A method and apparatus for controlling the atmosphere of a multizone calcination (firing) furnace for production of high-quality nickel-rich cathode material for lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. A high-quality oxygen-rich atmosphere is maintained to ensure the quality of the cathode material. An atmosphere control system continuously measures and analyzes the composition of the calcination furnace atmosphere in different zones and adjusts the flowrate of oxygen-rich atmosphere into the furnace to optimize the calcination process.

A composite nanomaterial of ZnO impregnated by, e.g., a green copper phthalocyanine compound (CuPc) can be an efficient solar light photocatalyst for water remediation. The composite may include hollow shell microspheres and hollow nanospheres of CuPc-ZnO. CuPc may function as a templating and/or structure modifying agent, e.g., for forming hollow microspheres and/or nanospheres of ZnO particles. The composite can photocatalyze the degradation of organic pollutants such as crystal violet (CV) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as well as microbes in water under solar light irradiation. The ZnO—CuPc composite can be stable and recyclable under solar irradiation.

An oxide includes a compound represented by Formula 1, a compound represented by Formula 2, or a combination thereof:
Li.sub.1−x+y−zTa.sub.2−xM.sub.xP.sub.1−yQ.sub.yO.sub.8−zX.sub.z  Formula 1
wherein, in Formula 1, M is an element having an oxidation number of 5+ or 6+, Q is an element having an oxidation number of 4+, X is a halogen atom, a pseudohalogen, or a combination thereof,
0≤x<0.6, 0≤y<1, and 0≤z<1, wherein x and y are not 0 at the same time,
Li.sub.1−x+yTa.sub.2−xM.sub.xP.sub.1−yQ.sub.yO.sub.8.zLiX  Formula 2
wherein, in Formula 2, M is an element having an oxidation number of 5+ or 6+, Q is an element having an oxidation number of 4+, X is a halogen atom, a pseudohalogen or a combination thereof, 0≤x<0.6, 0≤y<1, and 0≤z<1, wherein x and y are not 0 at the same time, and
wherein in Formulas 1 and 2, M, Q, x, y, and z are independently selected.

Provided are methods of effecting cation exchange in MXene materials so as to stabilize the materials. Also provided are compositions, comprising layered MXene materials that comprise an organic cation between layers. Also provided are MXene compositions comprising a chalcogen disposed thereon, the MXene composition further optionally comprising a quaternary ammonium halide disposed thereon.

A cerium-zirconium based mixed oxide composition have: (a) a Ce:Zr molar ratio of 1 or less, and (b) a cerium oxide content of 10-50% by weight. The composition has (i) a surface area of at least 18 m.sup.2/g, and a total pore volume as measured by N.sub.2 physisorption of at least 0.11 cm.sup.3/g, after ageing at 1100° C. in an air atmosphere for 6 hours, (ii) a surface area of at least 42 m.sup.2/g, and a total pore volume as measured by N.sub.2 physisorption of at least 0.31 cm.sup.3/g, after ageing at 1000° C. in an air atmosphere for 4 hours, and (iii) Dynamic Oxygen Storage Capacity (D-OSC) value as measured by H.sub.2-TIR of greater than 500 μmol/g at 600° C. after aging at 800° C. in an air atmosphere for 2 hours. A process contacts the exhaust gas with the composition Another process is for preparing the composition.

A modified boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) comprising pendant hydroxyl (OH) and amino (NH.sub.2) functional groups covalently bonded to a surface of the BNNT. Aqueous and organic solutions of these modified BNNTs are disclosed, along with methods of producing the same. The modified BNNTs and their solutions can be used to coat substrates and to make nanocomposites.

Disclosed is a hydrophilic carbon nanohorn aggregate comprising a carbon nanohorn aggregate having an oxygen-containing functional group introduced at a tip of a carbon nanohorn, and a cyclodextrin which is capping the tip of the carbon nanohorn and being stabilized.

The present application discloses a positive electrode active material including a lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, the molar content of nickel in the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide accounts for 60%-90% of the total molar content of nickel, cobalt and manganese, and the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide has a layered crystal structure of a space group R 3m; a transition metal layer of the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide includes a doping element, and the local mass concentration of the doping element in particles of the positive electrode active material has a relative deviation of 20% or less; and in a differential scanning calorimetry spectrum of the positive electrode active material in a 78% delithiation state, an initial exothermic temperature of a main exothermic peak is 200° C. or more, and an integral area of the main exothermic peak is 100 J/g or less.

A composite nanomaterial of ZnO impregnated by, e.g., a green copper phthalocyanine compound (CuPc) can be an efficient solar light photocatalyst for water remediation. The composite may include hollow shell microspheres and hollow nanospheres of CuPc-ZnO. CuPc may function as a templating and/or structure modifying agent, e.g., for forming hollow microspheres and/or nanospheres of ZnO particles. The composite can photocatalyze the degradation of organic pollutants such as crystal violet (CV) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as well as microbes in water under solar light irradiation. The ZnO—CuPc composite can be stable and recyclable under solar irradiation.

A cerium-zirconium oxide-based ionic conductor (CZOIC) material including zirconium oxide in an amount ranging from 5 wt. % up to 95 wt. %, cerium oxide in an amount ranging from 95 wt. % to 5 wt. %, and at least one oxide or a rare earth metal in an amount ranging from 30 wt. % or less, based on the overall mass of the CZOIC material. The CZOIC material exhibits a structure comprising one or more expanded unit cells and a plurality of crystallites having ordered nano-domains. The structure of the CZOIC material exhibits a crystal lattice defined by a d-value measured at multiple (hkl) locations using a SAED technique that exhibit distortions, such that the d-values for the same (hkl) location varies from about 2% to about 5% from the d-value measured for a reference cerium-zirconium material at the same (hkl) location.