Abstract: The present invention provides a vapour deposition method for preparing an amorphous lithium borosilicate compound or doped lithium borosilicate compound, the method comprising: providing a vapour source of each component element of the compound, wherein the vapour sources comprise at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, a source of boron and a source of silicon, and, optionally, a source of at least one dopant element; providing a substrate at a temperature of less than about 180° C.; delivering a flow of said lithium, said oxygen, said boron and said silicon, and, optionally, said dopant element, wherein the rate of flow of said oxygen is at least about 8×10?8 m3/s; and co-depositing the component elements from the vapour sources onto the substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the amorphous compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vapour deposition method for preparing an amorphous lithium borosilicate or doped lithium borosilicate compound, the method comprising: providing a vapour source of each component element of the compound, wherein the vapour sources comprise at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, a source of boron, and a source of silicon, and, optionally, a source of at least one dopant element; delivering a flow of said lithium, said oxygen, said boron and said silicon, and, optionally, said dopant element; and co-depositing the component elements from the vapour sources onto a substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the amorphous compound; wherein the amorphous lithium borosilicate or doped lithium borosilicate ompound has a lithium content in the range 40-65 atomic %, based on the combined atomic percentages of lithium, boron and silicon.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a component material for a battery cell.

Abstract: A catalyst for a fuel cell anode comprises an alloy of Pd and at least two other transition metals, at least one of which which binds to hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide at least as strongly as Pd does. Suitable transition metals which bind more strongly are Co, W, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Mo, Nb, Hf, Ta, Zr and Re. PdCoW is the most preferred alloy. The catalyst is used on the anode of a hydrogen oxidising fuel cell, such as a PEMFC to catalyse the hydrogen oxidation reaction.

Abstract: A composition consisting essentially of a perovskite crystalline structure includes ions of a first metal M1 which occupies an A-site of the perovskite crystalline structure and ions of a second metal M2 which occupies a B-site of the perovskite crystalline structure. M2 has two oxidation states capable of forming a redox couple suitable for reversibly catalyzing an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and an oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The composition also includes ions of a third metal M3 at least a portion of which substitutes for M1 in the A-site of the perovskite crystalline structure, and at least a portion of which optionally also substitutes for M2 in the B-site of the perovskite crystalline structure. At least some of the ions of M3 have a different oxidation state to the ions of M1. The composition also includes atoms of an element X, which is a chalcogen.

Abstract: A lithium borosilicate composition, consisting essentially of a system of lithium oxide in combination with silicon oxide and boron oxide, wherein said lithium borosilicate comprises between 70-83 atomic % lithium based on the combined atomic percentages of lithium, boron and silicon, and wherein said lithium borosilicate is a glass, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing a stack of layers to provide a stack of discrete layer elements, comprises the steps of: providing a stack of layers comprising: #a first layer (20) provided by a first material; #a third layer (16) provided by a solid electrolyte; and #a second layer (18) located between the first and third layers, the second layer having a thickness of at least 500 nm and being provided by a second material comprising at least 95 atomic % amorphous silicon; removing a through-thickness portion of the first layer (20) to form a first discrete layer element (20a) provided by the first material; removing a through-thickness portion of the second layer (18) to form a second discrete layer element (18a) provided by the second material, the second discrete layer element being located between the first discrete layer element (20a) and the solid electrolyte; and etching the third layer (16) using the second discrete layer element (18a) as an etching mask, to form a third discrete layer element (16a) provided

Abstract: The present invention provides a vapour deposition method for preparing an amorphous lithium borosilicate compound or doped lithium borosilicate compound, the method comprising: providing a vapour source of each component element of the compound, wherein the vapour sources comprise at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, a source of boron and a source of silicon, and, optionally, a source of at least one dopant element; providing a substrate at a temperature of less than about 180° C.; delivering a flow of said lithium, said oxygen, said boron and said silicon, and, optionally, said dopant element, wherein the rate of flow of said oxygen is at least about 8×10?8 m3/s; and co-depositing the component elements from the vapour sources onto the substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the amorphous compound.

Abstract: A vapour deposition method for preparing an amorphous lithium-containing oxide or oxynitride compound not containing phosphorous comprises providing a vapour source of each component element of the compound, including at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, a source of nitrogen in the case of an oxynitride compound, and a source or sources of one or more glass-forming elements; heating a substrate to substantially 180° C. or above; and co-depositing the component elements from the vapour sources onto the heated substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the amorphous compound.

Abstract: A composition consisting essentially of a perovskite crystalline structure, the composition comprising: ions of a first metal M1 which occupies an A-site of the perovskite crystalline structure; ions of a second metal M2 which occupies a B-site of the perovskite crystalline structure, M2 having two oxidation states capable of forming a redox couple suitable for reversibly catalyzing an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and an oxygen evolution reaction (OER); ions of a third metal M3 at least a portion of which substitutes for M1 in the A-site of the perovskite crystalline structure, and at least a portion of which optionally also substitutes for M2 in the B-site of the perovskite crystalline structure, at least some of the atoms M3 having a different oxidation state to the atoms M1; and atoms of an element X, which is a chalcogen; wherein the metal ions M1, M2 and M3 are present in the atomic ratios (a) or (b): (a) 25 to 49.

Abstract: A vapor deposition method for preparing a multi-layered thin film structure comprises providing a vapor source of each component element of a compound intended for a first layer and a compound intended for a second layer, wherein the vapor sources comprise at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, a source or sources of one or more glass-forming elements, and a source or sources of one or more transition metals; heating a substrate to a first temperature; co-depositing component elements from at least the vapor sources of lithium, oxygen and the one or more transition metals onto the heated substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form a layer of a crystalline lithium-containing transition metal oxide compound; heating the substrate to a second temperature within a temperature range of substantially 170° C.

Abstract: A lithium borosilicate composition, consisting essentially of a system of lithium oxide in combination with silicon oxide and boron oxide, wherein said lithium borosilicate comprises between 70-83 atomic % lithium based on the combined atomic percentages of lithium, boron and silicon, and wherein said lithium borosilicate is a glass, is disclosed.

Abstract: A catalyst for a fuel cell anode comprises an alloy of Pd and at least two other transition metals, at least one of which which binds to hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide at least as strongly as Pd does. Suitable transition metals which bind more strongly are Co, W, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Mo, Nb, Hf, Ta, Zr and Re. PdCoW is the most preferred alloy. The catalyst is used on the anode of a hydrogen oxidising fuel cell, such as a PEMFC to catalyse the hydrogen oxidation reaction.

Abstract: A core-shell composite material may include a core consisting of Nb-doped TiO2 of formula TiNbOx; and a shell consisting of a homogeneous layer of Pt or Pt alloy of 1 to 50 ML in thickness. The core-shell composite material may in particular find application in fuel cells.

Abstract: A mixed metal oxide material of tungsten and titanium is provided for use in a fuel cell. The material may comprise less than approximately 30 at. % tungsten. The mixed metal oxide may form the core of a core-shell composite material, used as a catalyst support, in which a catalyst such as platinum forms the shell. The catalyst may be applied as a single monolayer, or up to 20 monolayers.

Abstract: A mixed metal oxide material of tantalumand titanium is provided for use in a fuel cell. The material may comprise between 1 and 20 at. % tantalum. The mixed metal oxide may form the core of a core-shell composite material, used as a catalyst support, in which a catalyst such as platinum forms the shell. The catalyst may be applied as a single monolayer, and is preferably between 6.5 and 9.3 monolayers thick.

Abstract: A mixed metal oxide material of tin and titanium is provided for use in a fuel cell. The mixed metal oxide may form the core of a core-shell composite material, used as a catalyst support, in which a catalyst such as platinum forms the shell. The catalyst may be applied as a single monolayer, or up to 20 monolayers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vapour deposition process for the preparation of a phosphate compound, wherein the process comprises providing each component element of the phosphate compound as a vapour, and co-depositing the component element vapours on a common substrate, wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the phosphate compound.

Abstract: A vapour deposition method for preparing an amorphous lithium-containing oxide or oxynitride compound not containing phosphorous comprises providing a vapour source of each component element of the compound, including at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, a source of nitrogen in the case of an oxynitride compound, and a source or sources of one or more glass-forming elements; heating a substrate to substantially 180° C. or above; and co-depositing the component elements from the vapour sources onto the heated substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the amorphous compound.

Abstract: A vapour deposition method for preparing a crystalline lithium-containing transition metal oxide compound comprises providing a vapour source of each component element of the compound, including at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, and a source or sources of one or more transition metals; heating a substrate to between substantially 150° C. and substantially 450° C.; and co-depositing the component elements from the vapour sources onto the heated substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the crystalline compound.