The present disclosure relates to a novel sp.sup.2-sp.sup.3 hybrid crystalline boron nitride and its preparation process. A novel sp.sup.2-sp.sup.3 hybrid crystalline boron nitride allotrope, named Gradia BN, is synthesized using sp.sup.2 or sp.sup.3 hybridized boron nitride as raw materials under high-temperature and high-pressure. The basic structural units of Gradia BN are composed of sp.sup.2 hybridized graphite-like structural units and sp.sup.3 hybridized diamond-like structural units. Gradia BN disclosed in the present disclosure is a class of new sp.sup.2-sp.sup.3 hybrid boron nitride allotrope, whose crystal structure can vary with the widths and/or crystallographic orientation relationships of internal sp.sup.2 and/or sp.sup.3 structural units, and may have variable physical properties.

A cathode active material precursor for a lithium secondary battery is provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The cathode active material precursor for a lithium secondary battery includes a core including a first transition metal composite hydroxide, and a shell which is formed on the core and includes a second transition metal composite hydroxide in which the first transition metal composite hydroxide is doped with a doping metal including at least one of Group 4 to Group 12 metals, wherein the cathode active material precursor has a particle size distribution degree of 0.8 to 1.6 defined by Equation 1. Thereby, it is possible to suppress capacity degradation of the secondary battery due to doping while improving the structural stability of the cathode active material precursor.

A method of making Cu—Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4 nanoparticles is provided. The method includes forming a mixture of at least one silver salt, at least one phosphate salt, and at least one copper (II) salt. The method further includes dissolving the mixture in water. The method further includes sonicating the mixture. The method further includes precipitating the Cu—Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4 nanoparticles or “nanoparticles”. The copper is present in the nanoparticles in an amount of 2 to 23 weight percent (wt.%) based on the total weight of the Cu—Ag.sub.3PO.sub.4. The nanoparticles of the present disclosure find application in treating cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer. The nanoparticles may also be used in photodegrading environmental pollutants.

A method of fabricating polyacrylonitrile (PACN) nanostructured carbon superstructure shapes is provided that includes forming a PACN polymer superstructure shape by using as a monomer, an initiator, and a solvent or incorporation of a different co-monomer for free radical polymerization, and converting the PACN polymer superstructure shape to a nanostructured carbon superstructure analogue using stabilization and carbonization of the PACN polymer superstructure shape, where the stabilization includes heating the PACN polymer superstructure shape to a temperature that is adequate to form a stabilization reaction, where the carbonization includes using a heat treatment.

The present disclosure relates to methods for producing hydrogen and calcium- or magnesium-bearing carbonates by capturing, converting, and storing carbon dioxide. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds; providing one or more water-soluble oxygenates; providing a plurality of catalysts; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds and one or more water-soluble oxygenates with plurality of catalysts under conditions to produce hydrogen and calcium- or magnesium-bearing carbonates. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing silicates; providing carbon monoxide; providing water vapor; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing silicates, carbon monoxide, and water vapor. The methods may include providing one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds; providing one or more water-soluble oxygenates; providing a catalyst; and reacting one or more calcium- or magnesium-bearing compounds and one or more water-soluble oxygenates with said catalyst.

Particulate electrode active material with an average particle diameter in the range of from 2 to 20 μm (D50) having a general formula Li.sub.1+xTM.sub.1−xO.sub.2 wherein TM is a combination of Ni, Co and Al, and, optionally, at least one more metal selected from Mg, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Mo, Mn, and W, with at least 80 mole-% of TM being Ni, and wherein x is in the range of from zero to 0.2, wherein the Co content at the outer surface of the secondary particles is higher than at the center of the secondary particles by a factor of at most 5 or by at most 30 mol-%, referring to TM.

Disclosed herein are graphene coatings characterized by a porous, three-dimensional, spherical structure having a hollow core, along with methods for forming such graphene coatings on glasses, glass-ceramics, ceramics, and crystalline materials. Such coatings can be further coated with organic or inorganic layers and are useful in chemical and electronic applications.

Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles (Ca(OH).sub.2NPs) synthesized using carob pulp extract may be hexagonal nanoparticles with a diameter ranging from about 31.22 nm to about 81.22 nm. The Ca(OH).sub.2NPs may be synthesized by heating ethylene glycol, adding calcium hydroxide to the ethylene glycol to provide a first mixture, heating the first mixture, adding a carob pulp aqueous extract to the first mixture to form a second mixture, heating the second mixture, adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to the second mixture to form a third mixture, heating the third mixture, resting the third mixture at room temperature after heating, centrifuging the third mixture, collecting a colloid sediment, extracting any unwanted contaminants from the colloid sediment, and drying the colloid sediment to obtain Ca(OH).sub.2NPs.

A component for a lithium battery including a first layer including a lithium garnet having a porosity of 0 percent to less than 25 percent, based on a total volume of the first layer; and a second layer on the first layer and having a porosity of 25 percent to 80 percent, based on a total volume of the second layer, wherein the second layer is on the first layer and the second layer has a composition that is different from a composition of the first layer.

Disclosed herein are graphene coatings characterized by a porous, three-dimensional, spherical structure having a hollow core, along with methods for forming such graphene coatings on glasses, glass-ceramics, ceramics, and crystalline materials. Such coatings can be further coated with organic or inorganic layers and are useful in chemical and electronic applications.