Abstract: An electrode having increased output with slower degradation is formed of a film applied to a beta-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE). The film comprises a refractory first metal M.sup.1 such as a platinum group metal, suitably platinum or rhodium, capable of forming a liquid or a strong surface adsorption phase with sodium at the operating temperature of an alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) and a second refractory metal insoluble in sodium or the NaM.sup.1 liquid phase such as a Group IVB, VB or VIB metal, suitably tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum or niobium. The liquid phase or surface film provides fast transport through the electrode while the insoluble refractory metal provides a structural matrix for the electrode during operation. A trilayer structure that is stable and not subject to deadhesion comprises a first, thin layer of tungsten, an intermediate co-deposited layer of tungsten-platinum and a thin surface layer of platinum.

Abstract: Thin films of niobium nitride with high superconducting temperature (T.sub.c) of 15.7.degree. K. are deposited on substrates held at room temperature (.about.90.degree. C.) by heat sink throughout the sputtering process. Films deposited at P.sub.Ar >12.9.+-.0.2 mTorr exhibit higher T.sub.c with increasing P.sub.N2,I, with the highest T.sub.c achieved at P.sub.N2,I =3.7.+-.0.2 mTorr and total sputtering pressure P.sub.tot =16.6.+-.0.4. Further increase of N.sub.2 injection starts decreasing T.sub.c.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of coating a substrate with an amorphous metal comprising the step of bombarding a solid piece of the metal with ions of an inert gas in the presence of a magnetic field to provide a vapor of the metal which is deposited on the substrate at a sufficiently low gas pressure so that there is formed on the substrate a thin, uniformly thick, essentially pinhole-free film of the metal.