Abstract: A method of producing an adsorption medium to remove at least one constituent from a feed stream. The method comprises dissolving and/or suspending at least one metal compound in a solvent to form a metal solution, dissolving polyacrylonitrile into the metal solution to form a PAN-metal solution, and depositing the PAN-metal solution into a quenching bath to produce the adsorption medium. The at least one constituent, such as arsenic, selenium, or antimony, is removed from the feed stream by passing the feed stream through the adsorption medium. An adsorption medium having an increased metal loading and increased capacity for arresting the at least one constituent to be removed is also disclosed. The adsorption medium includes a polyacrylonitrile matrix and at least one metal hydroxide incorporated into the polyacrylonitrile matrix.

Abstract: A laser diode bar is separated into laser diode dice after bonding the laser diode bar to a submount. In one embodiment a GaAs laser diode bar is soldered to a diamond submount with gold—tin solder. The difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the submount material and the laser bar material is sufficient to create tensile stress in the laser diode bar and cleave the laser diode bar into dice as the assembly cools from the soldering temperature. Use of an electrically insulating submount material allows the laser diodes to be connected in series. Diamond blanks that are essentially un-metallized submounts are used during assembly to avoid bowing, or “smile”, of the laser diode assembly.