Abstract: A ferroelectric thin film includes lead titanate including La and at least an element which forms a six-coordinate bond with oxygen atoms and which is selected from the group consisting of Mg and Mn. The ferroelectric thin film is imparted with a high c-axis orientation while the film is formed without a polarization process. The ferroelectric thin film is manufactured by the steps of: positioning a MgO single crystal substrate disposed in advance with a foundation platinum electrode by a sputtering method on the surface of a substrate heater, exhausting a chamber, heating the substrate by a substrate heater, letting in sputtering gases Ar and O.sub.2 through a nozzle into the chamber, and maintaining a high degree of vacuum. Then, high frequency electric power is input to a target from a high frequency electric power source to generate plasma, and a film is formed on the substrate. In this way, a ferroelectric thin film containing, for example, ?(1-x).multidot.Pb.sub.1-y La.sub.y Ti.sub.1-y/4 O.sub.3 +x.

Abstract: A method of improving the breakdown strength of polymer multi-layer (PML) capacitors is provided. The method comprises removing metal, specifically, aluminum, from the cut edge. This is done by either etching back the metal electrode layers in either basic or acidic solution or by anodizing the metal to cover that portion of the metal at the edge with an oxide. Removing the metal from the cut edge increases the breakdown strength of the PML capacitors by a factor of two or more.

Abstract: A method for making high power electrochemical capacitors (20) provides for depositing an electrically conducting polymer (24) onto a metal substrate (22). The electrically conducting polymer is initially grown in the presence of a soft anion, i.e., an anion having a high degree of polarizability. Subsequently, the polymer is treated with a relatively hard anion which at least partially replaces the soft anion in the polymer. The result is an electrochemical charge storage device which has enhanced electrochemical properties.

Abstract: A post plating or post coating method for improving formability and weldability properties in sheet steel product having a protective zinc or zinc alloy layer formed on at least one surface thereof. The steps of the method comprise immersing the sheet steel product into a bath containing at least zinc to apply the protective layer, removing the sheet steel product from the bath, the sheet steel product having a protective zinc or zinc alloy layer formed on at least one surface thereof, and applying an alkaline solution to the protective layer to form a zinc oxide layer thereon, the alkaline solution being applied at a location outside the bath.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining the effects of centrifugal force and electrostatic coalescence of water droplets in an integral containment vessel to de-emulsify water in oil type emulsions, without utilizing chemicals or applying heat to reduce the viscosity of the emulsion.

Abstract: In reactor water control for a BWR power plant during an operation cycle after loading new fuel rods in the BWR power plant, an operation is performed which accelerates deposition of crud on the fuel rods until the deposition amount of the crud on the fuel rods reaches a predetermined target value within the operation cycle concerned. After the deposition amount of the crud has reached the predetermined target value, the crud deposition accelerating operation is terminated, whereby even when loading new fuel rods such as Zr liner type fuel rods having a surface on which metal ion deposition has been difficult, radioactivity in the reactor water is efficiently reduced.

Abstract: A passthrough method is provided in which the surface of an industrial grade, low-grease precursor made of copper, with a defined surface roughness, is patinated. For this purpose the precursor material, connected as the anode, is passed through an electrolysis bath, containing sodium carbonate and/or sodium hydrogencarbonate as well as sodium sulfite and/or sodium disulfite, with a temperature of 30.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. and a current density of 1 A/dm.sup.2 to 20 A/dm.sup.2 as bath parameters, for a residence time of 10 seconds to 12 minutes. The precursor material is rinsed and then moved through a fixing bath at a temperature of 35.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. for a residence time of 10 seconds to 120 seconds, and lastly, after a further rinsing, is dried. The fixing bath contains at least one of the oxidation agents: hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2 O.sub.2), potassium chlorate (KClO.sub.3), potassium peroxodisulfate (K.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.8), potassium permanganate (KMnO.sub.4), of copper sulfate (CuSO.

Abstract: A method of treating a metal layer present as a coating on a sheet metal substrate, wherein a powder is applied to said metal coating by propulsive means (e.g., spraying or the like) when said coating is at least partially in the liquid state. The powder is prepared by atomization in a manner adapted such that the powder is in the form of agglomerates having a mean diameter which is greater than the thickness of said liquid-state metal coating. With this use of this powder, it is easier to treat metal coatings in the liquid state, and the resulting treated coating is highly homogeneous, even if the atomized powder has a plurality of types of components.

Abstract: The fuel cell generator system of the present invention effectively cancels catalyst poisoning in fuel cells so as to improve the performance of fuel cells. In the fuel cell generator system of the invention, a carbon monoxide sensor is arranged in the middle of a gaseous fuel supply conduit, which connects fuel cells with a reformer for converting methanol and water to a hydrogen-rich gaseous fuel. An electronic control unit of the fuel cell generator system reads the carbon monoxide sensor to input a concentration of carbon monoxide D included in the gaseous fuel (step S250). When the carbon monoxide concentration D obtained is greater than a preset level D0, the electronic control unit increases the air flow fed to a partial oxidizing unit of the reformer (step S270). This accelerates the reaction in the partial oxidizing unit for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, thereby lowering the concentration of carbon monoxide included in the gaseous fuel.

Abstract: Carbon fluoride particles in which a number-average particle size is 0.01 to 50 .mu.m, a content of particles having such a diameter that the particles size distribution falls with in range of the number-average particle size .+-.20% amounts to at least 50% of the whole, a true specific gravity is 1.7 to 2.5, a F/C as a whole is 0.001 to 0.5, and a F/C at the surface is always larger than the F/C as a whole and is 0.1 to 2.0. These carbon fluoride particles are obtainable by reacting carbon particles with fluorine at 350.degree. to 600.degree. C. for one minute to six hours.

Abstract: A cooling device for lowering the temperature of a heat-dissipating device. The cooling device includes a heat-conducting substrate (composed, e.g., of diamond or another high thermal conductivity material) disposed in thermal contact with the heat-dissipating device. During operation, heat flows from the heat-dissipating device into the heat-conducting substrate, where it is spread out over a relatively large area. A thermoelectric cooling material (e.g., a Bi.sub.2 Te.sub.3 -based film or other thermoelectric material) is placed in thermal contact with the heat-conducting substrate. Application of electrical power to the thermoelectric material drives the thermoelectric material to pump heat into a second heat-conducting substrate which, in turn, is attached to a heat sink.

Abstract: Methods for forming membranes of semiconductive material incorporating molecular sieve material therein can involve sol gel techniques and suction techniques. The semiconductors, such as metal oxides, sulfides or carbides have photoactivity and are useful in photocatalytic reactions. An example of such a membrane is titanium oxide including zeolite molecular sieve incorporated therein. The membranes can be used to perform useful chemical reactions such as the mineralization of organic chemicals in the presence of light. For example, many toxic organic chemicals can be converted to useful or benign products by contacting those chemicals with active metal oxide-molecular sieve membranes in accordance with the invention and illuminating the membranes with light of a suitable wavelength.

Abstract: Diamondlike carbon is deposited on a deposition substrate in a deposition apparatus that can be evacuated and backfilled with a carbonaceous gas. A plasma is generated in the gas by heating a filament within the chamber to produce electrons, and positively biasing the filament with respect to the deposition chamber wall to accelerate the electrons into the carbonaceous gas. The carbonaceous gas dissociates and ionizes in the resulting plasma to produce positively charged carbon ions. A deposition substrate within the chamber is negatively biased with respect to the deposition chamber wall, accelerating the carbon ions so that they are deposited onto the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of separating a material from a liquid sample comprising:providing a system for material separation having a stationary phase having a metalloporphyrin coordination compound or a metallophthalocyanine coordination compound or a mixture thereof;oxidizing or reducing the coordination compound, respectively, to an oxidized or reduced state at which the material will bind to the compound;applying a source of electric potential to the system; andcontacting the oxidized or reduced coordination compound with a liquid sample containing the material under conditions effective to separate the material from the liquid.

Abstract: The detection device includes at least one thermocouple (10) arranged aligned with the bottom head of the vessel of the nuclear reactor, having a first branch (9) made of a first metallic material and at least one second branch (11) made of a second metallic material, different from the first material, welded to a point on the first branch constituting a hot junction of the thermocouple (10). The first branch (9) of the thermocouple has the form of an elongate hollow section. The device furthermore includes means for analyzing the measurements taken by the thermocouples (10).

Abstract: A process for the conversion of N.sub.2 O into NO.sub.x (x=1 or 2) thereof, comprising forming a jet of gas to be treated comprising N.sub.2 O and directing the jet into the interstitial space of at least two divergent electrodes placed under an electric voltage, to create at least one electric discharge and/or arc, and is part of a low-temperature plasma generator. The generator works by formation of electric discharges sliding between the electrodes such that the gas circulates along the electrodes from the discharge region where these electrodes are closest to each other. Finally, the NO.sub.x gas formed is recovered. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A device and method for vertical slab gel casting and electrophoresis in a single enclosure is provided. Air is utilized as a sealing medium to seal the bottom of a gel space for gel casting by constructing an air-tight connection between a sealable lower buffer chamber and a gel space via a junction. The air is automatically released when a buffer is introduce into the lower buffer chamber so that the bottom of the gel is in direct contact with the buffer without manually removing a solid sealing device from the bottom of the gel, which enables the gel to be directly used for electrophoresis without any movement of the gel space.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery includes cell rooms in which cells are stored and a partition wall separating the cell rooms. The cell rooms include an electrode plate assembly having electrode plates facing each other with a separator sandwiched between the electrode plates, and positive and negative straps extending in a laminated direction of the electrode plates in a bar shape. The positive and negative straps are connected in parallel with lug portions of the electrode plates. An intercell electrically connecting member having a H-shaped cross-section and formed of a lead-based material is held by the partition wall to interconnect cells in adjacent cell rooms. The intercell electrically connecting member has a first butting end surface in a flat plane shape butt welded to the positive strap, and a second butting end surface in a flat plane shape butt welded to the negative strap.

Abstract: There are provided a method of producing a hydrogen halide and oxygen by reacting water with a halogen using activated carbon as a catalyst, a method of producing hydrogen by thermal decomposition of a hydrogen halide using chromium oxide as a catalyst, and a method of producing oxygen and hydrogen by combining these two methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing hydroxylamine in an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of: providing an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, a bipolar membrane positioned between the anode and the cathode, the bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode, and a divider positioned between the bipolar membrane and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment on the cation selective side of the bipolar membrane, a recovery compartment on the anion selective side of the bipolar membrane, and an anolyte compartment between the divider and the anode; charging the feed compartment with an acidic electrolyte and the recovery and anolyte compartments with a solution; introducing nitrogen containing gas into the feed compartment; passing a current through the electrochemical cell thereby producing hydroxylammonium salt in the feed compartment; transferring at least a portion of the hydroxylammonium salt f