A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

A method for preparing porous inorganic particles is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion comprising an inorganic precursor and a polar solvent; (b) adding an organic solvent to the emulsion of step (a) to swell emulsion particles; (c) mixing the swollen emulsion of step (b) with polymer particles having a positive charge on the surface thereof; (d) adding a surfactant to the mixture of step (c) and removing the organic solvent; (e) adding an initiator to the result of step (d) to polymerize the same; and (f) firing the result of step (e) to remove the polymer particles so as to form macropores.

A method for preparing porous inorganic particles is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion comprising an inorganic precursor and a polar solvent; (b) adding an organic solvent to the emulsion of step (a) to swell emulsion particles; (c) mixing the swollen emulsion of step (b) with polymer particles having a positive charge on the surface thereof; (d) adding a surfactant to the mixture of step (c) and removing the organic solvent; (e) adding an initiator to the result of step (d) to polymerize the same; and (f) firing the result of step (e) to remove the polymer particles so as to form macropores.

A battery cell having an anode or cathode comprising an acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) material, preferably in monodisperse nanoparticulate form 20 nm or less in size, having a pH<7 when suspended in a 5 wt % aqueous solution and a Hammett function H.sub.0>−12, at least on its surface.

A battery cell having an anode or cathode comprising an acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) material, preferably in monodisperse nanoparticulate form 20 nm or less in size, having a pH<7 when suspended in a 5 wt % aqueous solution and a Hammett function H.sub.0>−12, at least on its surface.

Provided is a titanium dioxide paste that can form a porous semiconductor layer having excellent close adherence with a conductive substrate. The titanium dioxide paste contains titanium dioxide nanoparticles and water, and has a pH of not lower than 2.6 and not higher than 3.5.

Provided is a titanium dioxide paste that can form a porous semiconductor layer having excellent close adherence with a conductive substrate. The titanium dioxide paste contains titanium dioxide nanoparticles and water, and has a pH of not lower than 2.6 and not higher than 3.5.

A method for reacting a reaction object with a liquid containing the reaction object in contact with a granular porous body. The upper limit D (mm) of the particle diameter of the granular porous body is determined from D=0.556×LN (T)+0.166 in a column flow method in non-circulation type, and determined from D=0.0315×T+0.470 in the column flow method in a circulation type and a shaking method. The granular porous body includes a skeleton body including an inorganic compound having a three-dimensional continuous network structure, and has a two-step hierarchical porous structure including through-holes formed in voids in the skeleton body, and pores extending from a surface to an inside of the skeleton body and dispersed on the surface. A functional group having affinity with the metal ion is chemically modified on a surface of the granular porous body.

A method for reacting a reaction object with a liquid containing the reaction object in contact with a granular porous body. The upper limit D (mm) of the particle diameter of the granular porous body is determined from D=0.556×LN (T)+0.166 in a column flow method in non-circulation type, and determined from D=0.0315×T+0.470 in the column flow method in a circulation type and a shaking method. The granular porous body includes a skeleton body including an inorganic compound having a three-dimensional continuous network structure, and has a two-step hierarchical porous structure including through-holes formed in voids in the skeleton body, and pores extending from a surface to an inside of the skeleton body and dispersed on the surface. A functional group having affinity with the metal ion is chemically modified on a surface of the granular porous body.