The present invention generally relates to a process for synthesizing rare earth-doped cobalt-chromite (CoCr.sub.2-xR.sub.xO.sub.4) pigments for capacitive and resistive humidity sensor applications, the process includes of crushing individually metal nitrates and rare earth material (R) using a hydraulic press to form a powder of metal nitrates and rare earth nitrates; dissolving the powder of metal nitrates and rare earth material (R) with fuels in 30 milliliters of distilled water with constant stirring using a magnetic stirrer to form a green color solution; heating the green color solution at 425 degrees Celsius for half an hour to obtain a green powder; extracting and grinding the green powder in an agate mortar for 1 hour to form a fine green pigment; and annealing the fine green pigment in a muffle furnace for two hours at a temperature of 500-600 degrees to remove organic residue and obtain rare earth-doped cobalt-chromite (CoCr.sub.2-xR.sub.xO.sub.4) pigments.

Disclosed herein are methods for transferring two-dimensional (2D) materials between substrates with the aid of ice, in which the ice serves as a supporting layer for the transfer of the 2D materials. The methods include the transfer of materials such as the 2D materials between substrates including the ice-aided transfer of ultra-clean materials.

A method of forming a titania-coated inorganic particle comprising the steps of (a) stirring a mixture of a titania precursor such as a titanium alkoxide and an inorganic particle such as a hollow glass particles in an organic solvent such as an alcohol for more than 1 h to cause adsorption of the titania precursor on the surface of the inorganic particle; and (b) adding water dropwise to the mixture under stirring to convert the titania precursor to titania which then forms a coating on the inorganic particle. A method for forming a paint formulation, a titania-coated inorganic particle, a paint formulation comprising a titania-coated inorganic particle and use of a titania-coated inorganic particle in a paint formulation is also described.

A wavelength conversion member includes a sintered body of a phosphor. An average diameter of pores in an arbitrary cross section falls within a range of not less than 0.28 μm and not more than 0.98 μm. A ratio of an area of pores to a whole area in an arbitrary cross section falls within a range of not less than 0.04% and not more than 2.7%. An average diameter of grains of the phosphor in an arbitrary cross section falls within a range of not less than 1 μm and not more than 3 μm.

Sonochemical synthesis methods of particles (e.g., nanoparticles, microparticles, quantum dots) in emulsion reaction mixtures are described herein. The methods allow for control of the bulk temperature of the reaction mixtures to minimize the effects of solvent temperature increases. The sonochemical synthesis methods (e.g., in emulsion reaction mixtures) offer efficient, accelerated, and controllable pathways towards the on-demand synthesis of complex materials.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

A co-assembly method for synthesizing inverse photonic structures is described. The method includes combining an onium compound with a sol-gel precursor to form metal oxide (MO) nanocrystals, where each MO nanocrystal has crystalline and amorphous content. The MO nanocrystals are combined with templating particles to form a suspension. A solvent is evaporated from the suspension to form an intermediate or compound product, which then undergoes calcination to produce an inverse structure.

A coating material containing an oxyfluoride of yttrium and having a Fisher diameter of 1.0 to 10 μm and a tap density TD to apparent density AD ratio, TD/AD, of 1.6 to 3.5. The coating material preferably has a pore volume of pores with a diameter of 100 μm or smaller of 1.0 cm.sup.3/g or less as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. A coating containing an oxyfluoride of yttrium and having a Vickers hardness of 200 HV0.01 or higher. The coating preferably has a fracture toughness of 1.0×10.sup.2 Pa.Math.m.sup.1/2 or higher.

A method for preparing porous inorganic particles is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion comprising an inorganic precursor and a polar solvent; (b) adding an organic solvent to the emulsion of step (a) to swell emulsion particles; (c) mixing the swollen emulsion of step (b) with polymer particles having a positive charge on the surface thereof; (d) adding a surfactant to the mixture of step (c) and removing the organic solvent; (e) adding an initiator to the result of step (d) to polymerize the same; and (f) firing the result of step (e) to remove the polymer particles so as to form macropores.

The present disclosure relates to a method for making a carbon aerogel electrode material. The method involves initially making a wet organic sol-gel form. The sol-gel form is carbonized at a temperature of from about 900° C. to about 1000° C., for from about 2 hours to about 4 hours. The carbonized sol-gel is then activated under carbon dioxide flow, for from about 0.5 hour to about 1.5 hours, at from about 900° C. to about 1000° C.