A nickel based micro-structured material and methods are shown. In one example, the nickel based micro-structured material is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery. One specific example shown includes NiO-decorated Ni nanowires with diameters around 30-150 nm derived from Ni wire backbone (around 2 m in diameter). In one specific example, The NiO nanowire foam can be manufactured with bio-friendly chemicals and low temperature processes without an templates, binders and conductive additives, which possesses the potential transferring from lab scale to industrial production.

A self-healing method for fractured single crystal SiC nanowires. A hair in a Chinese brush pen of yellow weasel's hair moves and transfers nanowires, which are placed on an in-situ TEM mechanical microtest apparatus. An in-situ nanomechanical tension test is realized. The nanowires are loaded. Displacement is 0-200 nm. Fracture strength of the single crystal nanowires is 12-15 GPa. After the nanowires are fractured, unloading causes slight contact between the fractured end surfaces, electron beam is shut off, and self-healing of the nanowires is conducted in a vacuum chamber. Partial recrystallization is found at a fracture after self-healing through in-situ TEM representation. A fracture strength test is conducted again after self-healing. A fractured position after healing is the same as the position before healing. The fracture strength of the single crystal nanowires after self-healing is 1-2.5 GPa. The recovery ratio of the fracture strength is 10-20%.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) act as a dispersing agent to directly exfoliate graphite in an aqueous solution using sonication. The resulting suspension has graphite flakes, each having 2-20 monolayers, a relatively large lateral dimension, and a plurality of CNF decorating its surfaces and edges. The dispersing effect of the CNF allows the graphite-CNF suspension to be stored without degradation until desired use. The graphite-CNF suspension can be used to form various composite structures, such as by spraying, coating, pouring, extruding, or printing the suspension, and then drying the suspension. The resulting composite structures have improved tensile strength and toughness due to hydrogen bond interactions between the CNF and graphite.

Nano-wire growth processes, nano-wires, and articles having nano-wires are disclosed. The nano-wire growth process includes trapping growth-inducing particles on a substrate, positioning the substrate within a chamber, closing the chamber, applying a vacuum to the chamber, introducing a precursor gas to the chamber, and thermally decomposing the precursor gas. The thermally decomposing of the precursor gas grows nano-wires from the growth-inducing particles. The nano-wires and the articles having the nano-wires are produced by the nano-wire growth process.

In some aspects and embodiments, the present application provides a wide range of porous 1-D polymeric graphitic carbon-nitride materials that are atomically doped with binary metals in different morphologies. In some embodiments, the graphitic carbon-nitride materials can be prepared with high mass production from inexpensive and natural abundant precursors. In some embodiments, the materials were used successfully for the oxidation of CO to CO.sub.2 under ambient reaction temperature in addition to the reduction of CO.sub.2 into hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the materials can be used for practical and large-scale gas conversion for household or industrial applications.

The present disclosure relates to an anode electrode active material for a secondary battery containing nickel cobalt molybdenum oxide, an anode electrode for a secondary battery including the same, a secondary battery including the anode electrode for a secondary battery, and a method for manufacturing the same. The novel anode electrode material for a sodium secondary battery containing nickel cobalt molybdenum oxide according to the present disclosure allows intercalation/deintercalation reaction of sodium ion during charge/discharge and does not undergo significant volume change during the intercalation reaction because structure is maintained stably during repeated charge/discharge. As a result, electrode damage and electric short circuit are decreased and, thus, improved electrochemical characteristics can be achieved in long-life and high-rate capability.

In addition, the novel anode electrode material for a sodium secondary battery containing nickel cobalt molybdenum oxide is advantageous in that it can be synthesized easily via a simple process such as a one-pot reaction based on a hydrothermal synthesis process.

Methods for producing nanostructures from copper-based catalysts on porous substrates, particularly silicon nanowires on carbon-based substrates for use as battery active materials, are provided. Related compositions are also described. In addition, novel methods for production of copper-based catalyst particles are provided. Methods for producing nanostructures from catalyst particles that comprise a gold shell and a core that does not include gold are also provided.

Methods permit the growth of two or more nanomaterials in a common process chamber in the same batch run, either simultaneously or sequentially, using one or a combination of CVD, CVI, or other techniques. The methods described can be beneficial for forming nanosilicon-containing nanocarbon structures suitable for use as a battery anode material.

A GaON/ZnO photoelectrode involving a nanoarchitectured photocatalytic material deposited onto a surface of a conducting substrate, and the nanoarchitectured photocatalytic material containing gallium oxynitride nanoparticles interspersed in zinc oxide nanoparticles, as well as methods of preparing the GaON/ZnO photoelectrode. A method of using the GaON/ZnO photoelectrode for solar water electrolysis is also provided.

An electromagnetic shielding film and a method for making the same. The method includes: dispersing a conductive agent and a magnetic nanomaterial in sodium alginate solutions to form an electrically conductive shielding solution and a magnetic field shielding solution, respectively; applying the electrically conductive and magnetic field shielding solutions onto two opposite surfaces of a transparent substrate to form an electrically conductive shielding layer and a magnetic field shielding layer, respectively, so that an electromagnetic shielding film precursor of a sandwich structure is obtained; and placing the film precursor in a calcium chloride solution to perform a crosslinking process to cure the layers, so as to obtain an electromagnetic shielding film product after being rinsed and dried. The electric and magnetic fields shielding layers of the film can each have a uniform thickness and cooperate to provide an improved shielding effect and superior performances for the film.