Superhydrophobic and transparent coatings are deposited onto paper by spraying alcohol suspensions of SiO(2) nanoparticles. Superhydrophobicity depends on the aggregation states of nanoparticles, which are determined by the type of alcohol used in the suspensions. The superhydrophobicity of the paper is maintained after touching the paper with a bare finger.

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Shape-controlled fabrication process for oxide nanotubes (ZrO2, Al2O3, and SiO2) by using carbon nanofibers templates was developed. By using thick, thin, and coiled carbon nanofibers as templates, shapes of oxide nanotubes could be controlled, that is, a variety of attractive nanotubular materials could be synthesized.

An organic hydride system based on hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of toluene (TL)/methylcyclohexane (MCH) has been studied as a hydrogen storage technology. Electrohydrogenation of TL to MCH using a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer is proposed as a candidate for the hydrogenation of TL in the organic hydride system. Recently, we reported that a Ketjenblack-supported Ru-Ir alloy (Ru-Ir/KB) cathode was effective for the reaction; however, electrohydrogenation mechanisms and catalyses of Ru and Ir in the electrohydrogenation have been unclear. In this paper, detailed characterization studies using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical studies using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) for hydrogen evolution and kinetic studies for catalytic hydrogenation of TL by Ru-Ir/KB catalysts were conducted. On the basis of the experimental results, the electrohydrogenation mechanisms and synergy of Ru and Ir were proposed.

Catalysts for dehydrogenative conversion of methane (DCM) to higher hydrocarbons are worthy of attention. Indium supported on silica (In/SiO2) was found for effective catalyst for the DCM reaction above 1023 K. Products were ethane, ethylene, acetylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, naphthalene and hydrogen. A highest selectivity of sum of products was 96 % at 1098 K and a steady‐state sum yield was 2.1 % with 63 % selectivity at 1173 K. Characterization studies using temperature‐programed X‐ray diffraction (TP‐XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the working state of indium catalyst was liquid metal. Effects of reaction temperature on the product distribution and studies of temperature‐programed‐reaction (TPR) indicated that liquid‐metal indium activated methane and selectively converted to ethane. Higher hydrocarbons were produced from ethane in the gas phase without catalyst.