Abstract: An improved structure of nano-scaled and nanostructured Si particles is provided for use as anode material for lithium ion batteries. The Si particles are prepared as a composite coated with MgO and metallurgically bonded over a conductive refractory valve metal support structure.

Abstract: A plasma CVD apparatus efficiently coats the surfaces of fine particles with a thin film or super-fine particles by concentrating a plasma near the fine particles. The plasma CVD apparatus includes a chamber, a container disposed in the chamber for housing the fine particles, the container having a polygonal inner shape in a cross section substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container, a ground shielding member for shielding a surface of the container other than a housing face, a rotation mechanism for causing the container to rotate or act as a pendulum on an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the cross section, an opposed electrode disposed in the container so as to face the housing face, a plasma power source electrically connected to the container, a gas introducing mechanism for introducing a raw gas into the container, and an evacuation mechanism for evacuating the chamber.

Abstract: Provided is an anode for an electrolytic device formed of a substantially uniform mixture of elongated elements with capacitor grade tantalum powders of tantalum metal. Also provided is a method for forming an anode or cathode for an electrolytic device formed of a substantially uniform mixture of elongated elements of a valve metal and a conductive powder metal.

Abstract: A material transport property measurement system includes an ellipsometry system, a heat capacity measurement system, and a controller. The ellipsometry system has a light source to generate a light which passes through a polarizer and shines on a sample. The sample reflects the light to an integrated polarization analyzer, which includes multiple polarizers with different polarization angles distributed from 0 to 180 degrees. A detector assembly includes multiple detectors corresponding to the multiple polarizers to detect light passing through the respective polarizers and generate multiple first electrical signals. The heat capacity measurement system measures a temperature parameter of the sample using a non-contact method, and outputs a second electrical signal. The controller analyzes the second and the multiple first electrical signals to obtain the transport properties of the material. A material transport property measurement method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for rapid ellipsometry. The apparatus contains a light source, a polarizer, a sample stage, an integrated polarization analyzer, and a detector assembly. The light emitted by light source is polarized by the polarizer and shines on the sample mounted on sample stage. The light is reflected from the sample surface and passes through the integrated polarization analyzer. The analyzer contains multiple polarizers with different polarization angles from 0 to 180 degrees for transmitting light from the sample. The detector assembly includes multiple detectors corresponding one-to-one with the multiple polarizers, for independently determining the light intensity transmitted by each polarizer. The current invention provides a rapid ellipsometry apparatus that is highly efficient, with the fastest acquisition time down to nanosecond scale for obtaining dynamic parameters of the sample.

Abstract: A plasma CVD apparatus efficiently coats the surfaces of fine particles with a thin film or super-fine particles by concentrating a plasma near the fine particles. The plasma CVD apparatus includes a chamber, a container disposed in the chamber for housing the fine particles, the container having a polygonal inner shape in a cross section substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container, a ground shielding member for shielding a surface of the container other than a housing face, a rotation mechanism for causing the container to rotate or act as a pendulum on an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the cross section, an opposed electrode disposed in the container so as to face the housing face, a plasma power source electrically connected to the container, a gas introducing mechanism for introducing a raw gas into the container, and an evacuation mechanism for evacuating the chamber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a crystal film including: forming a Zr film on a substrate heated to 700° C. or more by a vapor deposition method using a vapor deposition material having a Zr single crystal; forming a ZrO2 film on said Zr film on a substrate heated to 700° C. or more, by a vapor deposition method using said vapor deposition material having a Zr single crystal, and oxygen; and forming a Y2O3 film on said ZrO2 film on a substrate heated to 700° C. or more, by a vapor deposition method using a vapor deposition material having Y, and oxygen.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to ferroelectric ceramics including a stacked film formed on a Si substrate, a Pt film formed on the stacked film, a SrTiO3 film formed on the Pt film, and a PZT film formed on the SrTiO3, wherein the stacked film is formed by repeating sequentially N times a first ZrO2 film and a Y2O3 film, and a second ZrO2 film is formed on the film formed repeatedly N times, the N being an integer of 1 or more. It is preferable that a ratio of Y/(Zr+Y) of the stacked film is 30% or less.

Abstract: A method of preparation of an article having a sliding surface and comprising graphitic particles, comprises the steps of: i) impregnating open porosity in a porous body with a resin comprising graphitic particles; and ii) hardening said resin.

Abstract: A method for controlling a microwave heating system is provided. The method may be used with a system having a liquid-filled microwave heating chamber and includes measuring the value of one or more microwave system parameters. Suitable parameters can include, for example, net microwave power discharged, the temperature of the liquid in the microwave chamber, the flow rate of liquid through the microwave chamber, and the speed of the conveyance system disposed within the microwave chamber. The measured value of the selected parameter is then compared to a target value for that parameter in order to determine a difference. Based on the difference, one or more actions can be taken in order to start, stop, or alter the operation of the microwave heating system.

Abstract: A microwave heating system configured to heat a plurality of articles is provided. The microwave heating system includes a microwave splitter, a pair of microwave launchers, and at least one inductive iris disposed between the splitter and the launch opening of one of the launchers. A microwave launcher suitable for use in such a heating system is also provided. The launcher includes an inductive iris disposed within the interior of the launcher, spaced between its inlet and outlet and obstructing at least a portion of the microwave pathway.

Abstract: A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2°. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2° from the horizontal.

Abstract: A microwave heating system configured to heat a plurality of articles is provided. The microwave heating system can include one or more microwave launchers that define at least one launch opening having a depth of not more than about 0.625?, wherein ? is the predominant wavelength of the microwave energy passing through the launcher. Additionally, in some embodiments, the launch opening may have a width or depth that is less than the corresponding inlet dimension, such that the microwave launcher has a generally tapered profile. When the microwave launcher includes a single inlet and two or more launch openings, the center points of adjacent outlets may be laterally spaced from one another relative to the direction in which the articles are passed through the heating chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a photocatalytic structure comprising a carrier and a photocatalytic film formed on the carrier, in which the photocatalytic film comprises titanium dioxide with shape of rhombus particles. The titanium dioxide particle has anatase structure. The titanium dioxide particle is rhombus with a major axis 10-15 nm and minor axis 3-6 nm. The photocatalytic film which is formed by titanium dioxide with shape of rhombus particles has a high overall photocatalytic activity so that the effects of stainproofing and self-cleaning can be improved. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing photocatalytic sol-gels.

Abstract: A tissue implant member for implanting in living tissue is provided. The implant is formed of an open structured tantalum filament having a cross-sectional size of less than about 250 microns.

Abstract: A microwave system for heating a plurality of articles and a method of using the same is provided. The microwave heating system comprises at least three microwave launchers and at least three microwave allocation devices for dividing the microwave energy into at least three separate portions. Each allocation device is configured to divide the microwave energy passing therethrough according to a predetermined ratio, and at least one of the allocation devices is configured to divide the microwave energy according to a predetermined ratio that is not 1:1. The resulting energy portions can then be discharged into the microwave heating chamber via the launchers and used to heat a plurality of articles, including foodstuffs, medical fluids, or medical instruments, disposed within the heating chamber.

Abstract: A microwave heating system for continuously heating a plurality of articles and process for using the same are provided. The microwave system includes a thermalization zone for thermalizing the articles to a substantially uniform temperature, a microwave heating zone for increasing the temperature of the articles by at least about 50° C., and a quench zone for cooling the articles after heating. The heating can be carried out at a rate of at least 25° C. per minute. The system also includes at least one conveyance system for transporting the articles through each of the thermalization, microwave heating, and quench zones. The system can be commercial-sized and may have an overall production rate of at least 20 packages per minute per convey line.

Abstract: A microwave heating system configured to heat a plurality of articles is provided. The microwave heating system includes a thermalization zone for adjusting the temperature of the articles disposed therein to be substantially uniform and a microwave heating zone for heating the thermalized articles. At least one of the thermalization zone and microwave heating zone are liquid-filled and may include a plurality of fluid agitators for discharging jets of liquid medium toward the articles at multiple locations within the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for covering a gap that is adjacent a side of a dock plate, which apparatus includes an elongate member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a pin connected to the bottom surface, a tear-resistant material in contact with the bottom surface of the elongate member; and a means for maintaining the contact between the tear-resistant material and the bottom surface.

Abstract: A method for heating a plurality of articles according to a prescribed heating profile is provided. The method includes heating a first test article in a small-scale microwave heating system and, based on the value of one or more parameters determined during this small-scale heating, determining a prescribed heating profile for the test article. Suitable parameters can include for example, net power discharged, sequential microwave distribution, average temperature and flow rate of the fluid in the heating chamber, and residence time. The heating profile can then be used to control a commercial-scale microwave heating system used to heat a plurality of similar articles.