The invention relates to a mechanochemical process to produce exfoliated nanoparticles comprising the steps of providing a solid feedstock comprising a carbonaceous and/or mineral-based material; providing a flow of an oxidizing gas; introducing the solid feedstock and the flow of an oxidizing gas into a mechanical agitation unit, subjecting the material of the solid feedstock in the presence of the oxidizing gas to a mechanical agitation operation in the mechanical agitation unit at a pressure of at least 1 atm (15 psi).
The invention further relates to nanoparticles obtainable by the mechanochemical process and to the use of such nanoparticles.

The present application relates to aqueous slurries comprising precipitated calcium carbonates having a bimodal particle size distribution with a first maximum in particle size distribution and a second maximum in particle size distribution, as well as methods for making them and their uses.

Provided are a positive electrode active material comprising at least one secondary particle comprising an agglomerate of primary macro particles, a method for preparing the same and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same.

Further provided is a positive electrode active material comprising secondary particles with improved resistance by simultaneously growing the average particle size (D50) and the crystal size of the primary macro particles.

Thus, it is possible to provide a nickel-based positive electrode active material with high press strength, long life and good gas performance.

A positive active material for rechargeable lithium batteries is provided to include: a first positive active material including a layered cobalt-free lithium nickel-based composite oxide, being in a form of a secondary particle in which a plurality of primary particles are aggregated, and having an average particle diameter of about 8 μm to about 20 μm; and a second positive active material including a layered cobalt-free lithium nickel-based composite oxide, being in a form of a single particle, and having an average particle diameter of about 1 μm to about 7 μm, wherein a molar amount of nickel based on the total molar amount of elements excluding lithium and oxygen in the second positive active material is about 1 mol % to about 10 mol % more than a molar amount of nickel based on the total molar amount of elements excluding lithium and oxygen in the first positive active material.

A material synthesis method may comprise: adding at least one liquid precursor solution to an atomizer device; generating by the atomizer device an aerosol comprising liquid droplets; transporting the aerosol to a reactive zone for evaporating one or more solvents from the aerosol; and collecting particles synthesized from at least evaporating the aerosol.

Electrode active material comprising (A) a core material according to general formula Li1+x1TM1−x1O2 wherein TM is a combination of Ni and at least one of Mn, Co and Al, and, optionally, at least one more metal selected from Mg, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, and W, and x1 is in the range of from −0.05 to 0.2, and (B) particles of cobalt compound(s) and of titanium compound(s) and of zirconium compound(s) and of aluminum compound(s) in which the average oxidation state of cobalt is higher than +II and lower than +III and wherein the molar ratio of lithium to cobalt in said particles is in the range of from zero to 1 and wherein said particles are attached to the surface of the core material.

This positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries is a positive electrode active material that comprises a lithium transition metal composite oxide containing at least 80 mol % Ni with reference to the total number of moles of metal elements excluding Li, and that has B present on the particle surface of at least this composite oxide. Assuming that a particle having a particle diameter larger than the 70% volume-based particle diameter (D70) is denoted as a first particle and a particle having a particle diameter smaller than the 30% volume-based particle diameter (D30) is denoted as a second particle, the mole fraction of B, with reference to the total number of moles of metal elements excluding Li, in the first particle is larger than the mole fraction of B, with reference to the total number of moles of metal elements excluding Li, in the second particle.

The present invention provides that powder is mainly constituted from secondary particles of hydroxyapatite. The secondary particles are obtained by drying a slurry containing primary particles of hydroxyapatite and aggregates thereof and granulating the primary particles and the aggregates. A bulk density of the powder is 0.65 g/mL or more and a specific surface area of the secondary particles is 70 m.sup.2/g or more. The powder of the present invention has high strength and is capable of exhibiting superior adsorption capability when it is used for an adsorbent an adsorption apparatus has.

Provided is a piezoelectric material filler including alkali niobate compound particles having a ratio (K/(Na+K)) of the number of moles of potassium to the total number of moles of sodium and potassium of 0.460 to 0.495 in terms of atoms and a ratio ((Li+Na+K)/Nb) of the total number of moles of alkali metal elements to the number of moles of niobium of 0.995 to 1.005 in terms of atoms. The present invention can provide a piezoelectric material filler having excellent piezoelectric properties, and a composite piezoelectric material including the piezoelectric material filler and a polymer matrix.

Provided is a titanium dioxide paste that can form a porous semiconductor layer having excellent close adherence with a conductive substrate. The titanium dioxide paste contains titanium dioxide nanoparticles and water, and has a pH of not lower than 2.6 and not higher than 3.5.