The invention generally relates to electrochemically active structures and methods of making thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to electrochemically active structure comprising a crystalline electride comprising a nitride or carbide of at least one of: an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a lanthanide metal, or a combination thereof, wherein the electride has a lattice capable of intercalating at least one ion, thereby releasing at least one electron into an external circuit; and wherein a change in lattice volume of the electride upon intercalating the at least one ion is less than about 40%. Further, methods of making these electrochemically active structures are disclosed. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

The invention generally relates to electrochemically active structures and methods of making thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to electrochemically active structure comprising a crystalline electride comprising a nitride or carbide of at least one of: an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a lanthanide metal, or a combination thereof, wherein the electride has a lattice capable of intercalating at least one ion, thereby releasing at least one electron into an external circuit; and wherein a change in lattice volume of the electride upon intercalating the at least one ion is less than about 40%. Further, methods of making these electrochemically active structures are disclosed. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Producing direct reduced iron (DRI) having chemically-combined carbon includes providing DRI at a temperature above 400 C., providing a first gas stream including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, passing the first gas stream through a methane forming process to yield a second gas stream containing a higher concentration of methane than the first gas stream; and contacting the second gas stream with the DRI. A system for producing the DRI includes a vessel for containing DRI at a temperature above 400 C., a methane forming reactor containing a catalyst bed for producing methane from a first gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a first conduit to feed a gas stream including hydrogen and carbon monoxide to the methane forming reactor, and a second conduit to feed the second gas stream to the vessel containing the DRI.

Producing direct reduced iron (DRI) having chemically-combined carbon includes providing DRI at a temperature above 400 C., providing a first gas stream including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, passing the first gas stream through a methane forming process to yield a second gas stream containing a higher concentration of methane than the first gas stream; and contacting the second gas stream with the DRI. A system for producing the DRI includes a vessel for containing DRI at a temperature above 400 C., a methane forming reactor containing a catalyst bed for producing methane from a first gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a first conduit to feed a gas stream including hydrogen and carbon monoxide to the methane forming reactor, and a second conduit to feed the second gas stream to the vessel containing the DRI.

A universal or all-purpose laser marking composition for forming satisfactorily dark laser marks on a wide variety of substrates is provided. The marking composition comprises an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, and combinations thereof. The enhancer may be selected one or more of ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, Fe.sub.xSi.sub.(1-x) where X can range from about 0.005 to 0.995, Fe.sub.5Si.sub.2, MgFeSi, SiC, CaSi, (Co)Mo, MoSi.sub.2, TiSi.sub.2, ZrSi.sub.2, WSi.sub.2, MnSi.sub.2, YSi, Cu.sub.5Si, Ni.sub.2Si, Fe.sub.3C, Fe.sub.7C.sub.3 and Fe.sub.2C, MoC, Mo.sub.2C, Mo.sub.3C.sub.2, YC.sub.2, WC, Al.sub.4C.sub.3, Mg.sub.2C, Mg.sub.2C.sub.3, CaC.sub.2, LaC.sub.2, Ta.sub.4C.sub.3, Fe.sub.2N, Fe.sub.3N, Fe.sub.4N, Fe.sub.7N.sub.3, Fe.sub.16N.sub.2, MoN, Mo.sub.2N, W.sub.2N, WN, WN.sub.2, and combinations thereof and combinations thereof. Upon disposing the marking composition on a substrate and exposing the marking composition to laser radiation, the marking composition absorbs the laser radiation, increases in temperature, chemically bonds with the substrate, and when formed on each of a metal, glass, ceramic, stone, and plastic substrates, the mark has a negative L dark contrast value of at least 1 compared to a mark formed by the marking composition without the enhancer.

A method for producing a hydrocarbon including: preparing a molten salt containing a carbonate of a first metal; obtaining precipitates containing a first metal carbide by applying a voltage to the molten salt; and obtaining a gas containing the hydrocarbon and a hydroxide of the first metal by hydrolyzing the first metal carbide.

Producing direct reduced iron (DRI) having chemically-combined carbon includes providing DRI at a temperature above 400 C., providing a first gas stream including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, passing the first gas stream through a methane forming process to yield a second gas stream containing a higher concentration of methane than the first gas stream; and contacting the second gas stream with the DRI. A system for producing the DRI includes a vessel for containing DRI at a temperature above 400 C., a methane forming reactor containing a catalyst bed for producing methane from a first gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a first conduit to feed a gas stream including hydrogen and carbon monoxide to the methane forming reactor, and a second conduit to feed the second gas stream to the vessel containing the DRI.

A method for producing a hydrocarbon, including: preparing a molten salt containing an oxide of a first metal; adding carbon dioxide to the molten salt; obtaining precipitates containing a first metal carbide by applying a voltage to the molten salt containing carbon dioxide; and obtaining a gas containing a hydrocarbon and a hydroxide of the first metal by hydrolyzing the first metal carbide.

A method for producing a hydrocarbon, including: preparing a molten salt containing an oxide of a first metal; adding carbon dioxide to the molten salt; obtaining precipitates containing a first metal carbide by applying a voltage to the molten salt containing carbon dioxide; and obtaining a gas containing a hydrocarbon and a hydroxide of the first metal by hydrolyzing the first metal carbide.

Disclosed herein are applications for using lithium carbide materials including reducing agents, radiocarbon dating, and acetylene storage materials.