Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide metal electrodes for electrochemical cells. In various embodiments, the electrodes may comprise iron. Various methods may enable achieving high surface area with low cost for production of metal electrodes, such as iron electrodes.

Abstract: Materials, designs, and methods of fabrication for iron-manganese oxide electrochemical cells are disclosed. In various embodiments, the negative electrode is comprised of pelletized, briquetted, or pressed iron-bearing components, including metallic iron or iron-based compounds (oxides, hydroxides, sulfides, or combinations thereof), collectively called “iron negative electrode.” In various embodiments, the positive electrode is comprised of pelletized, briquetted, or pressed manganese-bearing components, including manganese (IV) oxide (MnO2), manganese (III) oxide (Mn2O3), manganese (III) oxyhydroxide (MnOOH), manganese (II) oxide (MnO), manganese (II) hydroxide (Mn(OH)2), or combinations thereof, collectively called “manganese oxide positive electrode.” In various embodiments, electrolyte is comprised of aqueous alkali metal hydroxide including lithium hydroxide (LiOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), cesium hydroxide (CsOH), or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quantum dot light-emitting diode, comprising a hole function layer arranged between an anode and a quantum dot light-emitting layer, wherein the hole function layer comprises a hole transport layer and a hole buffer layer; the hole transport layer is arranged close to the anode; the hole buffer layer is arranged close to the quantum dot light-emitting layer and comprises a first hole buffer sub-layer arranged affixed to the hole transport layer; and the material of the first hole buffer sub-layer is a first hole buffer material or a combined material composed of the first hole buffer material and a first hole transport material. The conductance of the first hole buffer material is less than 1×10?8 Sm?1, or, the hole mobility of the first hole buffer material is less than 1×10?6 cm2V?1s?1.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide low cost bifunctional air electrodes. Various embodiments may provide a bifunctional air electrode, including a metal substrate and particles of metal and/or metal oxide catalyst and/or metal nitride catalyst coated on the metal substrate. Various embodiments may provide a bifunctional air electrode, including a first portion configured to engage an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a discharge mode and a second portion configured to engage an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a charge mode. Various embodiments may provide a method for making an air electrode including coating a metal substrate with particles of metal and/or metal oxide catalyst and/or metal nitride catalyst. Various embodiments may provide batteries including air electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide device architectures for batteries. In various embodiments, these may be primary or secondary batteries. In various embodiments these devices may be useful for energy storage. Various embodiments may provide a battery including an Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) electrode, an Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) electrode, a metal electrode; and an electrolyte separating the ORR electrode and the OER electrode from the metal electrode.

Abstract: Described herein are redox flow batteries comprising a first aqueous electrolyte comprising a first type of redox active material and a second aqueous electrolyte comprising a second type of redox active material. The first type of redox active material may comprise one or more types of quinoxalines, or salts thereof. Methods for storing and releasing energy utilizing the described redox flow batteries are also provided.

Abstract: Electrochemical apparatuses containing electrolytes that include redox-active reactants that may be present as both a dissolved species and as a solid during a charging and/or discharging process, and related methods are generally described. The redox-active reactant may contain an active species, and the electrolyte may contain a total concentration of the active species that is greater than if the redox-active reactant were completely dissolved during an entire charging and/or discharging process. The electrochemical apparatuses described may provide relatively high energy storage capacity.

Abstract: A woven material (100) including bonding fibers (108) and a method of reinforcing woven material using bonding fibers is disclosed. The woven material (100) includes a plurality of warp threads (102), and at least one weft thread (104) coupled to the warp threads (102). The woven material (100) also includes a plurality of bonding fibers (108). The bonding fibers (108) are positioned in parallel with the warp threads (102), and/or in parallel with the weft thread(s) (104). Additionally, the bonding fibers (108) are formed from a material having a melting temperature that is lower than a melting temperature of the material(s) used to form the warp threads (102) and the weft thread(s) (104) of the woven material.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a battery, a bulk energy storage system including the battery, and/or a method of operating the bulk energy storage system including the battery. In various embodiment, the battery may include a first electrode, an electrolyte, and a second electrode, wherein one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises direct reduced iron (“DRI”). In various embodiments, the DRI may be in the form of pellets. In various embodiments, the pellets may comprise at least about 60 wt % iron by elemental mass, based on the total mass of the pellets. In various embodiments, one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises from about 60% to about 90% iron and from about 1% to about 40% of a component comprising one or more of the materials selected from the group of SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, CaO, and TiO2.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a battery including a rolling diaphragm configured to move to accommodate an internal volume change of one or more components of the battery. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a battery housing including a rolling diaphragm seal disposed between an interior volume of the battery and an electrode assembly within the battery. Various embodiments may provide an air electrode assembly including an air electrode supported on a buoyant platform such that the air electrode is above a surface of a volume of electrolyte when the buoyant platform is floating in the electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell and battery system including cells, each cell including a catholyte, an anolyte, and a separator disposed between the catholyte and anolyte and that is permeable to the at least one ionic species (for example, a metal cation or the hydroxide ion). The catholyte solution includes a ferricyanide, permanganate, manganate, sulfur, and/or polysulfide compound, and the anolyte includes a sulfide and/or polysulfide compound. These electrochemical couples may be embodied in various physical architectures, including static (non-flowing) architectures or in flow battery (flowing) architectures.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide metal air electrochemical cell architectures. Various embodiments may provide a battery, such as an unsealed battery or sealed battery, with an open cell arrangement configured such that a liquid electrolyte layer separates a metal electrode from an air electrode. In various embodiments, the electrolyte may be disposed within one or more vessel of the battery such that electrolyte serves as a barrier between a metal electrode and gaseous oxygen. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide for removing a metal electrode from electrolyte to prevent self-discharge of the metal electrode. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a three electrode battery configured to operate each in a discharge mode, but with two distinct electrochemical reactions occurring at each electrode.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for determining a surface profile of a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes projecting a signal having a vertical component/profile across the surface of the substrate from a plurality of locations along a first side of the substrate, capturing the projected signals at each of a plurality of respective locations across the surface of the substrate and determining a surface profile for the substrate using the captured signals. The process can be automated using a controller having predetermined projection and capture positions along respective sides of the substrate, where a surface profile of the substrate can be automatically determined by the controller using the captured signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for correcting substrate deformity are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support includes a base having an interior volume formed by walls extending upward from the base; a plurality of infrared lamps disposed within the interior volume; a support plate disposed above the plurality of infrared lamps, wherein the support plate includes a support surface to support a substrate; and a cover plate disposed atop the support plate and having a central opening corresponding to the support surface and an exhaust portion at a periphery of a top surface of the cover plate, wherein the exhaust portion includes a plurality of perforations fluidly coupling a space above the cover plate with an exhaust conduit formed in the cover plate. Embodiments of a showerhead assembly and processing equipment incorporating the inventive substrate support and showerhead assembly are additionally provided herein.

Abstract: Woven material and altering the weave pattern of the woven material. The woven material may comprise a first portion comprising a weave pattern formed by a plurality of warp threads and at least one weft thread woven between the plurality of warp threads. The first portion may have a first thickness. The woven material may also comprise a locally thinned portion positioned adjacent the first portion. The locally thinned portion may comprise an altered weave pattern, which may comprise the plurality of warp threads positioned on a single side of the at least one weft thread, and/or the at least one weft thread woven between the plurality of warp threads in the locally thinned portion is separated by a first distance. The first distance may be greater than a second distance positioned between the at least one weft thread woven between the plurality of warp threads in the first portion.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus includes a catholyte, an anolyte, and a separator disposed between the catholyte and the anolyte. The catholyte includes metal salt dissolved in water, thereby providing at least one metal ion. The anolyte includes a polysulfide solution. The separator is permeable to the at least one metal ion. During a charging process of the electrochemical apparatus, oxygen is generated in the catholyte, the polysulfide in the polysulfide solution undergoes a reduction reaction in the anolyte, and the at least one metal ion moves from the catholyte to the anolyte. During a discharging process of the apparatus, the oxygen is consumed in the catholyte, the polysulfide oxidizes in the anolyte, and the at least one metal ion moves from the anolyte to the catholyte.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for correcting substrate deformity are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support includes a base having an interior volume formed by walls extending upward from the base; a plurality of infrared lamps disposed within the interior volume; a support plate disposed above the plurality of infrared lamps, wherein the support plate includes a support surface to support a substrate; and a cover plate disposed atop the support plate and having a central opening corresponding to the support surface and an exhaust portion at a periphery of a top surface of the cover plate, wherein the exhaust portion includes a plurality of perforations fluidly coupling a space above the cover plate with an exhaust conduit formed in the cover plate. Embodiments of a showerhead assembly and processing equipment incorporating the inventive substrate support and showerhead assembly are additionally provided herein.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a wearable device including first and second band straps attached to a device body. A buckle mechanism is configured to attach the first band strap to the second band strap and includes a spring bar attached to an end of the first band strap and a buckle loop engaged to the spring bar. A tang is configured to engage a hole formed in the second band strap to secure the first band strap to the second band strap. The tang defines an aperture that receives the spring bar and is configured to pivot about an offset axis that is offset with respect to an axis of the bar. As the tang is rotated, a restoring force biases the tang toward the buckle loop.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for determining a surface profile of a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes projecting a signal having a vertical component/profile across the surface of the substrate from a plurality of locations along a first side of the substrate, capturing the projected signals at each of a plurality of respective locations across the surface of the substrate and determining a surface profile for the substrate using the captured signals. The process can be automated using a controller having predetermined projection and capture positions along respective sides of the substrate, where a surface profile of the substrate can be automatically determined by the controller using the captured signals.

Abstract: A transmitting circuit is disposed in an electronic device, which performs signal transmission with another electronic device through an Ethernet over Coax (EoC) system. The transmitting circuit includes a control circuit, a gain adjusting circuit and an output circuit. The control circuit obtains a tone map from the other electronic device, calculates a signal quality parameter according to the tone map, and determines a gain according to the signal quality parameter. The gain adjusting circuit, coupled to the control circuit, adjusts the strength of a signal according to the gain to generate an adjusted signal. The output circuit, coupled to the gain adjusting circuit, transmits the adjusted signal to the other electronic device.