Abstract: Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling.

Abstract: Provided are novel multidimensional electrode structures containing high capacity active materials for use in rechargeable electrochemical cells. These structures include main support structures and multiple nanowires attached to the support structures and extending into different directions away from these supports. The active material may be deposited as a layer (uniform or non-uniform) surrounding the nanowires and, in certain embodiments, the main supports and even substrate. The active material layer may be sufficiently thin to prevent pulverization of the layer at given operating conditions. Interconnections between the electrode structures and/or substrate may be provided by overlaps formed during deposition of the active layer. Silicide-based nano wires structures may be formed on the main supports in a fluidized bed reactor by suspending the metal-containing main supports in a silicon-containing process gas. A layer of silicon may be then deposited over these silicide nanowires.

Abstract: Provided are novel methods of fabricating electrochemical cells containing high capacity active materials that form multilayered solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) structures on the active material surface during cell fabrication. Combining multiple different SEI layers on one surface can substantially improve cell performance by providing each layer with different properties. For example, an outer layer having a high electronic resistance may be combined with an inner layer having a high ionic permeability. To form such multilayered SEI structures, formation may involve changing electrolyte composition, functionalizing surfaces, and/or varying formation conditions. For example, formation may start with a boron containing electrolyte. This initial electrolyte is then replaced with an electrolyte that does not contain boron and instead may contain fluorine additives. In certain embodiments, cell's temperature is changed during formation to initiate different chemical reactions during SEI formation.

Abstract: A big data network or system for a process control system or plant includes a data storage device configured to receive process control data from control system devices and store the process control data. The big data network or system identifies various parameters or attributes from the process control data, and creates and uses rowkeys to store the parameters according to various combinations, such as combinations using timestamps. The big data network or system may also store certain aggregate data analyses associated with time periods specified by the timestamps. Accordingly, the big data network or system efficiently stores real-time data having measurements within a database schema, and users or administrators can leverage the aggregate data to analyze certain data associated with certain time periods.

Abstract: Provided us a visual cortical circuit apparatus comprising: a current mirror unit which uses a transistor as a current source to generate a current having the same size as that of a reaction; a transconductance unit which takes, as an input, the current generated by the current mirror unit and outputs a voltage using a transconductance; and a buffer unit for converting the voltage output from the transconductance unit into a current and buffering the current.

Abstract: Provided are novel negative electrodes for use in lithium ion cells. The negative electrodes include one or more high capacity active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium, and a lithium containing material prior to the first cycle of the cell. In other words, the cells are fabricated with some, but not all, lithium present on the negative electrode. This additional lithium may be used to mitigate lithium losses, for example, due to Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer formation, to maintain the negative electrode in a partially charged state at the end of the cell discharge cycle, and other reasons. In certain embodiments, a negative electrode includes between about 5% and 25% of lithium based on a theoretical capacity of the negative active material. In the same or other embodiments, a total amount of lithium available in the cell exceeds the theoretical capacity of the negative electrode active material.

Abstract: Provided are nanostructures containing electrochemically active materials, battery electrodes containing these nanostructures for use in electrochemical batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, and methods of forming the nanostructures and battery electrodes. The nanostructures include conductive cores, inner shells containing active materials, and outer shells partially coating the inner shells. The high capacity active materials having a stable capacity of at least about 1000 mAh/g can be used. Some examples include silicon, tin, and/or germanium. The outer shells may be configured to substantially prevent formation of Solid Electrolyte lnterphase (SEI) layers directly on the inner shells. The conductive cores and/or outer shells may include carbon containing materials. The nanostructures are used to form battery electrodes, in which the nanostructures that are in electronic communication with conductive substrates of the electrodes.

Abstract: A communication method operates to seamlessly transmit internet protocol (IP) data frames, such as IPv6 data frames, over a communication network that uses a non-IP network routing protocol, i.e., a communication network that implements a network routing protocol other than, or that is incompatible with an IP network routing protocol, such as the WirelessHART protocol. This communication method enables, for example, field devices or other intelligent devices within a process plant network that uses a non-IP communication network to perform messaging of IP data frames generated at or to be received by internet protocol enabled devices either within the process plant network or outside of the process plant network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply and pickup system capable of maintaining stability of transmission efficiency despite changes in a resonant frequency. More particularly, the present invention relates to a power supply and pickup system capable of maintaining the stability of efficiency of transmitting power to a pickup device from a power supply device even when a voltage or current changes by the variation in a resonant frequency. According to the power supply and pickup system of the present invention, Q-factor of a power supply and pickup system is set to a low value, a stability of efficiency of transmitting power to a pickup device from a power supply device is maintained even when a voltage of current changes by the variation in a resonant frequency.

Abstract: A system and a process for capture and absorption of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide by an ammonia method at normal pressure are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are novel negative electrodes for use in lithium ion cells. The negative electrodes include one or more high capacity active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium, and a lithium containing material prior to the first cycle of the cell. In other words, the cells are fabricated with some, but not all, lithium present on the negative electrode. This additional lithium may be used to mitigate lithium losses, for example, due to Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer formation, to maintain the negative electrode in a partially charged state at the end of the cell discharge cycle, and other reasons. In certain embodiments, a negative electrode includes between about 5% and 25% of lithium based on a theoretical capacity of the negative active material. In the same or other embodiments, a total amount of lithium available in the cell exceeds the theoretical capacity of the negative electrode active material.

Abstract: Provided are methods of preparing a lithium ion cell including forming the cell by charging the lithium ion cell to at least about 5% or, more specifically, to at least about 20% of the theoretical capacity of the negative electrode electrochemically active material, holding the lithium ion cell in a charged state for at least about 0.5 hours, and discharging the lithium ion cell. Holding the lithium ion cell in a partially charged state is believed to significantly improve its Coulombic efficiency during subsequent cycling.

Abstract: A system and a process for capture and absorption of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide by an ammonia method at normal pressure are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are conductive substrates having open structures and fractional void volumes of at least about 25% or, more specifically, or at least about 50% for use in lithium ion batteries. Nanostructured active materials are deposited over such substrates to form battery electrodes. The fractional void volume may help to accommodate swelling of some active materials during cycling. In certain embodiments, overall outer dimensions of the electrode remain substantially the same during cycling, while internal open spaces of the conductive substrate provide space for any volumetric changes in the nanostructured active materials. In specific embodiments, a nanoscale layer of silicon is deposited over a metallic mesh to form a negative electrode. In another embodiment, a conductive substrate is a perforated sheet with multiple openings, such that a nanostructured active material is deposited into the openings but not on the external surfaces of the sheet.

Abstract: Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling.

Abstract: Provided are electrode layers for use in rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, and related fabrication techniques. These electrode layers have interconnected hollow nanostructures that contain high capacity electrochemically active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium. In certain embodiments, a fabrication technique involves forming a nanoscale coating around multiple template structures and at least partially removing and/or shrinking these structures to form hollow cavities. These cavities provide space for the active materials of the nanostructures to swell into during battery cycling. This design helps to reduce the risk of pulverization and to maintain electrical contacts among the nanostructures. It also provides a very high surface area available ionic communication with the electrolyte. The nanostructures have nanoscale shells but may be substantially larger in other dimensions.

Abstract: Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling.

Abstract: Provided are electrode layers for use in rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, and related fabrication techniques. These electrode layers have interconnected hollow nanostructures that contain high capacity electrochemically active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium. In certain embodiments, a fabrication technique involves forming a nanoscale coating around multiple template structures and at least partially removing and/or shrinking these structures to form hollow cavities. These cavities provide space for the active materials of the nanostructures to swell into during battery cycling. This design helps to reduce the risk of pulverization and to maintain electrical contacts among the nanostructures. It also provides a very high surface area available ionic communication with the electrolyte. The nanostructures have nanoscale shells but may be substantially larger in other dimensions.

Abstract: A communication method operates to seamlessly transmit internet protocol (IP) data frames, such as IPv6 data frames, over a communication network that uses a non-IP network routing protocol, i.e., a communication network that implements a network routing protocol other than, or that is incompatible with an IP network routing protocol, such as the WirelessHART protocol. This communication method enables, for example, field devices or other intelligent devices within a process plant network that uses a non-IP communication network to perform messaging of IP data frames generated at or to be received by internet protocol enabled devices either within the process plant network or outside of the process plant network.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel template electrode materials and structures for lithium ion cells. Related methods are also provided. According to various embodiments, an electrode can include a nanostructured template, an electrochemically active material layer coating the template, and a first intermediate layer between the nanostructured template and the electrochemically active material layer. In one arrangement, the nanostructured template includes silicide nanowires. The electrochemically active material may be any of silicon, tin, germanium, carbon, metal hydrides, silicides, phosphides, and nitrides. The first intermediate layer may facilitate adhesion between the nanostructured template and the electrochemically active material layer, electronic conductivity within the electrode, and/or stress relaxation between the nanostructured template and the electrochemically active material layer.