Abstract: An active material mixture for use in a paste for fabricating positive electrodes, comprising a nickel hydroxide material, and an additive material comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of a rare earth mineral, and a rare earth concentrate. A nickel positive electrode and an alkaline electrochemical cell using this active material mixture.

Abstract: A process for fabricating synthetic materials by atomic alloying of a host material. Energetic high vapor pressure modifier elements or species are introduced into the host matrix of a fluidic precursor high metling point material so as to obtain an engineered material characterized by a range of controllable optical electrical, thermal, chemical or mechanical properties not exhibited by either the modifier or the precursor material. The method for forming a synthetically engineered material by forming a fluid host matrix material on a moving substrate surface, such as a wheel; directing a plurality of discrete fluid modifier materials, activated or unactivated, in a stream, as from a nozzle, toward the substrate surface in a direction such that it converges with the host matrix material to produce a ribbon of modified material.

Abstract: A universal memory element having multi-level, non-detectable states and methods and apparatus for programming the same, and methods and applications embodying the same in neural networks, artificial intelligence and data storage systems. The universal memory element is programmed by applying one or more sub-interval energy pulses insufficient to switch the memory element from said high resistance state to said low resistance state, but sufficient to modify the memory material such that accumulation of additional energy pulses causes the memory element to switch from said high resistance state to said low resistance state.

Abstract: A powder delivery system for delivering an electrode powder to a compaction device where the powder is compressed onto an electrically conductive substrate, the powder delivery system comprises a powder feed channel which is vibrated to effect powder movement therethrough and delivery therefrom. An accelerometer is coupled to the powder feed channel for measuring the acceleration of the channel as it vibrates. The actual measured acceleration is used to control the vibration of the channel.

Abstract: A novel method for forming powder of a hydrogen storage alloy without the need for further mechanical processing. The alloy powder may be adapted for use as the negative electrode material of rechargeable electrochemical, hydrogen storage cells. The method includes the step of controlling the hydrogen concentration within the hydrogen storage alloy to form powder where 90% of the particles are less than 250 microns in average dimension.

Abstract: A mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage material having 75-95 atomic percent Mg, 5-15 atomic percent Ni, 0.5-6 atomic percent Mo, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Al, C, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, Nd, Si, Ti, V, and Zr, preferably between 1-15 atomic %. The mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage preferably contains from 3-15 atomic % C and at least one other element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ca, Ce, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, and Nd. The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.

Abstract: A self-heating metal-hydride hydrogen storage system comprising: a primary metal-hydride storage container housing a metal-hydride hydrogen storage material, the primary storage container having a hydrogen outlet port; a hydrogen combustor housed within the primary metal-hydride storage container and surrounded by the high-temperature storage material, the combustor having a hydrogen inlet port gaseously connected to the hydrogen outlet port of the primary storage container; and means for supplying hydrogen gaseously connected to the hydrogen inlet port of the combustor.

Abstract: An electrically operated, single cell memory element comprising: a volume of memory material defining a single-cell memory element, the memory material comprising a heterogeneous mixture of a phase-change material and a dielectric material; and means for delivering an electrical signal to at least a portion of the volume of memory material. An electrically operated, single-cell memory element comprising: a volume of memory material defining the single-cell memory element, the memory material comprising a phase-change material and a dielectric material where the phase-change material has a plurality of detectable resistivity values and can be set directly to one of the resistivity values without the need to be set to a specific starting or erased resistivity value, regardless of the previous resistivity value of the material, in response to an electrical signal; and means for delivering the electrical signal to at least a portion of the volume of memory material.

Abstract: A method for producing a structurally modified nickel hydroxide active material for the positive electrode of an alkaline electrochemical cell. The method comprises the steps of combining a nickel ion solution, an ammonium hydroxide solution, and an alkali metal hydroxide solution to form a reaction mixture; and cycling the supersaturation of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A method of programming an electrically programmable phase-change memory element to the low resistance state. A first pulse of energy sufficient to transform the device from the low to high resistance states is applied, and a second pulse of energy sufficient to transform the device from the high to low resistance states is applied following the first pulse. In another programming method, the present and desired device states are compared, and programming pulses are applied only if the state of the device needs to be changed.

Abstract: A novel high speed, high quality plasma enhanced surface modification or CVD thin-film deposition method and apparatus. The invention employs both microwave and e-beam energy for creation of a plasma of excited species which modify the surface of substrates or are deposited onto substrates to form the desired thin film. The invention also employs a gas jet system to introduce the reacting species to the plasma. This gas jet system allows for higher deposition speed than conventional PECVD processes while maintaining the desired high quality of the deposited materials.

Abstract: An nickel hydroxide positive electrode active material which can be made by an ultrasonic precipitation method. The nickel hydroxide active material is characterized by the composition: ##EQU1## where x, the number of water ligands surrounding each Ni cation, is between 0.05 and 0.4 and y is the charge on the anions.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material mixture comprising: a nickel hydroxide material, and an additive material comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of calcium cobalt oxide, calcium titanium oxide, calcium molybdenum oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, and mixtures thereof. A nickel positive electrode comprising this active material mixture. A nickel-based, alkaline electrochemical cell comprising this positive electrode.

Abstract: An optical recording medium comprising one or more recording layers. At least one of the recording layers comprising an optical phase-change memory material, the optical phase-change memory material comprising: an optical phase-change alloy; and at least one modifier element, added to the optical phase-change alloy, that increases the erasability of the optical recording medium by at least 3 dB.

Abstract: A solid state battery comprising a substrate; at least one multilayered electrochemical cell deposited onto the substrate, each multilayered electrochemical cell comprising: a layer of disordered hydrogenated carbon material negative electrode material capable of electrochemically adsorbing and desorbing lithium ions or both lithium and hydrogen ions during charge and discharge; a layer of positive electrode material capable of electrochemically desorbing and adsorbing lithium ions or both lithium and hydrogen ions during charge and discharge; and a layer of insulating/conducting material disposed between the layer of positive electrode material and the layer of negative electrode material, where the layer of insulating/conducting material is electrically insulating and capable of readily conducting or transporting lithium ions or both lithium and hydrogen ions from the layer positive electrode material to the layer of negative electrode material while the battery is charging and from the layer of negative el

Abstract: Mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage materials having a major atomic percentage of magnesium and a minor atomic percentage of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, iron and titanium. Preferably the mechanical alloy comprises a multi-phase material, including at least one amorphous phase. Also, the at least two elements are preferably either nickel (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and molybdenum (from about 0.5 to 5 at. %) or iron (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and titanium (from about 5 to 15 at. %). The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.

Abstract: A metal hydride hydrogen storage system comprising: at least a first metal hydride storage module directly coupled to an identical second metal hydride storage module, where each of the storage modules comprises: a metal hydride pressure vessel having a first and a second valved port; and a metal hydride material disposed within the pressure vessel; where the second valved port of the first module is directly coupled to the first valved port of said second module. The first and second valved ports of each of the storage modules may be adapted so that they are normally closed and so that said second valved port of the first module and the first valved port of the second module are urged open upon direct coupling.

Abstract: A positive electrode for use in alkaline rechargeable electrochemical cells comprising: a material comprising a compositionally and structurally disordered multiphase nickel hydroxide host matrix which includes at least one modifier chosen from the group consisting of F, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ba, La, Se, Nd, Pr, Y, Co, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sc, Sn, Sb, Te, Bi, Ru, and Pb.

Abstract: An electrically operated, directly overwritable memory element comprising a volume of memory material having at least two electrical resistance values. The volume of memory material can be set to one of the resistance values in response to a selected electrical input signal without the need to be set to a specific starting or erased resistance value. The memory element includes resistive layers for controlling the distribution of electrical energy within the memory material, heating layers for transferring heat energy into the memory material, and thermal insulation layers for reducing the loss of heat energy from the memory material.

Abstract: Mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage materials having a major atomic percentage of magnesium and a minor atomic percentage of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, iron and titanium. Preferably the mechanical alloy comprises a multi-phase material, including at least one amorphous phase. Also, the at least two elements are preferably either nickel (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and molybdenum (from about 0.5 to 5 at. %) or iron (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and titanium (from about 5 to 15 at. %). The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.