Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making an electrode for an electrochemical reactor including the steps of providing a template and depositing electrode material such that the electrode material is in contact with the template. This template is provided in a form that produces channels in the electrode material. There is also disclosed an electrode for an electrochemical reactor which includes electrode material and a template, with the template occupying channels in the electrode material.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of treating a component of a fuel cell, which includes the step of exposing the component of the fuel cell to a source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The component comprises a first material. The EMR has a wavelength ranging from 10 to 1500 nm and the EMR has a minimum energy density of 0.1 Joule/cm2. Preferably, the treatment process has one or more of the following effects: heating, drying, curing, sintering, annealing, sealing, alloying, evaporating, restructuring, foaming. In an embodiment, the substrate is a component in a fuel cell. Such component comprises an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, a catalyst, a barrier layer, a interconnect, a reformer, or reformer catalyst. In an embodiment, the substrate is a layer in a fuel cell or a portion of a layer in a fuel cell or a combination of layers in a fuel cell or a combination of partial layers in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a seal composed of a nickel-based superalloy; a component in contact with the seal and defining a seal-counterface; and a coating on the seal at the seal-counterface, wherein the coating is a ternary oxide.

Abstract: Certain embodiments involve processes or systems for creating various high-temperature superconductive structures or materials. For example, a method can involve depositing a first layer of boron and a second layer of un-doped amorphous carbon on a substrate. The un-doped amorphous carbon is ferromagnetic. The first layer of boron and the second layer of un-doped amorphous carbon are melted by a laser pulse to form a melted boron-doped amorphous carbon. The melted boron-doped amorphous carbon is quenched to create a quenched boron-doped amorphous carbon that is diamagnetic and superconducting. The quenched melted boron-doped amorphous carbon includes a mixture of sp3 bonded carbon atoms and sp2 bonded carbon atoms and a superconducting transition temperature of the quenched boron-doped amorphous carbon is much higher than diamond and increases based on a boron concentration. Undoped Q-carbon is ferromagnetic with Curie temperature above 500K.

Abstract: A layered structure for semiconductor application is described herein. The layered structure includes III-V semiconductor and uses pnictide nanocomposites to control lattice distortion in a series of layers. The distortion is tuned to bridge lattice mismatch between binary III-V semiconductors. In some embodiments, the layered structure further includes dislocation filters.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery, includes a current collector including pores on a surface thereof; and a positive active material layer on the current collector and including a positive active material, the positive active material including a lithium metal compound including primary particles and secondary particles including agglomerations of the primary particles, an average diameter of the pores of the current collector being greater than an average particle diameter (D50) of the primary particles and less than an average particle diameter (D50) of the secondary particles.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery, includes a current collector including pores on a surface thereof; and a positive active material layer on the current collector and including a positive active material, the positive active material including a lithium metal compound including primary particles and secondary particles including agglomerations of the primary particles, an average diameter of the pores of the current collector being greater than an average particle diameter (D50) of the primary particles and less than an average particle diameter (D50) of the secondary particles.

Abstract: A ceramic material has a composition represented by Cax?NaxMny?MyO12, wherein M denotes at least one of Ni and Cu, and x?, x, y?, and y satisfy any of (a), (b), and (c) in which x?+x=X and y?+y=Y: 0.9 7.0 ? X Y < 1.0 7.0 ; ( a ) at a condition of X Y = 1.0 7.0 , 0.03 8 ? x X + Y < 0.30 8 ? ? and ? ? 0 ? y X + Y ? 0.35 8 ; and ( b ) 1.0 7.0 < X Y ? 1.0 6.9 .

Abstract: Provided is a composite cathode active material including layered lithium manganese oxide and lithium-containing metal oxide. Also, the present invention provides a secondary battery, a battery module, and a battery pack which have improved power characteristics by including the composite cathode active material.

Abstract: Methods of forming transition metal dichalcogenide aerogels are provided. Some methods include adding at least one solvent to one or more two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide sheets to form a transition metal dichalcogenide solution and freeze drying the transition metal dichalcogenide solution to form frozen transition metal dichalcogenide. The methods also include heating the frozen transition metal dichalcogenide to form a transition metal dichalcogenide aerogel.

Abstract: Perovskite materials of the general formula SrCeO3 and BaCeO3 are provided having improved conductivity while maintaining an original ratio of chemical constituents, by altering the microstructure of the material. A process of making Pervoskite materials is also provided in which wet chemical techniques are used to fabricate nanocrystalline ceramic materials which have improved grain size and allow lower temperature densification than is obtainable with conventional solid-state reaction processing.

Abstract: A solid state sintered material is described that includes a mixed oxide of lanthanum, strontium, cobalt, iron and oxygen, and CaCO3 inclusions. The solid state sintered material can also include calcium oxide, which can form from thermal composition of calcium carbonate. The solid state sintered material can also include a pore-forming particulate material such as carbon black and/or a doped ceramic metal oxide ionic conductor such as Sm-doped ceria uniformly dispersed in the solid state sintered material. The solid state sintered material can be formed from a two-step process in which a portion of the CaCO3 is mixed with the mixed oxide materials and heated to form porous agglomerates, and the remaining CaCO3 is added during the formation of a sintering paste. The solid state sintered material described herein can be used as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: Known processes for the production of nanoparticles of compounds of the transition metals Zr, Ti, Ta, rare earths (RE), Mn, and Fe via microemulsions lead to products that contain impurities from the reactants, particularly water, which make the further use of said nanoparticles difficult, for instance in high-temperature super conductors (HTSC). It is proposed that the nanoparticles be produced via anhydrous microemulsions having an outer phase composed of a nonpolar solvent and inner phase composed of a polar anhydrous solvent. The nanoparticles thus obtained exhibit good monodispersity and can be used in the production of REBa2Cu3O7 super conductors by incorporation into the precursor coating solution.

Abstract: A composition comprising a Type 1 clathrate of silicon having a Si46 framework cage structure wherein the silicon atoms on said framework are at least partially substituted by carbon atoms, said composition represented by the formula CySi46-y with 1?y?45. The composition of may include one or more guest atoms A within the cage structure represented by the formula AxCySi46-y wherein A=H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca. Sr, Ba, Ra, Eu, Cl, Br, or I or any metal or metalloid element and x is the number of said guest atoms within said cage structure.

Abstract: Compositions related to skutterudite-based thermoelectric materials are disclosed. Such compositions can result in materials that have enhanced ZT values relative to one or more bulk materials from which the compositions are derived. Thermoelectric materials such as n-type and p-type skutterudites with high thermoelectric figures-of-merit can include materials with filler atoms and/or materials formed by compacting particles (e.g., nanoparticles) into a material with a plurality of grains each having a portion having a skutterudite-based structure. Methods of forming thermoelectric skutterudites, which can include the use of hot press processes to consolidate particles, are also disclosed. The particles to be consolidated can be derived from (e.g., grinded from), skutterudite-based bulk materials, elemental materials, other non-Skutterudite-based materials, or combinations of such materials.

Abstract: A positive active material includes first and second lithium nickel complex oxides. A positive electrode and lithium battery include the positive active material. The positive active material, and the lithium battery including the positive active material have increased filling density, are thermally stable, and have improved capacity.

Abstract: A high-fidelity dopant paste is disclosed. The high-fidelity dopant paste includes a solvent, a set of non-glass matrix particles dispersed into the solvent, and a dopant.

Abstract: Provided is a composite cathode active material including layered lithium manganese oxide and lithium-containing metal oxide. Also, the present invention provides a secondary battery, a battery module, and a battery pack which have improved power characteristics by including the composite cathode active material.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, metal nanoparticle dispersion includes organic solvent, and metal-containing particles dispersed in the organic solvent. The metal-containing particles include first metal nanoparticles and second metal nanoparticles. Each of the first metal nanoparticles has a high-molecular compound on at least part of a surface thereof. Each of the second metal nanoparticles has a low-molecular compound on at least part of a surface thereof. A total amount of the low-molecular compound on all of the second nanoparticles includes an amount of a primary amine as the low-molecular compound.

Abstract: Starting from, as the initial composite, an LAS component in accordance with the composition LixAlySizOw, where x varies between 0.8 and 1.2, y varies between 0.8 and 1.2, z varies between 0.8 and 2, and w varies between 4 and 6, the LAS component is subsequently mixed with SiC nanoparticles, to obtain a stable, homogeneous suspension. Thereafter, the resulting suspension is dried. Subsequently, the material obtained is shaped and, finally, the material obtained in the preceding step is sintered.

Abstract: A fused film and methods for making the fused film to be employed in a light emitting device are provided. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for forming a film from fused all-inorganic colloidal nanostructures, where the all-inorganic colloidal nanostructures may include inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles and functional inorganic ligands that may be fused to form an electrical network that is electroluminescent. In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a light-emitting device including the fused film that minimizes current leakage in the device and provides increased stability, longevity, and luminescent efficiency to the device.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and conductive particles, an electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and oxide semiconductor particles and optionally containing conductive particles, and an electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and insulating particles are provided. Furthermore, a photoelectric conversion element comprising: a working electrode, the working electrode comprising an electrode substrate and an oxide semiconductor porous film formed on the electrode substrate and sensitized with a dye; a counter electrode disposed opposing the working electrode; and an electrolyte layer made of these electrolyte compositions is provided.

Abstract: A conductive sintered oxide which includes: a conductive crystal phase having a perovskite structure represented by (RE1-cSrc)MdO3, in which RE is a group of elements consisting of Yb and/or Lu and at least one element selected from Group IIIA elements excluding Yb, Lu and La, and M is a group of elements consisting of Al and at least one element selected from Groups IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA and VIII, a first insulating crystal phase represented by RE2O3, and a second insulating crystal phase represented by SrAl2O4. The conductive crystal phase has a coefficient c satisfying 0.18<c<0.50 and has a coefficient d satisfying 0.67?d?0.93. A content of a third insulating crystal phase represented by RE4Al2O9, the content of which may be zero, is smaller than the content of each of the first and second insulating crystal phases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of production of barium-scandate dispenser cathodes or other barium-scan-date materials. A target (66) containing a mixture of BaO, CaO, Al2O3 and SC2O3 tends to be more stable, the higher the scandia (scandium oxide) content is. However, an increased scandia content results in a reduced emission capability. A destabilizing effect of BaO and CaO reactions is counteracted by the more inert SC2O3 and also AI2O3 components, as not only an increased scandia content stabilizes the material but also an increased alumina (aluminum oxide) content improves the stability.

Abstract: A solid state sintered material is described that includes a mixed oxide of lanthanum, strontium, cobalt, iron and oxygen, and CaCO3 inclusions. The solid state sintered material can also include calcium oxide, which can form from thermal composition of calcium carbonate. The solid state sintered material can also include a pore-forming particulate material such as carbon black and/or a doped ceramic metal oxide ionic conductor such as Sm-doped ceria uniformly dispersed in the solid state sintered material. The solid state sintered material can be formed from a two-step process in which a portion of the CaCO3 is mixed with the mixed oxide materials and heated to form porous agglomerates, and the remaining CaCO3 is added during the formation of a sintering paste. The solid state sintered material described herein can be used as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a composite material are provided. In one embodiment of the present invention a nanometer-scale composite material comprises, by volume, from about 1% to about 99% variable-conductivity material and from about 99% to about 1% conductive material. The composite material exhibits memristive properties when a voltage differential is applied to the nanocomposite. In another embodiment, a variable resistor device includes a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal and a nanocomposite in electrical communication with the electrode terminals. The composite material comprises, by volume, from about 1% to about 99% variable-conductivity material and from about 99% to about 1% conductive material. The memristor is tunable as the minimum instantaneous resistance can be altered several orders of magnitude by varying the composition and ratio of the variable-conductivity material and conductive material constituents of the composites.

Abstract: The approaches for fabricating cathodes can be adapted to improve control over cathode composition and to better accommodate batteries of any shape and their assembly. For example, a first solid having an alkali metal halide, a second solid having a transition metal, and a third solid having an alkali metal aluminum halide are combined into a mixture. The mixture can be heated in a vacuum to a temperature that is greater than or equal to the melting point of the third solid. When the third solid is substantially molten liquid, the mixture is compressed into a desired cathode shape and then cooled to solidify the mixture in the desired cathode shape.

Abstract: A wavelength converting substance is made of semiconductor material. The wavelength converting substance is suitable for absorbing an exciting light with the wavelength range falling between 300 nanometers and 490 nanometers and converting the exciting light to an emitted light with wavelength range falling between 450 nanometers and 750 nanometers.

Abstract: Aspects relate to patterned nanostructures having a feature size not including film thickness of below 5 microns. The patterned nanostructures are made up of nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than 100 nm. A nanoparticle composition, which, in some cases, includes a binder material, is applied to a substrate. A patterned mold used in concert with electromagnetic radiation function to manipulate the nanoparticle composition in forming the patterned nanostructure. In some embodiments, the patterned mold nanoimprints a suitable pattern on to the nanoparticle composition and the composition is cured through UV or thermal energy. Three-dimensional patterned nanostructures may be formed. A number of patterned nanostructure layers may be prepared and suitably joined together. In some cases, a patterned nanostructure may be formed as a layer that is releasable from the substrate upon which it is initially formed.

Abstract: A lanthanum boride sintered body 10 includes a phase 16 including lanthanum and silicon at grain boundaries 14 between crystal grains 12 of lanthanum boride. In this lanthanum boride sintered body 10, the phase 16 exists in various configurations such as a phase 16a present at a triple point of grain boundary 14, and a phase 16b present along the grain boundary 14. This phase 16 is based on a lanthanum silicide (represented by the composition formula LaSix (0<x?2)). The lanthanum boride sintered body 10 is fabricated through a sintering step of sintering a lanthanum boride green compact by press-free sintering in an inert atmosphere or under vacuum in the presence of a silicon-containing material around and/or within the green compact. The lanthanum boride sintered body 10 having this structure exhibits a relative density of not less than 92%, and more preferably not less than 94%.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an oxide superconductor, including preparing a coating solution containing alcohols including methanol as a solvent, the coating solution dissolving fluorocarboxylic acid salts including trifluoroacetates, the trifluoroacetates including a metal, barium and copper, the metal being selected from yttrium and lanthanoid metals (provided that cerium, praseodymium, promethium, and ruthenium are excluded); adding a substance of formula: CF2H—(CF2)n—COOH or HOCO—(CF2)m—COOH (wherein n and m represent positive integers) as a crack preventing chemical to the coating solution; forming a gel film on a substrate using the coating solution having the crack preventing chemical added thereto; forming a calcined film by calcining the gel film at an oxygen partial pressure of 3% or less in a process that is maintained at 200° C. or higher for a total time of 7 hours or less; and forming an oxide superconductor film by firing and oxygen anneal of the calcined film.

Abstract: An oxide sintered body includes indium oxide and gallium solid-solved therein, the oxide sintered body having an atomic ratio “Ga/(Ga+In)” of 0.001 to 0.12, containing indium and gallium in an amount of 80 atom % or more based on total metal atoms, and having an In2O3 bixbyite structure.

Abstract: A sintered electroconductive oxide forming a thermistor element has a first crystal phase having a composition represented by RE14Al2O9 and a second crystal phase having a perovskite structure represented by (RE21-aSLa)MO3. The factor a of the second crystal phase is: 0.18<a<0.50, wherein RE1 represents at least one of Yb and Lu and at least one species selected from among group 3A elements excluding Yb, Lu, and La; RE2 represents at least one species selected from among group 3A elements excluding La and which contains at least one species selected from the group RE1; M represents Al and at least one species selected from group 4A to 7A, and 8 elements; and SL represents Sr, Ca, and Mg, with at least Sr being included at a predominant proportion by mole.

Abstract: A conductive sintered oxide including: a first crystal phase represented by RE14Al2O9 and a second crystal phase having a perovskite structure represented by (RE21-cSLc)(AlxM1y)O3. RE1 is a first element group consisting of Yb and/or Lu and at least one element selected from Group IIIA elements excluding Yb, Lu and La. RE2 is a second element group consisting of at least one element selected from Group IIIA elements excluding La and including at least one of the elements constituting the first element group RE1. SL is an element group consisting of at least one of Sr, Ca and Mg and which includes Sr as a main element, and M1 is an element group consisting of at least one element selected from Groups IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA and VIII excluding Cr. The coefficient c is in the range of 0.18<c<0.50, and the coefficients x and y are in the range of 0.95?x+y?1.1.

Abstract: A method for producing particles containing a metal oxide is provided, and the method includes: feeding a metal oxide sol having a pH of 7 or higher and containing metal oxide colloidal particles as dispersoids and water as a dispersion medium, into a liquid containing a solvent having a solubility in 20° C. water of 0.05 g/100 ml or more and having a relative permittivity of 30 or lower (protic solvent) or of 40 or lower (aprotic solvent) at 20° C., and thereby forming aggregates of the metal oxide colloidal particles in the liquid; and subjecting the aggregates to a treatment such as drying and heating, and thereby converting the aggregates into particles that are insoluble in water. By appropriately selecting the solvent, particles can be obtained in the form of flakes, fibers, spheres, and the like.

Abstract: A voltage nonlinear resistor is made of a sintered body that mainly includes zinc oxide grains, spinel grains including zinc and antimony as main ingredients, and a bismuth oxide phase, in which the bismuth oxide phase includes at least one of alkali metals selected from the group of potassium and sodium at a ratio in the range of 0.036 at % or higher and 0.176 at % or lower. The voltage nonlinear resistor has good voltage nonlinearity and loading service life characteristics, and can be used for a lightning arrester.

Abstract: A functional layer material for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) including a ceria ceramic oxide and a metal oxide including a metal, except for zirconium, having a Vegard's slope X represented by Equation 1 and having an absolute value |X| of the Vegard's slope X, wherein 27×105?|X|?45×105: X=(0.0220ri+0.00015zi) ??(1), wherein ri is an ionic radius difference between the metal and Ce4+, and zi is a charge difference between the metal and Ce4+.

Abstract: There is provided a mixture having a freezing point of up to 50° C., formed by reaction between: (A) one molar equivalent of a salt of formula I (Mn+)(X?)n I or a hydrate thereof; and (B) from one to eight molar equivalents of a complexing agent comprising one or more uncharged organic compounds, each of which compounds has (i) a hydrogen atom that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the anion X?; and (ii) a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O, S, N and P that is capable of forming a coordinative bond with the metal ion Mn+, which reaction is performed in the absence of extraneous solvent, wherein M, X? mind a have meaning given in the description.

Abstract: An alkaline, rechargeable electrochemical cell includes a pasted electrode structure in which a composition comprising a paste matrix component includes cobalt in an amount greater than 6 weight percent ranging up to 14 weight percent. The matrix may also include a rare earth such as yttrium. The composition further includes particles of nickel hydroxide dispersed in the matrix, and these particles include cobalt levels ranging from greater than 8 atomic percent up to 15 atomic percent. Cells incorporating these materials have good charging efficiency at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A cermet anode structure obtainable by a process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a slurry by dispersing a powder of an electronically conductive phase and by adding a binder to the dispersion, in which said electronically conductive phase comprises a FeCrMx alloy, wherein Mx is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Ti, Nb, Ce, Mn, Mo, W, Co, La, Y, Al, and mixtures thereof, (b) forming a metallic support of said slurry of the electronically conductive phase, (c) providing a precursor solution of ceria, said solution containing a solvent and a surfactant, (d) impregnating the structure of step (b) with the precursor solution of step (c), (e) subjecting the resulting structure of step (d) to calcination, and (f) conducting steps (d)-(e) at least once.

Abstract: A method of growing single crystal III-N material on a semiconductor substrate includes providing a substrate including one of crystalline silicon or germanium and a layer of rare earth oxide. A layer of single crystal III-N material is epitaxially grown on the substrate using a process that elevates the temperature of the layer of rare earth oxide into a range of approximately 750° C. to approximately 1250° C. in the presence of an N or a III containing species, whereby a portion of the layer of rare earth oxide is transformed to a new alloy.

Abstract: A ceramic boron-containing dopant paste is disclosed. The ceramic boron-containing dopant paste further comprising a set of solvents, a set of ceramic particles dispersed in the set of solvents, a set of boron compound particles dispersed in the set of solvents, a set of binder molecules dissolved in the set of solvents. Wherein, the ceramic boron-containing dopant paste has a shear thinning power law index n between about 0.01 and about 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a precursor composition for forming a conductive oxide film having high conductivity and a stable amorphous structure maintained even after heated at high temperature by a simple liquid phase process. The precursor composition of the present invention contains at least one selected from the group consisting of carboxylates, nitrates and sulfates of lanthanoids (but, except for cerium); at least one selected from the group consisting of carboxylates, nitrosyl carboxylates, nitrosyl nitrates and nitrosyl sulfates of ruthenium, iridium or rhodium; and a solvent containing at least one selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, alcohols and ketones.

Abstract: Impregnated rare earth metal-containing barium-aluminum-scandate cathodes with a rare earth oxide doped tungsten matrix and methods for the fabrication thereof are described. In one aspect, an impregnated rare earth metal-containing barium-aluminum-scandate cathode comprises: a rare earth oxide doped tungsten matrix, and an impregnated active substance. The active substance comprises scandium oxide (Sc2O3), a second rare earth oxide, and barium calcium aluminate, wherein the molar ratio of Ba:Ca:Al is about 4:1:1.

Abstract: The present invention refers to obtaining a solution of metal-organic precursors with a maximum fluorine content of 10% using the solution previously described in patent ES2259919 B1 as the starting point. This modification enables carrying out the thermal treatment of superconducting decomposition layers (pyrolysis) and crystal growth in a single stage. In addition, the low fluorine content reduces the risks of toxicity and corrosion.

Abstract: The described invention provides compositions related to an electronically insulating amorphous or nanocrystalline mixed ionic conductor composition comprising a metal fluoride composite to which an electrical potential is applied to form 1) a negative electrode, and 2) a positive electrode, wherein the negative electrode and positive electrode are formed in situ.

Abstract: Disclosed are an indium Tin Oxide (ITO) target, a method for manufacturing the same, a transparent conductive film of ITO, and a method for manufacturing the transparent conductive film of ITO. The ITO target includes at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Sm2O3 and Yb2O3, wherein an amount of the oxide is about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based on the weight of the target.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of making a fluorinated precursor of a superconducting ceramic. The method comprises providing a solution comprising a rare earth salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and a copper salt; spraying the solution onto a substrate to provide a film-covered substrate; and heating the film-covered substrate in an atmosphere containing fluorinated gas to provide the fluorinated precursor.

Abstract: A novel multiband absorption based solar cell is disclosed by using the europium chalcogenides (EuX, X?O, S, Se, Te) and related magnetic semiconductor materials, in which an intermediate band is formed by the localized Eu 4f electrons between p-states of chalcogen ions and Eu s-d states. The energy gaps among the multibands can be in the spectral range of the sunlight, thus they can serve as better sunlight absorbers in solar cells than the conventional single band-gap semiconductors such as Si and GaAs. With these multiband semiconductors, the bottleneck in current power conversion efficiency can be potentially overcome in single junction photovoltaics.

Abstract: Buffer compositions comprising semiconductive oxide particles and at least one of (a) a fluorinated acid polymer and (b) a semiconductive polymer doped with a fluorinated acid polymer are provided. Semiconductive oxide particles include metal oxides and bimetallic oxides. Acid polymers are derived from monomers or comonomers of polyolefins, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyimides, polyamides, polyaramides, polyacrylamides, polystrenes. The polymer backbone, side chains, pendant groups or combinations thereof may be fluorinated or highly fluorinated. Semiconductive polymers include polymers or copolymers derived from thiophenes, pyrroles, anilines, and polycyclic heteroaromatics. Methods for preparing buffer compositions are also provided.