Abstract: An electrochemically disbondable composition is provided having a matrix functionality and an electrolyte functionality. The matrix functionality provides an adhesive bond to a substrate, and the electrolyte functionality provides sufficient ionic conductivity to the composition to support a faradaic reaction at an interface with an electrically conductive surface in contact with the composition, whereby the adhesive bond is weakened at the interface. The composition may be a phase-separated composition having first regions of substantially matrix functionality and second regions of substantially electrolyte functionality. Adhesive and coating compositions and methods of disbonding also are described.

Abstract: Viscous oil residues are located based on fluorescence polarization. Methods and apparatus in accordance with the invention may be integrated with autonomous and remotely operated undersea vehicles to map the location of oil spills.

Abstract: Compositions capable of rapidly curing to a strong substrate bond are removable from a surface to which the composition is bonded without damage to the underlying substrates. The compositions of the present invention may be used in both temporary and permanent bonding and coating applications.

Abstract: Compositions capable of rapidly curing to a strong substrate bond are removable from a surface to which the composition is bonded without damage to the underlying substrates. The compositions of the present invention may be used in both temporary and permanent bonding and coating applications.

Abstract: An electrochemically disbondable composition is provided having a matrix functionality and an electrolyte functionality. The matrix functionality provides an adhesive bond to a substrate, and the electrolyte functionality provides sufficient ionic conductivity to the composition to support a faradaic reaction at an interface with an electrically conductive surface in contact with the composition, whereby the adhesive bond is weakened at the interface. The composition may be a phase-separated composition having first regions of substantially matrix functionality and second regions of substantially electrolyte functionality. Adhesive and coating compositions and methods of disbonding also are described.

Abstract: Compositions capable of rapidly curing to a strong substrate bond are removable from both surfaces between which the compositions are disposed without damage to the underlying substrates. The compositions of the present invention may be used in both temporary and permanent bonding and coating applications.

Abstract: An electrochemically disbondable composition is provided having a matrix functionality and an electrolyte functionality wherein the electrolyte functionality is provided by a block copolymer or a graft copolymer. The matrix functionality provides an adhesive bond to a substrate, and the electrolyte functionality provides sufficient ionic conductivity to the composition to support a faradaic reaction at an interface with an electrically conductive surface in contact with the composition, whereby the adhesive bond is weakened at the interface. The composition may be a phase-separated composition having first regions of substantially matrix functionality and second regions of substantially electrolyte functionality. Adhesive and coating compositions and methods of disbonding also are described.

Abstract: The invention includes systems and methods which allow reactivation of supported noble metal catalysts. The method involves heating the catalyst in the presence of a gaseous hydrocarbon in the absence of oxidizing agents. Systems of the invention provide for in situ reactivation of catalytic material.

Abstract: Conductive polymers having a star structure comprising a central core with multiple attachment sites and conjugated charge transporting arms radiating therefrom. The cores are derived from hyperbranched polymers, dendrimers, or other molecules with a multiplicity of attachment sites. The arms are derived from conjugated oligomers and polymers such as polythiophene, polyaniline or polyphenylene. The subject polymers allow assembly of the macromolecules in all three dimensions in the solid state. A ramification of the compact assembly is the realization of highly reflective, smooth coatings simply applied from solution. A preferred embodiment having a 1,3,5 hyperbranched polyphenylene core and poly (3-hexylthiophene) arms provides lustrous reflective gold coatings.

Abstract: A thin film matrix for biomolecules, suitable for forming electrochemical and biosensors comprising a general class of materials known as hydrous metal oxides which are also conductive or semiconductive of electrons and which have been shown to have excellent stability against dissolution or irreversible reaction in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions. The composites are bifunctional, providing both amperometric and potentiometric (pH) transduction. The thin film composites of the oxides and biological molecules such as enzymes, antibodies, antigens and DNA strands can be used for both amperometric and potentiometric sensing. Hydrous Ir oxide is the preferred matrix embodiment, but conducting or semiconducting oxides, of Ru, Pd, Pt, Zr, Ti and Rh and mixtures thereof have similar features. The hydrous oxides are very stable against oxidation damage.

Abstract: This invention features the use of redox reagents, dissolved in non-aqueous electrolytes, to provide overcharge protection for cells having lithium metal or lithium-ion negative electrodes (anodes). In particular, the invention features the use of a class of compounds consisting of thianthrene and its derivatives as redox shuttle reagents to provide overcharge protection. Specific examples of this invention are thianthrene and 2,7-diacetyl thianthrene. One example of a rechargeable battery in which 2,7-diacetyl thianthrene is used has carbon negative electrode (anode) and spinet LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 positive electrode (cathode).

Abstract: An electro-optical device having an oxidatively coloring electrochromic layer of composition Mn.sub.x V.sub.y O.sub.z, where 0.05 x/y<1, x+2y<z<2x+(5/2)y, and x+y=1, with improved transmittance modulation, the Mn.sub.x V.sub.y O.sub.z providing complementary optical modulation to reductively coloring electrochromic materials in devices employing an all-thin-film configuration with a solid ion conducting electrolyte and in devices employing a laminated configuration with a polymeric ion conducting electrolyte.

Abstract: This invention pertains to passivation-free solid-state rechargeable batteries composed of Li.sub.4 Ti.sub.5 O.sub.12 anode, a solid polymer electrolyte and a high voltage cathode. The solid polymer electrolyte comprises a polymer host, such as polyacrylonitrile, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl sulfone), and poly(vinylidene fluoride), plasticized by a solution of a Li salt in an organic solvent. The high voltage cathode includes LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, LiCoO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2 and LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 and their derivatives.

Abstract: A biomedical device provided with a protective overlayer with high electronic resistivity and low permeability to H.sub.2 O; the protective overlayer comprising at least one thin film of amorphous silicon oxycarbide (a-SiOC:H) in which the oxygen/carbon ratio is such that the electronic resistivity of the a-SiOC:H is greater than 10.sup.14 .OMEGA.-cm and the H.sub.2 O permeability is less than 5.times.10.sup.14 molecules/sec-cm.sup.2.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the use of ferrocenes to provide both overcharge protection and Li dendrite-growth suppression in solid polymer electrolyte-based, rechargeable batteries having anodes of Li and Li-containing compounds. In particular, this invention pertains to the use of acetylferrocene and ferrocene carboxaldehyde in solid polymer electrolyte-based rechargeable batteries with anodes of Li and Li-containing compounds.

Abstract: An electro-optical device comprising a series of thin films with an electrically controllable optical state provided with a protective overlayer that has a high optical transmittance and high resistance to penetration by H.sub.2 O. The protective overlayer is a film of amorphous silicon oxycarbide (a-SiOC:H) having an O to C ratio such that the optical absorption edge of the a-SiOC:H is 3 eV or greater and the H.sub.2 O transport through a 500 nm thick film of a-SiOC:H is 10.sup.12 molecules/cm.sup.2 -s or less.

Abstract: This invention features polymer-based batteries comprising metal anodes and an oxygen gas cathode. The oxygen is not stored in the battery but rather it is accessed from the environment. This solid-state battery is constructed by sandwiching a metal ion conductive polymer electrolyte film between a metal anode (negative electrode) and a composite carbon electrode which serves as the cathode current collector on which the electroactive oxygen is reduced during discharge of the battery to generate electric current. The metal anodes include lithium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, aluminum and zinc.

Abstract: Solid-state rechargeable secondary batteries comprise a composite cathode selected from the group consisting of LiNiO.sub.2, LiCoO.sub.2, and LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4, a separator composed of a solid polymer electrolyte with propylene carbonate as a plasticizer, and a composite anode consisting of graphite, a solid polymer electrolyte containing propylene carbonate and 12-crown-4 ether.

Abstract: This invention relates to Li ion (Li.sup.+) conductive solid polymer electrolytes composed of poly(vinyl sulfone) and lithium salts, and their use in all-solid-state rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The lithium salts comprise low lattice energy lithium salts such as LiN(CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.2, LiAsF.sub.6, and LiClO.sub.4.

Abstract: Catalysts to enhance the discharge rates of Li cells containing sulfur oxyhalide depolarizers are disclosed. A preferred catalyst consists of a mixture of cobalt acetate and polyacrylonitrile.