Abstract: A composite electrode material and a method for manufacturing the same, a composite electrode comprising the said composite electrode material and a method for manufacturing the same, and a lithium-based battery comprising the said composite electrode are disclosed. Specifically, a composite electrode material of the present invention comprises a core or a core with a surface covered by a buffer layer, preferably a conductive diamond film, wherein a material of the core is at least one selected from the group consisting of graphite, Sn, Sb, Si, and Ge; and a graphene nano-wall layer grown from the core or the conductive diamond film covering the core.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diamond nucleation, comprising the following steps: providing a substrate and forming a graphene layer on a surface of the substrate; providing a reaction chamber and disposing the substrate in the reaction chamber; providing a gas mixture in the reaction chamber, wherein the gas mixture includes a carbon-containing gas; and forming a plasma in the reaction chamber to cause the carbon-containing gas to react and form a plurality of diamond nuclei on a surface of the graphene layer. The present invention also relates to a structure formed by the aforesaid method, comprising: a substrate; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; and a plurality of diamond particles formed on the graphene layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diamond nucleation, comprising the following steps: providing a substrate and forming a graphene layer on a surface of the substrate; providing a reaction chamber and disposing the substrate in the reaction chamber; providing a gas mixture in the reaction chamber, wherein the gas mixture includes a carbon-containing gas; and forming a plasma in the reaction chamber to cause the carbon-containing gas to react and form a plurality of diamond nuclei on a surface of the graphene layer. The present invention also relates to a structure formed by the aforesaid method, comprising: a substrate; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; and a plurality of diamond particles formed on the graphene layer.

Abstract: A composite electrode material and a method for manufacturing the same, a composite electrode comprising the said composite electrode material and a method for manufacturing the same, and a lithium-based battery comprising the said composite electrode are disclosed. Specifically, a composite electrode material of the present invention comprises a core or a core with a surface covered by a buffer layer, preferably a conductive diamond film, wherein a material of the core is at least one selected from the group consisting of graphite, Sn, Sb, Si, and Ge; and a graphene nano-wall layer grown from the core or the conductive diamond film covering the core.

Abstract: A composite electrode and a lithium-based battery are disclosed, wherein the composite electrode comprises: a substrate and a conductive layer formed on the substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises graphite powders, Si-based powders, Ti-based powders, or a combination thereof embedded in a conductive matrix and coated with diamond films, and the diamond films are formed of diamond grains. The novel electrodes of the present invention when used in the Li-based battery can provide superior performance including excellent chemical inertness, physical integrity, and charge-discharge cycling life-time, and exhibit high electric conductivity and excellent lithium ion permeability.

Abstract: A composite electrode and a lithium-based battery are disclosed, wherein the composite electrode comprises: a substrate and a conductive layer formed on the substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises graphite powders, Si-based powders, Ti-based powders, or a combination thereof embedded in a conductive matrix and coated with diamond films, and the diamond films are formed of diamond grains. The novel electrodes of the present invention when used in the Li-based battery can provide superior performance including excellent chemical inertness, physical integrity, and charge-discharge cycling life-time, and exhibit high electric conductivity and excellent lithium ion permeability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a breast health care device, which comprises: a main body, which comprises at least one cover portion; and at least one node module, which is disposed on the cover portion. The node module comprises a light-emitting unit, a photo detector, or the combination thereof, wherein the light-emitting unit provides a light of predetermined wavelength to a breast tissue, and the photo detector detects a first signal generated from the breast tissue. Thus, users can directly achieve detection for the health condition of breasts by wearing the bra of the disclosed breast health care device of the present invention, and the disclosed health care device can transmit the detection results to an external health-care platform such as hospitals or medical centers immediately.

Abstract: Briefly described, methods of forming diamond are described. A representative method, among others, includes: providing a substrate in a reaction chamber in a non-magnetic-field microwave plasma system; introducing, in the absence of a gas stream, a liquid precursor substantially free of water and containing methanol and at least one carbon and oxygen containing compound having a carbon to oxygen ratio greater than one, into an inlet of the reaction chamber; vaporizing the liquid precursor; and subjecting the vaporized precursor, in the absence of a carrier gas and in the absence in a reactive gas, to a plasma under conditions effective to disassociate the vaporized precursor and promote diamond growth on the substrate in a pressure range from about 70 to 130 Torr.

Abstract: Briefly described, methods of forming diamond are described. A representative method, among others, includes: providing a substrate in a reaction chamber in a non-magnetic-field microwave plasma system; introducing, in the absence of a gas stream, a liquid precursor substantially free of water and containing methanol and at least one carbon and oxygen containing compound having a carbon to oxygen ratio greater than one, into an inlet of the reaction chamber; vaporizing the liquid precursor; and subjecting the vaporized precursor, in the absence of a carrier gas and in the absence in a reactive gas, to a plasma under conditions effective to disassociate the vaporized precursor and promote diamond growth on the substrate in a pressure range from about 70 to 130 Torr.

Abstract: A method of forming diamond crystals and diamond films from a dissociated precursor solution of methanol and at least one carbon containing compound having a carbon to oxygen ration of greater than one is disclosed. The A hot filament is applied to dissociate the vaporized precursor of the premixed solution and generate oxidizing and etching radicals such as OH. O, H as well as carbon depositing radicals such as CH3. Graphitic and amorphous carbon deposition is suppressed or preferentially etched resulting in the net deposition of good quality diamond crystals and diamond films.

Abstract: A composite is described having a three dimensional distribution of carbon nanotubes. The critical aspect of such composites is a nonwoven network of randomly oriented fibers connected at their junctions to afford macropores in the spaces between the fibers. A variety of fibers may be employed, including metallic fibers, and especially nickel fibers. The composite has quite desirable properties for cold field electron emission applications, such as a relatively low turn-on electric field, high electric field enhancement factors, and high current densities. The composites of this invention also show favorable properties for other an electrode applications. Several methods, which also have general application in carbon nanotube production, of preparing these composites are described and employ a liquid feedstock of oxyhydrocarbons as carbon nanotube precursors.

Abstract: An improved process for smoothing the surface of a diamond or diamond film comprises placing the surface of the diamond against the surface of a metal plate and heating the diamond and the plate to a temperature greater than the melting point of metal carbide and less than the melting point of the metal itself. The carbon atoms in the diamond diffuse or dissolve through solid state diffusion into the metal to form metal carbide. The metal carbide melts and around the points of contact between the diamond and the metal surface, which accelerates the diffusion or dissolution of the diamond and thereby accelerates the smoothing of the diamond surface. When the surface of the diamond is smoothed, it is cooled, removed from the plate, and cleaned of residual metal carbide.

Abstract: A method of forming cubic phase boron nitride films in which a hexagonal boron nitride film target is positioned in front of an RF magnetron sputtering gun and is impacted with ions to cause atoms of boron and nitrogen to be sputtered away from the target and toward a substrate. At the same time, electrons are emitted into the system by an electron emitter, which electrons are attracted to the substrate as the boron and nitrogen atoms are being deposited on the substrate. The electrons cause the boron and nitrogen atoms to be reformed on the substrate as cubic phase boron nitride while suppressing the formation of other, less desirable forms of boron nitride films.

Abstract: Capacitor structure capable of achieving increased energy storage density is disclosed together with a fabrication sequence for the capacitor and its anodic oxide dielectric material. Soft porous aluminum oxide which has been formed in a first anodization step and has been densified or transformed to hard barrier oxide in a second anodization step is preferred for the capacitor dielectric material. The first anodization may be performed in a sulfuric acid electrolyte while the second anodization may be performed in a boric acid electrolyte. The boric acid may be diluted with ethylene glycol. The disclosed capacitor is fabricated on a silicon wafer substrate.

Abstract: A spiral hollow cathode having adjacent layers which are equivalent to a two-dimensional array of small hollow cathodes. The cathode may be used for producing large area electron beams and for plasma-assisted deposition of films such as diamond over a large area without requiring heating external to the plasma itself.

Abstract: A metallic oxide such as aluminum oxide of significantly improved electrical properties is disclosed. The method of oxide formation includes a combination of soft porous anodization followed by transformation to a hard barrier form of oxide using inter alia low temperature electrolytes, constant voltage anodizing, and timely rate of current change responsive termination of the anodizing process. Use of the resulting oxide in electrical insulation, optic and other environments is contemplated.