form an additional portion of the metal alloy article.

A method of producing hydrogen gas is provided. The method can include the steps of providing a reaction vessel containing aluminum, delivering a stream of natural gas to the reaction vessel, in which the natural gas includes methane, and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas and aluminum carbide. The method can include delivering steam to the reaction vessel and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane, steam, and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas, aluminum carbide, and aluminum oxycarbide.

A method of producing hydrogen gas is provided. The method can include the steps of providing a reaction vessel containing aluminum, delivering a stream of natural gas to the reaction vessel, in which the natural gas includes methane, and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas and aluminum carbide. The method can include delivering steam to the reaction vessel and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane, steam, and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas, aluminum carbide, and aluminum oxycarbide.

An iron-carbon composite material and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The iron-carbon composite material includes a three-layer core-shell structure, which successively includes a porous graphite carbon outer layer, an iron carbide intermediate layer and a nano zero-valent iron core from outside to inside. The present invention wraps nano zero-valent iron in porous graphite carbon and iron carbide, which can prevent the oxidation of nano zero-valent iron, while iron carbide effectively improves the ability to fix arsenic, realizing high efficiency and long-term use of nano zero-valent iron. Iron carbide may effectively adsorb and fix arsenic, and especially efficiently oxidize As(III) to relatively low-toxic As(V).

An iron-carbon composite material and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The iron-carbon composite material includes a three-layer core-shell structure, which successively includes a porous graphite carbon outer layer, an iron carbide intermediate layer and a nano zero-valent iron core from outside to inside. The present invention wraps nano zero-valent iron in porous graphite carbon and iron carbide, which can prevent the oxidation of nano zero-valent iron, while iron carbide effectively improves the ability to fix arsenic, realizing high efficiency and long-term use of nano zero-valent iron. Iron carbide may effectively adsorb and fix arsenic, and especially efficiently oxidize As(III) to relatively low-toxic As(V).

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.