Abstract: A surface treatment process comprises (a) providing at least one substrate having at least one major surface; (b) combining (1) at least one curable oligomeric or polymeric polysilazane comprising at least one chemically reactive site, and (2) at least one fluorochemical compound comprising (i) at least one organofluorine or heteroorganofluorine moiety that comprises at least about six perfluorinated carbon atoms, and (ii) at least one functional group that is capable of reacting with the polysilazane through at least one of the chemically reactive sites; (c) allowing or inducing the polysilazane and the fluorochemical compound to react to form at least one curable organofluorine-modified polysilazane; (d) applying the curable organofluorine-modified polysilazane or its precursors to at least a portion of at least one major surface of the substrate; and (e) curing the curable organofluorine-modified polysilazane to form a surface treatment.

Abstract: A composition for preparing curable organofluorine-modified polysilazanes comprises (a) at least one curable oligomeric or polymeric polysilazane comprising at least one chemically reactive site; and (b) at least one fluorochemical compound comprising (1) at least one organofluorine or heteroorganofluorine moiety, and (2) at least one functional group that is capable of reacting with the curable oligomeric or polymeric polysilazane through at least one of the chemically reactive sites of the polysilazane. The curable organofluorine-modified polysilazanes can be prepared by combining the components of the composition and allowing or inducing the components to react.

Abstract: A composition comprises a distribution of telomers of ethylene and at least one fluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkyl halide, the telomers comprising at least one polymethylene segment (—(CH2)n—) and at least one halomethyl group (—CXH2) and optionally comprising at least one non-fluorine heteroatom, and the halogen being selected from iodine and bromine; wherein the distribution has a number average ratio of methylene moieties of the polymethylene segment to the halomethyl groups of at least about 15.

Abstract: A process comprises (a) combining (1) at least one base and (2) at least one metal carboxylate salt comprising (i) a metal cation selected from metal cations that form amphoteric metal oxides or oxyhydroxides and (ii) a carboxylate anion comprising from one to four alkyleneoxy moieties, or metal carboxylate salt precursors comprising (i) at least one metal salt comprising the metal cation and a non-interfering anion and (ii) at least one carboxylic acid comprising from one to four alkyleneoxy moieties, at least one salt of the carboxylic acid and a non-interfering, non-metal cation, or a mixture thereof; and (b) allowing the base and the metal carboxylate salt or metal carboxylate salt precursors to react.

Abstract: A hydrofluoroether compound comprises two terminal, independently fluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkyl groups and an intervening oxytetrafluoroethylidene moiety (—OCF(CF3)—) bonded through its central carbon atom to an alkoxy- or fluoroalkoxy-substituted fluoromethylene moiety (—CF(OR)—), each of the terminal groups optionally comprising at least one catenated heteroatom.

Abstract: A sound barrier comprises a substantially periodic array of structures disposed in a first medium having a first density, the structures being made of a second medium having a second density different from the first density, wherein one of the first and second media is a viscoelastic medium having a speed of propagation of longitudinal sound wave and a speed of propagation of transverse sound wave, the speed of propagation of longitudinal sound wave being at least about 30 times the speed of propagation of transverse sound wave, and wherein the other of the first and second media is a viscoelastic or elastic medium.

Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons/thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures. Each one of the array of light extraction structures has at least one shape factor; the shape factor may vary across the array. At least one light extraction structure may have the geometric configuration of a truncated asphere.

Abstract: A process comprises combining in a batchwise, semi-continuous, or continuous manner, or a combination thereof, in the presence of at least one free radical initiator, and at a temperature sufficient to cause the initiator to fragment to form free radicals, (a) at least one telogen selected from (1) fluoroalkyl halides that comprise at least one halomethylene moiety (—CHX—) and, optionally, at least one non-fluorine heteroatom, and (2) perfluoroalkyl halides that comprise at least one halofluoromethylene moiety (—CFX—) and at least one non-halogen heteroatom, the halides being selected from iodides and bromides; and (b) ethylene; the telogen and the ethylene being combined in total amounts such that the number of moles of ethylene per mole of telogen is at least about 4.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped structure is prepared from a multi-photon reactive composition including: (a) at least one reactive species; (b) a multi-photon photoinitiator system; and (c) a plurality of substantially inorganic particles, wherein the particles have an average particle size of less than about 10 microns in diameter.

Abstract: A method for enhancing photoreactive absorption in a specified volume element of a photoreactive composition. In one embodiment, the method includes: providing a photoreactive composition: providing a source of light (preferably, a pulsed laser) sufficient for simultaneous absorption of at least two photons by the photoreactive composition, the light source having a beam capable of being divided: dividing the light beam into a plurality of equal path length exposure beams: and focusing the exposure beams in a substantially non-counter propagating manner at a single volume element of the photoreactive composition simultaneously to react at least a portion of the photoreactive composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrofluoroether compound comprising two terminal fluoroalkyl groups and an intervening substituted or unsubstituted oxymethylene group, each of the fluoroalkyl groups comprising only one hydrogen atom and, optionally, at least one catenated (that is, in-chain) heteroatom; with the proviso that the hydrogen atom is part of a monofluoromethylene moiety.

Abstract: A process comprises (a) providing a substantially inorganic photoreactive composition comprising (1) at least one cationically reactive species, (2) a multi-photon photoinitiator system, and 10 (3) a plurality of precondensed, inorganic nanoparticles; (b) exposing, using a multibeam interference technique involving at least three beams, at least a portion of the photoreactive composition to radiation of appropriate wavelength, spatial distribution, and intensity to produce a two-dimensional or three-dimensional periodic pattern of reacted and non-reacted portions of the photoreactive composition; (c) exposing at least a portion of the non-reacted portion of the photoreactive composition to radiation of appropriate wavelength and intensity to cause multi-photon absorption and photoreaction to form additional reacted portion; (d) removing the non-reacted portion or the reacted portion of the photoreactive composition to form interstitial void space; and (e) at least partially filling the interstitial void space

Abstract: Methods of fabricating optical elements that are encapsulated in monolithic matrices. The present invention is based, at least in one aspect, upon the concept of using multiphoton, multi-step photocuring to fabricate encapsulated optical element(s) within a body of a photopolymerizable composition. Imagewise, multi-photon polymerization techniques are used to form the optical element. The body surrounding the optical element is also photohardened by blanket irradiation and/or thermal curing to help form an encapsulating structure. In addition, the composition also incorporates one or more other, non-diffusing binder components that may be thermosetting or thermoplastic. The end result is an encapsulated structure with good hardness, durability, dimensional stability, resilience, and toughness.

Abstract: A process for making a microlens array or a microlens array masterform comprises (a) providing a photoreactive composition, the photoreactive composition comprising (1) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing an acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction, and (2) at least one multiphoton photoinitiator system; and (b) imagewise exposing at least a portion of the composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of microlenses, each of the microlenses having a principal axis and a focal length, and at least one of the microlenses being an aspherical microlens.

Abstract: A method of producing Liy[NixCo1?2xMnx]O2 wherein 0.025?x?0.5 and 0.9?y?1.3. The method includes mixing [NixCo1?2xMnx]OH2 with LiOH or Li2CO3 and one or both of alkali metal fluorides and boron compounds, preferably one or both of LiF and B2O3. The mixture is heated sufficiently to obtain a composition of Liy[NixCo1?2xMnx]O2 sufficiently dense for use in a lithium-ion battery cathode. Compositions so densified exhibit a minimum reversible volumetric energy characterized by the formula [1833-333x] measured in Wh/L.

Abstract: A fluorochemical ketone compound consists of two terminal, branched, independently fluoroalkylcarbonyl or perfluoroalkylcarbonyl groups and an intervening linear perfluoropolyether segment, each of the terminal groups optionally comprising at least one catenated heteroatom, and the perfluoropolyether segment consisting essentially of at least one tetrafluoroethyleneoxy moiety and, optionally, at least one difluoromethyleneoxy moiety, the moieties being randomly or non-randomly distributed within the perfluoropolyether segment.

Abstract: A photoreactive composition comprises (a) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing an acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction; and (b) a photoinitiator system comprising photochemically-effective amounts of (1) at least one type of semiconductor nanoparticle quantum dot that has at least one electronic excited state that is accessible by absorption of two or more photons, and (2) a composition, different from said reactive species, that is capable of interacting with the excited state of the semiconductor nanoparticle quantum dot to form at least one reaction-initiating species.

Abstract: A cathode composition for a lithium ion battery that contains lithium having the formula (a) Liy[M1(1?b)Mnb]O2 or (b) Liy[M1(1?b)Mnb]O1.5+c where 0?y<1, 0<b<1 and 0<c<0.5 and M1 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that for (a) M1 is a metal element other than chromium. The composition is in a form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

Abstract: The use of an alternating current (ac) source to power logic circuitry can support satisfactory device performance for a variety of applications, while enhancing long-term stability of the circuitry. For example, when organic thin film transistor (OTFT)-based logic circuitry is powered by an ac power source, the logic circuitry exhibits stable performance characteristics over an extended period of operation. Enhanced stability may permit the use of OTFT logic circuitry to form a variety of circuit devices, including inverters, oscillators, logic gates, registers and the like. Such circuit devices may find application in a variety of applications, including integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, flat panel displays, smart cards, cell phones, and RFID tags. In some applications, the ac-powered logic circuitry may eliminate the need for ac-dc rectification components, thereby reducing the manufacturing time, expense, cost, complexity, and size of the component carrying the circuitry.

Abstract: An anode composition that includes an elastomeric polymer binder, a plurality of electrochemically active metal particles dispersed in the binder, an electrically conductive diluent, and an adhesion promoter that promotes adhesion among the particles, the diluent, and the binder. Also featured are lithium ion batteries featuring anodes made from these compositions.