Conducting metal oxide and nitride nanoparticles that can be used in fuel cell applications. The metal oxide nanoparticles are comprised of for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten and combinations thereof. The metal nitride nanoparticles are comprised of, for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, and combinations thereof. The nanoparticles can be sintered to provide conducting porous agglomerates of the nanoparticles which can be used as a catalyst support in fuel cell applications. Further, platinum nanoparticles, for example, can be deposited on the agglomerates to provide a material that can be used as both an anode and a cathode catalyst support in a fuel cell.

Conducting metal oxide and nitride nanoparticles that can be used in fuel cell applications. The metal oxide nanoparticles are comprised of for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten and combinations thereof. The metal nitride nanoparticles are comprised of, for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, and combinations thereof. The nanoparticles can be sintered to provide conducting porous agglomerates of the nanoparticles which can be used as a catalyst support in fuel cell applications. Further, platinum nanoparticles, for example, can be deposited on the agglomerates to provide a material that can be used as both an anode and a cathode catalyst support in a fuel cell.

A battery 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 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 method and apparatus for generating nano particles, including but not limited to nano particles of Ceo, at high concentration. The invention uses a solid aerosol disperser in communication with a furnace tube having a vaporization chamber and a dilution chamber. A heating element surrounds the furnace tube. Heat from the heating element heats bulk materials contained within a gas flow in the vaporization chamber to a temperature sufficient to convert the bulk materials to a vapor phase. Vaporized bulk materials are then moved to a dilution chamber, where an inert gas is introduced through a dilution gas port. The flow of the inert gas into the dilution chamber through the dilution gas port is sufficient to eject the bulk material from the exit of the dilution chamber, thereby condensing the bulk material into nano sized particles in a gas flow of sufficient volume to prevent agglomeration of the nano sized particles.

A method and apparatus for generating nano particles, including but not limited to nano particles of Ceo, at high concentration. The invention uses a solid aerosol disperser in communication with a furnace tube having a vaporization chamber and a dilution chamber. A heating element surrounds the furnace tube. Heat from the heating element heats bulk materials contained within a gas flow in the vaporization chamber to a temperature sufficient to convert the bulk materials to a vapor phase. Vaporized bulk materials are then moved to a dilution chamber, where an inert gas is introduced through a dilution gas port. The flow of the inert gas into the dilution chamber through the dilution gas port is sufficient to eject the bulk material from the exit of the dilution chamber, thereby condensing the bulk material into nano sized particles in a gas flow of sufficient volume to prevent agglomeration of the nano sized particles.

Ion conductive organic-inorganic composite particles are particles that have an organic group on the surface of inorganic particles and have at least a configuration that does not allow the inorganic particles to contact with each other by steric hindrance of the organic group, the organic group containing an ion conductive group.

Ion conductive organic-inorganic composite particles are particles that have an organic group on the surface of inorganic particles and have at least a configuration that does not allow the inorganic particles to contact with each other by steric hindrance of the organic group, the organic group containing an ion conductive group.

Provided herein are TiO.sub.2-x nanoparticles and materials that show unusual photophysical and optical properties. These TiO.sub.2-x particles and materials can be used as efficient photocatalysts for the reduction of CO.sub.2 with H.sub.2O to produce CH.sub.4. Also provided herein are methods of making TiO.sub.2-x nanoparticles using a polymer-derived mesoporous carbon (PDMC) as a template.

Photocatalytic roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with photocatalytic particles dispersed in the binder.