Abstract: The invention concerns a method for forming a coating on conductive particles by grafting a polymer and/or a copolymer of the particles from a bath containing at least a monomer from which the polymer and/or copolymer is formed. The method consists of producing the grafting by electrochemical reduction of the monomer in an electrolytic solution, where at least a cathode and an anode are provided, and containing an aprotic solvent, a support electrolyte and the monomer(s) required for polymerizing or copolymerizing the coating, by suspending the particles and moving the solution so as to produce an intermittent contact between the particles and the cathode, and to form, by polymerization or copolymerization, the coating on the particles by applying an electric potential.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a positive electrode foil of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is provided in which anodizing conditions are optimally determined and automatically set to minimize the loss of production and to produce a constant quality of the positive electrode foil. The method comprises an etching process and an anodizing process. An etched foil produced in the etching process is subjected to a constant current inspection, and then, the anodizing conditions are determined from the result of the constant current inspection. The anodizing conditions are transferred to a control panel in the anodizing process where they are automatically registered as its settings. Also, an apparatus for manufacturing the positive electrode foil is provided which has a voltage sensor connected between an output running roller and cathode electrodes in an anodizing tank. A voltage measured by the voltage sensor is fed back to a direct-current source for controlling its output voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for plating a conductive film directly on a substrate with a barrier layer on top includes anode rod (1) placed in tube (109), and anode rings (2), and (3) placed between cylindrical walls (107) and (105), (103) and (101), respectively. Anodes (1), (2), and (3) are powered by power supplies (13), (12), and (11), respectively. Electrolyte (34) is pumped by pump (33) to pass through filter (32) and reach inlets of liquid mass flow controllers (LMFCs) (21), (22), and (23). Then LMFCs (21), (22) and (23) deliver electrolyte at a set flow rate to sub-plating baths containing anodes (3), (2) and (1), respectively. After flowing through the gap between wafer (31) and the top of the cylindrical walls (101), (103), (105), (107) and (109), electrolyte flows back to tank (36) through spaces between cylindrical walls (100) and (101), (103) and (105), and (107) and (109), respectively.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing an electrode for a PEM fuel cell or an electrochemical energy converter, an ion-exchange polymer is applied to one face of an electrode substrate. An electrocatalyst is then applied to the substrate by electrochemical deposition, preferably from a solution containing one or more complexes or salts of the electrocatalyst. The electrochemical deposition occurs by application of a voltage between a pair of electrodes, one of which is the electrode under preparation. The voltage between the two electrodes is controlled by controlling the potential of the working electrode. A pulsed voltage profile is applied across the two electrodes during the electrodeposition process.

Abstract: A high energy density electrochemical capacitors with electrodes is formed from proton inserted ruthenium oxides (e.g. HRuO2.xH2O or HRuO2). The electrode material is formed by reducing ruthenium oxides (e.g. RuO2.xH2O or RuO2) using electrochemical method or chemical reaction between ruthenium oxides with acetone or methanol. Electrochemical capacitors with electrodes formed of proton inserted ruthenium oxides possess higher energy density, lower resistance, broader operating temperature range, and longer lifetime than that with electrodes comprised ruthenium oxides.

Abstract: A substrate (155) is placed into a plating bath (19, 59), a current in the bath is measured, and a film (110) is plated onto the substrate (155). In one embodiment the current is measured using a sensing array (57) positioned within the bath, and the measurement is used to control a plating deposition parameter. In an alternative embodiment the current is measured using the sensing array (57) and a characteristic of the plated film is controlled using a corresponding control array (53) also positioned within the plating bath (59).

Abstract: Recovery of silver from a photographic fixer solution in an electrolytic cell is controlled so as to maintain a high current efficiency whilst minimizing unwanted side effects. The rate of change of plating voltage at constant current through the cell is monitored, and in response to detection of a maximum value thereof the current is reduced to a new constant level. Such control allows the cell to be operated continually at high current efficiency in response to changing chemical conditions within the cell.

Abstract: A barrel plating method wherein each box containing pieces to be plated is provided with a kanban corresponding to the pieces contained in the box. The kanban of each box is read by an apparatus before the pieces are transferred from the box to a plating barrel, so that a plating coefficient corresponding to the information read from the kanban is retrieved from a host computer in which plating coefficients for various kinds of pieces are stored. The plating coefficient retrieved corresponding to the kanban of each box is proportional to a value of plating current to be supplied to a unit weight of pieces contained in the box. A value of plating current for each barrel is automatically calculated by multiplying the plating coefficient by the measured weight of the pieces put in the barrel. Barrel plating is performed by supplying each barrel with the value of the calculated plating current from power sources that correspond in number to barrels that are subjected to a plating process at a given time.

Abstract: A microchannel plate and method of manufacturing same is provided. The microchannel plate includes a plate consisting of an anodized material and a plurality of channels which are formed during the anodization of the material and extend between the two sides of the plate. Electrodes are also disposed on each side of the plate for generating an electrical field within the channels. Preferably, the material is alumina and the channels are activated such that the channel walls are conductive and highly secondary emissive.

Abstract: A method and circuit (14) for monitoring an electroplating operation of an electroplating machine (10) of the type having a first electroplating cell (18) for depositing nickel onto an integrated circuit leadframe (12) and a second electroplating cell (19) for subsequently depositing palladium onto the leadframe (12). A first current (30) is applied in the first electroplating cell (18) to form a nickel deposit on the leadframe (12) and a second current (31) is applied in the second electroplating cell (19) to from a palladium deposit on the nickel deposit. The second current (31) is greater than the first current (30) if the electroplating machine (10) is operating normally. The first current (30) and second current (31) are compared in a comparator (44) during the electroplating operation, and if the second current (31) is less than the first current (30), an error signal is generated on an output line (50). If desired, the electroplating machine (10) may be stopped in response to the error signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring electrodes for the electrodeposition of paint onto metallic workpieces includes detecting current from the electrodes and displaying a plot of current versus time. A method and apparatus for controlling electrodeposition of paint onto metallic workpieces includes monitoring current from electrodes over time and adjusting a rate of current increase over time. The monitor and/or control may be performed for each electrode individually or for the electrodes as a group. The monitor and/or control allows bad and/or poorly positioned electrodes to be located. The monitor and/or control may be used to stop the electrodeposition coating after a sufficiently thick coating has been obtained.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for thermal process control in electroforming stampers for the production of CD/LD data carriers or the like. The temperature of an electrolytic solution in an electroforming cell is maintained at a value nearest a specific maximum temperature by raising or lowering the temperature of the electrolytic solution in a storage tank provided outside of the electroforming cell as a function of the temperature measured in a cathode space of the electroforming cell. A temperature sensor is disposed in or near the cathode space adjacent an electrolyte injection nozzle in a space between the anode and cathode means for supplying signals to a control unit. The temperature sensor and the injection nozzle are preferably assembled into a single mounting unit. The electroforming process can thus be run with an optimum effectivity in the vicinity of a maximum permissible temperature of the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an oxide film wherein a sharp-pointed processing electrode is positioned close to the material to be processed in an oxygen-containing gas, and a voltage in the single digit range is impressed across the material and the electrode so that the surface of the material is positive and the electrode is negative thereby causing an electric current to flow across the material and the electrode. The surface of the material reacts electrochemically with oxygen adsorbed on the surface of the material to anodize the surface immediately proximate the electrode. The method makes possible the formation of a patterned oxide film with a resolution of 0.1 .mu.m or less, thus surpassing the limit of conventional oxide film production methods.

Abstract: A silver-containing solution is de-silvered in an electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode. The diffusion limitation current density of the electrolytic cell is estimated by measuring a current flow there-through and silver is deposited on the cathode at a de-silvering current density which is lower than the diffusion limitation current density.

Abstract: A method for forming relatively thick composite coatings on a region of the surface of a metallic member includes exposing the surface region to an electrolyte fluid, either by immersion or by spraying the electrolyte against the surface region. A preferred electrolyte fluid is an aqueous solution including an electrolytic agent, a passivating agent and a modifying agent in the form of a solute or a powder suspended in the solution. A voltage signal is applied to induce a current flow of constant magnitude between the metallic member and the electrolyte fluid so that the metallic member interacts with the passivating agent to form a passive oxide layer on the surface region. The voltage signal increases in magnitude until local voltage reaches a breakthrough level across separate highly localized discharge channels along the surface region of the metallic member.

Abstract: A multi-color filter without a so-called bipolar phenomenon for use of color liquid crystal display devices is prepared by such a manner that plural sets of electroconductive circuits are prepared on transparent substrate; a given set of circuits on which a first color layer is to be formed is provided with a feeder circuit traversely in one lot; and the first electrodeposition is conducted by applying a current only to this set of circuits in order to impress a given voltage while voltage is increased gradually to a given level over a certain period of time, thereby forming the first color layer, and the electrodeposition is repeated in the similar way by applying current to each of the remaining sets of circuits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating metals which delivers a voltage pulse with the possibility of a widely varying current magnitude characteristic to a plating electrode and an object having a large electrical reactance in terms of a parallel resistance and capacitance in order to raise the voltage potential between the electrode and an object to a programmed plating voltage overpotential and underpotential. The programmed plating voltage overpotential determines how fast the electrochemical reaction is allowed to proceed in the diffusion layer, and the programmed voltage underpotential determines how quickly the electrochemical reaction of the diffusion layer will slow down.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an iridium and palladium oxides-coated titanium electrode comprises preparing a titanium substrate having a surface, applying iridium and palladium to be formed on the surface of the titanium substrate, and heat-treating the iridium and palladium oxides-applied titanium substrate to obtain an iridium and palladium oxides-coated titanium electrode. This invention provides a process for obtaining a coated titanium electrode having therein a good adhesion between the coating material and the titanium electrode, and having an excellent electrochemical stability and a superior catalytic activity in an acidic environment.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for forming a specular protective film in which the intensity of reflected light is made even with a variation in the angle of incidence of the incident light. In the anodic oxidation treatment, the current value applied to a plurality of specular parts is sampled at a predetermined interval (S301), and each sampled value is integrated over time (S302) and the average value is obtained. A comparison is made between an obtained average value and a preset value, and if the average value is greater, the application of current to all the specular parts is stopped (S303). The preset value is the amount of electricity conducted to form an anodic oxide film having a film thickness corresponding to a desired reflectance which is determined from the relation between the preset film thickness of anodic oxide film and the reflectance.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect on a substrate. At least one pad (14) is formed on a substrate (11). The pad (14) is formed having a non-wetting surface (12) and a wettable surface (13). Photoresist (44) is patterned on a substrate (41) forming a cavity on a pad (46) leaving a non-wetting surface (42) and a wettable surface (43) exposed. Interconnect material (56) is formed on a non-wetting surface (52) and a wettable surface (53) of pad 57. Interconnect material (56) is reflowed forming an interconnect ball (74) on a wettable surface (73). Surface tension causes interconnect material (56) when reflowed to flow from a non-wetting surface (72) to the wettable surface (73) and ball up to form the interconnect ball (74).

Abstract: A method for producing a compound oxide superconducting thin film, comprising forming an oxide thin film on the surface of a substrate of a first metal element having a redox charge by oxidizing the metal, using the oxide thin film thus formed as an electrode for oxidation reaction of a second metal element contained in an electrolyte solution or molten salt to incorporate the second metal element in the oxide thin film, using the compound oxide thin film thus formed as an electrode to obtain a cyclic voltammogram, and electrochemically processing the compound oxide thin film at an electrolytic potential that is determined based on the cyclic voltammogram.

Abstract: One side of a metal strip forming a cathode is fed continuously at a given rate in an electrolyte past anodes supplied by respective controllable rectifiers. The strip is divided into increments of fixed length and predetermined width and coating rate. A total current for coating the increments is determined beforehand. The regulation method then includes determining the number of rectifiers to be put into operation, determining a predicted current for each rectifier by equally distributing the total current between said rectifiers to be put into operation, and determining current orders to be applied to the rectifiers to be put into operation. The method is cyclic for each side of the strip.

Abstract: A method for producing a color filter involves (A) forming a photosensitive coating film on at least a transparent electrically conductive layer formed on an outermost surface of a transparent substrate and exposing the photosensitive coating film through a mask having patterns of at least three different degrees of light transmittances; (B) developing and removing a photosensitive coating film region corresponding to one of the patterns of the smallest and largest degrees of light transmittances for exposing the transparent electrically conductive layer and electrodepositing a colored coating on the exposed transparent electrically conductive layer for forming a colored layer thereon. Operation of developing and removing the photosensitive coating film and electrodepositing the colored coating is repeated for the respective patterns of different degrees of light transmittances in sequence of difference in light transmittances to form different colored layers.

Abstract: Silver is able to be recovered from a photographic fixing solution by circulating the solution through a unit separate from, but connected to, a main unit. In the separate unit the solution is subjected to electrolysis by anodic and cathodic electrodes. The density of the current is limited to 100A/m.sup.2 and the voltage is controlled up to a maximum of 1.4V. The supply of current and voltage is self-regulating within these limits so that no deposits of sulphide from the solution being treated occurs.

Abstract: A method for producing an oxide superconductor comprises obtaining a cyclic voltammogram using an oxide material containing an element having a redox charge as an electrode, determining an electrolytic potential for the oxide material on the basis of the voltammogram, and electrolyzing the oxide material at the determined potential.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for determining levelling power of an electrolyte. An anode and cathode are immersed in the electrolyte. The cathode has a plating surface for electrodeposition of a metal from the electrolyte. The plating surface has a peak region and a base region separated and electrically isolated by an insulator. The peak region has a greater tendency to electrodeposit the metal per unit surface area than the base region. The anode and cathode are placed in a test cell or suspended in a commercial electrodeposition cell. A means for applying current between said anode and said cathode is used for causing the metal from the electrolyte to electrodeposit on the plating surface of the cathode. The current from plating on the peak region and the base region are measured separately to determine levelling power of an electrolyte.

Abstract: For replenishing a metal ion to a plating bath, a soluble electrode of the same type of metal as in the bath and a counter electrode of a metal material having a nobler standard electrode potential than the soluble electrode are immersed in the bath. Electricity is conducted between the soluble electrode and the counter electrode, thereby dissolving the soluble electrode to replenish an ion of the metal of the soluble electrode to the bath. The potential of the counter electrode is measured using a reference electrode of the same metal as the soluble electrode. The quantity of electricity is controlled such that the measured potential may not be negative with respect to the reference electrode, thereby preventing deposition of the dissolving metal ion on the counter electrode while ensuring a high rate of metal ion dissolution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for immobilizing biomolecules on a conductive substrate to produce a biosensor.