The present invention relates, in general terms, to methods of forming activated carbon. The method of forming activated carbon comprises mixing carbon black with an activation catalyst and heating the carbon black in order to form the activated carbon. The present invention also relates to applications of activated carbon as disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, the activation catalyst is selected from ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate or a combination thereof.

Provided are processes for the production of particles for use as a precursor material for synthesis of Li-ion cathode active material of a lithium-ion cell comprising: a non-lithiated nickel oxide particle of the formula MO.sub.x wherein M comprises 80 at % Ni or greater and wherein x is 0.7 to 1.2, M optionally excluding boron in the MO.sub.x crystal structure; and a modifier oxide intermixed with, coated on, present within, or combinations thereof the non-lithiated nickel oxide particle, wherein the modifier oxide is associated with the non-lithiated nickel oxide such that a calcination at 500 degrees Celsius for 2 hours results in crystallite growth measured by XRD of 2 nanometers or less.

Methods of forming spinel ferrite nanoparticles containing a chromium-substituted copper ferrite as well as properties (e.g. particle size, crystallite size, pore size, surface area) of these spinel ferrite nanoparticles are described. Methods of preventing or reducing microbe growth on a surface by applying these spinel ferrite nanoparticles onto the surface in the form of a suspension or an antimicrobial product are also described.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a magnetic substrate including a cured magnetic ink and a cured polymer resin, wherein the cured magnetic ink includes a plurality of functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and wherein the magnetic substrate is a freestanding magnetic substrate.

Preparation of two-dimensional indium selenide, other two-dimensional materials and related compositions via surfactant-free deoxygenated co-solvent systems.

Methods of forming spinel ferrite nanoparticles containing a chromium-substituted copper ferrite as well as properties (e.g. particle size, crystallite size, pore size, surface area) of these spinel ferrite nanoparticles are described. Methods of preventing or reducing microbe growth on a surface by applying these spinel ferrite nanoparticles onto the surface in the form of a suspension or an antimicrobial product are also described.

A system for creating targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle compositions comprising a stock reaction mixture that is a fluid combination of at least one vanadium source combined with at least one dopant source. Each dopant source contains at least one target dopant element. The ratio of the number of vanadium atoms in the vanadium source to the number of target dopant element atoms in the dopant source is less than or equal to 10:1. A solvent that is compatible with said stock reaction mixture is selected. A pressure regulator increases the pressure of the solvent and the stock reaction mixture to between 0 and 5,000 psi. A heating element increases the temperature of the solvent to between 50 and 500° C. A mixing unit receives and mixes a continuous flow of stock reaction mixture with solvent to heat the stock reaction mixture and initiate formation of the targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle composition.

An imaging system includes a pixel array configured to generate image charge voltage signals in response to incident light received from an external scene. An infrared illumination source is deactivated during the capture of a first image of the external scene and activated during the capture of a second image of the external scene. An array of sample and hold circuits is coupled to the pixel array. Each sample and hold circuit is coupled to a respective pixel of the pixel array and includes first and second capacitors to store first and second image charge voltage signals of the captured first and second images, respectively. A column voltage domain differential amplifier is coupled to the first and second capacitors to determine a difference between the first and second image charge voltage signals to identify an object in a foreground of the external scene.

Filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and methods of synthesizing the same are provided. An in situ chemical vapor deposition technique can be used to synthesize CNTs filled with metal sulfide nanowires. The CNTs can be completely and continuously filled with the metal sulfide fillers up to several micrometers in length. The filled CNTs can be easily collected from the substrates used for synthesis using a simple ultrasonication method.

A negative electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery containing a composite (C) that contains a porous carbon (A) and a Si-containing compound (B). The porous carbon (A) satisfies V.sub.1/V.sub.0>0.80 and V.sub.2/V.sub.0<0.10. When a total pore volume at the maximum value of a relative pressure P/P.sub.0 is defined as V.sub.0 and P.sub.0 is a saturated vapor pressure, a cumulative pore volume at a relative pressure P/P.sub.0=0.1 is defined as V.sub.1, and a cumulative pore volume at a relative pressure P/P.sub.0=10.sup.−7 is defined as V.sub.2 in a nitrogen adsorption test. Further, the porous carbon (A) has a BET specific surface area of 800 m.sup.2/g or more, and the Si-containing compound (B) is contained in pores of the porous carbon (A). Also disclosed is a negative electrode sheet including the negative electrode material and a lithium-ion secondary battery including the negative electrode sheet.