A material platform with controllable emissivity and fabrication methods are provided that permit the manipulation of thermal radiation detection and IR signal modulation and can be adapted to a variety of uses including infrared camouflage, thermal IR decoys, thermo-reflectance imaging and IR signal modulation. The platform is a multilayer W.sub.xV.sub.1-xO.sub.2 film with different W doping levels (x values) and layer thicknesses, forming a graded W-doped construct. In WVO.sub.2 films with a total thickness <100 nm, the graded doping of W spreads the originally sharp metal-insulator phase transition (MIT) to a broad temperature range, greatly expanding the temperature window for emissivity modulation.

Vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, substrates including the vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, and related methods of making vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix are described.

A preparation method of a tetragonal NaV.sub.2O.sub.5.H.sub.2O nanosheet-like powder includes steps of: (Step 1) simultaneously adding NaVO.sub.3 and Na.sub.2S.9H.sub.2O into deionized water, and then magnetically stirring, and obtaining a black turbid solution; (Step 2) sealing after putting the black turbid solution into an inner lining of a reaction kettle, fixing the sealed inner lining in an outer lining of the reaction kettle, placing the reaction kettle into a homogeneous reactor, and then performing a hydrothermal reaction; and (Step 3) after completing the hydrothermal reaction, naturally cooling the reaction kettle to the room temperature, and then alternately cleaning through water and alcohol, and then collecting a product, drying the product, and finally obtaining the tetragonal NaV.sub.2O.sub.5.H.sub.2O nanosheet-like powder with a thickness in a range of 30-60 nm and a single crystal structure grown along a (002) crystal orientation.

A preparation method of a tetragonal NaV.sub.2O.sub.5.H.sub.2O nanosheet-like powder includes steps of: (Step 1) simultaneously adding NaVO.sub.3 and Na.sub.2S.9H.sub.2O into deionized water, and then magnetically stirring, and obtaining a black turbid solution; (Step 2) sealing after putting the black turbid solution into an inner lining of a reaction kettle, fixing the sealed inner lining in an outer lining of the reaction kettle, placing the reaction kettle into a homogeneous reactor, and then performing a hydrothermal reaction; and (Step 3) after completing the hydrothermal reaction, naturally cooling the reaction kettle to the room temperature, and then alternately cleaning through water and alcohol, and then collecting a product, drying the product, and finally obtaining the tetragonal NaV.sub.2O.sub.5.H.sub.2O nanosheet-like powder with a thickness in a range of 30-60 nm and a single crystal structure grown along a (002) crystal orientation.

A lithium-ion battery anode material containing surface-coated disordered rocksalt lithium vanadium oxide is disclosed. The surface coating contains a species selected from the group consisting of carbon, a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal fluoride, a metalloid fluoride, a metal phosphate, a metalloid phosphate, and combinations thereof. Materials, designs, synthesis methods, and devices related to fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are provided. This invention fills a technology gap by providing anode materials with disordered rocksalt lithium vanadium oxides to achieve fast charging in 10 minutes or less, greater than 200 W.Math.h/kg energy density, a lifetime of at least 10,000 cycles, and improved battery safety. Methods of making and using the optionally surface-coated disordered rocksalt lithium vanadium oxide are disclosed. Many experimental examples are included, demonstrating several remarkable attributes of this battery technology.

A lithium-ion battery anode material containing surface-coated disordered rocksalt lithium vanadium oxide is disclosed. The surface coating contains a species selected from the group consisting of carbon, a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal fluoride, a metalloid fluoride, a metal phosphate, a metalloid phosphate, and combinations thereof. Materials, designs, synthesis methods, and devices related to fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are provided. This invention fills a technology gap by providing anode materials with disordered rocksalt lithium vanadium oxides to achieve fast charging in 10 minutes or less, greater than 200 W.Math.h/kg energy density, a lifetime of at least 10,000 cycles, and improved battery safety. Methods of making and using the optionally surface-coated disordered rocksalt lithium vanadium oxide are disclosed. Many experimental examples are included, demonstrating several remarkable attributes of this battery technology.

A system for creating targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle compositions comprising a stock reaction mixture that is a fluid combination of at least one vanadium source combined with at least one dopant source. Each dopant source contains at least one target dopant element. The ratio of the number of vanadium atoms in the vanadium source to the number of target dopant element atoms in the dopant source is less than or equal to 10:1. A solvent that is compatible with said stock reaction mixture is selected. A pressure regulator increases the pressure of the solvent and the stock reaction mixture to between 0 and 5,000 psi. A heating element increases the temperature of the solvent to between 50 and 500° C. A mixing unit receives and mixes a continuous flow of stock reaction mixture with solvent to heat the stock reaction mixture and initiate formation of the targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle composition.

A system for creating targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle compositions comprising a stock reaction mixture that is a fluid combination of at least one vanadium source combined with at least one dopant source. Each dopant source contains at least one target dopant element. The ratio of the number of vanadium atoms in the vanadium source to the number of target dopant element atoms in the dopant source is less than or equal to 10:1. A solvent that is compatible with said stock reaction mixture is selected. A pressure regulator increases the pressure of the solvent and the stock reaction mixture to between 0 and 5,000 psi. A heating element increases the temperature of the solvent to between 50 and 500° C. A mixing unit receives and mixes a continuous flow of stock reaction mixture with solvent to heat the stock reaction mixture and initiate formation of the targeted vanadium oxide (VO.sub.2) nanoparticle composition.

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for regenerating and recirculating a CO, H.sub.2 or combinations thereof utilized for metal oxide reduction in a reduction furnace. The reduction furnace receives the reducing agent, reduces the metal oxide, and generates an exhaust of the oxidized product. The oxidized product is transferred to a mixing vessel, where the oxidized product, a calcium oxide, and a vanadium oxide interact to regenerate the reducing agent from the oxidized product. The regenerated reducing agent is transferred back to the reduction furnace for continued metal oxide reductions.

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for regenerating and recirculating a CO, H.sub.2 or combinations thereof utilized for metal oxide reduction in a reduction furnace. The reduction furnace receives the reducing agent, reduces the metal oxide, and generates an exhaust of the oxidized product. The oxidized product is transferred to a mixing vessel, where the oxidized product, a calcium oxide, and a vanadium oxide interact to regenerate the reducing agent from the oxidized product. The regenerated reducing agent is transferred back to the reduction furnace for continued metal oxide reductions.