Abstract: The present disclosure provides a secondary battery, which comprises a cap plate, at least two cells and two connecting pieces. The cap plate is provided with two electrode terminals which are opposite in electrical polarity. Each cell has two tabs which are opposite in electrical polarity. Each connecting piece has: an electrode terminal electrical connecting portion for electrically connecting with the corresponding electrode terminal of the cap plate; a plurality of tab electrical connecting portions for electrically connecting with the corresponding tabs of the cells respectively; and a plurality of fusing portions electrically connecting the corresponding tab electrical connecting portion to the electrode terminal electrical connecting portion, a width of each fusing portion is less than a width of the electrode terminal electrical connecting portion. A configuration of the connecting piece is simple, thereby reducing the cumulative heat of the secondary battery and reducing the temperature rise.

Abstract: A scaffold-free 3D porous electrode comprises a network of interconnected pores, where each pore is surrounded by a multilayer film including a first layer of electrochemically active material, one or more monolayers of graphene on the first layer of electrochemically active material, and a second layer of electrochemically active material on the one or more monolayers of graphene. A method of making a scaffold-free 3D porous electrode includes depositing one or more monolayers of graphene onto a porous scaffold to form a graphene coating on the porous scaffold, and depositing a first layer of an electrochemically active material onto the graphene coating. The porous scaffold is removed to expose an underside of the graphene coating, and a second layer of the electrochemically active material is deposited onto the underside of the graphene coating, thereby forming the scaffold-free 3D porous electrode.

Abstract: An assembled battery includes a cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells in the same direction, positive electrode-side bus bars respectively connected to positive electrode tabs of the unit cells, and negative electrode-side bus bars respectively connected to negative electrode tabs of the unit cells. A positive electrode-side bus bar connected to a positive electrode tab of a first unit cell of adjacent unit cells in the cell stack, and a negative electrode-side bus bar connected to a negative electrode tab of a second unit cell, are connected to each other on one of the surfaces of the cell stack.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an active material. The active material includes particles of a Na-containing niobium titanium composite oxide having an orthorhombic crystal structure. An intensity ratio I1/I2 is within a range of 0.12?I1/I2?0.25 in an X-ray diffraction pattern of the active material, according to X-ray diffraction measurement using a Cu-K? ray. I1 is a peak intensity of a peak P1 that is present within a range where 2? is 27° to 28° in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the active material. I2 is a peak intensity of a peak P2 that is present within a range where 2? is 23° to 24° in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the active material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for one-step preparing electrolyte used for lithium-iron(II) disulfide batteries. The process includes the following steps of: adding iodine-containing precursors into an organic solvent in an inert atmosphere, homogeneously stirring, then adding lithium-containing precursors, stirring and reacting, separating solids to obtain an electrolyte used for lithium-iron(II) disulfide batteries. The process involves one-step synthesizing electrolyte used for lithium-iron(II) disulfide batteries. The whole procedures do not introduce water and have a lower cost. The lithium-iron(II) disulfide batteries prepared by using the electrolyte prepared by the process of the present invention have better properties.

Abstract: The organic EL device of the present invention fulfils the object of realizing an EL device which exhibits an excellent electron and hole injecting efficiency and an improved light emitting efficiency and which can be operated at a low drive voltage and manufactured at a reduced cost. In order to attain such object, the organic EL device comprises a hole injecting electrode, an electron injecting electrode, and one or more organic layers between the electrodes wherein at least one of said organic layers has a light emitting function. A high resistivity inorganic electron injecting layer is provided between said organic layer and said electron injecting electrode. This layer comprises a first component comprising at least one oxide of an element selected from alkali metal elements, alkaline earth metal elements, and lanthanide elements, and a second component comprising at least one metal having a work function of 3 to 5 eV, and this layer has conduction paths for hole blockage and electron transportation.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent element which reduces the luminescence starting voltage, increases the luminescence brightness, and has excellent stability with repeated use. The invention achieves these objects by providing an organic electroluminescent element comprising at least a positive electrode, luminescing layer, electron injecting layer, and negative electrode, wherein said electron injecting layer is a compound layer comprising an electron transporting material and metal, and the negative electrode side of said compound layer has a higher percentage of metal.

Abstract: Exemplary mechanically-flattened fibers of the invention comprise generally elongate bodies having varied width or thickness dimensions and micro-diastrophic surface deformities. Preferred fibers are elongate synthetic polymer or multipolymer blend fibers for reinforcing matrix materials such as concrete, shotcrete, gypsum-containing materials, asphalt, plastic, rubber, and other matrix materials. Preferred methods for manufacturing such fibers comprise subjecting synthetic polymer fibers to compressive forces sufficient to achieve flattening and surface micro-diastrophism without substantially shredding and abrading the fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuser member comprising a substrate, a layer thereover comprising a polymer, and, on the polymeric layer, a coating of a release agent comprising polyorganosiloxanes having tertiary amino functional groups on at least some of the molecules thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a catalyst containing a transition metal precursor having the formula (C5R15)MX3, an alcohol, a substituted bulky phenol, an aluminoxane, and optionally a support or spray drying material. There is also provided a polymerization process employing the catalyst composition, a polymer produced using the catalyst, and a cable produced therefrom.

Abstract: A process for sealing the surface coating formed by anodizing an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate (for example, aerospace, commercial, and architectural products), the process including the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate with a surface coating formed thereon by anodizing the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate; (b) providing a sealing solution comprising a dilute solution of a rare earth metal salt selected from the group consisting of cerium salts and yttrium salts; and (c) contacting the substrate with the sealing solution for a sufficient amount of time to seal the surface coating on the substrate. Also disclosed is a chemical sealing solution for sealing the surface coating formed by anodizing an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, the solution being a dilute solution of a rare earth metal salt selected from the group consisting of cerium salts and yttrium salts.

Abstract: The present invention describes a fragrance delivery system which releases fragrant aldehydes or ketones and/or fragrant compounds containing an olefin function upon exposure to light. This system comprises &agr;-keto esters of formula in which R′* and R″* have the meaning as defined in the application and which are generally, in case of R′*, an alkyl group carrying an abstractable hydrogen in &ggr;-position relative to the &agr;-keto function and carrying a moiety from which is derived a fragrant compound containing an olefin function, and, in case of R″*, the organic part of a primary or secondary alcohol from R″*OH which is derived a fragrant aldehyde or ketone.

Abstract: A solder mask having a clover-leaf shaped opening around a PTH for enhanced performance. The solder mask resides on a surface of a printed circuit board comprising lands and PTH's. The opening around the PTH is configured to maintain a minimum channel width between the PTH and an adjacent land while maximizing the opening around the PTH, thereby decreasing the likelihood that the solder mask material will be inadvertently drawn into the PTH.

Abstract: A two phase environmentally friendly fermentation process for producing high yields of .delta.-decalactone and .delta.-dodecalactone from the corresponding unsaturated starting materials is carried out under oxidative growth conditions using a Saccharomyces species. The resulting products impart, augment and/or enhance the aroma and/or taste of consumable materials including foodstuffs, chewing gums, toothpastes, beverages, fragrance compositions, colognes and perfumed articles such as solid or liquid, anionic, cationic, non-ionic or zwitterionic detergents, fabric softeners, and hair preparations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tooth-whitening varnish composition, comprising 6-20% of carbamide peroxide, 2-9% of film forming agent and 77-88% of volatile organic solvent, based on the total weight of the composition. The volatile organic solvent is selected from ether, ethylacetate, ethyl alcohol, or acetone. The film forming agent is artificial or natural material selected from cellulose, polyvinyl, butyral, coumarone resin or shellac. The composition can rapidly form films on dry tooth surfaces, and a remarkable tooth-whitening effect can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of cyclohexylidene phenyl acetonitrile as an odoriferous substance.

Abstract: Fragrant silanes having the formula:(R.sup.1 O).sub.a (R.sup.2 O).sub.b (R.sup.3 O).sub.c (R.sup.4).sub.d (R.sup.5).sub.e SiR.sup.6where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are derived from the group of alcohols consisting of R.sup.1 OH, R.sup.2 OH and R.sup.3 OH wherein R.sup.1 OH, R.sup.2 OH and R.sup.3 OH are fragrant alcohols or alternatively R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are derived from the group of fragrant esters, ketones, or aldehydes having the structure:R.sup.7 --CH.sub.2 (C.dbd.O)--R.sup.8wherein the fragrant ester, ketone or aldehyde is capable of exhibiting the enol form of the carbonyl moiety under reaction conditions, with R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 selected from the group consisting of monovalent hydrocarbon radical having from one to forty carbon atoms and monovalent alkoxy radicals having from one to forty carbon atoms, R.sup.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition composed of a carrier material and a metal-loaded cationic exchange material having the metal in a zero valence state. The composition is contained within the interior cavity of a container to scavenge oxygen therein. The composition may form at least a part of the interior surface of the container or be present therein in the form of a film, mat, sachet or ceramic.

Abstract: A solution comprising a polar solvent and C.sub.60 in which the solubility of C.sub.60 is at least 2 mg/ml of solvent. The polar solvent has a low toxicity, high boiling point, high thermal and electrochemical stability, low viscosity, low freezing point, a high dielectric constant, and is relatively inexpensive. Preferably the polar solvent is N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone.

Abstract: Photocross-linkable naphthyl derivatives include compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently signify a cross-linkable group;S.sup.1 and S.sup.2 signify --(CY.sub.2).sub.m -, --O(CY.sub.2).sub.m -, --(CY.sub.2).sub.m O--, --(CY.sub.2).sub.m COO--, --(CY.sub.2).sub.m OOC--, --(Si?(CH.sub.3).sub.2 !O).sub.m -, --OCH.sub.2 (Si?(CH.sub.3).sub.2 !O).sub.m Si?(CH.sub.3).sub.2 !CH.sub.2 O-- or --NHCH.sub.2 (Si?(CH.sub.3).sub.2 !O).sub.m Si?(CH.sub.3).sub.2 !CH.sub.2 NH--;Y signifies hydrogen, fluorine or methyl;a signifies 0 or 1;b signifies 1 or 2, with the proviso that a+b=2;m signifies a whole number of 1 to 16;A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 each independently signify 1,4-phenylene, which is optionally mono- or multiply-substituted with halogen, cyano, methyl, methoxy and/or acetyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or trans-1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl; andZ.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 each independently signify a single bond, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.