The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprise a reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

Ferromagnetic materials are disclosed that comprise at least one Dirac half metal material. In addition, Dirac half metal materials are disclosed, wherein the material comprises a plurality of massless Dirac electrons. In addition, ferromagnetic materials are disclosed that includes at least one Dirac half metal material, wherein the material comprises a plurality of massless Dirac electrons, wherein the material exhibits 100% spin polarization, and wherein the plurality of electrons exhibit ultrahigh mobility. Spintronic devices and heterostructures are also disclosed that include a Dirac half metal material.

The present invention provides a two-dimensional material nanosheets with a large area and a controllable thickness and a general preparation method therefor. As an intralayer heat transfer coefficient of a two-dimensional material is much higher than an interlayer heat transfer coefficient thereof, the two-dimensional material is uniformly heated and sublimated layer by layer by controlling the energy of the laser pulses, a thinning thickness is controlled by adjusting the action time of the laser pulses, and finally, a two-dimensional material film with a controllable thickness is obtained. At the same time, a sample displacement stage moving freely in a two-dimensional plane space can realize preparation of the two-dimensional material film with a large area. Compared with traditional methods, the present invention can control a sample thickness of the two-dimensional material film, has a high generality, and is suitable for all kinds two-dimensional materials.

Herein are described two-dimensional metal organic frameworks (2D MOFs). The 2D MOFs includes a plurality of multivalent metals or metal ions and a plurality of multidentate ligands arranged to form a crystalline structure having a lateral size of at least about 2.5 μm and a thickness of less than about 5 nm. Herein are also described methods for preparing the 2D MOFs. The 2D MOFs can be used, for example, in electrochromic devices such as smart windows and flexible displays.

A method of increasing the strength of a carbonate rock is described. The carbonate rock may be located within a subterranean carbonate formation or may be located on a building exterior. The method involves contacting the carbonate rock with a composition comprising a zinc salt or a silicon alkoxide. This may increase the hardness of the carbonate rock by 10% or more.

A fluid system component can include a body that includes a multidimensional shape defined in orthogonal directions and layers stacked along one of the orthogonal directions, where at least one of the layers includes polymeric material and graphene nanoplatelets formed in situ from the polymeric material, and where the graphene nanoplatelets increase stiffness of the polymeric material.

In an embodiment, a negative electrode active material includes a particulate silicon-carbon nanocomposite (SCN) material composition including SCN particles that each have: a graphite particle core having an irregular morphology; a plurality of silicon nanostructures distributed around the graphite particle core, including silicon nanostructures exhibiting plate-like morphologies and which have an outer layer that includes SiO.sub.x; and an amorphous carbon layer or matrix that encapsulates the silicon nanostructures and at least portions of the irregular morphology graphite particle core, wherein the SCN material composition has a wt % material composition ratio of: (a) 20-60 wt % of graphite particle cores; (b) 35-60 wt % silicon nanostructures; and (c) 15-30 wt % amorphous carbon, wherein the combination of each such wt % totals to 100%. The negative electrode active material can exhibit an oxide content of less than 8 wt % provided by silicon nanostructure SiO.sub.x layers.

A molybdenum sulfide powder according to the invention contains molybdenum disulfide having a 3R crystal structure. A heavy-metal adsorbent according to the invention contains molybdenum sulfide particles, and the molybdenum sulfide particles have a median diameter Dso of 10 nm to 1,000 nm obtained by a dynamic light scattering type particle diameter distribution measuring device. A photothermal conversion material according to the invention contains a material containing molybdenum sulfide particles and generates heat by absorbing light energy.

The present invention provides the compound LiMn.sub.2--x-yNa.sub.xM.sub.yO.sub.4/Na.sub.1-zMnLi.sub.zM.sub.tO.sub.2/Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, to be used as a positive electrode for rechargeable lithium ion battery, where M is a metal or metalloid, 0.0≤x≤0.5; 0.0≤y≤0.5; 0.1≤z≤0.5; 0.0≤t≤0.3; as well as the method for producing it. The synthesis process includes disolving or mixing the precursor metals and then calcining them in air or controlled atmosphere in a temperature range between 250° C. and 1000° C., and for a time range of 0.5 h to 72 h to obtain the composite proposed with the interaction of its three present phases, presenting a high retention capacity during repeated loading/unloading cycles and excellent discharge capacity both at room temperature and up to 55° C.

A negative electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery includes composite particles, each of the composite particles having a structure in which plural flat graphite particles are stacked, wherein the composite particles have a particle size distribution D90/D10 of from 2.0 to 5.0, or wherein the plural flat graphite particles have a particle size distribution D90/D10 of from 2.0 to 4.4.