Abstract: A metal film/aromatic polyimide film laminate is composed of a composite aromatic polyimide film and a metal film, in which the composite aromatic polyimide film is composed of an aromatic polyimide substrate film having a linear expansion coefficient of 5×10−6 to 30×10−6 cm/cm/° C. in the temperature range of 50-200° C. (measured in machine direction), and a thin aromatic polyimide layer of polyimide prepared from a carboxylic acid component comprising a mixture of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride in a molar ratio of 50:50 to 90:10 and an aromatic diamine component composed of 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene or a mixture of 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene and p-phenylenediamine and/or diaminodiphenyl ether in a molar ratio of 10/90 or more. Tg of the thin polyimide layer is 210-310° C. The metal film is fixed to the thin polyimide layer at a 90° peel resistance of 0.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a flexible, protective, integral liner comprising at least one first polymer which is a homogeneous linear or substantially linear ethylene/&agr;-olefin interpolymer having a density of from 0.850 g/cm3 to 0.920 g/cm3, and at least one second polymer which is an ethylene/&agr;-olefin interpolymer having a density of from 0.905 g/cm3 to 0.935 g/cm3, provided that the density or the second polymer is at least 0.002 g/cm3 greater than the density of the first polymer. In preferred embodiments, the liner will further comprise an ignition resistance additive. The liners of the invention exhibit an excellent balance of flexibility and strength, and, when an ignition resistance additive is employed, excellent ignition resistance.

Abstract: A polypropylene-based resin composition for stretched film, comprising 20 to 98 parts by weight of a propylene-based polymer(A) having an intrinsic viscosity [&eegr;]A of 1.8 to 8 dl/g and a melting temperature TmA of 140 to 165 ° C. and 2 to 80 parts by weight of a propylene-based polymer(B) having an intrinsic viscosity [&eegr;]B of 0.8 to 1.7 dl/g and a melting temperature TmB of 150 to 170° C., wherein the ratio of TmA to TmB is less than 1, the ratio of the intrinsic viscosity [&eegr;]A to the intrinsic viscosity [&eegr;]B is more than 1 and less than 10, and the melt flow rate of the polypropylene-based resin composition is from 0.1 to 20 g/10 min.

Abstract: A wood sheathing panel, suitable for use in building construction, includes reinforcement strips of fiber reinforced polymer material incorporated into the panel. The reinforcement strips cover an area that is within the range of from about 5 to about 50 percent of the surface area of the panel. The reinforcement strips of fiber reinforced plastic material can be incorporated in the perimeter of the panel, or can be incorporated into the corners of the panel. The spacing of the intermittently incorporated reinforcement strips can generally coincide with a standard spacing of framing members so that when the wood sheathing panel is applied to a building frame, the reinforcement strips are generally aligned with framing members of the building. Preferably, the reinforcement strips are sufficient to provide an increased ductility over an equivalent unreinforced wood sheathing panel in an amount within the range of from about 75 percent to about 500 percent.

Abstract: A building material having a durable exterior finish comprising a fiber cement substrate laminated with a fluorohydrocarbon protective film. The protective film provides the fiber cement substrate with resistance to weathering and maintains the surface texture of the underlying fiber cement substrate while providing an aesthetically pleasing and uniform pre-finish on the exterior surface. The protective film is bonded to the fiber cement substrate using an adhesive composition comprised of a one-component moisture cure polyurethane or polyurea adhesive composition having a reactive isocyanate compound or a two component polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: At least one part of a road surface is covered by a photocatalyst layer containing a photocatalyst such as titanium dioxide, etc. to purify pollutants in exhaust gases emitted from vehicles by photocatalytic reaction of the photocatalyst. Pollutant-originating matters as retained on the photocatalyst layer are washed away by rain water or sprinkled water. In one embodiment of the invention, road 12 is a road provided with a dewaterable pavement and rain water passes through surface layer 18 during raining, flows over and along base layer 16 and is discharged. In surface layer 18, numerous aggregates of small particle sizes 1802 are projected from the entire surface of concrete layer 1804. Titanium dioxide layer 20 is formed by injecting or spraying a mixture comprising titanium dioxide, cement, a filler and water onto the entire surface of surface layer 18 thinly and is water-permeable.

Abstract: Composite film structures exhibit a predetermined finished color tone comprised of a transparent film layer which exhibits a color deficiency as compared to the finished color tone, and a pigment which is visually associated with, and satisfies the color deficiency of, the film layer. Most preferably, the pigment is provided as a homogenous dispersion in a transparent color-matching layer positioned adjacent to the film layer. Thus, when the film and color-matching layers are viewed collectively as a unit, the perceived color tone will be that of the finished predetermined color tone. That is, the color-matching layer provides visually an additive effect on the perceived color of the composite film structure.

Abstract: We make particulates, especially magnetic Fe—Co alloys having high magnetic permeability, of controlled dimensions, especially those having a narrow thickness size distribution centered around a median or target thickness in the range of about 0.1-1.0 &mgr;m, using electrodeposition typically on a smooth (polished) titanium cathode. Our preferred continuous process uses a rotating drum cathode inside a fixed anode to grow flakes and to produce them automatically by inherent instability in the deposited film. The drum preferably rotates about a substantially vertical axis. The particulates shed (slough off) into the electrolyte (because of mismatch between the cathode surface and the plated metal or alloy at the molecular level) where they are separated in a magnetic separator or other suitable device. If the flakes are soft iron or iron-cobalt alloys, the drum generally is titanium or titanium alloy.

Abstract: This dispersion liquid composition for black matrix comprises; manganese oxide having an average particle diameter in the range of 50 to 2000 nm, or solid solution of manganese oxide and ferric oxide having an average particle diameter in the range of 50 to 2000 nm and a manganese content in the range of 15 to 70% by weight; at least one kind of dispersing agent selected from a group of water-soluble acrylic resin, sodium salt, ammonium salt or potassium salt of water-soluble acrylic resin, and sodium salt, ammonium salt or potassium salt of polycarboxylic acid or ligninsulfonic acid or bisphenolsulfonic acid; and water, or a solvent mixture of water and an organic solvent compatible with water. By employing such a dispersion liquid composition for black matrix, light reflectivity of a light absorption layer of an interface with a panel is remarkably reduced.

Abstract: Biodegradable fibers of polylactic acid having a number-average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 150,000, have an interior portion having a higher alkali solubility than the exterior portion of the fiber. The fibers also have from 5 to 50 cracks/10 cm. The physical properties of these fibers are suitable for practical use, and the biodegradation of these fibers is controllable.

Abstract: A fine carbon fiber having an outer diameter of about 1 to about 80 nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 30,000, comprising a hollow center portion and a multi-layer sheath structure of a plurality of carbon layers, the layers forming annual rings, wherein the sheath-forming carbon layers form an incomplete sheath, i.e., the carbon layers are partially broken or disrupted in a longitudinal direction, and the outer diameter of the carbon fiber and/or the diameter of the hollow center portion are not uniform in a longitudinal direction. The carbon fiber is obtained by instantaneously reacting a carrier gas at a high temperature and an organic compound gas kept at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the transition metal compound and has a conductivity equivalent to that of a conventional vapor phase method and is useful as a filler material in resins, rubbers, paints and the like.

Abstract: To provide a lathing method and apparatus capable of realizing lathing of a bar member made of a hard cutting material and lathing a stock made of a hard cutting material by a lathe including an NC automatic lathe, although lathing of the hard cutting material is impossible in a conventional case, a round bar is rotatably held to be fed along the longitudinal direction of the round bar by a guide bush fixed on the main body side of the lathing apparatus, and the round bar is sequentially fed from the guide bush to a machining tool arranged on the main body side, thereby lathing the round bar in a cantilevered state. For this purpose, a round bar having a solid lubricant layer having a predetermined thickness on the outer surface of the round bar in advance, thereby lathing the round bar so as to reduce friction.

Abstract: A granule of a compound comprising a nitrate or nitrite, wherein a part of the body of the granule has a protrusion, and an aggregate of the granules.

Abstract: A glazing panel carrying a coating stack comprises in sequence at least: a glass substrate a base antireflective layer an infra-red reflecting layer, and a top antireflective layer in which at least one of the antireflective layers comprises at least one mixed nitride layer which is a mixture of Al and at least one additional material X, in which the atomic ratio X/Al is greater than or equal to 0.05 and in which X is one or more of the materials selected from the group comprising the elements of Groups 3a, 4a, 5a, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8 of the periodic table. The glazing panel is particularly suitable for heat treatment and incorporation in windscreens.

Abstract: Organosilicon nano/microhybrid systems or microhybrid systems having nanoscale and/or microscale oxide particles (KA—O), and an organosilicon shell with at least one organosilicon constituent of the general formula Ia wherein the organosilicon constituent of the shell B is attached to the oxide particles via one or more covalent linkages of formula Ib A process for preparing a composition comprising organosilicon nano/microhybrid systems or microhybrid systems directly in a synthetic resin composition allows in situ preparation of a curable resin. The compositions may be used as coating materials for producing scratch resistant and abrasion resistant coatings.

Abstract: The present invention is: a metallic foil to be used for a metallic honeycomb for purifying exhaust gas of an automobile or the like, said metallic foil not causing cracks or ruptures to develop in the foil even when it undergoes corrugation work with more sharply bending corner portions of a trapezoidal shape; and a catalyst support for purifying exhaust gas of an automobile or the like, characterized in that said metallic foil, being rough surface finished and having good corrugation workability, is made of heat-resistant stainless steel and has surface roughness more than 2.0 and not more than 5.0 &mgr;m in Rmax and, said metallic catalyst support for purifying exhaust gas has a structure comprising a honeycomb inserted in a jacket, wherein the honeycomb is composed of rough surface finished metallic foil having surface roughness more than 2.0 and not more than 5.0 &mgr;m in Rmax and the jacket is made of heat-resistant stainless steel.

Abstract: Sputter-deposited amorphous NiNb films on glass or glass-ceramic substrates have good adhesion with the substrates, and reduce lithium migration significantly. Longitudinal magnetic recording media deposited on oxidized NiNb sealing layers have very good magnetic recording performances and are suitable for high density recording application.

Abstract: In carbon reinforcements, in particular when used in carbon-fiber reinforced materials, sulfur-complex forming substances are chemically adsorbed, at least in part, at potential oxidation locations of an hexagonal carbon lattice to provide internal protection against oxidation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet which is excellent in adhesion with a hot-dip galvanized zinc layer, and has high tensile strength and good formability even when a steel sheet containing Si and Mn in relatively larger amounts is used as a basis steel sheet. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is composed of: a basis steel sheet containing Si in an amount of 0.05 to 2.5% and Mn in an amount of 0.2 to 3%, by mass; a Fe plated layer formed on the basis steel sheet; and a hot-dip galvanized zinc layer formed on the surface layer of the basis steel sheet via the Fe plated layer, wherein oxides containing Si and/or Mn are discontinuously dispersed in the vicinity of the interface between the basis steel sheet and the Fe plated layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical information recording medium comprising a substrate including a groove that has a track pitch of 200 to 400 nm and a depth of 20 to 150 nm, the substrate having successively disposed thereon a light-reflective layer, a recording layer containing a dye and on which information is recordable by a laser beam having a wavelength of 600 nm or less, and a cover layer, wherein the recording layer contains at least two organic solvent-soluble compounds each having an absorption maximum in the range of 300 to 450 nm and a specific absorbance at a recording laser wavelength.

Abstract: The invention provides a galvannealed steel sheet which has an oxide layer having 10 nm or larger thickness on the plateau of the coating layer flattened by temper rolling. With the use of the galvannealed steel sheet, no powdering occurs during press-forming, and stable and excellent sliding performance is attained. By selecting the area percentage of the plateau of the flattened coating layer to a range from 20 to 80%, making the coating layer single layer of &dgr;1 phase, and letting &zgr; phase exist in the &dgr;1 phase, further improved sliding performance and anti-powdering property are obtained.

Abstract: A highly corrosion-resistant material and a corrosion-resistant member which are improved in corrosion resistance, adhesion, contact electrical resistance, electrical conductivity, airtightness, etc. and are suitable for use as, e.g., a metallic separator for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC); and a process for producing them. A thin noble-metal layer is formed on the desired part of the surface of a metallic base and then subjected to compression working. The coated base may further be subjected to anticorrosive treatment with a liquid phase containing a peroxide or ozone or with an active gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent (EL) device includes one or more organic thin film layers disposed between an anode and a cathode, at least one of said layers containing, in a form of a mixture or a single substance, a dibenzoperylene compound expressed in Formula 4. The organic EL device exhibits higher luminance than that obtained by a conventional organic EL device.

Abstract: An organic multilayer electroluminescent device including an anode and cathode, and comprising therebetween: a hole transport layer; and an electron transport layer disposed in operative relationship with the hole transport layer; wherein: the hole transport layer includes an organic compound having the formula:  wherein: Ar is an aryl moiety; n is an integer of from 1 to 6; and substituents R1 and R2 are each individually hydrogen, or alkyl of from 1 to 24 carbon atoms; aryl or substituted aryl of from 5 to 28 carbon atoms; or heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl of from 5 to 28 carbon atoms; or fluorine, chlorine, bromine; or cyano group.

Abstract: The invention aims to provide a phosphor thin film eliminating a need for filters, having a satisfactory color purity and useful as the blue color in full-color EL displays, a method for preparing the same and an EL panel. Such objects are achieved by a phosphor thin film formed of a matrix material comprising barium thioaluminate as a main component to which magnesium is added and rare earth element, Eu is added as a luminescent center, a method for preparing the same, and an EL panel using the same.

Abstract: In one method of making an organic electroluminescent device, a transfer layer is solution coated on a donor substrate. The transfer layer includes an amorphous, non-polymeric, organic matrix with a light emitting material disposed in the matrix. The transfer layer is then selectively patterned on a receptor. Examples of patterning methods include laser thermal transfer or thermal head transfer. The method and associated materials can be used to form, for example, organic electroluminescent devices.

Abstract: Laminar body comprising a substrate, and applied thereto on one or both sides, at least one layer containing an enamel, wherein the layer or layers containing an enamel contains at least one phosphor.

Abstract: Organic semiconductors consisting of conjugated chromophores wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are deuterated are disclosed. Methods of preparing such organic semiconductors are described. The organic semiconducting compounds exhibit remarkably high luminescence and good thermal stability. Applications of these materials for optoelectronic devices, such as light-emitting devices and photodiodes, with enhanced performance and lifetime are disclosed. The disclosed materials can be used as emissive layer, charge-transporting layer, or energy transfer (i.e. phosphorescence dopant) material in organic light-emitting devices.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising: on a non-magnetic substrate, at least a soft magnetic undercoat film comprising a soft magnetic material; an orientation control film for controlling an orientation of a film directly above; a perpendicular magnetic film in which an axis of easy magnetization is oriented mainly perpendicularly with respect to the substrate; and a protection film, wherein the perpendicular magnetic film has a structure in which a large number of magnetic grains are separated by a grain boundary layer, and an average separating distance between the magnetic grains along a straight line which connects centers of gravity of mutually neighboring magnetic grains is 1 nm or greater.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium which has higher S/N and lower manufacturing cost includes a first underlayer including at least one of Co or Cu and P on a non-magnetic substrate, a second underlayer consisting of a non-magnetic material using Cr, and a magnetic layer on the second underlayer.

Abstract: An amorphous magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate and an amorphous magnetic layer, where a magnetic domain formation-controlling layer comprising a main phase and 1 to 3 kinds of discrete spherical isolating phases arranged horizontally in lines in the main phase or 1 to 3 kinds of discrete spherical phases vertically stacked one upon another in the main phase is formed on the top side or the bottom side directly or through at least one of other layers to bring the amorphous magnetic layer into a finer magnetic domain structure, can satisfy high density recording.

Abstract: A stainless steel with a passive state fluorinated film formed thereon, which is easy to construct and does not produce particles even when it is welded, and a device using the same. The stainless steel does not cause leakage even when said film is formed on a sealing surface of a joint and a valve seat surface. The stainless steel is characterized in that at least a part of the surface coated with a passive state fluorinated film not thicker than 190Å consisting of a metal fluoride as a main component.

Abstract: A turbomachine component includes a silicon nitride substrate and a protective coating on the substrate. The protective coating includes a porous silicon nitride matrix and a noble metal infiltrated in the porous silicon nitride matrix.

Abstract: In a sintered glass ceramic product including at least three layers each of which is formed by a glass ceramic material, the layers are stacked to be substantially symmetrical in a stacking direction and integrally sintered. Among the sintered layers, each of outermost layers and an inner layer adjacent thereto have crystal phases different from each other. Each of the outermost layers and the inner layer have thermal expansion coefficients &agr;1 and &agr;2 selected so that the relationship given by 0<&agr;2−&agr;1<5 ppm is satisfied.

Abstract: A sanitary ware comprises a sanitary ware body and a surface glaze layer provided on the sanitary ware body. The surface glaze layer has a center line average roughness Ra of less than 0.07 &mgr;m as measured with a stylus type surface roughness tester according to JIS B 0651-1996.

Abstract: A coating composition (24) for a thermal/environmental barrier coating (T/EBC) system (14) particularly suited for protecting silicon-containing substrates (12), such as articles exposed to high temperatures including the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The coating composition (24) is an alkaline earth aluminate or an alkaline earth aluminosilicate containing, by molar percent, about 20% to about 40% barium oxide, about 9% to about 20% strontia, about 19% to about 50% alumina, and optionally up to about 40% silica, wherein barium oxide and strontia are present in a combined amount of about 37 to about 50 molar percent of the coating composition (24). The T/EBC system (14) may include one or more intermediate layers (16,20,22) that adhere the coating composition (24) to the silicon-containing surface (12). The T/EBC system (14) may further include an outermost coating (18) of stabilized zirconia or another high-temperature ceramic material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying a gas flow includes means for atomizing a liquid into a gas feed line and means for heating the liquid. The atomizing means is provided in a spray chamber, with a heat-exchanger region for at least partially evaporating the liquid being arranged adjacent to the spray chamber. The heat-exchanger region has a multiplicity of flow passages for gas flows which are to be humidified, which flow passages are at least partially delimited by heat-exchanger surfaces for condensing and evaporating the liquid.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell in which a first reactant gas and a second reactant gas are supplied to generate electricity. An evaporator evaporates a raw fuel, which combustor exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell and uses the exhaust gas to evaporate and volatile a raw material for the first reactant gas. A reformer reforms the evaporated and volatilized raw fuel vapor of the raw material by a reforming catalyst to produce the first reactant gas. An air-introducing device introduces the air that is used to be reformed into the evaporator or the reformed in a manner wherein the flow rate of the air is controlled depending upon the output from the fuel cell and upon the temperature of the raw fuel vapor.

Abstract: This invention is related to an anode stream recirculation system for a fuel cell comprising an anode gas supply, a switch and a regulating device to properly control the amount of anode gas supply; a sensor connected with the switch to detect the pressure of the anode gas discharged from the fuel cell and to control the open/close of the switch; and a humidifier to adjust the humidity of the anode gas discharged from the fuel cell. The discharged anode gas after the adjustment of the humidity thereof is redirected to anode gas input of the fuel cell to form an anode gas recirculation.

Abstract: A thermo-responsive polymer is incorporated into a fuel cell (50) in order to maintain optimum hydration of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The thermo-responsive polymer (52) is situated proximate to the membrane electrode assembly (54) such that fuel or oxidant gas passes (56) through the thermo-responsive polymer to the membrane electrode assembly. The thermo-responsive polymer swells or shrinks in response to changes in the operating temperature of the membrane electrode assembly, altering the flow rate of the fuel or oxidant gas passing through the thermo-responsive polymer.

Abstract: The invention reduces free water volume in a fuel cell power plant so support systems of the plant are freeze tolerant. The fuel cell power plant includes a coolant system having a sealed cooler plate that circulates an antifreeze coolant in heat exchange with a fuel cell and that collects fuel cell water; a water vapor removal system that removes water vapor from the antifreeze coolant to regulate the antifreeze concentration; and a start-up system having a start-up heat exchanger and a start-up valve that selectively direct heated antifreeze coolant into the cooler plate for a start-up procedure. The plant may also include a fuel processing system that utilizes the removed water vapor, and that is in heat exchange with the start-up heat exchanger. The antifreeze coolant is a low vapor pressure solution, such as an alkanetriol or polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: The fuel cell of the present invention comprises: a membrane electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode side diffusion electrode (an anode electrode, and a second diffusion layer) disposed at one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode side diffusion electrode (a cathode electrode, and a first diffusion layer) disposed at the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators which hold the membrane electrode assembly; a projecting portion which extends from the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and which projects from the peripheries of the anode side diffusion electrode and the cathode side diffusion electrode; and a seal, provided on the separators, which was liquid sealant at the time of application. The seal makes contact with the projecting portion while the membrane electrode assembly is disposed between the separators.

Abstract: A PEM fuel cell having serpentine flow field channels each having an inlet leg, an exit leg, at least one medial leg therebetween, and hairpin curved ends connecting the medial leg(s) to other legs of the sector. Each leg is separated from the next by a tapering land so that it converges/diverges on/from the next adjacent leg (i.e. its longitudinal centerline intersects the longitudinal centerline of an adjacent leg).

Abstract: An electrical battery has a vessel accommodating an electrolyte, a positive electrode and a negative electrode arranged in the vessel at a distance from one another in contact with the electrolyte, and a partition arranged in the vessel between the electrodes so that positive ions formed by an electrolytic process from a material of the positive electrode in the electrolyte move toward one side of the partition, and negative ions formed by an electrolytic process from a material of the electrolyte move to an opposite side of the partition during charging of the battery, so that the positive ions and the negative ions at both sides of the partition are attracted to one another and accumulate at both sides of the partition in great quantities so as to provide a significant charge in the battery, one of the electrodes being movable toward the partition to be located in a zone of accumulation of the ions of corresponding charge so as to obtain the charge with high voltage, so that a discharge of the battery is pe

Abstract: A battery housing for medical scooter includes a movable base provided with at least two battery compartments for each receiving a battery therein, an electrode contact provided at the bottom of each battery compartment to electrically connect to a positive or a negative electrode of the battery in the same compartment, and an electricity chamber for accommodating a charger and a power cord that could be easily pulled out to connect to an external AC power source for the charger to recharge the batteries. Two elastic conductive plates are provided below the battery compartments to contact with the electrode contacts, so that power could be supplied from the batteries to positive and negative power supply wires of the cart connected to the conductive plates. Drain holes are provided below the elastic conductive plates to protect the battery housing from damage due to accumulated water on the medical scooter.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery excellent in high-rate charge and discharge characteristics, and a hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode suitable for the battery and a method for producing the same. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy is preferably produced by wet grinding in water a hydrogen-absorbing alloy having at least one rare earth element, nickel and at least one transition metal element, treating the resulting alloy powders in an aqueous alkali solution, and then consecutively treating the powders in an acidic aqueous solution. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy powders have a structure of a nickel-condensed layer being exposed and have many pores.

Abstract: A cathode electroactive material for use in lithium ion secondary cells, process for producing the material, and lithium ion secondary cells using the cathode electroactive material, wherein the electroactive material predominantly comprises an Li—Mn composite oxide particles with the spinel structure and particles of the electroactive material have an average porosity of 15% or less, the porosity being calculated by employing the following equation: Porosity (%)=(A/B)×100  (1) (wherein A represents a total cross-section area of pores included in a cross-section of one secondary particle, and B represents the cross-section area of one secondary particle), a tapping density of 1.9 g/ml or more, a size of crystallites of 400 Å-960 Å, a lattice constant of 8.240 Å or less.

Abstract: A lithium-secondary-battery negative electrode having a protective layer to prevent the surface deterioration of the inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The negative electrode comprises metallic lithium or a lithium-containing metal, a first inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: a) formed on the metal, and a second inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: b) formed on the first inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The thickness ratio b/a is specified to be more than 0.5.

Abstract: A lead alloy coating for a positive grid of a lead acid battery is provided. The lead alloy coating includes a tin content of at least about 0.1%, but not more than about 3%; and a residual lead content. The lead alloy coating optionally includes a calcium content of at least about 0.01%, but not more than about 0.1%, with or without a silver content of at least about 0.01%, but not more than about 0.1%. Alternatively, the lead alloy coating optionally includes a barium content of at least about 0.01%, but not more than about 0.1%, with or without a silver content of at least about 0.01%, but not more than about 0.1%.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of an electrode formed from at least one electrically conductive polymer having a lower, polymerization potential than p-doping peak. The method of manufacture of the electrode including a conditioning step which results in remarkably high charge capacities and excellent cycling efficiency. The provision of these polymeric electrodes further permits the manufacture of an electrochemical storage cell which is substantially free of metal components, thereby improving handling of the storage cell and obviating safety and environmental concerns associated with alternative secondary battery technology.