Abstract: An antibacterial interior component, such as a door handle component, is provided in a vehicle that includes at least one touch surface in a confined space having a shadowed region. A light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) that generates light having a wavelength of ?about 375 nm to ?about 425 nm directed towards the at least one touch surface for killing bacteria. A thermally conductive component in heat transfer relationship with the light source to transfer heat to a heat sink either in or adjacent to the antibacterial interior component. Methods of operating the self-sanitizing antibacterial interior component are also provided.

Abstract: Examples include a method of forming an electromagnetic shielding material, the method including: applying a magnetic field to a precursor material that includes first ferromagnetic particles embedded within a first portion of a matrix material and second ferromagnetic particles embedded within a second portion of the matrix material, thereby causing the first ferromagnetic particles and the second ferromagnetic particles to move such that longitudinal axes of the first ferromagnetic particles and the second ferromagnetic particles become more aligned with the magnetic field; thereafter forcing the first portion of the matrix material through a filter, thereby moving the first ferromagnetic particles from the first portion of the matrix material into the second portion of the matrix material; and curing the second portion of the matrix material to form the electromagnetic shielding material.

Abstract: Some variations provide an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal vapor cell with a solid ionic conductor and intercalable-compound electrodes. The intercalable-compound electrodes are used as efficient sources and/or as sinks for alkali metal or alkaline earth metal atoms, thus enabling electrical control over metal atom content in the vapor cell. Some variations provide a vapor-cell system comprising: a vapor-cell region configured to allow a vapor-cell optical path into a vapor-cell vapor phase; a first electrode; a second electrode electrically isolated from the first electrode, wherein the second electrode contains an intercalable compound intercalated by an element selected from Rb, Cs, Na, K, or Sr; and an ion-conducting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The ion-conducting layer is ionically conductive for at least one ionic species selected from Rb+, Cs+, Na+, K+, or Sr2+. The intercalable compound is preferably a carbonaceous material, such as graphite.

Abstract: Some variations provide an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal vapor cell with a solid ionic conductor and intercalable-compound electrodes. The intercalable-compound electrodes are used as efficient sources and/or as sinks for alkali metal or alkaline earth metal atoms, thus enabling electrical control over metal atom content in the vapor cell. Some variations provide a vapor-cell system comprising: a vapor-cell region configured to allow a vapor-cell optical path into a vapor-cell vapor phase; a first electrode containing an intercalable compound capable of being intercalated by at least one element selected from Rb, Cs, Na, K, or Sr; a second electrode electrically isolated from the first electrode; and an ion-conducting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The ion-conducting layer is ionically conductive for at least one ionic species selected from Rb+, Cs+, Na+, K+, or Sr2+. The first intercalable compound is preferably a carbonaceous material, such as graphite.