Abstract: Single-phase lithium-transition metal oxide compounds containing cobalt, manganese and nickel can be prepared by wet milling cobalt-, manganese-, nickel- and lithium-containing oxides or oxide precursors to form a finely-divided slurry containing well-distributed cobalt, manganese, nickel and lithium, and heating the slurry to provide a lithium-transition metal oxide compound containing cobalt, manganese and nickel and having a substantially single-phase O3 crystal structure. Wet milling provides significantly shorter milling times than dry milling and appears to promote formation of single-phase lithium-transition metal oxide compounds. The time savings in the wet milling step more than offsets the time that may be required to dry the slurry during the heating step.

Abstract: A method of increasing the efficiency of a multiphoton absorption process and apparatus. The method includes: providing a photoreactive composition; providing a source of sufficient light for simultaneous absorption of at least two photons; exposing the photoreactive composition to at least one transit of light from the light source; and directing at least a portion of the first transit of the light back into the photoreactive composition using at least one optical element, wherein a plurality of photons not absorbed in at least one transit are used to expose the photoreactive composition in a subsequent transit.

Abstract: A process for fabricating of an article by exposing a photoreactive composition to light under multiphoton absorption conditions. The light passes through an optical system having a final optical element having a numeric aperture in a range of from 0.65 to 1.25, inclusive.

Abstract: A method of multiphoton photosensitizing a photoreactive composition comprises irradiating the composition with 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 composition comprises: (a) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing such reaction; and (b) at least one multi-component, multiphoton photoinitiator system.

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: A process for producing microfluidic articles comprises (a) preparing a photoreactive composition comprising (1) at least one reactive species that is a polymer or a polymer precursor and that is capable of undergoing an acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction and (2) at least one multiphoton photoinitiator system; (b) exposing a portion of the composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby forming exposed and unexposed portions of the composition, and thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction in the exposed portion; and (c) removing either the exposed or the unexposed portion of the composition, so as to form a microfluidic article comprising a seamless polymer matrix that defines at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a microfluid processing architecture that is capable of fluidic communication with the inlet and the outlet and that is otherwise fully enclosed within the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A method of multiphoton photosensitizing comprises (a) providing a multiphoton-activatable, photoreactive composition comprising (1) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing an acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction, and (2) a photoinitiator system comprising photochemically-effective amounts of (i) at least one type of semiconductor nanoparticle that has at least one electronic excited state that is accessible by absorption of two or more photons, and (ii) a composition that is capable of interacting with the excited state of the semiconductor nanoparticle to form at least one reaction-initiating species; and (b) irradiating the multiphoton-activatable, photoreactive composition with light sufficient to cause 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.

Abstract: A method of multiphoton photosensitizing a photoreactive composition comprises irradiating the composition with 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 composition comprises: (a) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing such reaction; and (b) at least one multi-component, multiphoton photoinitiator system.

Abstract: A method of delivering active material using microbeads comprising droplets of active material entrained in a hydrophilic matrix. Compositions comprising the microbeads may be sprayable. The microbeads of the invention may be controllable by exposing the microbeads to high or low humidity or moisture.

Abstract: A water- and oil-repellent, antistatic composition comprises (a) at least one nonpolymeric ionic salt consisting of (i) at least one cation selected from the group consisting of monovalent metal cations, divalent metal cations, and organic onium cations, and (ii) at least one weakly coordinating anion, the conjugate acid of the anion having an acidity greater than or equal to that of a hydrocarbon sulfonic acid, and with the proviso that the anion is organic or fluoroorganic when the cation is a metal; (b) at least one fluorochemical repellency-imparting additive or repellent; and (c) at least one insulating material. The composition exhibits good antistatic and repellency characteristics.

Abstract: Novel catalyst systems in cationically curable compositions provide colorless cationically cured compositions with improved degree of cure and thermal stability. The curable composition comprises at least one cationically curable monomer and a curing agent comprising Photocurative A or Photocurative B. Photocurative A comprises an effective amount of an accelerating photochemically active salt comprising a photochemically active cation and an accelerating anion, and an effective amount of an inhibiting non-photochemically active salt comprising a non-photochemically active cation and an inhibiting anion. Photocurative B comprises an effective amount of an inhibiting photochemically active salt comprising a photochemically active cation and an inhibiting anion, and an effective amount of an accelerating non-photochemically active salt comprising a non-photochemically active cation and an accelerating anion.

Abstract: A II-VI semiconductor device includes a stack of II-VI semiconductor layers electrically connected to a top electrical contact. A GaAs substrate is provided which supports the stack of II-VI semiconductor layers and is positioned opposite to the top electrical contacts. A BeTe buffer layer is provided between the GaAs substrate and the stack of II-VI semiconductor layers. The BeTe buffer layer reduces stacking fault defects at the interface between the GaAs substrate and the stack of II-VI semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A multiphoton-activatable, photoreactive composition comprises: (a) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing an acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction; (b) a photochemically-effective amount of a multiphoton photosensitizer comprising at least one multiphoton up-converting inorganic phosphor; and (c) a photochemically-effective amount of a one-photon photoinitiator system that is capable of being photosensitized by the multiphoton photosensitizer.

Abstract: An antistatic composition comprises (a) at least one ionic salt consisting of a nonpolymeric nitrogen onium cation and a weakly coordinating fluoroorganic anion, the conjugate acid of the anion being a superacid; and (b) at least one thermoplastic polymer. The composition exhibits good antistatic performance over a wide range of humidity levels.

Abstract: Improved lithium-ion batteries in which the cathode comprises particles that include (i) transition metal grains having a grain size no greater than about 50 nanometers; and (ii) lithium-containing grains selected from the group consisting of lithium oxides, lithium sulfides, lithium halides (e.g., chloride, bromides, iodides, or fluorides), and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes a plurality of composite particles and a plurality of electrically conductive diluent particles admixed with the composite particles. Each of the composite particles includes an electrochemically active metal particle and an electrically conductive layer partially covering the particle. In one aspect, the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 wt. % of the composite, while in another aspect the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 vol. % of the composite. Also featured are lithium ion batteries featuring electrodes made from these compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reducing the amount of monomeric polyisocyanate in a composition comprising a polymer or oligomer bearing isocyanate groups, the method comprising reacting the composition with a quenching agent, the quenching agent comprising an arylalkyl alcohol and an alkoxysilane bearing a secondary amino group.

Abstract: A water- and oil-repellent, antistatic composition comprises (a) at least one nonpolymeric ionic salt consisting of (i) at least one cation selected from the group consisting of monovalent metal cations, divalent metal cations, and organic onium cations, and (ii) at least one weakly coordinating anion, the conjugate acid of the anion having an acidity greater than or equal to that of a hydrocarbon sulfonic acid, and with the proviso that the anion is organic or fluoroorganic when the cation is a metal; (b) at least one fluorochemical repellency-imparting additive or repellent; and (c) at least one insulating material. The composition exhibits good antistatic and repellency characteristics.

Abstract: A water- and oil-repellent composition comprises (a) a repellency-imparting, fluorochemical composition comprising at least one fluorine-containing aromatic ester oligomer comprising (1) at least two repeat units derived or derivable from the reaction of at least one dicarboxylic acid (or a derivative thereof) and at least one polyol, with the proviso that either the dicarboxylic acid (or derivative) or the polyol (or both) is aromatic or heteroaromatic, and (2) fluorochemical endgroups derived or derivable from the reaction of (i) the dicarboxylic acid (or derivative) and at least one fluorine-containing monoalcohol, or (ii) the polyol and at least one fluorine-containing monocarboxylic acid; and (b) a treatable substrate; with the proviso that, when the treatable substrate comprises a mixture of at least two polymers, the mixture is non-stratifying.

Abstract: Novel carbonate compounds and novel carbamate compounds comprise at least one carbonate or carbamate moiety that is directly bonded only to groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, alkenyl groups, cycloalkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, cycloalkynyl groups, and combinations thereof, the groups optionally containing one or more catenary heteroatoms. At least one of the directly-bonded groups comprises at least one sulfonyl moiety. The compounds are useful as solvents for the electrolyte salts used in electrochemical devices.