Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to embodiments of synthetic functionalized additives. The synthetic functionalized additive may include a layered magnesium silicate. The layered magnesium silicate may include a first functionalized silicate layer including a first tetrahedral silicate layer covalently bonded to at least two different functional groups, an octahedral brucite layer, including magnesium, and a second functionalized silicate layer including a second tetrahedral silicate layer covalently bonded to at least two different functional groups. The octahedral brucite layer may be positioned between the first functionalized silicate layer and the second functionalized silicate layer. The at least two different functional groups covalently bonded to the first tetrahedral silicate layer may be the same or different than the at least two different functional groups covalently bonded to the second tetrahedral silicate layer.

A composition comprising synthetic mineral particles, such as silicate or phyllosilicate mineral particles, is presented. The composition can be prepared by a process in which a hydrogel precursor of the synthetic mineral particles is produced by a coprecipitation reaction between at least one compound comprising silicon, such as sodium metasilicate, and at least one compound comprising at least one metal element, such as a dicarboxylate salt of the formula M(R.sub.1COO).sub.2, wherein R.sub.1 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The coprecipitation reaction also takes place in the presence of at least one carboxylate salt of formula R.sub.2COOM wherein M is Na or K, and R.sub.2 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

A composition comprising synthetic mineral particles, such as silicate or phyllosilicate mineral particles, is presented. The composition can be prepared by a process in which a hydrogel precursor of the synthetic mineral particles is produced by a coprecipitation reaction between at least one compound comprising silicon, such as sodium metasilicate, and at least one compound comprising at least one metal element, such as a dicarboxylate salt of the formula M(R.sub.1COO).sub.2, wherein R.sub.1 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The coprecipitation reaction also takes place in the presence of at least one carboxylate salt of formula R.sub.2COOM wherein M is Na or K, and R.sub.2 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

A composition may include a first talc having a morphology index less than or equal to about 0.6 and a second talc having a morphology index greater than or equal to about 0.6. The first talc and the second talc may form a talc composition, and the talc composition may have a content ratio of the first talc to the second talc ranging from about 30:70 by weight to about 80:20 by weight. A polymer composition may include a polymer matrix and a filler composition. The filler composition may include a first talc having a morphology index less than or equal to about 0.8 and a second talc having a morphology index greater than or equal to about 0.8. The filler composition may have a content ratio of the first talc to the second talc ranging from about 30:70 by weight to about 80:20 by weight. The first talc may be a microcrystalline talc. The second talc may be a macrocrystalline talc.

A composition may include a first talc having a morphology index less than or equal to about 0.6 and a second talc having a morphology index greater than or equal to about 0.6. The first talc and the second talc may form a talc composition, and the talc composition may have a content ratio of the first talc to the second talc ranging from about 30:70 by weight to about 80:20 by weight. A polymer composition may include a polymer matrix and a filler composition. The filler composition may include a first talc having a morphology index less than or equal to about 0.8 and a second talc having a morphology index greater than or equal to about 0.8. The filler composition may have a content ratio of the first talc to the second talc ranging from about 30:70 by weight to about 80:20 by weight. The first talc may be a microcrystalline talc. The second talc may be a macrocrystalline talc.

Provided is a negative electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery which includes: a silicon-silicon oxide-magnesium silicate composite comprising a silicon oxide (SiO.sub.x, 0<x?2) matrix; and silicon (Si) crystal grains, MgSiO.sub.3 crystal grains and Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4 crystal grains present in the silicon oxide matrix, wherein the MgSiO.sub.3 crystal grains have a crystal size of 5-30 nm and the Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4 crystal grains have a crystal size of 20-100 nm in the silicon-silicon oxide-magnesium silicate composite, and the content ratio of MgSiO.sub.3 crystal grains to Mg.sub.2SiO.sub.4 crystal grains is 2:1-1:1 on the weight basis. A method for preparing the negative electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery is also provided.

Provided are solid-state electrolyte structures. The solid-state electrolyte structures are ion-conducting materials. The solid-state electrolyte structures may be formed by 3-D printing using 3-D printable compositions. 3-D printable compositions may include ion-conducting materials and at least one dispersant, a binder, a plasticizer, or a solvent or any combination of one or more dispersant, binder, plasticizer, or solvent. The solid-state electrolyte structures can be used in electrochemical devices.

Provided are solid-state electrolyte structures. The solid-state electrolyte structures are ion-conducting materials. The solid-state electrolyte structures may be formed by 3-D printing using 3-D printable compositions. 3-D printable compositions may include ion-conducting materials and at least one dispersant, a binder, a plasticizer, or a solvent or any combination of one or more dispersant, binder, plasticizer, or solvent. The solid-state electrolyte structures can be used in electrochemical devices.

Disclosed is a transparent self-assembling polymer clay nanocomposite coating that is useful in food, drink and electronic packaging as a gas barrier and on textiles and clothing as a flame retardant coating. The coating includes two main components a water dispersible polymer and a sheet like nanoparticle. The coatings may be applied to any substrate. The coatings are applied sequentially with polymer being applied first followed by the nanoparticles. This sequence results in the self-assembly of a highly ordered nanocomposite film that exhibits high barrier properties and flame retardancy. The desired level of gas barrier or flame retardancy desired can be adjusted by the number of bilayers applied.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a porous silicon composite, a porous silicon-carbon composite comprising same, and an anode active material, wherein the porous silicon composite and the porous silicon-carbon composite each comprise silicon particles and a magnesium compound together and satisfy a molar ratio (O/Si) of oxygen (O) atom to silicon (Si) atom in a specific range, so that the application of the porous silicon composite and the porous silicon-carbon composite to an anode active material leads to an excellent capacity retention rate as well as a significant improvement in discharge capacity and initial efficiency.