Nanowires useful as heterogeneous catalysts are provided. The nanowire catalysts are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C2 hydrocarbons. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

Reaction mixtures, gel compositions that are a polymerized product of the reaction mixtures, shaped gel articles that are formed within a mold cavity and that retain the size and shape of the mold cavity upon removal from the mold cavity, and sintered articles prepared from the shaped gel articles are provided. The sintered article has a shape identical to the mold cavity (except in regions where the mold cavity was overfilled) and to the shaped articles but reduced in size proportional to the amount of isotropic shrinkage. Methods of forming the sintered articles also are provided.

A solid-state electrolyte including a polymer, which can be ion-conducting or non-conducting; an ion-conducting inorganic material; a lithium salt; an additive salt and optionally a coupling agent.

An ion conductive solid that can be produced by heat treatment at low temperature and has a high ion conductivity; and the ion conductive solid comprises an oxide represented by a general formula: Li.sub.6+a-c-2dYb.sub.1-a-b-c-dM1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.dB.sub.3O.sub.9 (In the formula, M1 is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Mn, Zn, Ni, Ca, Sr, and Ba, M2 is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu, In, and Fe, M3 is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ce, Hf, Sn, and Ti, M4 is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta, and a, b, c, and d are real numbers of which each is in a specific range).

Nanowires useful as heterogeneous catalysts are provided. The nanowire catalysts are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C2 hydrocarbons. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

A powder comprising rare earth element fluoride particles having an aspect ratio of up to 2, an average particle size of 10-100 m, a bulk density of 0.8-1.5 g/cm.sup.3, and a carbon content of 0.1-0.5 wt % is amenable to atmospheric plasma spraying. An article obtained by spraying the rare earth fluoride spray powder to a substrate undergoes few partial color changes and performs well even when used in a halogen gas plasma.

A cerium oxide nanoparticle is produced by mixing a solution of an aromatic heterocyclic compound having no substituent or at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, an amino group, an aminomethyl group, a monomethylamino group, a dimethylamino group, and a cyano group and containing 2 to 8 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms in a ring structure of the aromatic heterocyclic compound, with a solution containing a cerium (III) ion or with a cerium (III) salt, followed by addition of an oxidant.

A process for obtaining rare earth (RE) oxides from a starting material including one or more RE compounds of formula REFeB is provided. The process includes the following steps: comminuting the starting material by hydrogen hydrogenation (HPMS); treating the comminuted starting material with an aqueous solution of a carboxylic acid or a mixture of multiple carboxylic acids; precipitating the RE oxides from the carboxylic acid solution by addition of a precipitant that includes an alcohol or a mixture of multiple alcohols. The RE oxides themselves and the use thereof are also provided.

A process for obtaining rare earth (RE) oxides from a starting material including one or more RE compounds of formula REFeB is provided. The process includes the following steps: comminuting the starting material by hydrogen hydrogenation (HPMS); treating the comminuted starting material with an aqueous solution of a carboxylic acid or a mixture of multiple carboxylic acids; precipitating the RE oxides from the carboxylic acid solution by addition of a precipitant that includes an alcohol or a mixture of multiple alcohols. The RE oxides themselves and the use thereof are also provided.

Dy.sub.2O.sub.3 particles of a nanoparticle scale have beneficial properties for ceramic and electronic uses. Disclosed herein are moderately dispersed Dy.sub.2O.sub.3 particles having regular morphology and lateral size ranging from about 10 nm to 1 m. The Dy.sub.2O.sub.3 particles may exhibit a narrow particle size distribution such that the difference between D.sub.10 and D.sub.90 is about 0.1 m to 1 m. Further disclosed are processes of producing these moderately dispersed Dy.sub.2O.sub.3 particles. These processes do not include grinding to obtain the particles. Also disclosed herein are uses for these Dy.sub.2O.sub.3 particles.