Porous metal oxide microspheres are prepared via a process comprising forming a liquid solution or dispersion of polydisperse polymer nanoparticles and a metal oxide; forming liquid droplets from the solution or dispersion; drying the liquid droplets to provide polymer template microspheres comprising polymer nanospheres and metal oxide; and removing the polymer nanospheres from the template microspheres to provide the porous metal oxide microspheres. The porous microspheres exhibit saturated colors and are suitable as colorants for a variety of end-uses.

According to an embodiment, a method for preparing a sea urchin-shaped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire comprises preparing a mixture of a ZnO nano-powder and a graphite powder and irradiating the mixture, in a container, with a microwave.

According to an embodiment, a method for preparing a sea urchin-shaped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire comprises preparing a mixture of a ZnO nano-powder and a graphite powder and irradiating the mixture, in a container, with a microwave.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing solid particles based on inert gas evaporation. The method includes forming a continuous gaseous feed flow, and injecting the continuous gaseous feed flow through an inlet into a free-space region of a reactor chamber in the form of a feed jet flow, and forming at least one continuous jet flow of a cooling fluid and injecting the at least one jet flow of cooling fluid into the reaction chamber. The feed jet flow is made by passing the feed flow at a pressure above the reactor chamber pressure in the range from 0.01.Math.10.sup.5 to 20.Math.10.sup.5 Pa through an injection nozzle. The jet flow of cooling fluid is made by passing the cooling fluid through an injection nozzle which directs the jet flow of cooling fluid such that it intersects the feed jet flow with an intersection angle between 30 and 150°.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing solid particles based on inert gas evaporation. The method includes forming a continuous gaseous feed flow, and injecting the continuous gaseous feed flow through an inlet into a free-space region of a reactor chamber in the form of a feed jet flow, and forming at least one continuous jet flow of a cooling fluid and injecting the at least one jet flow of cooling fluid into the reaction chamber. The feed jet flow is made by passing the feed flow at a pressure above the reactor chamber pressure in the range from 0.01.Math.10.sup.5 to 20.Math.10.sup.5 Pa through an injection nozzle. The jet flow of cooling fluid is made by passing the cooling fluid through an injection nozzle which directs the jet flow of cooling fluid such that it intersects the feed jet flow with an intersection angle between 30 and 150°.

Combustion apparatuses (e.g., burners) and methods, such as those configured to encourage mixing of fluid, flame stability, and synthesis of materials (e.g., nano-particles), among other things.

An additive for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a synthetic polymer with the additive and the synthetic polymer for forming a synthetic material is disclosed which has a quantity of zinc oxide particles modified with a layer of a reactive group that forms a bond with a synthetic polymer having C-H bonds.

Metal oxide nanostructure and methods of making metal oxide nanostructures are provided. The metal oxide nanostructures can be 1-dimensional nanostructures such as nanowires, nanofibers, or nanotubes. The metal oxide nanostructures can be doped or un-doped metal oxides. The metal oxide nanostructures can be deposited onto a variety of substrates. The deposition can be performed without high pressures and without the need for seed catalysts on the substrate. The deposition can be performed by laser ablation of a target including a metal oxide and, optionally, a dopant. In some embodiments zinc oxide nanostructures are deposited onto a substrate by pulsed laser deposition of a zinc oxide target using an excimer laser emitting UV radiation. The zinc oxide nanostructure can be doped with a rare earth metal such as gadolinium. The metal oxide nanostructures can be used in many devices including light-emitting diodes and solar cells.

Metal oxide nanostructure and methods of making metal oxide nanostructures are provided. The metal oxide nanostructures can be 1-dimensional nanostructures such as nanowires, nanofibers, or nanotubes. The metal oxide nanostructures can be doped or un-doped metal oxides. The metal oxide nanostructures can be deposited onto a variety of substrates. The deposition can be performed without high pressures and without the need for seed catalysts on the substrate. The deposition can be performed by laser ablation of a target including a metal oxide and, optionally, a dopant. In some embodiments zinc oxide nanostructures are deposited onto a substrate by pulsed laser deposition of a zinc oxide target using an excimer laser emitting UV radiation. The zinc oxide nanostructure can be doped with a rare earth metal such as gadolinium. The metal oxide nanostructures can be used in many devices including light-emitting diodes and solar cells.

There is provided a piezoelectric stack, including: a substrate; an oxide film on the substrate, containing zinc and oxygen as main elements; an electrode film on the oxide film; and a piezoelectric film on the electrode film, being an alkali niobium oxide film containing potassium, sodium, niobium, and oxygen and having a perovskite structure.