Abstract: A fuel cell is provided including a single sheet film or ribbon of any leh of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ("PEM") wherein the PEM is divided into regions or zones of varying electrical conductivity and ionic conductivity, allowing the elimination of endplates and/or a bipolar configuration. In this non bipolar arrangement, means are provided for distributing fuel to only one side of the PEM and oxidant to only the other side of the PEM so as to prevent mixing of the fuel and oxidant.

Abstract: Methods of forming a platinum deposit on a nonconductive substrate are diosed, comprising the steps of hydrophobically treating a carbon black powder, forming a solution of chloroplatinic acid, suspending the hydrophobically treated carbon black powder in the chloroplatinic acid, immersing a nonconductive substrate in the chloroplatinic acid and adding formaldehyde to said chloroplatinic acid. The hydrophobically carbon black powder suspended in the chloroplatinic acid catalyzes and drives the reduction of platinum within the chloroplatinic acid toward the nonconductive substrate and reduces the chloroplatinic acid forming metallic platinum on the nonconductive substrate. In a preferred embodiment, a platinum deposit is formed on a glass substrate immersed in the chloroplatinic acid and the step of hydrophobically treating the carbon black powder is accomplished by adding a CF.sub.4 gas plasma to the carbon black powder.

Abstract: A porous carbon black or manganese dioxide cathode, or a lithium, magnesi calcium, zinc, or cadmium anode, is treated under vacuum with a gas plasma. The treated electrode is suitable for inclusion in a nonaqueous electrolyte cell and improves cell performance.

Abstract: The physical and chemical properties of carbon blacks are modified by expng them to a room temperature gas plasma.

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte membrane is treated by brief exposure to a gas lasma prior to the inclusion of the membrane in a fuel cell as a separator between a liquid or gaseous fuel and an oxidant.

Abstract: A porous carbon black cathode is treated by brief exposure to a low press, room temperature gas plasma. The treated cathode is suitable for inclusion in a lithium based, nonaqueous electrolyte cell.

Abstract: The electrical breakdown strength of capacitors is increased by briefly esing the dielectric, the metal foil, and/or the fully assembled capacitor to a low pressure, low temperature gas plasma.

Abstract: The dielectric properties of an organic polymer film are modified by ion lantation.

Abstract: An all polymer, electrochemically formed, thin film capacitor is provided thout use of any metal foil and found to yield reasonable capacitance values. The capacitor includes an electrochemically formed insulating polymer sandwiched between two electrochemically formed conductive polymers.

Abstract: Solid materials are easily washed with liquified gas by placing the solid terial to be washed in a dry vessel under an inert atmosphere, evacuating the vessel, introducing the low temperature liquified gas solvent into the vessel, allowing the washing of the solid by the liquified gas solvent, and removing the solvent by the application of vacuum.

Abstract: An improved electrolyte is provided in a lithium/sulfur dioxide rechargea cell, the electrolyte comprising a solution of a stable, highly conductive liquid electrolyte complex LiAlCl.sub.4 --3SO.sub.2 and up to about 50 percent by weight of sulfuryl chloride as a cosolvent.

Abstract: Freestanding, flexible, heterogeneous composites of insulating polymeric m containing relatively small percentages of an electrically conductive polymer wherein the conductive polymer exists as the dispersed phase are made by dissolving the insulating polymeric material and less than 15 percent by weight of the electrically conductive material in a solvent, casting the resulting solution onto a suitable substrate and slowly evaporating the solution at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: The surface of commercially available polymer films are treated with a low emperature gas plasma to improve the subsequent bonding of aluminum to the polymer surface without the need for adhesives.

Abstract: A method is provided of increasing the dielectric breakdown strength of tmoplastic films such as thin films of polypropylene obtained from polypropylene resin powder. The method involves melt extruding the resin powder with a small amount of ceresine wax.

Abstract: A polymer film having a conductivity gradient across its thickness is made rom a mixed solution of an insulating polymer, A and a polymer, B that can be made conducting by doping or protonation by a method including the steps of:(A) mixing the solution of the insulating polymer, A and the polymer, B that can be made conducting by doping or protonation,(B) casting the mixed solution together as a solid composite film, and(C) exposing the film to a treating agent that can dope or protonate polymer B and make polymer B conductive and create a conductivity gradient across the thickness of the polymer films.

Abstract: A method for making books, papers and film more resistant to moisture and pollution degradation using a low pressure, low temperature gas plasma.