Composite nanoparticle compositions and associated nanoparticle assemblies exhibit enhancements to one or more thermoelectric properties including increases in electrical conductivity and/or Seebeck coefficient and/or decreases in thermal conductivity. A composite nanoparticle composition comprises a semiconductor nanoparticle including a front face and a back face and sidewalls extending between the front and back faces. Metallic nanoparticles are bonded to at least one of the sidewalls establishing a metal-semiconductor junction.

The present disclosure relates to a method for the preparation of a precursor solution for a ceramic of the BZT-aBXT type wherein X is selected from Ca, Sn, Mn and Nb and a is a molar fraction selected in the range between 0.10 and 0.90 comprising the steps of: a) dissolving at least one barium precursor compound and at least one precursor compound selected from the group consisting of a calcium precursor compound, a tin precursor compound, a manganese precursor compound and a niobium precursor compound in a linear or branched anhydrous alkyl alcohol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and, after dissolution, dehydrating by stripping, to obtain a first solution; b) dissolving at least one zirconium precursor compound and at least one titanium precursor compound in a linear or branched anhydrous alkyl alcohol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the presence of an anhydrous chelating agent to obtain a second solution; c) joining said first and second solutions in an anhydrous environment and dehydrating by stripping to obtain said precursor solution. It also relates to a precursor solution, to a method for the preparation of a film of a piezoelectric material, to a piezoelectric material and to an electronic device comprising this piezoelectric material.

Described herein are low or no-cobalt materials useful as electrode active materials in a cathode for lithium or lithium-ion batteries. For example, compositions of matter are described herein, such as electrode active materials that can be incorporated into an electrode, such as a cathode. The disclosed electrode active materials exhibit high specific energy and voltage, and can also exhibit high rate capability and/or long operational lifetime.

This particle contains at least one titanium compound crystal grain, and satisfies requirements 1 and 2. Requirement 1: |dA(T)/dT| of the titanium compound crystal grain satisfies 10 ppm/° C. or more at at least one temperature T1 in a range of −200° C. to 1200° C. A is (a-axis (shorter axis) lattice constant of the titanium compound crystal grain)/(c-axis (longer axis) lattice constant of the titanium compound crystal grain), and each of the lattice constants is obtained by X-ray diffractometry of the titanium compound crystal grain. Requirement 2: the particle contains a pore, and in a cross section of the particle, the pore has an average equivalent circle diameter of 0.8 μm or more and 30 μm or less, and the titanium compound crystal grain has an average equivalent circle diameter of 1 μm or more and 70 μm or less.

A method for the preparation of an amorphous silica-alumina composition is provided that advantageously utilizes as a component oxidized disulfide oil, for example derived from a waste refinery stream of disulfide oil. The amorphous silica-alumina is formed from an aqueous mixture of an aluminum source, a silica source, oxidized disulfide oil, an alkali metal source and optionally a structure directing agent, which is heating under conditions and for a time effective to form the amorphous silica-alumina.

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.

The invention relates to improved particulate lithium nickel oxide materials which are useful as cathode materials in lithium secondary batteries, and methods of improving their safety.

A stabilized lithium metal oxide cathode material comprises microparticles of lithium metal oxide in which individual particles thereof a core of lithium metal oxide and a coating of a different lithium metal oxide surrounding the core. There is an interface layer between the cores and the coatings in which there are gradients of metal ions in the direction of coating to core. The materials are made by a three stage process involving coprecipitating precursor metal hydroxide core particles at a controlled pH; coprecipitating a different metal hydroxide coating on the particles without controlling the pH; and then calcining the resulting coated precursor particles with lithium hydroxide to form the stabilized lithium metal oxide material.

Porous particles comprising an active ingredient and a coating exhibiting greater dissolution rate in aqueous media than in alcoholic media are disclosed. A process for the manufacture of the particles is also disclosed, as well as tamper-proof particles and solid dosage forms comprising the coated particles. The differential solubility characteristics of the particle coating allow the particles to be incorporated into abuse-deterrent medicaments.

A thermal method of forming ferric oxide nano/microparticles with predominant morphology is described using different solvents. Methods of using the Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nano/microparticles as catalysts in the reduction of nitro compounds with sodium borohydride to the corresponding amines and decomposition of ammonium salts.