Abstract: Novel conductive polyanionic polymers and methods for their preparation are provided. The polyanionic polymers comprise repeating units of weakly-coordinating anionic groups chemically linked to polymer chains. The polymer chains in turn comprise repeating spacer groups. Spacer groups can be chosen to be of length and structure to impart desired electrochemical and physical properties to the polymers. Preferred embodiments are prepared from precursor polymers comprising the Lewis acid borate tri-coordinated to a selected ligand and repeating spacer groups to form repeating polymer chain units. These precursor polymers are reacted with a chosen Lewis base to form a polyanionic polymer comprising weakly coordinating anionic groups spaced at chosen intervals along the polymer chain. The polyanionic polymers exhibit high conductivity and physical properties which make them suitable as solid polymeric electrolytes in lithium batteries, especially secondary lithium batteries.

Abstract: Novel conductive polyanionic polymers and methods for their preparion are provided. The polyanionic polymers comprise repeating units of weakly-coordinating anionic groups chemically linked to polymer chains. The polymer chains in turn comprise repeating spacer groups. Spacer groups can be chosen to be of length and structure to impart desired electrochemical and physical properties to the polymers. Preferred embodiments are prepared from precursor polymers comprising the Lewis acid borate tri-coordinated to a selected ligand and repeating spacer groups to form repeating polymer chain units. These precursor polymers are reacted with a chosen Lewis base to form a polyanionic polymer comprising weakly coordinating anionic groups spaced at chosen intervals along the polymer chain. The polyanionic polymers exhibit high conductivity and physical properties which make them suitable as solid polymeric electrolytes in lithium batteries, especially secondary lithium batteries.

Abstract: Novel conductive polyanionic polymers and methods for their preparion are provided. The polyanionic polymers comprise repeating units of weakly-coordinating anionic groups chemically linked to polymer chains. The polymer chains in turn comprise repeating spacer groups. Spacer groups can be chosen to be of length and structure to impart desired electrochemical and physical properties to the polymers. Preferred embodiments are prepared from precursor polymers comprising the Lewis acid borate tri-coordinated to a selected ligand and repeating spacer groups to form repeating polymer chain units. These precursor polymers are reacted with a chosen Lewis base to form a polyanionic polymer comprising weakly coordinating anionic groups spaced at chosen intervals along the polymer chain. The polyanionic polymers exhibit high conductivity and physical properties which make them suitable as solid polymeric electrolytes in lithium batteries, especially secondary lithium batteries.

Abstract: Novel chain polymers comprising weakly basic anionic moieties chemically bound into a polyether backbone at controllable anionic separations are presented. Preferred polymers comprise orthoborate anions capped with dibasic acid residues, preferably oxalato or malonato acid residues. The conductivity of these polymers is found to be high relative to that of most conventional salt-in-polymer electrolytes. The conductivity at high temperatures and wide electrochemical window make these materials especially suitable as electrolytes for rechargeable lithium batteries.

Abstract: Orthoborate salts suitable for use as electrolytes in lithium batteries and methods for making the electrolyte salts are provided. The electrolytic salts have one of the formulae (I). In this formula anionic orthoborate groups are capped with two bidentate chelating groups, Y1 and Y2. Certain preferred chelating groups are dibasic acid residues, most preferably oxalyl, malonyl and succinyl, disulfonic acid residues, sulfoacetic acid residues and halo-substituted alkylenes. The salts are soluble in non-aqueous solvents and polymeric gels and are useful components of lithium batteries in electrochemical devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of preparing plasmid pools by growing colonies in discrete wells of a semi-solid or gelatinous medium. This method may facilitate colony collection, reduce colony overgrowth, reduce contamination by adventitious microorganisms, and increase the efficiency of plasmid screening techniques.

Abstract: An amorphous ceramic glass composition having a density greater than about 2.1 g/cm.sup.3 comprises: between about 35 and 55% by weight SiO.sub.2 ; between about 18 and 28% by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; between about 1 and 5% by weight CaO; between about 7 and 14% by weight MgO; between about 0.5 and 5% by weight TiO.sub.2 ; between about 0.4 and 3% by weight B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; and greater than 0 and up to about 1% by weight P.sub.2 O.sub.5. A convenient source of raw materials is a mixture of coal ash waste, borax (or boric acid) manufacturing plant waste, and titanium pigment waste. The ceramic glass is formed from an intermediate ceramic mixture which is subjected to a heat treatment. The intermediate ceramic mixture is formed by heating a mixture containing SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO, MgO, TiO.sub.2, B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Na.sub.4 P.sub.2 O.sub.7 to a temperature between about 1400.degree. and 1600.degree. C.; cooling the mixture at a controlled rate between about 15.degree. C. and about 30.degree. C.

Abstract: A ceramic glass composition comprises: between about 35 and 55% by weight SiO.sub.2 ; between about 18 and 28% by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; between about 1 and 5% by weight CaO; between about 7 and 14% by weight MgO; between about 0.5 and 5% by weight TiO.sub.2 ; between about 0.4 and 3% by weight B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; and greater than 0 and up to about 1% by weight P.sub.2 O.sub.5. A convenient source of raw materials is a mixture of coal ash waste, borax (or boric acid) manufacturing plant waste, and titanium pigment waste. The ceramic glass is formed from an intermediate ceramic mixture which is subjected to a heat treatment. The intermediate ceramic mixture is formed by heating a mixture containing SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO, MgO, TiO.sub.2, B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Na.sub.4 P.sub.2 O.sub.7 to a temperature between about 1400.degree. and 1600.degree. C.; cooling the mixture to solidify it; annealing the mixture at 600.degree. to 670.degree. C.