Abstract: An electrode material and a lithium-ion energy storage device are provided. The electrode material includes at least one material selected from the following structures: a Keplerate-type polyoxometalate containing molybdenum and iron; a Keplerate-type polyoxometalate containing molybdenum and vanadium; a bi-capped Keggin-type polyoxometalate containing vanadium; and a polyoxometalate containing vanadium and a transition metal, wherein the transition metal is nickel, cobalt, iron, or manganese. A lithium-ion energy storage device having the above electrode materials may still maintain higher capacity at higher current density, and may still maintain the original capacity after many cycles.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding corresponding polypeptides capable of glycosylating steviol at its C-19 position to produce a steviol glycoside, an expression vector including such a polynucleotide, a method for producing a steviol glycoside by culturing a recombinant host cell containing such an expression vector under conditions in which the cell expresses the UDP-glycosyltransferase from the polynucleotide, and a method for producing a steviol glycoside by contacting a composition including steviol with a recombinant UDP-glycosyltransferase. The steviol glycoside can be steviol-19-O-glycoside. The recombinant host cell containing such an expression vector can be a bacterial cell, a plant cell, or a fungal cell, an animal cell, or a multicellular organism such as a plant.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The microbial fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and a microbial community. The anode is made of an activated carbon prepared from waste coffee ground as an electrode material, and the microbial community is adhered to the surface of the activated carbon. Since the activated carbon prepared from waste coffee ground is beneficial for the adhesion of various microbial communities to form a biofilm, the electron transfer efficiency of the microbial fuel cell may be improved.

Abstract: A lithium battery and an anode material thereof are provided. The anode material for a lithium battery includes a spinel-structured high entropy oxide represented by (NiaMnbFecM1dM2e)3O4, where M1 and M2 are independently selected from Co, Ti, Sn, Si, Al, Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca, Mo, Ru, Zr, or Nb, a+b+c+d+e=1, 0.01<a<0.35, 0.01<b<0.35, 0.01<c<0.35, 0.01<d<0.35, and 0.01<e<0.35.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to an embodiment includes receiving a substrate including a lower contact feature, depositing a first dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure over the first dielectric layer, depositing a second dielectric layer over the MIM structure, performing a first etch process to form an opening that extends through the second dielectric layer to expose the MIM structure, performing a second etch process to extend the opening through the MIM structure to expose the first dielectric layer; and performing a third etch process to further extend the opening through the first dielectric layer to expose the lower contact feature. Etchants of the first etch process and the third etch process include fluorine while the etchant of the second etch process is free of fluorine.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to an embodiment includes receiving a substrate including a lower contact feature, depositing a first dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure over the first dielectric layer, depositing a second dielectric layer over the MIM structure, performing a first etch process to form an opening that extends through the second dielectric layer to expose the MIM structure, performing a second etch process to extend the opening through the MIM structure to expose the first dielectric layer; and performing a third etch process to further extend the opening through the first dielectric layer to expose the lower contact feature. Etchants of the first etch process and the third etch process include fluorine while the etchant of the second etch process is free of fluorine.

Abstract: A self-power air refresher system includes an air refresher apparatus and a plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC). The air refresher apparatus includes a fan, a filter located on an air-outlet path of the fan, and an energy storage device connected to the fan. The PMFC is disposed on the air-outlet path and includes soil contained in a container, a plant planted in the soil, and a first and second electrodes. The interaction between roots of the plant and microorganisms near the roots generates electrons, and the electrons are transmitted to the energy storage device through the first and second electrodes installed in the soil so as to enable the energy storage device to supply power to the fan. The air that has passed through the filter enters the soil of the PMFC, and is filtered by the plant and then discharged from the container.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The microbial fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and a microbial community. The anode is made of an activated carbon prepared from waste coffee ground as an electrode material, and the microbial community is adhered to the surface of the activated carbon. Since the activated carbon prepared from waste coffee ground is beneficial for the adhesion of various microbial communities to form a biofilm, the electron transfer efficiency of the microbial fuel cell may be improved.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) apparatus for real-time detecting of one or more fluorescent signals. According to the apparatus, the PCR is performed by controlling heating and cooling intervals of a reagent container receiving space. With the aid of an added specific probe and fluorescent material, as well as a light source and a spectrometer, a generated fluorescent signal is detected. Meanwhile, the apparatus is also pre-loaded with an algorithm configured to analyze and quantify the fluorescent signal in a real-time manner.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for performing PCR by thermal convection. The device includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a temperature sensing device, a power supplying device, a processor and an accommodation space. The device uses transparent conductive film to replace conventional thermostat metal stock to perform a heat process required in the PCR or RT-PCR process. The device further uses a reagent container whose bottom portion contacts the transparent conductive film and being heated by the transparent conductive film to establish a thermal circulation in the reagent container. The device can qualify or quantify the product of PCR or RT-PCR process by further incorporating specific probes, fluorescence material, light source, light receiver and light regulator.

Abstract: A self-power air refresher system includes an air refresher apparatus and a plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC). The air refresher apparatus includes a fan, a filter located on an air-outlet path of the fan, and an energy storage device connected to the fan. The PMFC is disposed on the air-outlet path and includes soil contained in a container, a plant planted in the soil, and a first and second electrodes. The interaction between roots of the plant and microorganisms near the roots generates electrons, and the electrons are transmitted to the energy storage device through the first and second electrodes installed in the soil so as to enable the energy storage device to supply power to the fan. The air that has passed through the filter enters the soil of the PMFC, and is filtered by the plant and then discharged from the container.

Abstract: An electrode material for a secondary battery and a secondary battery are provided. The electrode material for the secondary battery includes tin-manganese-nickel-oxide. The secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte, and a package structure, wherein the anode includes the electrode material for the secondary battery.

Abstract: An electrode material for a secondary battery and a secondary battery are provided. The electrode material for the secondary battery includes tin-manganese-nickel-oxide. The secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte, and a package structure, wherein the anode includes the electrode material for the secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a convective PCR apparatus by using a transparent conductive thin film to replace the traditional metal heater. The PCR reaction is activated when the container with reagents contacted the heated transparent conductive thin film and the temperature inside the container raised to initiate the convective circulation. Also, the present invention could apply for a quantitative PCR reaction by adding a specific probe, fluorescent dye, light source, or photon receiver.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for performing PCR by thermal convection. The device includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a temperature sensing device, a power supplying device, a processor and an accommodation space. The device uses transparent conductive film to replace conventional thermostat metal stock to perform a heat process required in the PCR or RT-PCR process. The device further uses a reagent container whose bottom portion contacts the transparent conductive film and being heated by the transparent conductive film to establish a thermal circulation in the reagent container. The device can qualify or quantify the product of PCR or RT-PCR process by further incorporating specific probes, fluorescence material, light source, light receiver and light regulator.

Abstract: A p-type transparent conductive oxide and a solar cell containing the p-type transparent conducting oxide, wherein the p-type transparent conductive oxide includes a molybdenum trioxide doped with an element having less than six valence electrons, the element is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, group III elements, group IV, group V, transition elements and their combinations. Doping an element having less than six valence electron results in hole number increase, and thus increasing the hole drift velocity, and making Fermi level closer to the range of p-type materials. Hence, a p-type transparent conductive material is generated. This p-type transparent conducting oxide not only has high electron hole drift velocity, low resistivity, but also reaches a transmittance of 88% in the visible wavelength range, and therefore it is very suitable to be used in solar cells.

Abstract: A p-type transparent conductive oxide and a solar cell containing the p-type transparent conducting oxide, wherein the p-type transparent conductive oxide includes a molybdenum trioxide doped with an element having less than six valence electrons, the element is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, group III elements, group IV, group V, transition elements and their combinations. Doping an element having less than six valence electron results in hole number increase, and thus increasing the hole drift velocity, and making Fermi level closer to the range of p-type materials. Hence, a p-type transparent conductive material is generated. This p-type transparent conducting oxide not only has high electron hole drift velocity, low resistivity, but also reaches a transmittance of 88% in the visible wavelength range, and therefore it is very suitable to be used in solar cells.