Abstract: A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

Abstract: A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

Abstract: A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

Abstract: A power system can include an input configured to be coupled to a utility grid. The power system can further include an electrical energy storage unit comprising a dielectric layer disposed between first and second electrode layers, the dielectric layer comprising a high permittivity ceramic material. In an embodiment, the power system can include a control computer can control a first switch to deactivate a main electrical energy storage unit that includes the electrical energy storage unit, and to control the second switch to activate a backup energy storage unit. In a further embodiment, the power system can include an output coupled to the utility power grid. In a further embodiment, the power system can include a control computer to control a first switch to deactivate a main electrical energy storage unit, and to control a second switch to activate an electrical energy storage unit buffer.

Abstract: A power system can include an input configured to be coupled to a utility grid. The power system can further include an electrical energy storage unit comprising a dielectric layer disposed between first and second electrode layers, the dielectric layer comprising a high permittivity ceramic material. In an embodiment, the power system can include a control computer can control a first switch to deactivate a main electrical energy storage unit that includes the electrical energy storage unit, and to control the second switch to activate a backup energy storage unit. In a further embodiment, the power system can include an output coupled to the utility power grid. In a further embodiment, the power system can include a control computer to control a first switch to deactivate a main electrical energy storage unit, and to control a second switch to activate an electrical energy storage unit buffer.

Abstract: As system is disclosed for providing power averaging for the utility grids and more specifically to utilizing a unique EESU unit with the capability to store electrical energy over 24 hour periods each day and provide power averaging to homes, commercial, and industrial sites to reduce the peak power requirements. Charging such power averaging units during the non-peak times and delivering the energy during the peak-demands times provides for more efficient utilization of utility-grid power-generating plants and the already existing power transmission lines. Such a unit may also have the capability of isolating the users from utility-grid power failures, transients, and AC noise.

Abstract: Wet-chemical methods involving the use of water-soluble hydrolytically stable metal-ion chelate precursors and an ammonium oxalate precipitant can be used in a coprecipitation procedure for the preparation of ceramic powders. Both the precursor solution and the ammonium oxalate precipitant solution are at neutral or near-neutral pH. A composition-modified barium titanate is one of the ceramic powders that can be produced. Certain metal-ion chelates can be prepared from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: Wet-chemical methods involving the use of water-soluble hydrolytically stable metal-ion chelate precursors and an ammonium oxalate precipitant can be used in a coprecipitation procedure for the preparation of ceramic powders. Both the precursor solution and the ammonium oxalate precipitant solution are at neutral or near-neutral pH. A composition-modified barium titanate is one of the ceramic powders that can be produced. Certain metal-ion chelates can be prepared from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: An electrical storage unit includes a plurality of sets of layers. Each set of layers includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer. The first layer includes a first electrode and plastic surrounding the first electrode on three sides of the first electrode within the first layer. The second layer includes a first active dielectric and plastic surrounding the first active dielectric on all four sides of the first active dielectric within the second layer. The third layer includes a second electrode and plastic surrounding the second electrode on three sides of the second electrode within the third layer. The fourth layer includes a second active dielectric and plastic surrounding the second active dielectric on all four sides of the second active dielectric within the fourth layer.

Abstract: Wet-chemical methods involving the use of water-soluble hydrolytically stable metal-ion chelate precursors and the use of a nonmetal-ion-containing strong base can be used in a coprecipitation procedure for the preparation of ceramic powders. Examples of the precipitants used include tetraalkylammonium hydroxides. A composition-modified barium titanate is one of the ceramic powders that can be produced. Certain metal-ion chelates can be prepared from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: Wet-chemical methods involving the use of water-soluble hydrolytically stable metal-ion chelate precursors and the use of a nonmetal-ion-containing strong base can be used in a coprecipitation procedure for the preparation of ceramic powders. Examples of the precipitants used include tetraalkylammonium hydroxides. A composition-modified barium titanate is one of the ceramic powders that can be produced. Certain metal-ion chelates can be prepared from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: A reactor for the wet-chemical co-precipitation of oxide powders includes a cylindrical structure having first and second ends and a lumen extending the length of the tube. A central axis extends through the lumen. The first end is closed. The reactor also includes a first inlet port disposed proximal to the first end of the cylindrical structure and providing access through the cylindrical structure to inject a first reactant solution. The reactor further includes a second inlet port disposed proximal to the first end of the cylindrical structure and providing access through the cylindrical structure to inject a second reactant solution. The first and second inlet ports are disposed on opposite sides of the cylindrical structure and are coaxial relative to the central axis.

Abstract: As system is disclosed for providing power averaging for the utility grids and more specifically to utilizing a unique EESU unit with the capability to store electrical energy over 24 hour periods each day and provide power averaging to homes, commercial, and industrial sites to reduce the peak power requirements. Charging such power averaging units during the non-peak times and delivering the energy during the peak-demands times provides for more efficient utilization of utility-grid power-generating plants and the already existing power transmission lines. Such a unit may also have the capability of isolating the users from utility-grid power failures, transients, and AC noise.

Abstract: A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

Abstract: A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

Abstract: The use of electrical energy storage unit (EESU) technology can provide power averaging for utility grids. Such EESUs can also be used to construct a system capable of storing electrical energy over specified periods (e.g., 24 hours) to provide peak power to homes, commercial sites, and industrial sites. By charging these power averaging units during non-peak times and then delivering the energy during peak-demands times, more efficient utilization of the present utility-grid power-generating plants and the already existing power transmission lines will be accomplished. These systems also have the capability of isolating users from utility-grid power failures, transients, and AC noise.

Abstract: Purification techniques have been developed for ceramic powder precursors, e.g., barium nitrate. These techniques can be performed using one or more of the following operations: (1) removal of impurities by precipitation or coprecipitation and separation using a nonmetallic-ion-containing strong base, e.g., tetraalkylammonium hydroxides; (2) reduction of higher oxidation-state-number oxymetal ions and subsequent precipitation as hydroxides that are separated from the solution; and (3) use of liquid-liquid exchange extraction procedures to separate certain impurities.

Abstract: Wet-chemical methods involving the use of water-soluble hydrolytically stable metal-ion chelate precursors and an ammonium oxalate precipitant can be used in a coprecipitation procedure for the preparation of ceramic powders. Both the precursor solution and the ammonium oxalate precipitant solution are at neutral or near-neutral pH. A composition-modified barium titanate is one of the ceramic powders that can be produced. Certain metal-ion chelates can be prepared from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: A very-high-performance ultrahigh-density vertical-magnetic-recording disk and associated method of manufacture is disclosed. The magnetic-recording disk has a rigid disk-shaped substrate composed of a titanium alloy or an austenitic stainless steel, an iron oxide layer overlying one or both surfaces of the substrate, and a barium ferrite layer overlying the iron oxide layer. The iron oxide and barium ferrite layers are applied by high-radiofrequency sputtering with high-radiofrequency substrate biasing.

Abstract: A coated metal-substrate disk for magnetic-recording applications is disclosed having a first coating selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides, or borides of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten, or the group consisting of aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, or silicon carbide on the metal substrate and a magnetic-recording material coating on the first coating. The first coatings are applied by evaporative reactive ion plating or by reactive sputtering.