A positive electrode active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same are provided. The positive electrode active material includes a lithium nickel-based composite oxide wherein the positive electrode active material is in a form of secondary particles in which a plurality of primary particles are aggregated and at least a portion of the primary particles are radially arranged, in a cross-section of the secondary particles, a number ratio of the primary particles having a cross-sectional area of less than about 0.1 .Math.m.sup.2 is greater than or equal to about 65%, and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the peak corresponding to the (003) plane in the X-ray diffraction analysis for the positive electrode active material is less than or equal to about 0.125.

The invention provides a method of producing a filler comprising calcium carbonate (PCC), preferably to be used in paper or paper board production or in fibre based composites. The method of the invention comprises the steps of; —providing fly ash generated in paper or paper board production; —fractionating said fly ash in at least one step, whereby a coarser fraction is separated from a finer fraction; —forming a suspension of said coarser fraction; —adding carbon dioxide to said suspension to form precipitated calcium carbonate. The method of the invention avoids problems with high amounts of arsenic and heavy metals in the production of filler comprising PCC, when using ash generated in paper or paper board production as a raw material. It has been shown that harmful elements, such as arsenic and heavy metals, are primarily accumulated in the finer fractions of the fly ash. Thus, by using the coarser fraction in the step of carbonation, the amount of arsenic and heavy metals in the final product is reduced.

A composite material 100 of the present invention includes silicon particles or silicon fine particles 10 capable of generating hydrogen, and a metal element (iron (Fe)) 20 supported on, or attached or adsorbed to at least a part of surfaces of the silicon particles or silicon fine particles 10, or chemically bonded to the surfaces. According to the composite material 100, it is possible to exhibit a capability of generating hydrogen much higher than that of silicon particles or silicon fine particles 10 on which the metal element 20 is hardly supported or to which the metal element 20 is hardly attached or adsorbed, or silicon particles or silicon fine particles 10 which are hardly chemically bonded to the metal element.

We provide ZnO nanoporcupines and a coating comprising ZnO nanoporcupines. Each nanoporcupine comprises a ZnO stem attached by one end to said surface, and a plurality of ZnO nanospikes attached to and extending away from the surface of the stem, the nanospikes being spread across the surface of the stem. The nanoporcupines and coating have antibacterial properties. We also provide a method of producing the nanoporcupine/coating comprising the steps of immersing a surface with ZnO stem precursors in a reaction mixture comprising hexamethylenetetramine, up to about 1 mM of L-ascorbic acid, and up to about 1 mM of a zinc salt in deionized water, and heating the reaction mixture at a temperature between about 90° C. and about 95° C. to produce the ZnO nanoporcupines on the surface.

A lithium-ion battery cathode material and a method for preparing the same are disclosed. The lithium-ion battery cathode material includes a layered cathode material matrix and a defect layer. The layered cathode material matrix includes body layers and lithium layers, and the body layer includes a transition metal layer and a lithium layer. The defect layer includes atoms with a periodic arrangement different from that of atoms in the matrix or with content different from that of an element in the matrix. The defect layer is parallel to a 003 crystal plane of the layered cathode material matrix, and dimensions of the defect layer are 0.1 nm to 50 nm in at least one direction and 10 nm to 5000 nm in at least another direction.

Articles, compositions, and methods involving ionically conductive compounds are provided. In some embodiments, the ionically conductive compounds are useful for electrochemical cells. The disclosed ionically conductive compounds may be incorporated into an electrochemical cell (e.g., a lithium-sulfur electrochemical cell, a lithium-ion electrochemical cell, an intercalated-cathode based electrochemical cell) as, for example, a protective layer for an electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and/or any other appropriate component within the electrochemical cell. In certain embodiments, electrode structures and/or methods for making electrode structures including a layer comprising an ionically conductive compound described herein are provided.

This invention relates to an industrial process of manufacturing hydroxide precursor for lithium transition metal oxide used in secondary lithium ion batteries. More particularly, this process utilizes highly concentrated nitrate salts and is designed to mitigate waste production.

An ultraviolet detection material includes a composite oxide including aluminum, strontium, cerium, lanthanum and manganese, and a glass having a softening point of 900° C. or lower. The ultraviolet detection material is not excited by an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength longer than 310 nm and is excited by an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength equal to or shorter than 310 nm, thereby emitting light having a peak of an emission wavelength in 480 nm or longer and 700 nm or shorter.

An aluminum-rich molecular sieve material of MFS framework type, designated SSZ-123, is provided. SSZ-123 can be synthesized using 1-ethyl-1-[5-(triethylammonio)pentyl]piperidinium cations as a structure directing agent. SSZ-123 may be used in organic compound conversion and/or sorptive processes.

A composite tungsten oxide film includes a composition represented by a general formula M.sub.xW.sub.yO.sub.z (wherein, an element M is one or more elements selected from alkaline metal, alkaline earth metal, Fe, In, Tl, and Sn, an element W is tungsten, and an element O is oxygen) as main components, wherein 0.001≤x/y≤1, 2.2≤z/y≤3.0, organic components are not contained substantially, a sheet resistance is 10.sup.5 ohms per square or more, a transmittance in a wavelength of 550 nm is 50% or more, a transmittance in a wavelength of 1400 nm is 30% or less, and also, an absorptance in a wavelength of 1400 nm is 35% or more, and an absorptance in a wavelength of 800 nm with respect to an absorptance in a wavelength of 1400 nm is 80% or less.