Abstract: A modular reamer for use in a wellbore comprises an uphole end member, a center member, and a downhole member, with reamer sleeves that removably slides over a sleeve mounting portion of the center member or one of the end members, and are held between the end members and the center members when assembled into a downhole tool. The reamer sleeves may be positioned at any desired rotational angle relative to each other and are prevented from rotational movement relative to the center member by spines or keys formed on the mating surfaces of the reamer sleeves and corresponding members of the modular eccentric reamer.

Abstract: A modular reamer for use in a wellbore comprises an uphole end member, a center member, and a downhole member, with reamer sleeves that removably slides over a sleeve mounting portion of the center member or one of the end members, and are held between the end members and the center members when assembled into a downhole tool. The reamer sleeves may be positioned at any desired rotational angle relative to each other and are prevented from rotational movement relative to the center member by spines or keys formed on the mating surfaces of the reamer sleeves and corresponding members of the modular eccentric reamer.

Abstract: An anode material made from nanoparticles, said anode material including a homogeneous mixture of lithium-alloying nanoparticles with active support matrix nanoparticles, is provided. The active support matrix nanoparticle is a compound that participates in the conversion reaction of the lithium battery. The compound is preferably a transition metal compound, with said compound including a nitride, carbide, oxide or combination thereof. An electrode manufactured from the anode material preferably has a porosity of between 5 and 80% and more preferably has a porosity between 10 and 50%. The anode material nanoparticles preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 500 nanometers, and more preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 50 nanometers.

Abstract: An anode material with lithium-alloying particles contained within a porous support matrix is provided. The porous support matrix preferably has a porosity of between 5 and 80% afforded by porosity channels and expansion accommodation pores, and is electrically conductive. More preferably the support matrix has a porosity of between 10 and 50%. The support matrix is made from an organic polymer, an inorganic ceramic or a hybrid mixture of organic polymer and inorganic ceramic. The organic polymer support matrix and can be made from a rod-coil polymer, a hyperbranched polymer, UV cross-linked polymer, heat cross-linked polymer or combination thereof. An inorganic ceramic support matrix can be made from at least one group IV-VI transition metal compound, with the compound being a nitride, carbide, oxide or combination thereof.

Abstract: An anode material made from nanoparticles, said anode material including a homogeneous mixture of lithium-alloying nanoparticles with active support matrix nanoparticles, is provided. The active support matrix nanoparticle is a compound that participates in the conversion reaction of the lithium battery. The compound is preferably a transition metal compound, with said compound including a nitride, carbide, oxide or combination thereof. An electrode manufactured from the anode material preferably has a porosity of between 5 and 80% and more preferably has a porosity between 10 and 50%. The anode material nanoparticles preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 500 nanometers, and more preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 50 nanometers.

Abstract: A composite material having utility as a cathode material for a lithium ion battery includes a first component which is a metal phosphate and a second component which is a metal nitride, a metal oxynitride, or a mixture of the two. The second component is coated on, or dispersed through the bulk of, the first component. The metal phosphate may be a lithiated metal phosphate and may be based upon one or more transition metals. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the material as well as electrodes fabricated from the material and lithium ion cells which include such electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a doped lithium titanate and its use as an electrode in a battery. Further disclosed is a method for making an alkali metal titanate, which method includes mixing an alkali metal compound and a titanium compound, impact milling the mixture, and heating the milled mixture for a time, and at a temperature, sufficient to convert the mixture to the alkali metal titanate. The alkali metal compound can be in the form of Li2CO3 and the titanium compound can be in the form of TiO2. A dopant may be included in the mixture.

Abstract: A composite material includes a first phase which comprises LixMy(PO4)z wherein M is at least one metal, y and z are independently 0, and x is less than or equal to 1. The material includes a second phase which has an electronic and/or lithium ion conductivity greater than that of the first phase. The material is prepared by heating a starting mixture which includes lithium, iron, a phosphate ion, and a catalyst in a reducing atmosphere. Also disclosed are electrodes which incorporate the material and batteries which utilize those electrodes as cathodes.

Abstract: A battery electrode comprises an electrically conductive substrate having an electrochemically active electrode composition supported thereupon. The composition includes an active material capable of reversibly alloying with lithium, which material shows a volume change upon such reversible alloying. The composition includes a buffering agent which accommodates the volume change in the active material and minimizes mechanical strain in the composition. The active composition may further include materials such as carbon. The active material may comprise silicon, aluminum, antimony, antimony oxides, bismuth, bismuth oxides, tin, tin oxides, chromium, chromium oxides, tungsten, and tungsten oxides or lithium alloys of the foregoing. The buffering agent may comprise a metal or a metal oxide or lithium alloys of the foregoing. Also disclosed are batteries which incorporate these electrodes, methods for the fabrication of the electrodes and methods for the fabrication and operation of the batteries.

Abstract: A catalyst is synthesized by a method in which a catalytic metal such as platinum or another noble metal is dispersed onto a support member. A transition metal macrocycle is also adsorbed onto the support, and the support is heat treated so as to at least partially pyrolyze the macrocycle and anchor the transition metal to the support. The catalytic metal is alloyed with the transition metal either during the pyrolysis step, or in a separate step. The catalyst has significant utility in a variety of applications including use as an oxygen reduction catalyst in fuel cells.

Abstract: A composite electrode material is fabricated from a first electroactive material which, when incorporated into a cathode of a rechargeable battery, manifests a first mean voltage, a first energy density and a first high cutoff voltage cycle life; and a second electroactive material which, when incorporated into a cathode of the rechargeable battery, manifests a second mean voltage which is less than the first mean voltage, a second energy density which is less than the first energy density, and a second high voltage cutoff cycle life which is greater than the first cycle life. The composite material is characterized in that when it is incorporated into a cathode of the rechargeable battery, it manifests at least one of: a third mean voltage which is greater than the second mean voltage, a third energy density which is greater than the second energy density, and a third high cutoff voltage cycle life which is greater than the first cycle life.

Abstract: A multiphase composite material having utility as an electrochemical electrode or catalyst includes a first active phase which is an amorphous, electrochemically active material; and a second, stabilizer phase which includes one or more of: metals, carbon, ceramics, and intermetallic compounds. The stabilizer phase is configured as a plurality of spaced apart regions having the active phase disposed therebetween. The active phase may comprise one or more of: Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb, Ag, In, Si, Ge, and Al. The stabilizer phase may include one or more of: Fe, Zr, Ti, and C. Also disclosed are electrodes and batteries which include the material as well as methods for manufacturing the material by using a mechanical alloying process.

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane for a fuel cell is prepared from a polyimidazole polymer having the formula: wherein R1-R3 are independently H, a halogen, an alkyl or a substituted alkyl. X1 and X2 are independently or an electron withdrawing group such as CN. The membrane may be doped to alter its conductivity. The membrane may be prepared from a copolymer of the polyimidazole. Also disclosed is a fuel cell incorporating the membrane.

Abstract: A multiphase material comprises a ceramic matrix material having one or more of Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb, Ag, In, Si and Ge nanodispersed in the matrix. The ceramic matrix is preferably based upon carbides, nitrides and oxides of group IV-VI transition metals taken singly or in combination.

Abstract: A catalyst comprises an electrically conductive ceramic substrate having at least one noble metal supported thereupon. The substrate may be a transition metal based ceramic such as a carbide, nitride, boride, or silicide of a transition metal, and the noble metal may comprise a mixture of noble metals. The substrate may comprise a high surface area ceramic. Also disclosed are fuel cells incorporating the catalysts.

Abstract: A transition metal based ceramic material having the general formula Li&agr;M1−&bgr;T&bgr;NxO67, wherein M is a transition metal, T is a dopant metal, and wherein x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to l, &dgr; is 0, or less than or equal to 4; &agr; is less than or equal to 3−x, and &bgr; is less than 1 is disclosed. The ceramic material has utility as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries.

Abstract: A non-oxide, transition metal based ceramic material has the general formula A.sub.y M.sub.2 Z.sub.x, wherein A is a group IA element, M is a transition metal and Z is selected from the group consisting of N, C, B, Si, and combinations thereof, and wherein x.ltoreq.2 and y.ltoreq.6-x. In these materials, the group IA element occupies interstitial sites in the metallic lattice, and may be readily inserted into or released therefrom. The materials may be used as catalysts and as electrodes. Also disclosed herein are methods for the fabrication of the materials.

Abstract: Mesoporous desigels are fabricated as nitrides, carbides, borides, and silicides of metals, particularly transition metals, and most particularly early transition metals. The desigels are prepared by forming a gel of a metallic compound, and removing solvent from the gel. In some instances, the thus produced desigel may be further reacted to change its composition, while preserving its mesoporous structure. The materials are particularly suited as electrodes for capacitors, including ultracapacitors, and for batteries.

Abstract: High surface area electrodes for use in electrical and electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices comprise conductive transition metal nitrides, carbides, borides or combinations thereof where the metal is molybdenum or tungsten. Disclosed is a method of manufacturing such electrodes by forming or depositing a layer of metal oxide, then exposing the metal oxide layer at elevated temperature to a source of nitrogen, carbon or boron in a chemically reducing environment to form the desired metal nitride, carbide or boride film. Also disclosed is an ultracapacitor comprised of the new high surface area electrodes having a specific capacitance of 100 mF/cm.sup.2 and an energy density of 100 mJ/cm.sup.3 with improved conductivity and chemical stability when compared to currently available electrodes.