Abstract: An apparatus includes a conduit including an inlet to receive a liquid and an outlet to discharge the liquid. A first porous electrode, a second porous electrode, and a third porous electrode are disposed in the conduit between the inlet and the outlet. A first porous separator is interposed between the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode. A second porous separator is interposed between the second porous electrode and the third porous electrode. A power source configured to provide power to the first porous electrode, the second porous electrode, and the third porous electrode. While the liquid is flowing through the conduit, the power source supplies a first type of voltage to the first porous electrode and the third porous electrode, and supplies a second type of voltage to the second porous electrode, the second type being opposite to the first type.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for methods of post-treating an etch stop or a passivation layer in a thin film transistor to increase the stability behavior of the thin film transistor.

Abstract: A spectrally-selective clothing fabric is disclosed. The clothing fabric can comprise an outer layer, an intermediate layer, and an inner layer. The outer layer can be infrared-transmissive and can comprise a polyolefin fiber and particulate fillers dispersed within the polyolefin fiber. The intermediate layer can comprise an infrared-reflective porous metallic-film on an inner surface of an infrared-transmissive porous polyolefin-membrane, wherein the porous polyolefin membrane is coupled to an inner surface of the outer layer. The inner layer can comprise a fabric coupled to an inner surface of the porous metallic film. The particulate fillers can comprise inorganic particles having an average particle size in a range of 10 nm to 4,000 nm. The porous metallic film can have pores having an average pore size in a range of 10 nm to 4,000 nm.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery electrode includes silicon nanowires used for insertion of lithium ions and including a conductivity enhancement, the nanowires growth-rooted to the conductive substrate.

Abstract: Soil contamination by heavy metals constitutes an important environmental problem, whereas field applicability of existing remediation technologies has encountered numerous obstacles, such as long operation time, high chemical cost, large energy consumption, secondary pollution, and soil degradation. A design and demonstration of a method is provided which is based on asymmetrical alternating current electrochemistry (AACE) that achieves high degrees of contaminant removal for different heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd) at different initial concentrations (from 100 to 10,000 ppm), all reaching corresponding regulation levels for residential scenario after rational treatment time (from 30 min to 6 h). No excessive nutrient loss in treated soil was observed and no secondary toxic product was produced. Long-term experiment and plant assay showed the high sustainability of the method and its feasibility for agricultural use.

Abstract: Described are aqueous rechargeable hydrogen batteries operating in the full pH range (e.g., pH: ?1 to 15) with potential for electrical grid storage. The pH-universal hydrogen batteries operate with different redox chemistry on the cathodes and reversible hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) on the anode. The reactions can be catalyzed by a highly active ruthenium-based electrocatalyst. The ruthenium-based catalysts exhibit comparable specific activity and superior long-term stability of HER/HOR to that of state-of-the-art Pt/C electrocatalyst in the full pH range. New chemistries for aqueous rechargeable hydrogen batteries are also provided.

Abstract: A flatness sensing device includes a pressure sensing unit and a controller. The pressure sensing unit includes a plate portion, and a pressure sensor fixed and exposed at an edge of the plate portion. A sensing surface of the pressure sensor is flush with the bottom surface of the plate portion. The pressure sensor senses a pressure or lack of pressure of an object to be tested when it touches the object to be tested. The controller receives the pressure value output from the pressure sensor and determines a flatness of the object to be tested, the controller can issue an alarm on finding non-flatness and cause the degree of flatness to be displayed to a user.

Abstract: Improved electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide is provided with a mesoporous carbon catalyst is both O- and N-doped. The resulting catalyst works pH-neutral solutions to enable applications such as environmental water treatment.

Abstract: A rechargeable manganese battery includes: (1) a first electrode including a porous, conductive support; (2) a second electrode including a catalyst support and a catalyst disposed over the catalyst support; and (3) an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to support reversible precipitation and dissolution of manganese at the first electrode and reversible evolution and oxidation of hydrogen at the second electrode.

Abstract: A coated cathode material includes a cathode active material and an interfacial layer coating the cathode active material. The interfacial layer includes a lithium-containing fluoride which includes at least one additional metal different from lithium.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: An anode includes: (1) a current collector; and (2) an interfacial layer disposed over the current collector. The interfacial layer includes a film of a layered material and a reinforcing material selectively disposed over certain regions of the film, while other regions of the film remain exposed from the reinforcing material.

Abstract: A stretchable battery includes: a pouch; a metal barrier disposed in the pouch; and an electrode assembly disposed in the pouch and on the metal barrier, wherein the pouch and the electrode assembly each have a wavy shape including a plurality of peaks and valleys.

Abstract: A battery includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The anode includes a current collector and an interfacial layer disposed over the current collector, and the interfacial layer includes a polymer including dynamic bonds.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods of controlling the uniformity of SiN films deposited over large substrates. When the precursor gas or gas mixture in the chamber is energized by applying radio frequency (RF) power to the chamber, the RF current flowing through the plasma generates a standing wave effect (SWE) in an inter-electrode gap. SWEs become significant as substrate or electrode size approaches the RF wavelength. Process parameters, such as process power, process pressure, electrode spacing, and gas flow ratios all affect the SWE. These parameters can be altered in order to minimize the SWE problem and to achieve acceptable thickness and properties uniformities. In some embodiments, methods of depositing a dielectric film over a large substrate at various process power ranges, at various process pressure ranges, at various gas flow rates, while achieving various plasma densities will act to reduce the SWE, creating greater plasma stability.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: Catalytic water treatment is provided using an active material driven with an optical and/or electrical excitation. The active material is MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, WSe2, MoxW1-xS2, MoxW1-xSe2, MoSySe2-y, WSySe2-y, or MoxW1-xSySe2-y; wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<2. The active material is configured as one or more layered nanostructures having exposed layer edges. A metal catalyst is disposed on the active material. The combined structure of active material and metal catalyst is disposed in the water to be treated. The excitation is provided to the active material to generate one or more reactive oxygen species by dissociation of water, wherein the reactive oxygen species provide water treatment.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an apparatus for providing an inductance at positions that correspond to positions of substrate support pins. The apparatus includes one or more substrate support pins. Each substrate support pin includes a head portion, a first portion, and a second portion. The second portion is an inductor that provides inductance at positions of substrate support pins. The inductance provided by the second portion of the substrate support pin changes the impedance to match the impedance at areas of the substrate support without the substrate support pins. With matched impedance, the plasma density over the areas of the substrate support with the support pins and without the support pins is uniform, leading to improved film thickness uniformity. The uniform film thickness thus reduces or eliminates clouding or the “mura effect”.

Abstract: Described here is a method for improving the catalytic activity of an electrocatalyst, comprising subjecting the electrocatalyst to 1-10 galvanostatic lithiation/delithiation cycles, wherein the electrocatalyst comprises at least one transition metal oxide (TMO) or transition metal chalcogenide (TMC). Also described here is an electrocatalyst and a water-splitting device comprising the electrocatalyst.

Abstract: A method includes performing by a processor: receiving a first plurality of power system frequency measurements from a plurality of phasor measurement units (PMUs) in the power system over a first time interval, generating a first plurality of multi-dimensional ellipsoids based on the first plurality of power system frequency measurements, extracting a plurality of first graphic parameter values from the first plurality of multi-dimensional ellipsoids, respectively, performing a regression analysis on the plurality of first graphic parameter values to generate a predictive relationship between the plurality of first graphic parameter values and inertia values of the power system, receiving a second plurality of power system frequency measurements from the plurality of PMUs over a second time interval, generating a second plurality of multi-dimensional ellipsoids based on the second plurality of power system frequency measurements, extracting a plurality of second graphic parameter values from the second plura