Abstract: Methods are provided for forming an electrode. The method can comprise thermally reducing GeO2 powders at a reducing temperature of 300° C. to 600° C. to produce Ge particles; mixing the Ge particles with an organic binder and a carbon source; and pressing the Ge particles with the binder and the carbon source to form the electrode. Electrodes are also provided that include a plurality of microparticles comprising Ge grains, an organic binder, and a carbon source, wherein the Ge grains comprise cubic Ge and are bonded together to form Ge particles, and wherein the Ge grains define nanopores within the electrode.

Abstract: A titanium disulfide-sulfur (TiS2—S) composite particle contains a titanium disulfide (TiS2) substrate having solid elemental sulfur (S) disposed directly on a surface of the TiS2. The TiS2 substrate has a layered crystalline hexagonal structure of space group P-3 ml and includes at least 100 distinct layers. The TiS2 and S are present in the composite in a weight ratio (TiS2:S) of 20:80 to 50:50. Cathodes and batteries containing the composite particle, as well as related methods, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A titanium disulfide-sulfur (TiS2—S) composite particle contains a titanium disulfide (TiS2) substrate having solid elemental sulfur (S) disposed directly on a surface of the TiS2. The TiS2 substrate has a layered crystalline hexagonal structure of space group P-3 ml and includes at least 100 distinct layers. The TiS2 and S are present in the composite in a weight ratio (TiS2:S) of 20:80 to 50:50. Cathodes and batteries containing the composite particle, as well as related methods, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming an electrode. The method can comprise thermally reducing GeO2 powders at a reducing temperature of 300° C. to 600° C. to produce Ge particles; mixing the Ge particles with an organic binder and a carbon source; and pressing the Ge particles with the binder and the carbon source to form the electrode. Electrodes are also provided that include a plurality of microparticles comprising Ge grains, an organic binder, and a carbon source, wherein the Ge grains comprise cubic Ge and are bonded together to form Ge particles, and wherein the Ge grains define nanopores within the electrode.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming an electrode. The method can comprises: thermally reducing GeO2 powders at a reducing temperature of 300° C. to 600° C. to produce Ge particles; mixing the Ge particles with an organic binder and a carbon source; and pressing the Ge particles with the binder and the carbon source to form the electrode. Electrodes are also provided that include a plurality of microparticles comprising Ge grains, an organic binder, and a carbon source, wherein the Ge grains comprise cubic Ge and are bonded together to form Ge particles, and wherein the Ge grains define nanopores within the electrode.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming an electrode. The method can comprises: thermally reducing GeO2 powders at a reducing temperature of 300° C. to 600° C. to produce Ge particles; mixing the Ge particles with an organic binder and a carbon source; and pressing the Ge particles with the binder and the carbon source to form the electrode. Electrodes are also provided that include a plurality of microparticles comprising Ge grains, an organic binder, and a carbon source, wherein the Ge grains comprise cubic Ge and are bonded together to form Ge particles, and wherein the Ge grains define nanopores within the electrode.

Abstract: An image data compression method is disclosed. Firstly, check a variance between a first image data and a second image data for comparing the variance with a threshold value. When the variance is smaller than a threshold value, compare the first image data with the second image data to generate a motion vector and compress the motion vector. Then calculate the first image data and the second image data according to the motion vector so as to get an offset value of the motion vector. Next, encode the offset value of the motion vector, compress the offset value of the motion vector, and encode as well as compress the first image data. Thus the compression ratio is improved and image distortion is avoided.