Abstract: A method of processing a semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes introducing the wafer to a main chamber via a loading port, using a transfer mechanism to transfer the wafer to a first wafer processing module in a stack so that the wafer is disposed substantially horizontally in the first wafer processing module with a front face facing upwards, and performing a processing step on the front face of the wafer in the first wafer processing module.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes an electrochemical catalyst which contains: a metal oxide that is composed of one or more compounds selected from among zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, yttrium oxide, gadolinium oxide, samarium oxide, cobalt oxide and scandium oxide; and a metal variant, which has a valence that is different from the valence of the metal that constitutes the metal oxide.

Abstract: Provided is a photocathode structure including: a photocathode including silicon (Si); an intermediate layer formed on the photocathode, and including a silicon oxide (SiOx); and a protective layer foiled on the intermediate layer, and including a metal oxide, wherein the intermediate layer is a tunneling barrier configured to transfer charges from the photocathode to the protective layer by an electric field applied from an outside.

Abstract: An electrochemical compressor, including a first end plate, a second end plate, a voltage supply connected to the first end plate and second end plate, a plurality of membranes, where each membrane of the plurality of membranes has a substantially same impedance, and where each membrane of the plurality of membranes has a different thickness in a stacking direction, and a plurality of conductive bipolar plates, where the bipolar plates of the plurality of bipolar plates are arranged in contact with, and alternating in the stacking direction with, the membranes of the plurality of membranes, and where the membranes of the plurality of membranes and the bipolar plates of the plurality of bipolar plates are electrically connected in series between the first end plate and second end plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen evolution apparatus including an AC power source, a semiconductor electrode and a counter electrode connected to the AC power source, an electrolyte in which the semiconductor electrode is immersed, and a light source which irradiates light on the semiconductor electrode, in which the semiconductor electrode includes a conductive substrate and n-type semiconductor particles dispersed on a p-type semiconductor matrix or p-type semiconductor particles dispersed on an n-type semiconductor matrix which is vertically grown from the conductive substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a treatment method whereby it becomes possible to recovery copper, nickel and cobalt, which are valuable metals, contained in a lithium ion battery waste and to separate copper, nickel and cobalt from one another effectively. A method for treating a lithium ion battery waste according to the present invention includes: an alloy production step S1 of introducing the lithium ion battery waste into a furnace and then melting the lithium ion battery waste by heating, thereby producing an alloy containing copper, nickel and cobalt; and an electrolytic purification step S2 of subjecting the alloy to such an electrolytic treatment that the alloy is charged as an anode into a sulfuric acid solution and then electricity is conducted between the anode and a cathode to electrodeposit copper contained in the alloy onto the cathode, thereby separating nickel and cobalt from each other.

Abstract: A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.

Abstract: An electrolyzer has an electrolytic cell with a membrane that surrounds an interior channel. The electrolytic cell also has a first electrode positioned in the interior channel such that the membrane surrounds the first electrode. The electrolytic cell also includes a second electrode positioned such that the membrane is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical plating (ECP) system is provided. The ECP system includes an ECP cell comprising a plating solution for an ECP process, a sensor configured to in situ measure an interface resistance between a plated metal and an electrolyte in the plating solution as the ECP process continues, a plating solution supply system in fluid communication with the ECP cell and configured to supply the plating solution to the ECP cell, and a control system operably coupled to the ECP cell, the sensor and the plating solution supply system. The control system is configured to compare the interface resistance with a threshold resistance and to adjust a composition of the plating solution in response to the interface resistance being below the threshold resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrochemically depositing a unitary layer structure using a reactor configured to contain an electrolyte solution with an anode array containing a plurality of independently electrically controllable anodes arranged in a two-dimensional array, a cathode, an addressing circuit for receiving a signal containing anode address data and for outputting a signal causing an anode array pattern; and, a controller, in communication with the addressing circuit and the anode array, configured to electrically control each anode in the anode array to cause an electrochemical reaction at the cathode that deposits a unitary layer structure according to the anode array pattern signal.

Abstract: An electrolytic gas suction tool includes: a battery; a control substrate which controls power supply from the battery; a pair of positive and negative electrodes which are electrically conducted to or cut off from a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery by the control substrate; an electrolysis tank which is capable of storing water and into a lower part of which the pair of positive and negative electrodes are inserted in the mounted state; and a heater device which is heated to generate nicotine containing steam upon receiving the power supply from the battery by the control substrate.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for producing aluminum metal is disclosed. The electrolytic cell comprises at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes and being supported above a corresponding at least one cathode module having a plurality of cathodes, the at least one anode module being supported by a positioning apparatus configured to move inside the cell for selectively positioning the plurality of anodes within the electrolytic cell relative to adjacent cathodes in order to adjust an anode-cathode distance (ACD) and/or an anode-cathode overlap (ACO). Preferably, the anodes are inert or oxygen-evolving electrodes for an eco-friendly or “green” production of a metal, such as aluminum (or aluminium).

Abstract: An asymmetric system containing a first conductive polymer modified with a redox active moiety and a second conductive polymer modified with a surfactant is used for the separation of organic compounds from aqueous solutions. The asymmetric system has complementary hydrophobicity tunability in response to electrochemical modulations. For example, both materials are hydrophobic in their respective neutral states, therefore exhibiting affinity toward organic compounds. Application of a mild potential drives the desorption of the organic compounds and regeneration of the materials. The asymmetric system can be used in a cyclic fashion, through repeated electrical discharge or shorting of the two electrodes to program the capture of organics from a feed solution, and application of a potential to stimulate the release of the adsorbed organics.

Abstract: A water electrolyzer comprises a membrane, a cathode and an anode. The membrane comprises a first membrane layer comprising a first ion-conductive polymer, a second membrane layer comprising a second ion-conductive polymer, and a platinized nanostructured layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The platinized nanostructured layer comprises close-packed whiskers having at least one of platinum or platinum oxide disposed thereon. The cathode is disposed on the membrane and comprises a first catalyst consisting essentially of both metallic Pt and Pt oxide. The anode is disposed on the opposite surface of the membrane and comprises a second catalyst comprising at least 95 percent by weight of collectively metallic Ir and Ir oxide, calculated as elemental Ir, based on the total weight of the second catalyst, wherein at least one of metallic Ir or Ir oxide is present. Membranes and methods of making them are also disclosed.

Abstract: To improve the efficiency of a reduction reaction. A power source applies a voltage to an oxidation electrode immersed in an aqueous solution in an oxidation tank and a reduction electrode immersed in an aqueous solution in a reduction tank, the voltage having a voltage value that changes with a predetermined cycle to be a voltage value at which ions can be desorbed from a surface of the oxidation electrode and a surface of the reduction electrode during one cycle of the voltage change. The frequency of the voltage is set within a range of 10 Hz to 1 kHz.

Abstract: An electroplating apparatus for electroplating metal on a substrate includes a plating chamber configured to contain an electrolyte, a substrate holder configured to hold and rotate the substrate during electroplating, an anode, and an azimuthally asymmetric auxiliary electrode configured to be biased both anodically and cathodically during electroplating. The azimuthally asymmetric auxiliary electrode (which may be, for example, C-shaped), can be used for controlling azimuthal uniformity of metal electrodeposition by donating and diverting ionic current at a selected azimuthal position.

Abstract: A hydrogen-containing water generator includes a cathode portion of cylindrical shape that has a plurality of openings in a side thereof, an anode portion of cylindrical shape that is provided radially outside the cathode portion and has a plurality of openings in a side thereof, an electrolytic vessel that is transparent, has a cylindrical shape, and is internally provided with the cathode portion and the anode portion, a water supply part that supplies water into the cathode portion from one end side of the cathode portion; and a drain part that drains water inside the electrolytic vessel from the other end side of the cathode portion.

Abstract: A flow-through electrolysis cell includes a hierarchical nanoporous metal cathode. A method of reducing CO2 includes flowing the CO2 through the hierarchical nanoporous metal cathode of the flow-through electrolysis cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stacking type hydrogen generating device comprising an electrolysis cell, a water tank, a filter and a humidifier. The electrolysis cell is disposed in the water tank, the humidifier vertically stacked on the water tank, and the filter vertically stacked on the humidifier. A gas comprising hydrogen generated by the electrolysis cell can enter the filter through the first flow channel of the humidifier and enter the humidifier after filtered by the filter. The flow channels between the aforementioned units are respectively integrated with the aforementioned units. Accordingly, the volume and the pipelines of the stacking type hydrogen generating device could be decrease and safety could be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen containing water is disclosed. An aspect of the present disclosure may provide an apparatus for manufacturing hydrogen containing water, comprising: housing having first receiving space formed therein; cylinder coupled to the housing to form second receiving space; connecting passage penetrating the housing to interconnect the first receiving space and the second receiving space; ion exchange membrane closing the connecting passage; electrolysis part comprising an anode and a cathode, the anode being disposed in the first receiving space and the cathode being disposed in the second receiving space; exhaust pipe penetrating the housing to interconnect the first receiving space and an external space; and first waterproof membrane closing the exhaust pipe and inhibiting water from being discharged while allowing gas to be discharged.