Abstract: An apparatus capable of assisting in controlling an electrolyte flow and an electric field distribution used for processing a substrate is provided. It includes a rigid member having a top surface of a predetermined shape and a bottom surface. The rigid member contains a plurality of channels, each forming a passage from the top surface to the bottom surface, and each allowing the electrolyte and electric field flow therethrough. A pad is attached to the rigid member via a fastener. The pad also allows for electrolyte and electric field flow therethrough to the substrate.

Abstract: An electric motive power system for a motor vehicle including a fuel cell having at least one set of two electrodes each provided with an electrode input and output, an electrolytic membrane being located between the two electrodes. The electrolytic membrane includes proton conductive charges distributed in the thickness of the membrane in accordance with a concentration gradient, to concentrate the water in liquid form produced by the fuel cell on one of the electrodes, and wherein the water in liquid form thus concentrated is evacuated from the fuel cell through a single electrode output.

Abstract: A battery includes an air electrode and an air access passageway that is closed by a non-liquid valve actuable by differential pressure to provide an opening therein to admit air to the battery.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an electrolytic copper plating method characterized in employing a phosphorous copper anode having a crystal grain size of 1500 ?m (or more) to 20000 ?m in an electrolytic copper plating method employing a phosphorous copper anode. Upon performing electrolytic copper plating, an object is to provide an electrolytic copper plating method of a semiconductor wafer for preventing the adhesion of particles, which arise at the anode side in the plating bath, to the plating object such as a semiconductor wafer, a phosphorous copper anode for electrolytic copper plating, and a semiconductor wafer having low particle adhesion plated with such method and anode.

Abstract: A fuel cell apparatus includes an electric power generation unit with a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies each having an oxidizer electrode to which an oxidizer is fed and a fuel electrode to which a fuel is fed, the oxidizer electrode and the fuel electrode being arranged through an electrolyte membrane. The plurality of membrane electrode assemblies are stacked through a fuel feed path and an oxidizer feed path. In addition, a fuel storage unit holds the fuel to be fed to the fuel electrode of the electric power generation unit, and a fuel flow path connects the fuel storage unit and the electric power generation unit. The fuel feed path and the oxidizer feed path arranged between the plurality of membrane electrode assemblies are formed by an elastic material.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for reducing within die thickness variations by modifying the concentration of components of a low-acid electroplating solution. For one embodiment, the leveler concentration is increased sufficiently to reduce within die thickness variations to a specified value. For one embodiment of the invention, the leveler and suppressor are increased to reduce within die thickness variations and substantially reduce a plurality of electroplating defects. In such an embodiment the combined concentration of leveler and suppressor is determined to maintain adequate gap fill.

Abstract: A blank for a rotary tool for chip removing machining, such as a helix drill or an end mill is formed by advancing a mixture of hard metal powder and carrier through an extrusion passage. The mixture is fed past a core having pins secured thereto for forming respective internal holes through the mixture. Then the mixture is advanced through a rotary part that is rotating about a center axis of the extrusion passage, wherein the rotary part and the internal holes become twisted to a predetermined pitch. The mixture is also advanced past a plurality of shaping parts which project transversely into the extrusion passage for shaping exterior chip flutes in the mixture, e.g., by embossing or cutting. The mixture is allowed to harden into a green body, and the green body is then sintered to form a blank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that use cell voltage and/or current as monitor to prevent electrochemical deposition (e.g., electroplating) tools from deplating wafers with no or poor metal (e.g., Cu) seed coverage. In one embodiment, the voltage of a plating cell including a reference wafer which has substantially complete Cu seed coverage is measured. A reference resistance of the plating cell with the reference wafer is determined. The voltage of the plating cell including a calibration wafer which has no or insufficient seed coverage at its edge is measured. A calibration resistance of the plating cell with the calibration wafer is determined. An error trigger based on a comparison of the reference resistance with the calibration resistance is selected.

Abstract: A method of preserving a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in which catalyst electrodes are stacked on each surface of a polymer electrolyte is to preserve the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly in an airtight package that prevents oxygen, moisture and a function inhibitor from permeating through the package.

Abstract: In order to provide a nickel-metal hydride storage battery capable of preventing the formation of a minute chemical short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes while exhibiting an excellent self-discharge resistance, a nickel positive electrode plate is formed by filling an active material mainly composed of a hydroxide of nickel into a porous sintered nickel substrate, followed by further forming a layer of a manganese compound containing manganese with a valence of 2 or more on the surface thereof, and an alkaline storage battery is configured by using this nickel positive electrode plate.

Abstract: A solid substrate comprising a surface comprising an achiral array of atoms having thereupon a chiral metal oxide surface. The chiral metal oxide surface is prepared by electrodeposition of a chiral metal oxide array from a solution of a chiral salt of the metal. In one embodiment, chiral CuO is grown on achiral Au(001) by epitaxial electrodeposition. The handedness of the film is determined by the specific enantiomer of tartrate ion in the deposition solution. (R,R)-tartrate produces an S—CuO(1 1 1) film, while (S,S)-tartrate produces an R—CuO( 11 1) film. These chiral CuO films are enantiospecific for the electrochemical oxidation of(R,R) and (S,S)-tartrate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electropolishing solution for products or devices made from at least in part a cobalt-chromium alloy. The invention is particularly suitable for medical devices or intravascular stents made at least in part of cobalt-chromium. More particularly, the electropolishing process of the invention is particularly suited for use on implantable medical devices, such as stents, due to the biocompatibility of cobalt-chromium alloys. The invention is directed to an improved stent formed from a cobalt-chromium alloy, that possesses an ultrasmooth shiny surface. This invention is also directed to a method of electropolishing such a stent using an acidic electrolytic solution comprising a mixture of 6 parts of about 98% sulfuric acid (H2SO4), 1 part of about 37% hydrochloric acid (HCl) and 1 part by of about 85% concentrated phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to produce an exceptionally smooth surface.

Abstract: A cell body for a fuel cell comprises a metal support and an electrolyte layer and an air electrode layer. The electrolyte layer and the air electrode layer are formed on the metal support. A concave portion is formed in an arbitrary pattern on the metal support, and the bottom of the concave portion is made to be porous.

Abstract: A separator based on a sheetlike flexible substrate having a multiplicity of openings and having a coating on and in the substrate, the material of the substrate being selected from woven or non-woven electrically nonconductive fibers of glass or ceramic or a combination thereof and the coating being a porous electrically insulating ceramic coating, characterized by a thickness of less than 100 ?m; a process for producing the separator; and a battery comprising the separator.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of conducting the emulsion into a treatment vessel, providing an AC voltage source, employing from the source an AC voltage of at least one selected frequency F1 to establish at least one electric filed within the vessel through which the emulsion passes, and cyclically modulating the AC voltage with a method of modulation selected from: (a) amplitude modulation; (b) frequency modulation; and (c) combined amplitude and frequency modulation.

Abstract: Lightweight and reactive metals can be produced from ore, refined from alloy, and recycled from metal matrix composites using electrolysis in electrolytes including an ionic liquid containing a metal chloride at or near room temperature. Low electric energy consumption and pollutant emission, easy operation and low production costs are achieved.

Abstract: Methods for electrodeposition of copper on a noble metal layer of a work piece are provided. An exemplary method includes exposing the noble metal layer to an electrodeposition composition. The electrodeposition composition comprises a copper salt, a suppressor, an accelerator and an electrolyte. The electrodeposition of copper on a surface of the noble metal layer is initiated by application of a predetermined current density to the work piece. The electrodeposition of copper is terminated upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

Abstract: A metal is provided on a polymeric component and the component is subjected to a removal process such as plasma or liquid etching in the presence of an electric field. The etchant selectively attacks the polymer at the boundary between the metal and the polymer, thereby forming gaps alongside the metal. A cover metal may be plated onto the metal in the gaps. The cover metal protects the principal metal during subsequent etching procedures.

Abstract: Pulse reverse electrolysis of acid copper solutions is used for applying copper deposits of a controlled hardness for applications such as producing printing cylinders. The benefits include improved production capacity. Hardness of the deposit is controlled by varying at least one factor selected from the group consisting of (i) cathodic pulse time, (ii) anodic pulse time, (iii) cathodic pulse current density, and (iv) anodic pulse current density. Preferably the ratio of cathodic pulse time to anodic pulse time is varied.

Abstract: A diffusion membrane contains uncalcined polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), calcined PTFE and a conductive substance. An electrode has the diffusion layer (membrane) and a catalyst layer disposed thereon. A process for producing diffusion membranes comprises dispersing uncalcined PTFE, calcined PTFE and a conductive substance in a dispersion medium, removing the dispersion medium, adding a liquid lubricant followed by kneading, compressing the resultant kneaded product (preferably a rod-shaped preform) to expand the same into a membrane, and removing the liquid lubricant. The diffusion membrane preferably contains 1 to 30 wt % of the uncalcined PTFE and 5 to 30 wt % of the calcined PTFE. The conductive substance is desirably a combination of graphite and carbon black. The diffusion membrane is free from local variation in properties, has suitable mass producibility and can be produced inexpensively.