Abstract: A protein with an activity of inhibiting angiogenesis and inflammation, and a specific structure, use, and preparation method thereof are provided. The protein can inhibit both angiogenesis and inflammation, and can prevent and alleviate ophthalmic diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and pterygium to some extent based on a dual action mechanism.

Abstract: A reference electrode assembly includes a porous separator and a continuous electroactive material layer disposed on a surface of the porous separator. The electroactive material layer includes between about 20 wt. % and about 80 wt. % of an electroactive material and between about 20 wt. % and about 80 wt. % of an electrically conductive material. A loading density of the electroactive material is greater than or equal to about 0.01 mAh/cm2 to less than or equal to about 0.1 mAh/cm2. The electroactive material can be selected from the group consisting of: LiFePO4 (LFP), lithium-aluminum alloys, lithium-tin alloys, and combinations thereof; and the electrically conductive material can be selected from the group consisting of: carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphite, metal nano-micro particles, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system for assessing a characteristic of a reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell that cycle lithium ions includes a controller and a test cell assembly. The test cell assembly includes a metal case electrically coupled to the controller and a test cell disposed within the metal case. The test cell includes a lithium metal layer and a separator assembly. The separator assembly includes a separator layer, a current collector layer deposited on the separator layer, and optionally an electroactive layer deposited on the separator layer such that the electroactive layer at least partially overlaps the current collector layer. The current collector layer is in direct physical contact with an electroactive layer and is electrically isolated from the lithium metal layer by the separator layer.

Abstract: A system for measuring a thickness of a coating arranged on an anode substrate includes an optical measurement system configured to transmit a light signal having a known first polarization toward the anode substrate through the coating such that the light signal is reflected from the surface of the anode substrate, a detection module positioned to receive the reflected light signal and configured to determine a second polarization of the reflected light signal that is different from the first polarization and measure a polarization difference between the first polarization and the second polarization, and a measurement module configured to receive the measured polarization difference, calculate the thickness of the coating based on the measured polarization difference, and generate an output based on the calculated thickness.

Abstract: Methods for forming sulfur polyacrylonitrile are provide. In certain variations, the method includes contacting sulfur and polyacrylonitrile to form an admixture, sealing a container holding the admixture, heating the admixture to a first temperature venting the container holding the admixture to release gases generated during the heating of the admixture to the first temperature, re-sealing the container holding the admixture, and heating the admixture to a second temperature. In other variations, the method includes contacting sulfur and polyacrylonitrile to form an admixture, heating the admixture to a first temperature, sealing a container holding the admixture, and heating the admixture to a second temperature. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

Abstract: A method for forming a protective electrode coating on an electrode to be used in a lithium-sulfur battery is provided. The method includes contacting one or more surfaces of the electrode with a polymeric admixture, and polymerizing the polymeric admixture to form the protective electrode coating. The polymeric admixture includes a plurality of monomers, for example heterocyclic acetal monomers and/or cyclic ether monomers, and a lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) initiator. In certain instances, the polymeric admixture may also include a structural additive and/or a lithium salt. The contacting may include applying a thin film on the one or more surfaces of the electrode, and the polymerization may be heat activated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrolyte system may include an aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt in a mixture of organic solvents. The mixture of organic solvents may include a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent may include an ether solvent, a carbonate solvent, or a mixture of ether and carbonate solvents. The second solvent may include a fluorinated ether. A molar ratio of the aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt to the first solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1.2 to less than or equal to about 1:2. A molar ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1 to less than or equal to about 1:4.

Abstract: A system for measuring a thickness of a coating arranged on an anode substrate includes an optical measurement system configured to transmit a light signal having a known first polarization toward the anode substrate through the coating such that the light signal is reflected from the surface of the anode substrate, a detection module positioned to receive the reflected light signal and configured to determine a second polarization of the reflected light signal that is different from the first polarization and measure a polarization difference between the first polarization and the second polarization, and a measurement module configured to receive the measured polarization difference, calculate the thickness of the coating based on the measured polarization difference, and generate an output based on the calculated thickness.

Abstract: A method of preparing a lithium metal electrode for an electrochemical cell, such as a lithium metal battery, includes introducing a treatment gas into a chamber including an electrode precursor. The treatment gas may include a reactant gas and/or a plasma. The electrode precursor includes lithium metal and a passivation layer. The method further includes forming the lithium metal electrode by contacting the treatment gas with the passivation layer to remove at least a portion of the passivation layer. The present disclosure also provides pretreated electrodes and electrode assemblies.

Abstract: A thermal insulation component according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a matrix, a crosslinking precursor, and a crosslinking initiator. The matrix includes a thermal insulation material having a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to about 5 W/mK. The crosslinking precursor is embedded in the matrix. The crosslinking precursor includes at least one of an acrylate functional group or a methacrylate functional group. The crosslinking initiator is embedded in the matrix. The crosslinking initiator is configured to decompose to initiate crosslinking of the crosslinking precursor. In certain aspects, the present disclosure also provides an electronics assembly including an electronic component and a thermal insulation material in thermal communication with the electronic component. In certain aspects, the present disclosure also provides methods of manufacturing the thermal insulation component.

Abstract: A system for coating a separator for a battery includes a separator feed and collection assembly configured to dispense the separator, a coating distribution device configured to flow a coating material toward the separator, and an electric field generator configured to generate an electric field in a gap between the coating distribution device and the separator.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrolyte system may include an aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt in a mixture of organic solvents. The mixture of organic solvents may include a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent may include an ether solvent, a carbonate solvent, or a mixture of ether and carbonate solvents. The second solvent may include a fluorinated ether. A molar ratio of the aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt to the first solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1.2 to less than or equal to about 1:2. A molar ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1 to less than or equal to about 1:4.

Abstract: The present technology relates to gel electrolytes for using in lithium-ion electrochemical cells and methods of forming the same. For example, the method may include adding one or more gelation reagents to an electrochemical cell including one or more liquid electrolyte precursors. The one or more gelation reagents include one or more initiators and one or more crosslinking agents. Each of the one or more initiators may be one of a thermal initiator and an actinic/electron beam initiator.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell, a porous or non-porous metal substrate may be provided. A precursor solution may be applied to a surface of the metal substrate. The precursor solution may comprise a chalcogen donor compound dissolved in a solvent. The precursor solution may be applied to the surface of the metal substrate such that the chalcogen donor compound reacts with the metal substrate and forms a conformal metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate. A conformal lithium metal layer may be formed on the surface of the metal substrate over the metal chalcogenide layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a metal-organic framework electrolyte layer, can comprise a plurality of metal-organic frameworks having a porous structure and comprising a solvated salt absorbed in the porous structure; and a polymer. The MOF electrolyte layer can have at least one of a density of less than or equal to 0.3 g/cm3 or a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 500 to 4,000 m2/g. A lithium metal battery can comprise the metal-organic framework electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A battery electric vehicle includes a high voltage rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). The RESS includes several battery modules reconfigurable among parallel and series arrangements. During reconfiguration transitions, a low voltage battery services low voltage loads of the battery electric vehicle. The low voltage battery is preconditioned in advance of reconfigurations.

Abstract: A method for coating a separator for a battery includes creating an electrostatic field and disposing a substrate material within the electrostatic field. The method further includes applying a coating material to the substrate material in a presence of the electrostatic field and drying the coating material upon the substrate material.

Abstract: A method for coating a separator for a battery includes creating an electrostatic field and disposing a substrate material within the electrostatic field. The method further includes applying a coating material to the substrate material in a presence of the electrostatic field and drying the coating material upon the substrate material.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a coil spring includes a wire rod having an end and the other end. The wire rod of the coil spring includes, with regard to a section of the wire rod, a round section portion of an effective spring part, a square section portion in which the section is substantially square, and a taper portion. The square section portion includes an end turn part. A length of each side of the section of the square section portion is less than or equal to a square root of ½ multiplied by a diameter of the wire rod of the round section portion. In the taper portion, from the round section portion to the square section portion, the section changes from a round shape to substantially a square shape, and a sectional area is decreased.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a coil spring includes a wire rod having an end and the other end. The wire rod of the coil spring includes, with regard to a section of the wire rod, a round section potion of an effective spring part, a square section portion in which the section is substantially square, and a taper portion. The square section portion includes an end turn part. A length of each side of the section of the square section portion is less than or equal to a square root of ½ multiplied by a diameter of the wire rod of the round section portion. In the taper portion, from the round section portion to the square section portion, the section changes from a round shape to substantially a square shape, and a sectional area is decreased.