Abstract: A rechargeable battery has a battery cell at least partially enclosed by a casing. The battery cell comprises (1) a substrate; (2) a cathode and cathode current collector on the substrate, the cathode being electrically coupled to the cathode current collector; (3) an electrolyte electrically coupled to the cathode or cathode current collector; and (4) a permeable anode current collector having a first surface electrically coupled to the electrolyte and an opposing second surface, the permeable anode current collector: (1) having a thickness that is less than about 1000 Å and that is sufficiently small to allow cathode material to permeate therethrough to form an anode on the opposing second surface of the permeable anode current collector when the battery cell is electrically charged, and (2) that is absent an overlayer on the opposing second surface of the anode current collector. Positive and negative terminals are electrically connected to the battery cell.

Abstract: A thin film battery 10 comprises a substrate 12 which permits the battery 10 to be fabricated to provide higher energy density. In one embodiment, the substrate 12 of the battery 10 comprises mica. A crystalline lithium metal oxide film may be used as the cathode film 18.

Abstract: A wear-resistant component comprises a workpiece having a coating comprising at least one crystalline layer comprising metal boride and at least one amorphous layer comprising metal and boron. The amorphous layer can further comprise one or more of carbon, nitrogen, halogen, or hydrogen. Preferably, the coating comprises a plurality of composite layers, each composite layer comprises a crystalline titanium diboride layer and an amorphous layer comprising metal and boron. The wear-resistant component has a wear rate of 3.5×10−6 mm3/nm, which is about 250 times lower than that of an uncoated component.