Abstract: An energy storage device management system can include a management portion for charging/discharging an energy storage device and an ultrasound interrogation portion for passing ultrasound energy through the energy storage device during charge/discharge cycles. A memory stores a stream of capture data instances derived from ultrasound energy exiting the energy storage device and baseline ultrasound data instances corresponding with the energy storage device during normal charging/discharging thereof. A processor can compare each capture data instance with the baseline ultrasound data and detect abnormal operating states of the energy storage device. A warning system can issue a notification when abnormal operating states are detected.

Abstract: A process for the formation of a deformable battery electrode includes mixing a metal component including at least one of a metal or a metal alloy, a polymer component, and a dispersant component to create a mixture. The method further includes heated the mixture to a temperature above the melting point of the metal or the metal alloy and agitating the mixture to form a dispersion of the (molten) metal or the metal alloy in the mixture. The method further includes cooling the mixture to a temperature below the melting point of the metal or the metal alloy to form a stabilized dispersion of the metal or the metal alloy. The polymer component includes a polymer having a melting point equal to or below that of the metal or the metal alloy and a glass transition temperature sufficiently low that the stabilized dispersion is deformable.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode configured to produce multivalent cations during a discharge process, and a cathode comprising a catechol-bearing melanin. The cathode is configured to reversibly oxidize a catechol of the catechol-bearing melanin into a quinone by an extraction of the multivalent cation during a recharge process and reduce the quinone to the catechol by an insertion of the multivalent cation during the discharge process. The electrochemical cell includes an aqueous electrolyte solution in which the anode and the cathode are disposed, wherein the aqueous electrolyte solution is configured to transport the multivalent cations between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: In one aspect, an energy storage device comprises one or more organic electrodes comprising one or more melanin-based energy storage materials and cations, with the one or more melanin-based energy storage materials reversibly binding the cations while the biocompatible energy storage device is in an inactive state, and the one or more melanin-based energy storage materials releasing the cations to provide energy while the energy storage device is in an active state.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode configured to produce multivalent cations during a discharge process, and a cathode comprising a catechol-bearing melanin. The cathode is configured to reversibly oxidize a catechol of the catechol-bearing melanin into a quinone by an extraction of the multivalent cation during a recharge process and reduce the quinone to the catechol by an insertion of the multivalent cation during the discharge process. The electrochemical cell includes an aqueous electrolyte solution in which the anode and the cathode are disposed, wherein the aqueous electrolyte solution is configured to transport the multivalent cations between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Alternative sputter target compositions or configurations for thin-film electrolytes are proposed whereby the sputter target materials system possesses sufficient electrical conductivity to allow the use of (pulsed) DC target power for sputter deposition. The electrolyte film materials adopt their required electrically insulating and lithium-ion conductive properties after reactive sputter deposition from the electrically conducting sputter target materials system.

Abstract: In one aspect, an energy storage device comprises one or more organic electrodes comprising one or more melanin-based energy storage materials and cations, with the one or more melanin-based energy storage materials reversibly binding the cations while the biocompatible energy storage device is in an inactive state, and the one or more melanin-based energy storage materials releasing the cations to provide energy while the energy storage device is in an active state.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a metallic material having catalytic activity that includes synthesizing a material composition comprising a metal content with a lower Pt content than a binary alloy containing Pt but that displays at least a comparable catalytic activity on a per mole Pt basis as the binary alloy containing Pt; and evaluating a representative sample of the material composition to ensure that the material composition displays a property of at least a comparable catalytic activity on a per mole Pt basis as a representative binary alloy containing Pt. Furthermore, metallic compositions are disclosed that possess substantial resistance to corrosive acids.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a metallic material having catalytic activity that includes synthesizing a material composition comprising a metal content with a lower Pt content than a binary alloy containing Pt but that displays at least a comparable catalytic activity on a per mole Pt basis as the binary alloy containing Pt; and evaluating a representative sample of the material composition to ensure that the material composition displays a property of at least a comparable catalytic activity on a per mole Pt basis as a representative binary alloy containing Pt. Furthermore, metallic compositions are disclosed that possess substantial resistance to corrosive acids.

Abstract: Alternative sputter target compositions or configurations for thin-film electrolytes are proposed whereby the sputter target materials system possesses sufficient electrical conductivity to allow the use of (pulsed) DC target power for sputter deposition. The electrolyte film materials adopt their required electrically insulating and lithium-ion conductive properties after reactive sputter deposition from the electrically conducting sputter target materials system.

Abstract: A process for making thin-film batteries including the steps of cleaning a glass or silicon substrate having an amorphous oxide layer several microns thick; defining with a mask the layer shape when depositing cobalt as an adhesion layer and platinum as a current collector; using the same mask as the preceding step to sputter a layer of LiCoO2 on the structure while rocking it back and forth; heating the substrate to 300° C. for 30 minutes; sputtering with a new mask that defines the necessary electrolyte area; evaporating lithium metal anodes using an appropriate shadow mask; and, packaging the cell in a dry-room environment by applying a continuous bead of epoxy around the active cell areas and resting a glass slide over the top thereof.

Abstract: A neural prosthetic micro system includes an electrode array coupled to an integrated circuit (IC) which may include signal conditioning and processing circuitry. The IC may include a high pass filter that passes signals representative of local field potential (LFP) activity in a subject's brain.

Abstract: A process for making thin-film batteries including the steps of cleaning a glass or silicon substrate having an amorphous oxide layer several microns thick; defining with a mask the layer shape when depositing cobalt as an adhesion layer and platinum as a current collector; using the same mask as the preceding step to sputter a layer of LiCoO2 on the structure while rocking it back and forth; heating the substrate to 300° C. for 30 minutes; sputtering with a new mask that defines the necessary electrolyte area; evaporating lithium metal anodes using an appropriate shadow mask; and, packaging the cell in a dry-room environment by applying a continuous bead of epoxy around the active cell areas and resting a glass slide over the top thereof. The batteries produced by the above process are disclosed.