Disclosed is a method for producing transition metal oxide fine particles having a size smaller than several micrometers (μm), and more preferably, having a size of several hundred nanometers (nm). To this end, the method for producing transition metal oxide fine particles of the present invention comprises dissolving a transition metal oxide in a strongly basic aqueous solution, and titrating same with a strongly acidic aqueous solution, thereby precipitating transition metal oxide fine particles.

Disclosed is a method for producing transition metal oxide fine particles having a size smaller than several micrometers (μm), and more preferably, having a size of several hundred nanometers (nm). To this end, the method for producing transition metal oxide fine particles of the present invention comprises dissolving a transition metal oxide in a strongly basic aqueous solution, and titrating same with a strongly acidic aqueous solution, thereby precipitating transition metal oxide fine particles.

A molybdenum trioxide powder contains an aggregate of primary particles having a β crystal structure of molybdenum trioxide. The molybdenum trioxide powder has a MoO.sub.3 content ratio of 99.6% or more measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and has an average particle diameter of the primary particles of 1 μm or less. A method for producing the above molybdenum trioxide powder includes vaporizing a molybdenum oxide precursor compound to form molybdenum trioxide vapor, and cooling the molybdenum trioxide vapor.

A molybdenum trioxide powder contains an aggregate of primary particles having a β crystal structure of molybdenum trioxide. The molybdenum trioxide powder has a MoO.sub.3 content ratio of 99.6% or more measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and has an average particle diameter of the primary particles of 1 μm or less. A method for producing the above molybdenum trioxide powder includes vaporizing a molybdenum oxide precursor compound to form molybdenum trioxide vapor, and cooling the molybdenum trioxide vapor.

Provided is a metal oxide production apparatus that implements a flux evaporation method. The production apparatus includes a firing furnace configured to subject a metal compound to firing in the presence of flux, a cooling pipe connected to the firing furnace and configured to convert vaporized flux resulting from the firing into powder, and a recovery means configured to recover powdered flux converted in the cooling pipe. Furthermore, provided is a metal oxide production method comprising a step (1) of subjecting a metal compound to firing in the presence of flux and obtaining a metal oxide and vaporized flux, a step (2) of converting the vaporized flux into powder by cooling the vaporized flux, and a step (3) of recovering powdered flux resulting from the converting.

A method of making an atomic layer nanoribbon that includes forming a double atomic layer ribbon having a first monolayer and a second monolayer on a surface of the first monolayer, wherein the first monolayer and the second monolayer each contains a transition metal dichalcogenide material, oxidizing at least a portion of the first monolayer to provide an oxidized portion, and removing the oxidized portion to provide an atomic layer nanoribbon of the transition metal dichalcogenide material. Also provided are double atomic layer ribbons, double atomic layer nanoribbons, and single atomic layer nanoribbons prepared according to the method.

Integrated recycling method and processes including recycling spent catalyst to produce one or more water-soluble metal salts and one or more water-insoluble tail byproducts, and recycling rechargeable batteries to produce one or more battery-grade metals and one or more pure metallic byproducts, wherein the water insoluble tail byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the rechargeable batteries, the impure metallic byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the spent catalyst, or both.

Integrated recycling method and processes including recycling spent catalyst to produce one or more water-soluble metal salts and one or more water-insoluble tail byproducts, and recycling rechargeable batteries to produce one or more battery-grade metals and one or more pure metallic byproducts, wherein the water insoluble tail byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the rechargeable batteries, the impure metallic byproduct is a feedstock in recycling the spent catalyst, or both.

This disclosure provides a unique approach for the synthesis of non-stoichiometric, mesoporous metal oxides with nano-sized crystalline wall. The as-synthesized mesoporous metal oxide is very active and stable (durability>11 h) electocatalyst in both acidic and alkaline conditions. The intrinsic mesoporous metal oxide serves as an electrocatalyst without the assistant of carbon materials, noble metals, or other materials, which are widely used in previously developed systems. The as-synthesized mesoporous metal oxide has large accessible pores (2-50 nm), which are able to facilitate mass transport and charge transfer. The as-synthesized mesoporous metal oxide requires a low overpotential and is oxygen deficient. Oxygen vacancies and mesoporosity served as key factors for excellent performance.

This disclosure provides a unique approach for the synthesis of non-stoichiometric, mesoporous metal oxides with nano-sized crystalline wall. The as-synthesized mesoporous metal oxide is very active and stable (durability>11 h) electocatalyst in both acidic and alkaline conditions. The intrinsic mesoporous metal oxide serves as an electrocatalyst without the assistant of carbon materials, noble metals, or other materials, which are widely used in previously developed systems. The as-synthesized mesoporous metal oxide has large accessible pores (2-50 nm), which are able to facilitate mass transport and charge transfer. The as-synthesized mesoporous metal oxide requires a low overpotential and is oxygen deficient. Oxygen vacancies and mesoporosity served as key factors for excellent performance.