Abstract: Carbon fibre precursors for use in the formation of carbon fibre materials. The carbon fibre precursors comprise fibres of polymeric material which have a coating layer thereon, the coating layer comprising a material susceptible to dielectric heating, for example carbon nanotubes. The carbon fibre precursors may be suitable for forming into carbon fibres using a dielectric heating step, despite the fibres of polymeric material not being susceptible to dielectric heating, without adversely affecting the structure and physical properties of the main body of the carbon fibre so formed. A method of preparing a carbon fibre precursor for a carbon fibre formation process and a method forming a carbon fibre are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a thermally insulating SiC—BN aerogel felt, a preparation method and use thereof. The preparation method includes: heating and mixing a nitrogen source, a boron source, a solvent, and a silica aerogel powder to obtain a hot mixture, wherein the solvent is capable of dissolving the nitrogen source and the boron source; impregnating a graphite felt in the hot mixture, and cooling to obtain a gel felt; removing the solvent from the gel felt to obtain an aerogel felt; and in a protective atmosphere or in vacuum, heating the aerogel felt for a pyrolytic reaction to obtain the thermally insulating SiC—BN aerogel felt.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor of the present disclosure includes first to third steps. In the first step, a capacitor element is prepared that includes an anode body on which a dielectric layer is formed. In the second step, the capacitor element is impregnated with a first treatment solution containing at least a conductive polymer and a first solvent. In the third step, the capacitor element is, after the second step, impregnated with a second treatment solution that contains a polyol compound having 3 or more hydroxyl groups per molecule.

Abstract: Process for making a coated electrode active material wherein said process comprises the following steps: (a) providing a particulate electrode active material according to general formula Li1+xTM1?xO2, wherein TM is a combination of Ni, Co and, optionally, Mn, and, optionally, at least one metal selected from Mg, Al, Ba, Ti and Zr, and x is in the range of from zero to 0.2, wherein at least 15 mole-% of the transition metal of TM is Ni, (b) treating said electrode active material with a compound of M1, wherein M1 is selected from Li, Al, B, Mg, Si, Sn, and from transition metals, or a combination of at least two of the foregoing, with or without a solvent, wherein said compound of M1 does not act as a cathode active material on its own, (c) optionally, removing compound of M1 which is not deposited on said particulate electrode active material, (d) performing a post-treatment by heating the material obtained after the step (b) or (c), if applicable, at a temperature from 250 to 950° C. in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: An object is to provide a spray coating device and a coating method, with which a uniform coating film can be formed by spray coating with two liquids having reactivity, and in which precipitation of a reaction product on a periphery can also be prevented. The object is achieved by providing a transporting unit for transporting a substrate downward; a first spray nozzle; a second spray nozzle disposed below the first spray nozzle; a holding plate for holding the first spray nozzle and the second spray nozzle such that an angle formed by center lines of the first spray nozzle and the second spray nozzle is 5° to 150°; and a liquid film forming unit for forming a liquid film which flows from above to below on a surface of the holding plate.

Abstract: A method of forming a conformal layer including TiN in a via includes introducing a precursor into a reaction chamber according to a first exposure schedule. The precursor includes non-halogenated metal-organic titanium. The first exposure schedule indicates precursor exposure periods. Each precursor exposure period is associated with a particular duration of time and a particular duty cycle over which to introduce the precursor during the particular duration of time. The method includes introducing a co-reactant into the reaction chamber according to a second exposure schedule. The co-reactant includes nitrogen. The second exposure schedule indicates co-reactant exposure periods. Each co-reactant exposure period is associated with a particular duration of time and a particular duty cycle over which to introduce the co-reactant during the particular duration of time. The method includes providing the conformal layer including TiN in the via based on said introducing the precursor and the co-reactant.

Abstract: A method for testing a battery cell includes directing a laser radiation from a laser at a radiation-receiving location on a can of the battery cell to trigger a thermal runaway event. A power, a wavelength, and a beam size of the laser radiation are selected based on a test stability of the battery cell when triggering the thermal runaway event. The test stability includes a likelihood that the can will breach in response to triggering the thermal runaway event. The method also includes ceasing to contact the radiation-receiving location with the laser radiation in response to the thermal runaway event.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery including a patterned lithium metal that homogenizes the electron distribution in the lithium electrode and prevents the growth of the lithium dendrites when driving the lithium secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of lithium battery material preparation technologies, particularly to a method for preparing lithium iron phosphate using the by-product ferrous sulfate from titanium dioxide. The method comprises the following steps: dissolving by-product ferrous sulfate from titanium dioxide in acidic aqueous solution, stirring with iron powder for reaction; adding iron phosphate or lithium iron phosphate waste powder to the solution, heating and stirring the mixture, allowing the mixture to settle and cool, and filtering the cooled mixture to obtain a purified ferrous sulfate solution; and adding phosphoric acid and a lithium hydroxide solution in an autoclave, and finally adding the purified ferrous sulfate solution, heating the mixture under stirring, then filtering, washing, and drying the mixture to obtain lithium iron phosphate powder; Using it as an iron source to prepare positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries has excellent electrochemical performance.

Abstract: A platelet-shaped magnetic effect pigment is provided for use in a printing ink, and includes a layer construction with a magnetic layer and at least one optical functional layer, such that the magnetic layer is based on a magnetic material having a column-shaped nanostructure and the magnetic columns respectively have a largely uniform preferential magnetic direction deviating from the platelet plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method for applying a functional compound on sulfur particles by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma discharge including a gas or an activated gas flow resulting from the atmospheric pressure plasma discharge. The coating composition includes an inorganic electrically conductive compound, an electrically conductive carbon compound, an organic precursor compound of a conjugated polymer, a precursor of a hybrid organic-inorganic compound, or a mixture, and the functional compound provides the sulfur particles with an electrically conductive surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for high volume roll-to-roll direct coating of electrodes for silicon-dominant anode cells. A slurry that includes silicon particles and a binder material may be applied to a current collector film, and the slurry may be processed to form a precursor composite film coated on the current collector film. The current collector film with the coated precursor composite film may be rolled into a precursor composite roll. A heat treatment may be applied to the current collector film with the coated precursor composite film in an environment including nitrogen gas, to convert the coated precursor composite film to a pyrolyzed composite film coated on the current collector film. The heat treatment may include applying the heat treatment to the precursor composite roll in whole and/or applying the heat treatment to the current collector film with the coated precursor composite film as it is continuously fed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur battery including: (1) mixing a sulfur-carbon composite and a binder to prepare a slurry for a positive electrode active material; (2) applying the slurry for the positive electrode active material to one surface of the current collector; (3) a first drying step of drying the current collector, to which the slurry is applied, using hot air and medium wave infrared radiation; and (4) a second drying step of drying the current collector, to which the slurry is applied, using a laser heat source after the first drying step (3).

Abstract: Methods of modifying the composition of layers using selectively absorbing films are described. The composition of a layer can be modified by applying a selectively absorbing film in proximity to the applied coating and components of the layer can be selectively removed to provide a modified layers. The methods can be used to increase the concentration of particles in the layer.

Abstract: A device for producing a negative electrode, which includes: a pre-lithiation bath containing a pre-lithiation solution, which is sequentially divided into an impregnation section, a pre-lithiation section, and an aging section; a negative electrode roll present outside the pre-lithiation solution, wherein the negative electrode roll is configured to allow a negative electrode structure to be wound and unwound; and one or more pre-lithiation rolls which are present inside the pre-lithiation solution, wherein the one or more pre-lithiation rolls allow the negative electrode structure unwound from the negative electrode roll to move in the pre-lithiation bath, wherein the pre-lithiation roll includes an inner ring, an outer ring which is formed on the inner ring and is rotatable, and a rolling element present between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the outer ring in the pre-lithiation roll comprises a non-conductor.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to apparatuses and processes for forming semi-solid electrodes having high active solids loading by removing excess electrolyte. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can be formed by mixing an active material and, optionally, a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte to form a suspension. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can be disposed onto a current collector to form an intermediate electrode. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can have a first composition in which the ratio of electrolyte to active material is between about 10:1 and about 1:1. In some embodiments, a method for converting the semi-solid electrode material from the first composition into the second composition includes removing a portion of the electrolyte from the semi-solid electrode material.

Abstract: Vascular prosthetic assemblies (e.g., heart valves), such as those, for example, configured to be deployed percutaneously.

Abstract: A method for printing traces on a substrate and an additive manufacturing apparatus therefor are provided. The method comprises determining at least two first location points for a first trace and at least two second location points for a second trace. The first trace and the second trace traverse at least two surfaces of the substrate, including a first surface of the substrate and a second surface of the substrate. At least two third location points are determined for a third trace based on the at least two first location points and the at least two second location points. The third trace is intermediate the first trace and the second trace. The third trace is formed on the at least two surfaces based on the at least two third location points.

Abstract: A method for processing floorboards using digital printing, comprising: preparing a base material layer; arranging a printing layer on the base material layer, wherein the printing layer is directly printed by a digital printing apparatus and is formed on a surface of the base material layer; and arranging a protection layer on the printing layer, wherein the protection layer is attached to the printing layer by means of one or a combination of processes selected from roll-coating, shower-coating, spray-coating, transfer-printing and printing, wherein the protection layer displays one or a combination of artistic effects selected from flat, sunken, raised, finely creased, patterned and crackled by means of one or a combination of processes selected from levelling, flatting, printing, embossing, corroding, carving, brushing and crackling.

Abstract: A thin film structure including a dielectric material layer, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device employing the same are disclosed. The disclosed thin film structure includes a first conductive layer; a first dielectric material layer on the first conductive layer, the first dielectric material layer having a crystal phase and including a metal oxide; an InxOy-based seed material layer formed on the first dielectric material layer and having a thickness less than a thickness of the first dielectric material layer; and a second conductive layer formed on the seed material layer.