Abstract: A laser-welded assembly of opposing sheets of ceramic and glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic compositions comprises an intervening bonding layer having a thickness dimension that separates the opposing sheets by less than about 1000 nm. Each of the opposing sheets has a thickness dimension at least about 20 times the thickness dimension of the intervening bonding layer. The intervening bonding layer has a melting point greater than that of one or both of the opposing sheets. The ceramic sheet is a pass-through sheet with a composite T/R spectrum comprising a portion that lies below about 30% across a target irradiation band residing at or above about 1400 nm and at or below about 4500 nm wavelength. The intervening bonding layer has an absorption spectrum comprising a portion that lies above about 80% across the target irradiation band. The assembly comprises a weld bonding the opposing surfaces of the opposing sheets.

Abstract: A method of forming a solid, dense, hermetic lithium-ion electrolyte membrane comprises combing an amorphous, glassy, or low melting temperature solid reactant with a refractory oxide reactant to form a mixture, casting the mixture to form a green body, and sintering the green body to form a solid membrane. The resulting electrolyte membranes can be incorporated into lithium-ion batteries.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte including an inorganic lithium ion conductive film and a porous layer on a surface of the inorganic lithium ion conductive film, wherein the porous layer includes a first porous layer and a second porous layer, and the second porous layer is disposed between the inorganic lithium ion conductive film and the first porous layer, and wherein the first porous layer has a size greater which is than a pore size of the second porous layer.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery includes: a substrate; a composite cathode disposed on the substrate; a solid-state electrolyte disposed on the composite cathode; and a lithium anode disposed on the solid-state electrolyte, such that the composite cathode comprises: active elemental sulfur, conductive carbon, and sulfide electrolyte, and the sulfide electrolyte is uniformly coated on at least one surface of the conductive carbon. A method of forming a composite cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery includes: synthesizing dispersed carbon fiber from cotton to form carbonized dispersed cotton fiber (CDCF) powder; in-situ coating of the CDCF with an electrolyte component to form a composite powder; and mixing active elemental sulfur powder with the composite powder to form the composite cathode.

Abstract: A waveguide includes a body of material having a width, a thickness, and a length, where the width is orthogonal to the thickness, and the length is orthogonal to the thickness and the width. The material includes polycrystalline ceramic that is transmissive such that the body is configured as a waveguide. The thickness is no more than 5 millimeters and at least 20 nanometers, the width is greater than or equal to the thickness, and the length is at least 100 times greater than the width. The body of material has a granular profile such that grains of the material protrude generally outward from a surface of the body with a height of at least 25 nanometers and no more than 100 micrometers relative to recessed portions of the surface of the body at boundaries between the grains.

Abstract: A system, process and related sintered article are provided. The process includes supporting a piece of inorganic material with a pressurized gas and sintering the piece of inorganic material while supported by the pressurized gas by heating the piece of inorganic material to a temperature at or above a sintering temperature of the inorganic material such that the inorganic material is at least partially sintered forming the sintered article. The inorganic material is not in contact with a solid support during sintering. The sintered article, such as a ceramic article, is thin, has high surface quality, and/or has large surface areas.

Abstract: A method for finishing a glass or ceramic article includes applying a force to the glass or ceramic article. The force is applied to the glass or ceramic article at least when the glass or ceramic article is at a temperature that is greater than or equal to a creep temperature of the glass or ceramic article. Holding the force to the glass or ceramic article as the glass or ceramic article is cooled to a temperature that is less than the creep temperature of the glass or ceramic article.

Abstract: A cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery includes a sulfur-based composite layer having a porosity in a range of 60% to 99%; and a conductive polymer disposed atop the composite layer and within pores of the composite layer. Moreover, a method of forming a cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery includes providing a substrate; disposing a sulfur-based slurry layer on the substrate; freeze-drying the slurry layer to form a sulfur-based composite layer having a porosity in a range of 60% to 99%; and disposing a conductive polymer atop the composite layer and within pores of the composite layer.

Abstract: A manufacturing line includes a tape of green material that is directed through a furnace so that the furnace burns off organic binder material and then partially sinters the tape without the use of a setter board. Sintered articles resulting from the manufacturing line may be thin with relatively large surface areas; and, while substantially unpolished, have few sintering-induced surface defects. Tension may be applied to the partially sintered tape as it passes through a second furnace on the manufacturing line to shape resulting sintered articles.

Abstract: The THz waveguides disclosed herein are used to transmit signals having a THz frequency in the range from 0.1 THz to 10 THz and include an alumina core surrounded by an optional cladding. The core may have a diameter (D1) in the range from 10 ?m to 500 ?m and may be comprised of a ceramic ribbon having a dielectric constant (Dk). The optional cladding may have a dielectric constant (Dk) less than the core. The THz waveguides can be formed using a continuous firing process and nano-perforation technology that enables access to a wide form factor range. In one example, rectangular waveguides, or ribbons, may be fabricated in the 10 ?m to 200 ?m thick range at widths in the range from sub-millimeters to several meters and lengths in the range from millimeters to several hundred meters.

Abstract: Ceramic assembly can comprise a ceramic article comprising a thickness defined between a first major surface and a second major surface. The thickness can be about 100 micrometers or less. The ceramic assembly can comprise a polymer coating deposited over at least an outer peripheral portion of the first major surface of the ceramic article. The polymer coating can comprise a thickness of about 30 micrometers or less. An edge strength of the ceramic assembly can be greater than an edge strength of the ceramic article by about 50 MegaPascals or more. Methods of forming a ceramic assembly can comprise depositing a polymer coating on an outer peripheral portion of a first major surface of a ceramic article. Methods can further comprise curing the polymer coating.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to ceramic lithium ion electrolyte membranes and processes for forming them. The ceramic lithium electrolyte membrane may comprise at least one ablative edge. Exemplary processes for forming the ceramic lithium ion electrolyte membranes comprise fabricating a lithium ion electrolyte sheet and cutting at least one edge of the fabricated electrolyte sheet with an ablative laser.

Abstract: A manufacturing line includes a tape of green material that is directed through a furnace so that the furnace burns off organic binder material and then partially sinters the tape without the use of a setter board. Sintered articles resulting from the manufacturing line may be thin with relatively large surface areas; and, while substantially unpolished, have few sintering-induced surface defects. Tension may be applied to the partially sintered tape as it passes through a second furnace on the manufacturing line to shape resulting sintered articles.

Abstract: An energy device has an electrode including lithium cobaltite (LCO) grains, where the LCO grains are sintered to one another forming a self-supporting sheet with porous passages. The porous passages wind and branch through the sheet. The energy device further includes a solid electrolyte comprising lithium phosphosulfide (LPS) overlaying a major surface of the sheet and extending into the porous passages. The sheet serves as mechanical support for the solid electrolyte, allowing for high temperature joining of the LPS to the LCO without binder in the LPS.

Abstract: A manufacturing line includes a tape of green material that is directed through a furnace so that the furnace burns off organic binder material and then partially sinters the tape without the use of a setter board. Sintered articles resulting from the manufacturing line may be thin with relatively large surface areas; and, while substantially unpolished, have few sintering-induced surface defects. Tension may be applied to the partially sintered tape as it passes through a second furnace on the manufacturing line to shape resulting sintered articles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to ceramic lithium ion electrolyte membranes and processes for forming them. The ceramic lithium electrolyte membrane may comprise at least one ablative edge. Exemplary processes for forming the ceramic lithium ion electrolyte membranes comprise fabricating a lithium ion electrolyte sheet and cutting at least one edge of the fabricated electrolyte sheet with an ablative laser.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery includes: a substrate; a composite cathode disposed on the substrate; a solid-state electrolyte disposed on the composite cathode; and a lithium anode disposed on the solid-state electrolyte, such that the composite cathode comprises: active elemental sulfur, conductive carbon, sulfide electrolyte, and ionic liquid.

Abstract: A manufacturing line includes a tape of green material that is directed through a furnace so that the furnace burns off organic binder material and then partially sinters the tape without the use of a setter board. Sintered articles resulting from the manufacturing line may be thin with relatively large surface areas; and, while substantially unpolished, have few sintering-induced surface defects. Tension may be applied to the partially sintered tape as it passes through a second furnace on the manufacturing line to shape resulting sintered articles.

Abstract: A manufacturing line includes a tape of green material that is directed through a furnace so that the furnace burns off organic binder material and then partially sinters the tape without the use of a setter board. Sintered articles resulting from the manufacturing line may be thin with relatively large surface areas; and, while substantially unpolished, have few sintering-induced surface defects. Tension may be applied to the partially sintered tape as it passes through a second furnace on the manufacturing line to shape resulting sintered articles.

Abstract: A sintered electrode for a battery, the sintered electrode having a first surface positioned to face a current collector and a second surface positioned to face an electrolyte layer, such that the sintered electrode includes: a chalcogenide compound having at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal; such that the sintered electrode has a thickness between the first surface and the second surface of 2 ?m to 100 ?m; and such that the sintered electrode has an open porosity of from 0.1% to 30%. A cathode for a battery, includes: a sintered electrode having a first surface and a second surface; such that the sintered electrode: has a thickness between the first surface and the second surface in a range of 2 ?m to 100 ?m, has a cross-sectional area of at least 3 cm2, and is a substrate of the battery.