A phosphor contains a crystal phase having a chemical composition Ce.sub.xM.sub.3-x-y.sub.6.sub.11-z. M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. contains Si in an amount of 50 mol % or more of a total mol of . contains N in an amount of 80 mol % or more N of a total mol of . x satisfies 0<x0.6. y satisfies 0y1.0. z satisfies 0z1.0. The phosphor shows a maximum peak of an emission spectrum in a wavelength range of 600 nm or more and 800 nm or less and a first peak of an excitation spectrum in a wavelength range of 500 nm or more and 600 nm or less.

Proposed is a novel lithium metal composite oxide having a layered structure, which is capable of improving the cycle characteristics in the case of using as a positive electrode active material for a battery. Proposed is a lithium metal composite oxide having a layered structure, which is represented by Li.sub.1+xNi.sub.1x---Mn.sub.Co.sub.M.sub.O.sub.2 (wherein 0x0.1, 0.010.35, 0.010.35, 00.05, and M comprises at least one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ti, Fe, Zr, W, Y, and Nb), wherein the amount of residual Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 present in secondary particles is 0.03 to 0.3 wt %.

Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have a general formula defined by [M.sub.1-xAl.sub.x(OH).sub.2](A).sub.x.mH.sub.2O, where x is from 0.14 to 0.33, m is from 0.33 to 0.50, M is chosen from Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn, and A is adamantane carboxylate. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles further have an aspect ratio greater than 100. The aspect ratio is defined by the width of an adamantane-intercalated LDH particle divided by the thickness of the adamantane-intercalated LDH particle.

A method for preparing a suspension of LDH particles comprising the steps of: preparing LDH precipitates by coprecipitation to form a mixture of LDH precipitates and solution; separating the LDH precipitates from the solution; washing the LDH precipitates to remove residual ions; mixing the LDH precipitates with water; and subjecting the mixture of LDH particles and water to a hydrothermal treatment step by heating to a temperature of from greater than 80 C. to 150 C. for a period of about 1 hour to about 144 hours to form a well dispersed suspension of LDH particles in water, wherein said LDH particles in suspension comprise platelets having a maximum particle dimension of up to 400 nm.

The present invention concerns Y-type FAU zeolites with hierarchical porosity having an Si/Al atomic ratio strictly greater than 1.4 and less than or equal to 6, having controlled and optimised crystallinity, and having mesoporosity such that the mesoporous outer surface area is between 40 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.1 and 400 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.1. The present invention also concerns the method for preparing said Y-type FAU zeolites with hierarchical porosity.

Exemplary layered double hydroxides (LDHs) may comprise a compound of formula Mg.sub.4-yAlX.sub.y(OH).sub.2, wherein X is Mn.sup.+2, Cu.sup.+2, Zn.sup.+2, or Fe.sup.+2, and 0.01?y?1. Exemplary layered double hydroxide hydrogels (LDH-gels) may comprise a hydrogel and at least one LDH. Exemplary hydrogels may comprise polyethylene (glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) or polyacrylamide (PAAm). Exemplary LDH-gels may comprise at least one LDH comprising a compound of formula Mg.sub.4-yAlX.sub.y(OH).sub.2, wherein X is Mn.sup.+2, Cu.sup.+2, Zn.sup.+2, or Fe.sup.+2, and 0.01?y?1.

There is disclosed an electrode material for cells. The electrode material includes carbon, and a crystalline material composed of a layered double hydroxide and/or a cation-deficit metal oxide having a rock-salt structure. Carbon is complexed with the cation-deficit metal oxide and/or the layered double hydroxide.

The present invention relates to a process for modifying a layered double hydroxide (LDH), the process comprising, a. providing a water-wet layered double hydroxide of formula:

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x].sup.a+(X.sup.n).sub.a/r.bH.sub.2O (1) wherein M and M are metal cations, z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, x is 0.1 to 1, preferably x<1, more preferably x=0.1-0.9, b is greater than 0 to 10, X is an anion, r is 1 to 3, n is the charge on the anion X and a is determined by x, y and z, preferably a=z(1-x)+xy-2; b. maintaining the layered double hydroxide water-wet, and c. contacting the water-wet layered double hydroxide with at least one solvent, the solvent being miscible with water and preferably having a solvent polarity (P) in the range 3.8 to 9,
as well as to a layered double hydroxide prepared according to that process.

Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The method comprises adding to an aqueous solution a first precursor and a second precursor to form an initial mixture, where the first precursor is Al(OH).sub.3 or Al.sub.2O.sub.3, the second precursor is a hydroxide M(OH).sub.2 or an oxide MO, where M is a metal of oxidation state +2; and the initial mixture has a M/Al molar ratio of from 1 to 5. The method also comprises adding to the initial mixture an amount of adamantane to form a reaction mixture having an Al/adamantane molar ratio of from 0.5 to 2; and heating the reaction mixture to produce adamantane-intercalated LDH particles, where the adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have aspect ratios greater than 100.

Methods for preparing a layered metal nanocomposite and a layered metal nanocomposite. The method includes mixing a magnesium salt and a aluminum salt to form a Mg.sup.2+/Al.sup.3+ solution. The Mg/Al has a molar ratio of between 0.5:1 to 6:1. Then a diamondoid compound is added to the Mg.sup.2+/Al.sup.3+ solution to form a reactant mixture. The diamondoid compound has at least one carboxylic acid moiety. The reactant mixture is heated at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form a Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide. The Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide is thermally decomposed under a reducing atmosphere for a decomposition time at a decomposition temperature to form the layered metal nanocomposite.