Nearly monodispersed CuIn 0.7 Ga 0.3 Se 2 (CIGS) nanocrystals were successfully prepared using the thermal decomposition of copper, indium (In), gallium (Ga), and selenium-oleylamine (OLA) complexes via the heating-up process. The phase formation sequence was CuSe-CuInSe 2 -CIGS. The CIGS nanocrystals synthesized using the heating-up process exhibited a single chalcopyrite phase and its chemical composition was close to stoichiometric. However, phase separation of the In-rich and Ga-rich phases was found using the hot-injection method due to the difference in reactivity between In-OLA and Ga-OLA complexes.

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Ultramarine blue was synthesized by using reservoir silts as a major raw material to replace traditional kaolin clay. The reservoir silts were pretreated to collect the fines, in which the main mineral composition is illite clay. The fine part was mixed with sodium carbonate, sulfur, and activated carbon, and calcined at 800 • C for 8 h. The products were examined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to identify the mineral phases and particle morphology. The color characteristics were measured according to the CIELab system. Brilliant blue ultramarine powders were successfully synthesized with a chroma of 52.4, which is competitive with the commercial ultramarine.

The Tuluanshan Formation of the eastern Coastal Range of Taiwan overlies an andesitic core complex presumed to be the source of hydrothermal fluids responsible for the Si- and Mg-rich mineralization of sepiolite and palygorskite (attapulgite) which are found in veins within fissures and in fracture zones of the volcanic rocks of the region. This study was undertaken in order to understand these relationships better by characterizing sepiolite and palygorskite in this Formation and by examining their occurrence and distribution in the Tungho (TH) and Chunjih (CJ) areas. Samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and petrographic, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopic methods. Sepiolite and palygorskite are blocky and earthy-type materials that display fibrous characteristics when viewed using TEM and SEM and occurred alone or with chalcedony in veins. The fibers of blocky sepiolite are commonly intercalated with smectite but the earthy type of sepiolite and palygorskite observed in this study displayed precipitation from fluid enriched in Si, Al, Mg, and minor Fe and depleted in other ions at an earlier stage of offset of the andesitic veins. Continuation of reverse faulting and high shearing stress caused the precipitation of a significant quantity of interlaminated sepiolite. Sepiolite and palygorskite were formed at an earlier stage of fluid interaction relative to smectite in the Tuluanshan Formation.

A thermophilic cyanobacterial strain, Thermosynechococcus sp. CL-1 (TCL-1) was examined to investigate photocurrent generation under illumination without the adding of artificial mediators in an H-type two-compartment electrolysis cell. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was used as a nitrogen source at 0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Additionally, cyclic voltammetric experiments were used to verify the presence of oxidative compound excreted from TCL-1. Results indicated that the relationship between photocurrent generation and TCL-1 cell mass is a positive linear. No apparent differences on TCL-1 growth between the case of control and 0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl) indicated the electron uptake from TCL-1 at 0.2 V has no effect on its growth. The presence of redox compound excreted from TCL-1 is supported through the cyclic voltammetric experiment and plastoqunione, cytochrome b6/f, and plastocyanin between 0.2 and 0.7 V are the most probable mediators in electron transportation.