Abstract: Described herein are current collectors comprising metal grids as well as electrodes and lithium-metal cells comprising such current collectors and methods of fabricating such current collectors, electrodes, and lithium-metal cells. A thin current collector comprises a polymer base and a metal layer positioned on, directly interfaces, and supported by one side of the polymer base. A thin current collector also comprises a metal grid, which directly interfaces and is supported by the edge of the polymer base. The metal grid is electrically coupled to the metal layer, e.g., by overlapping or at least forming an interface with the metal layer. In an electrode that further comprises an active material layer supported on the metal layer, the metal grid extends away from the active material layer. In an electrochemical cell, the metal grid can be connected to the metal grids of other electrodes and/or cell tabs.

Abstract: Techniques for volumetric assessment of a product based on images captured by a bi-optic scanner are disclosed herein. An example system includes a first imaging assembly, having a field of view of a product scanning region, configured to capture a first image of an item passing through the product scanning region; a second imaging assembly, having an orthogonal field of view, configured to capture a second image of the item passing through the product scanning region at the same time; processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processors to: determine a first distance of the item from an edge of the first field of view based on the first image; determine a second distance of the item from the a corresponding edge of the second field of view based on the second image; and generate an estimated volume of the item based on the first image, the first distance, the second image, and the second distance.

Abstract: A Li-ion battery cell includes anode and cathode electrodes, a separator electrically separating the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and an electrolyte ionically coupling the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. In some designs, the anode electrode has a capacity loading in the range of about 2 mAh/cm2 to about 10 mAh/cm2 and includes anode particles that (i) have an average particle size in the range of about 0.2 microns to about 20 microns, (ii) exhibit a volume expansion in the range of about 8 vol. % to about 180 vol. % during one or more charge-discharge cycles of the battery cell, and (iii) exhibit a specific capacity in the range of about 800 mAh/g to about 3000 mAh/g.

Abstract: A composition of matter for selective binding of at least one heavy metal comprising at least one porous metal-organic framework (MOF) with unsaturated coordination sites, at least one organic ligand functionalized with at least one functional group tailored to bind to the at least one MOF, and at least one separate functional group tailored to bind to the at least one heavy metal.

Abstract: A composition of matter for selective binding of at least one heavy metal comprising at least one porous metal-organic framework (MOF) with unsaturated coordination sites, at least one organic ligand functionalized with at least one functional group tailored to bind to the at least one MOF, and at least one separate functional group tailored to bind to the at least one heavy metal.

Abstract: A composition of matter for selective binding of at least one heavy metal comprising at least one porous metal-organic framework (MOF) with unsaturated coordination sites, at least one organic ligand functionalized with at least one functional group tailored to bind to the at least one MOF, and at least one separate functional group tailored to bind to the at least one heavy metal.

Abstract: A method for making a hydrophilic polydimethylsiloxane elastomer, the method including: mixing a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer base with a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer curing agent to form a mixture; placing the mixture in a mold coated or permeated with a surfactant; and curing the mixture in the mold.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of hydrophilic elastomers involves the synthesis of polydimethylsiloxane with tunable hydrophilic surface properties. An elastomeric monolith with desired hydrophilic properties is produced by combining a polyethylene oxide polymeric surfactant additive with a PDMS base and curing agent during polymerization. The surfactant chain segment lengths are varied to control the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of hydrophilic elastomers involves the synthesis of polydimethylsiloxane with tunable hydrophilic surface properties. An elastomeric monolith with desired hydrophilic properties is produced by combining a polyethylene oxide polymeric surfactant additive with a PDMS base and curing agent during polymerization. The surfactant chain segment lengths are varied to control the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance.