Abstract: The present invention relates to optically variable pigments of high electrical conductivity which comprise a flake-form substrate, which essentially consists of silicon dioxide and/or silicon oxide hydrate, and an electrically conductive layer surrounding the substrate, to a process for the preparation thereof, and to the use of pigments of this type.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a lithium anode and a fluorinated silver vanadium oxide cathode activated with a nonaqueous electrolyte is described. The fluorinated silver vanadium oxide is of the formula Ag4V2O11-xFx, wherein x ranges from about 0.02 to about 0.3.

Abstract: A composite material of complex alloy is provided and it is the Ceramic-Metal Composite based on a thermoelectric material filled with ceramic material. The composite material is represented by the following general formula (I). A1?xBx ??(I) In the general formula (I), 0.05?X?0.2; A represents a Half-Heusler thermoelectric material and its proportional composition is represented with the following formula (II). (Tia1Zrb1Hfc1)1?y?zNiy Snz ??(II) In the general formula (II), 0<a1<1, 0<b1<1, 0<c1<1, a1+b1+c1=1, 0.25?y?0.35, and 0.25?z?0.35; B represents at least one element selected from a group of C, O, and N.

Abstract: This invention relates to lithium-ion batteries and cathode powders for making lithium-ion batteries where the cathode powder comprises a blend or mixture of at least one lithium transition metal poly-anion and with one or more lithium transition-metal oxide powders. A number of different lithium transition-metal oxides are suitable, especially formulations that include nickel, manganese and cobalt. The preferred lithium transition metal poly-anion is carbon-containing lithium vanadium phosphate. Batteries using the mixture or blend of these powders have been found to have high specific capacity, especially based on volume, high cycle life, substantially improved safety issues as compared to lithium transition-metal oxides, per se, and an attractive electrode potential profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing lithium-rich metal oxides and also the lithium-rich metal oxides which can be obtained by this process. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of lithium-rich metal oxides for producing a cathode for a battery, in particular a lithium ion battery, and also a cathode for a lithium ion battery which comprises lithium-rich metal oxides.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, in order to adjust a cathode active material in which guest cation such as Na and Li is included, alkaline metal fluoride which is expressed by a general formula AF and transition metal fluoride which is expressed by a formula M? F2 are subjected to a mechanical milling process to produce metal fluoride compound AM? F3. The mechanical milling process desirably uses a planetary ball mill.

Abstract: The present invention is related to ternary metal transition metal non-oxide nano-particle compositions, methods for preparing the nano-particles, and applications relating in particular to the use of said nano-particles in dispersions, electrodes and capacitors. The nano-particle compositions of the present invention can include a precursor which includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkoxides, carboxylates and halides of transition metals, the material including transition metal(s) selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten and molybdenum.

Abstract: Provided is a metal phosphate showing high proton conductivity, which is useful for a fuel cell having higher output and produced at lower cost. The proton-conductive metal phosphate is a compound containing M, P and O, wherein M represents at least one selected from the group consisting of group 4A and group 4B elements in the long form of the periodic table, a part of M is substituted with a dopant element J J represents at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3A, group 3B, group 5A and group 5B elements in the long form of the periodic table and at least contains an element selected from B, Al, Ga, Sc, Yb, Y, La, Ce, Sb, Bi, V, Ta and Nb.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for electrolessly depositing Co, Ni, or alloys thereof onto a substrate in manufacture of microelectronic devices. Grain refiners, levelers, oxygen scavengers, and stabilizers for electroless Co and Ni deposition solutions.

Abstract: Described is a composite lithium compound having a mixed crystalline structure. Such compound was formed by heating a lithium compound and a metal compound together. The resulting mixed metal crystal exhibits superior electrical property and is a better cathode material for lithium secondary batteries.

Abstract: Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4-11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.

Abstract: The present invention includes an electrochemical redox active material. The electrochemical redox active material includes a cocrystalline metallic compound having a general formula AxMO4-yXOy.M?O, where A is at least one metallic element selected from a group consisting of alkali metals, M and M? may be identical or different and independently of one another at least one selected from a group consisting of transition metals and semimetals, X is P or As, 0.9?x?1.1, and 0<y<4.

Abstract: A composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction is described. The composition may comprise a material represented by a general formula MyXO4 or AxMyXO4, where each of A (where present), M, and X independently represents at least one element, O represents oxygen, and each of x (where present) and y represent a number, and an oxide of at least one of various elements, wherein the material and the oxide are cocrystailine, and/or wherein a volume of a crystalline structural unit of the composition may be different than a volume of a crystalline structural unit of the material alone. An electrode comprising such a composition is also described, as is an electrochemical cell comprising such an electrode. A process of preparing a composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction is also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an improved powder for the positive electrode of lithium ion batteries wherein the powder comprises lithium, vanadium and phosphate. The process includes forming a suspension of the precursors with a high boiling temperature solvent and heating the suspension to a reaction temperature of between 250° C. and 400° C. to convert the precursors to the desired solid product. The solid product is separated from the suspension and is heated to a higher temperature to crystallize the product. The resulting product retains a small particle size thus avoiding the need for milling or other processing to reduce the product to a particle size suited for batteries.

Abstract: A conductive material comprising a V2O5—P2O5 glass and a second phase dispersed in the V2O5—P2O5 glass, wherein the second phase contains a crystalline V and O compound and a crystalline metal phosphate compound. The crystalline V and O compound is at least one of V2O5, V4O9, V2O4, and V2O3. The metal phosphate compound is a phosphate compound of transition metal or alkaline-earth metal. In a visual display device, glass spacers are bonded to glass panels with the conductive material.

Abstract: A novel phosphor material which can be manufactured without utilizing a fault formation process which is difficult to be controlled. The phosphor material has a eutectic structure formed of a base material that is a semiconductor formed of a Group 2 element and a Group 6 element, a semiconductor formed of a Group 3 element and a Group 5 element, or a ternary phosphor formed of an alkaline earth metal, a Group 3 element, and a Group 6 element, and a solid solution material including a transition metal. The phosphor material is suited for an EL element because of less variation of characteristic since defect formation process in which stress is applied externally to form a defect inside of a phosphor material is not needed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of stable suspensions of metal oxide nanoparticles, in which uncharged metal oxide nanoparticles are first treated with a non-ionic surfactant in a polar organic solvent under certain conditions, and the suspension obtained is then treated with a charging solution. The suspensions of the invention can be used for preparation of high quality metal oxide films by electrophoresis deposition (EPD).

Abstract: The present invention relates to primary and secondary electrochemical energy storage systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to such systems as battery cells, especially battery cells utilizing metal fluorides with the presence of phosphates or fluorophosphates, which use materials that take up and release ions as a means of storing and supplying electrical energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to substrates of semi-insulating silicon carbide used for semiconductor devices and a method for making the same. The substrates have a resistivity above 106 Ohm-cm, and preferably above 108 Ohm-cm, and most preferably above 109 Ohm-cm, and a capacitance below 5 pF/mm2 and preferably below 1 pF/mm2. The electrical properties of the substrates are controlled by a small amount of added deep level impurity, large enough in concentration to dominate the electrical behavior, but small enough to avoid structural defects. The substrates have concentrations of unintentional background impurities, including shallow donors and acceptors, purposely reduced to below 5·1016 cm?3, and preferably to below 1·1016 cm?3, and the concentration of deep level impurity is higher, and preferably at least two times higher, than the difference between the concentrations of shallow acceptors and shallow donors.

Abstract: A dielectric layer composition includes a ceramic material, a binder, a solvent, and an additive, the additive being a selenium oxide additive or two or more of a selenium oxide, a vanadium oxide, a molybdenum oxide, and/or a cerium oxide.

Abstract: Provided herein are electroactive agglomerated particles, which comprise nanoparticles of a first electroactive material and nanoparticles of a second electroactive materials, and processes of preparation thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for preparing a thin ceramic and/or metallic solid-state composition consisting of three phases: a material (A), a material (B) and pores. The concentration of each phase varies continuously from one face of the article to the other in a continuous and controlled gradient. The porous matrix of material (A) has a porosity gradient of 0% to about 80%, the pores being completely or partly filled with material (B). The concentration of material (B) in the article therefore varies from 80% to 0% of small thicknesses.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery includes preparing a coating-element-containing organic suspension by adding a coating-element source to an organic solvent, adding water to the suspension to prepare a coating liquid, coating a positive active material with the coating liquid, and drying the coated positive active material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, including a lithiated intercalation compound and an additive compound. The additive compound comprises one or more intercalation element-included oxides which have a charging voltage of 4.0 to 4.6V when 5-50% of total intercalation elements of the one or more intercalation element-included oxides are released during charging.

Abstract: A positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery is provided. The positive active material comprises a lithiated intercalation compound and a coating layer formed on the lithiated intercalation compound. The coating layer comprises a solid-solution compound and an oxide compound having at least two coating elements, the oxide compound represented by the following Formula 1: MpM?qOr??(1) wherein M and M? are not the same and are each independently at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Al, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ni, Co, Ti, Sn, Mn, Cr, Fe, and V; 0<p<1; 0<q<1; and 1<r?2, where r is determined based upon p and q. The solid-solution compound is prepared by reacting the lithiated intercalation compound with the oxide compound. The coating layer has a fracture toughness of at least 3.5 MPam1/2. A method of making the positive active material is also provided.

Abstract: A cathode composition for lithium ion and lithium metal batteries includes a transitional metal oxide and an adsorbate layer disposed on a surface of the transitional metal oxide. The transitional metal oxide and the adsorbate layer are both electrochemically active. A method of forming cathode materials for lithium ion and lithium metal batteries includes the steps of providing reagents including at least one elemental chalcogenide or chalcogenic oxide and a transitional metal oxide. The reagents are heated, wherein a cathode composition is formed having a chalcogenic complex adsorbed to a bulk material, the bulk material being a modification of the transitional metal oxide. The transitional metal oxide is preferably a vanadium oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new vanadium oxide hydrate composition suitable for use as electrode-active material in primary and secondary lithium and lithium ion batteries and a process for its preparation.

Abstract: A process for the production of a vanadium compound from carbonaceous residues containing vanadium, which includes the steps of: (a) combusting the carbonaceous residues at a temperature of 500-690° C. in an oxygen-containing gas to form vanadium-containing combustion residues; (b) heating the vanadium-containing combustion residues at a temperature T in ° C. under an oxygen partial pressure of at most T in kPa wherein T and P meet with the following conditions: log10(P)=−3.45×10−3×T+2.21 500≦T≦1300 to obtain a solid product containing less than 5% by weight of carbon and vanadium at least 80% of which is tetravalent vanadium oxide; (c) selectively leach tetravalent vanadium ion with sulfuring acid at pH in the range of 1.5-4; (d) separating a liquid phase from the leached mixture; (e) adding an alkaline substance to the liquid phase to adjust the pH thereof in the range of 4.5-7.

Abstract: The performance of electrochemical energy devices such as batteries, fuel cells, capacitors and sensors is enhanced by the use of electrically conducting ceramic materials in the form of fibers, powder, chips and substrates.

Abstract: A method of doping vanadium pentoxide with silver comprising the steps of: providing vanadium pentoxide gel providing stable colloidal silver and combining the vanadium pentoxide gel and the colloidal silver at room temperature for a period sufficient for vanadium (+5) to be electrochemically reduced to vanadium (+4) and for silver to be oxidized (+1).

Abstract: A microbolometer film material VOx having a value such that the thermal coefficient of resistance is between 0.005 and 0.05. The film material may be formed on a wafer. The VOx material properties can be changed or modified by controlling certain parameters in the ion beat sputter deposition environment. There is sufficient control of the oxidation process to permit non-stoichometric formation of VOx films. The process is a low temperature process (less than 100 degrees C.). Argon is used for sputtering a target of vanadium in an environment wherein the oxygen level is controlled to determine the x of VOx. The thickness of the film is controlled by the time of the deposition. Other layers may be deposited as needed to form pixels for a bolometer array.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing electrochromic cells. Layers of various inks are printed on substrates by high speed printing means. The electrochromic cells comprise layers of electrode, electrolyte, and counter electrode ink materials which are printed on at least one substrate. When an electrical voltage differential is introduced between the electrode and counter electrode layers, an electrochemical reaction occurs in the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A process for preparing a solid composite electrolyte comprising at least one compound of the BIMEVOX family is provided. The process comprises at least one step of preparing a mixture of one or more compounds of the BIMEVOX family with one or more chemically inert compounds, at least one step of compacting the mixture obtained, and at least one sintering step during which the temperature reached, over a nonzero time interval, has a value greater than the optimum sintering temperature for the compound of the BIMEVOX family.