Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an organic photoreceptor in which at least a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a protective layer are laminated in order on a conductive support includes at least a unit for supplying a lubricant onto a surface of the organic photoreceptor and a unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the organic photoreceptor with a cleaning blade, and satisfying the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the protective layer of the organic photoreceptor contains at least metal oxide fine particles in a cured resin obtained by curing a polymerizable compound; (2) a universal hardness of the surface of the organic photoreceptor is in a range of 220 to 280 N/mm2; and (3) a JIS-A hardness of a portion of the cleaning blade to be abutted on the organic photoreceptor is in a range of 70 to 78°.

Abstract: The secondary battery includes one or more anodes that include amorphous carbon and a carbon fiber. In some instances, the one or more anodes exclude graphite. The battery also includes one or more cathodes and an electrolyte in contact with the one or more anodes. The electrolyte includes one or more lithium salts in a solvent.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes: a conductive support; a photosensitive layer including at least an organic material; and a surface protective layer, wherein the photosensitive layer and the surface protective layer are provided on the conductive support, and the surface protective layer includes a photo-curable crosslinking monomer and a charge transport material including a mixture of a plurality of stereoisomers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a production process of an organic photoreceptor which can suppress occurrence of uneven density and image defects. The production process of an organic photoreceptor, the organic photoreceptor including an intermediate layer and an organic photosensitive layer on the intermediate layer, includes: applying a coating liquid for forming the intermediate layer to a conductive support to form a coating film, the coating liquid being obtained by dissolving a binder resin in a solvent and dispersing first and second metal oxide fine particles therein; and drying the coating film. The Pe number of the first metal oxide fine particles is two or more times larger than that of the second metal oxide fine particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoconductor including an electrically conductive substrate, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer that are formed on the electrically conductive support, the intermediate layer including first titanium oxide particles surface-treated with a first reactive organic silicon compound, second titanium oxide particles surface-treated with a second reactive organic silicon compound different from the first reactive organic silicon compound, and a binder resin. The first reactive organic silicon compound is methyl hydrogen polysiloxane. The second reactive organic silicon compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (1): R—Si—(X)3??(1) R represents a alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms substituted by at least one of acryloxy and methacryloxy groups or unsubstituted; and X represents an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery particularly configured to be able to discharge to a very low voltage, e.g. zero volts, without causing permanent damage to the battery. More particularly, the battery is configured to define a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) which is lower than a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT).

Abstract: Disclosed is a production process of an organic photoreceptor which can suppress occurrence of uneven density and image defects. The production process of an organic photoreceptor, the organic photoreceptor including an intermediate layer and an organic photosensitive layer on the intermediate layer, includes: applying a coating liquid for forming the intermediate layer to a conductive support to form a coating film, the coating liquid being obtained by dissolving a binder resin in a solvent and dispersing first and second metal oxide fine particles therein; and drying the coating film. The Pe number of the first metal oxide fine particles is two or more times larger than that of the second metal oxide fine particles.

Abstract: The electrolyte includes one or more salts and a silane. The silane has a silicon linked to one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety or a cyclic carbonate moiety. The silane can be linked to four of the first substituents. Alternately, the silane can be linked to the one or more first substituents and one or more second substituents that each exclude both a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety and a cyclic carbonate moiety.

Abstract: The electrolyte includes one or more salts and a silane. The silane has a silicon linked to one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety or a cyclic carbonate moiety. The silane can be linked to four of the first substituents. Alternately, the silane can be linked to the one or more first substituents and one or more second substituents that each exclude both a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety and a cyclic carbonate moiety.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an intermediate layer is provided. The intermediate layer is a single layer and contains first metal oxide particles, second metal oxide particles having higher electron-transporting properties than those of the first metal oxide particle and a binder resin. The first metal oxide particles are unevenly distributed in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer.

Abstract: The battery includes a solid electrolyte activating a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The electrolyte is a solid including a lithium ion conductive glass-ceramic. The negative electrode includes a buffer layer between a negative medium and the electrolyte. The negative medium includes one or more primary negative active materials. The buffer layer includes one or more secondary negative active materials that do not dissolve the lithium ion conductive glass-ceramic. The secondary negative active materials can have a redox potential greater than 0.5 V vs Li/Li+.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoconductor including an electrically conductive substrate, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer that are formed on the electrically conductive support, the intermediate layer including first titanium oxide particles surface-treated with a first reactive organic silicon compound, second titanium oxide particles surface-treated with a second reactive organic silicon compound different from the first reactive organic silicon compound, and a binder resin. The first reactive organic silicon compound is methyl hydrogen polysiloxane. The second reactive organic silicon compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (1): R—Si—(X)3??(1) R represents a alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms substituted by at least one of acryloxy and methacryloxy groups or unsubstituted; and X represents an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom.

Abstract: Formation of an electrochemical device includes removing a layer of a metal oxide from battery components so as to define a weld region and an exposed region on the components. A surface of the weld region includes the metal oxide and a surface of the exposed region includes the metal oxide at a lower concentration than the weld region. The method also includes arranging the components such that a seam is defined between the components with weld regions positioned on opposing sides of the seams. The method further includes contacting at least one of the weld regions with a laser while laser welding the components together along the seam.

Abstract: The battery includes a positive electrode having a first active material on a positive substrate. The first active material includes LiNixCo1-x-yMyO2 wherein M is chosen from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Mg, B, Ti, and Li, and wherein 0.5?x?1 and 0?y?0.3. The battery also includes a negative electrode having a second active material on a negative substrate. The second active material includes carbon. The negative electrode is susceptible to damage when a voltage exceeding a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT) is applied to the negative electrode. The DPT is lower than the maximum positive operating potential of the battery. The positive and negative electrodes define a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) relative to a reference level when the voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is zero. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are configured such that the value of the ZCP is less than the value of the DPT at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery particularly configured to be able to discharge to a very low voltage, e.g. zero volts, without causing permanent damage to the battery. More particularly, the battery is configured to define a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) which is lower than a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT).

Abstract: An electrochemical device has one or more electrodes in electrical communication with a tab assembly. The tab assembly includes a tab having one or more clad regions. Each clad region includes a metal clad onto the tab.

Abstract: The electrolyte includes one or more salts and a silane. The silane has a silicon linked to one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety or a cyclic carbonate moiety. The silane can be linked to four of the first substituents. Alternately, the silane can be linked to the one or more first substituents and one or more second substituents that each exclude both a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety and a cyclic carbonate moiety.

Abstract: A battery is disclosed. The battery includes an electrolyte activating one or more anodes and one or more cathodes. The electrolyte includes one or more salts dissolved in a solvent. The solvent includes one or more first siloxanes and/or one or more first silanes. Each of the first siloxanes and/or first silanes have one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety. The solvent also includes one or more second siloxanes and/or one or more second silanes. Each of the second siloxanes and/or second silanes have one or more second substituents that each include a carbonate moiety.

Abstract: The electrochemical device assembly includes an anode tab in electrical communication with one or more anodes. The anode tab includes a first material. The assembly also includes a spacer having a third material and a fourth material. The third material is connected to the first material of the anode tab. The assembly also includes a cathode tab in electrical communication with one or more cathodes. The cathode tab includes a second material connected to the fourth material of the spacer. The second material is different from the first material and the fourth material is different from the third material.

Abstract: The electrolyte includes one or more salts and a silane. The silane has a silicon linked to one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety or a cyclic carbonate moiety. The silane can be linked to four of the first substituents. Alternately, the silane can be linked to the one or more first substituents and one or more second substituents that each exclude both a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety and a cyclic carbonate moiety.