The titanium dioxide fine particle-dispersed composite particles (1) of the present invention include silica particles (10) and fine titanium dioxide particles (20). The fine titanium dioxide particles (20) are dispersed inside the silica particles (10). The fine titanium dioxide particles (20) are of the rutile type and have an average primary particle diameter of 2 nm to 8 nm. The titanium dioxide fine particle-dispersed composite particles (1) of the present invention have high transparency to visible light.

A method for preparing a suspension of LDH particles comprising the steps of: preparing LDH precipitates by coprecipitation to form a mixture of LDH precipitates and solution; separating the LDH precipitates from the solution; washing the LDH precipitates to remove residual ions; mixing the LDH precipitates with water; and subjecting the mixture of LDH particles and water to a hydrothermal treatment step by heating to a temperature of from greater than 80 C. to 150 C. for a period of about 1 hour to about 144 hours to form a well dispersed suspension of LDH particles in water, wherein said LDH particles in suspension comprise platelets having a maximum particle dimension of up to 400 nm.

Shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a cross-sectional shape along a longitudinal axis of the shaped abrasive particles, the cross-sectional shape comprising a non-circular cross-sectional plane, and the shaped abrasive particles comprise an Average Roundness Factor of between about 15% to 0%.

A method of producing hexagonal plate-like zinc oxide particles having a sharp particle size distribution (i.e., a relatively uniform particle size) at a high weight yield and a high percent yield is provided. The method of producing hexagonal plate-like zinc oxide particles of the present invention comprises mixing by stirring an aqueous hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) solution, a solution of an anionic surfactant in a water-insoluble organic solvent, and optionally water to form a microemulsion containing an aqueous phase of an aqueous hexamethylenetetramine solution having a molar concentration of 0.05 M or more; dropwise adding an aqueous zinc salt solution to the microemulsion; and heating the microemulsion containing the aqueous zinc salt solution to a reaction temperature of 80 C. or more without using any autoclave to form hexagonal plate-like zinc oxide particles.

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.

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.

An electron transport includes a metal co-doped zinc oxide compound having a formula Mn.sub.xCo.sub.0.015Zn.sub.1-xO, wherein x has a value in a range of 0.001 to 0.014. The electron transport material of the present disclosure may be used in a perovskite solar cell.

The present invention is a surface-modified carbon material including chemical addends added to the surface of graphene, such that a one-dimensional periodicity corresponding to a large number of addition positions of the chemical addends can be observed in a Fourier-transformed image of a scanning probe microscopic image of the surface of graphene. The surface-modified carbon material of the present invention has a bandgap and therefore can be used as a sensor capable of electronically controlling an operation or another electronic device.

A process for preparing particles of a layered double hydroxide of the general formula

[M.sub.p.sup.z+M.sub.q.sup.y+(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n).sub.a/n.bH.sub.2O(I)

wherein M.sup.z+ and M.sup.y+ are metal cations or mixtures of metal cations, z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4; p+q=1; b=0 to 10, X.sup.n is an anion, n is 1 to 5 and a is determined by p, q, y and z such that a=zp+yq2, comprises (a) mixing, in aqueous solution, M.sup.z+ cations, M.sup.y+ cations and X.sup.n anions, with a base; and (b) allowing the layered double hydroxide of formula (I) to precipitate from the solution mixed in step (a).

Preferably, M is Li, Mg, Zn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Ca, or a mixture of two or more. Preferably, y is 3, and M is Al, Ga, In, Fe or a mixture of two or more thereof. Also provided are particles obtainable by the process, especially wherein M is Ca, M is Al, and X.sup.n is NO.sub.3.sup.. Particles of a layered double hydroxide wherein the particles have a particle size of not greater than 2000 nm, preferably not greater than 300 nm and especially not greater than 100 nm, are also provided. The layered double hydroxides according to the invention are useful in certain applications, for example, as adsorbents, coatings and catalyst supports.

Provided are a nickel-based active material for a lithium secondary battery, a method of preparing the nickel-based active material, and a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode including the nickel-based active material. The nickel-based active material includes at least one secondary particle that includes at least two primary particle structures, the primary particle structures each including a porous inner portion and an outer portion having a radially arranged structure, and the secondary particle including at least two radial centers.