Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a battery electrode. This method comprises the steps of applying a binder solution 50 that contains a binder 54 and is adjusted so that the contact angle of the binder solution 50 with the surface of a current collector 10 is 73° or less, to form a binder solution layer 56; applying a mixed material paste 40 containing an active material 22 on top of the binder solution layer 56, to deposit both the binder solution layer 56 and a mixed material paste layer 46 on the current collector 10; and obtaining an electrode 30 in which a mixed material layer 20 is formed on the current collector 10, by drying the deposited binder solution layer 56 and mixed material paste layer 46 together.

Abstract: A thermal and electrical conducting apparatus includes a few-layer graphene film having a thickness D where D?1.5 nm and a plurality of carbon nanotubes crystallographically aligned with the few-layer graphene film.

Abstract: Compositions, and methods of obtaining them, useful for lithium ion batteries comprising discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes having attached to their surface lithium ion active materials in the form of nanometer sized crystals or layers. The composition can further comprise graphene or oxygenated graphene.

Abstract: A secondary battery capable of being charged after discharging is provided. The battery includes a positive electrode, made from a sheet of carbon nanotubes infiltrated with mixed metal oxides, and a negative electrode made from a sheet of carbon nanotubes with silicon or germanium particles.

Abstract: Provided are a negative active material, a method of preparing the same, and a lithium battery including the negative active material. The negative active material includes a carbonaceous core that has a sulfur content of about 10 ppm to 900 ppm; and an amorphous carbon layer continuously formed on a surface of the carbonaceous core, wherein the carbonaceous core has a crystalloid plate structure, and a crystallite size measured from a full width at half maximum of the peak with respect to the surface (002) of about 10 nm to about 45 nm in an X-ray diffraction spectrum of the carbonaceous core. The lithium battery including a negative electrode including the negative active material has improved capacity characteristics and ring lifetime characteristics.

Abstract: A process for producing nanocomposite materials for use in batteries includes electroactive materials are incorporated within a nanosheet host material. The process may include treatment at high temperatures and doping to obtain desirable properties.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to stretchable conductive nanofibers including at least one stretchable nanofiber and a conductive layer on a structure of the stretchable nanofiber. The conductive layer may include carbon nanotubes and metal nanoparticles on the surface of the stretchable nanofiber. The carbon nanotubes and metal nanoparticles may form a percolation network. The stretchable nanofiber includes stretchable polymers.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a carbon structure including exposing a carbon fiber substrate to oxygen at a first predetermined temperature and activating the carbon fiber substrate by exposure to oxygen at a second predetermined temperature. A catalyst including palladium is deposited on the activated carbon fiber substrate. The deposited catalyst on the carbon fiber structure is exposed to a hydrocarbon at a third predetermined temperature to grow carbon structures thereon. The carbon structures grown can be multimodal in nature with structures that are nano-scale and/or submicron-scale.

Abstract: A method for producing carbon paper, including: 1) employing a polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber as a reinforcing material, a phenolic resin or epoxy resin as a bonding agent, and molding and preparing the carbon fiber into a carbon fiber blank by a dry paper-making method; and 2) stacking and putting a product obtained in step 1) into a reaction furnace for deposition process, the pressure in the reaction furnace being 1 kPa to 1 atmosphere, with methane, propene, or liquefied petroleum gas as a carbon source gas, nitrogen or argon gas as a diluent gas, the concentration of the carbon source gas being 5-100%, the gas flow rate being 0.1-5 L/min, and the temperature in the reaction furnace being controlled at between 800° C. and 1100° C., and the time of deposition process being 1-5 h.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for vertically aligning a carbon nanotube array, which can improve vertical alignment at the bottom of the carbon nanotube array during growth of carbon nanotubes on a substrate. For this purpose, the present invention provides a method of vertically aligning a carbon nanotube array, the including: allowing carbon nanotubes to be grown on a substrate fed to a reactor and synthesized into a carbon nanotube array; and reducing the internal pressure of the reactor after (e.g., immediately after) synthesis of the carbon nanotube array to remove (e.g., instantly remove) a carbon source gas remaining in the reactor, thereby improving vertical alignment at the bottom of the carbon nanotube array.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode having immobilized ?-conjugated ligands is provided. The method includes bringing an aqueous solution into contact with an electrically conductive base material, the aqueous solution including ?-conjugated ligands and at least one of (i) a surfactant, and (ii) a water-soluble molecule having a structure different from that of the ?-conjugated ligands, the water-soluble molecule having a ?-conjugated structure, and immobilizing the ?-conjugated ligands on the base material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the surface energy and/or surface chemistry of carbon fibers involves exposing the fibers to direct or indirect contact with atmospheric pressure plasma generated using a background gas containing at least some oxygen or other reactive species. The fiber may be exposed directly to the plasma, provided that the plasma is nonfilamentary, or the fiber may be exposed indirectly through contact with gases exhausting from a plasma discharge maintained in a separate volume. In either case, the process is carried out at or near atmospheric pressure, thereby eliminating the need for vacuum equipment. The process may be further modified by moistening the fibers with selected oxygen-containing liquids before exposure to the plasma.

Abstract: Before the application of a liquid application agent to a base material having at least an outer surface of uneven shape, a low-viscosity liquid having a lower viscosity than that of the application agent is applied to a region of the base material, the application agent being supposed to be applied to the region. The low-viscosity liquid is preferably a liquid having compatibility with the application agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel cellulose electrode having high performance, which is capable of substituting for carbon paper used as a conventional fuel cell electrode. A method of manufacturing the cellulose electrode includes cutting cellulose fibers to a predetermined length and binding the fibers, or directly weaving the fibers, thus producing a cellulose sheet, directly growing carbon nanotubes on the cellulose sheet, and supporting a platinum nano-catalyst on the surface of the carbon nanotubes using chemical vapor deposition. An electrode including the cellulose fibers and use of cellulose fibers as fuel cell electrodes are also provided. As a novel functional material for fuel cell electrodes, porous cellulose fibers having micropores are used, thereby reducing electrode manufacturing costs and improving electrode performance.

Abstract: A nanostructured sheet that can include a substantially planar body, a plurality of nanotubes defining a matrix within the body, and a protonation agent that can be dispersed throughout the matrix of nanotubes for enhancing proximity of adjacent nanotubes to one another. A method of making such a nanostructured sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to preventing electrolyte wicking by bipolar plates in a fuel cell system. In one example, a fuel cell system includes a first membrane-electrode assembly and a second membrane-electrode assembly. The fuel cell system further includes a bipolar plate disposed between the first membrane-electrode assembly and the second membrane-electrode assembly, the bipolar plate comprising a graphite layer and a surface energy adjustment layer.

Abstract: Provided is a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the negative electrode being unlikely to cause changes in thickness even when subjected repeated charge/discharge over a long period of time. The negative electrode includes a core material, and a negative electrode material mixture layer adhering to the core material. The negative electrode material mixture layer includes a particulate carbon material. The particulate carbon material has a breaking strength of 100 MPa or more. The particulate carbon material has a surface roughness Ra of 0.2 to 0.8 ?m. The negative electrode material mixture layer has a packing density of 1.4 to 1.6 g/cm3. In a diffraction pattern of the negative electrode material mixture layer measured by wide-angle X-ray diffractometry, the ratio of I(101) to I(100) satisfies 1.0<I(101)/I(100)<3.0, and the ratio of I(110) to I(004) satisfies 0.25?I(110)/I(004)?0.45.

Abstract: Aromatic and aromatic/heteroaromatic molecular structures with controllable electron conducting properties are derived from the incorporation of electron active substituents in selective positions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high surface area per unit weight carbon electrode includes providing a substrate, depositing a carbon-rich material on the substrate to form a film, and after the depositing, activating the carbon-rich material to increase the surface area of the film of carbon-rich material. Due to the activation process being after deposition, this method enables use of low cost carbon-rich material to form a carbon electrode in the capacitor. The electrode may be used in capacitors, ultracapacitors and lithium ion batteries. The substrate may be part of the electrode, or it may be sacrificial—being consumed during the activation process. The carbon-rich material may include any of carbonized material, carbon aerogel and metal oxides, such as manganese and ruthenium oxide. The activation may include exposing the carbon-rich material to carbon dioxide at elevated temperature, in the range of 300 to 900 degrees centigrade.

Abstract: The present invention provides a porous electrode substrate that has high sheet strength, low production cost, and sufficient gas permeability and electrical conductivity, and a method for producing the same. In the present invention, the porous electrode substrate is produced by producing a precursor sheet including short carbon fibers (A), and one or more types of short precursor fibers (b) that undergo oxidation and/or one or more types of fibrillar precursor fibers (b?) that undergo oxidation, all of which are dispersed in a two-dimensional plane, subjecting the precursor sheet to entanglement treatment to form a three-dimensional entangled structure, then impregnating the precursor sheet with carbon powder and fluorine-based resin, and further heat treating the precursor sheet at a temperature of 150° C. or higher and lower than 400° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides electrodes comprised of metal-coated vertically aligned carbon nanofibers. Arrays of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers provide highly accessible, high density templates having large electrochemically active surface areas that may be modified to further increase the surface area of the nanofibers. The methods of the present invention involve functionalizing the surface of the nanofibers and coating the functionalized surface with metal using electroless deposition. The resulting metal-coated nanofibers form highly stable and highly reproducible electrodes having very high surface areas. The electrodes of the present invention are expected to be useful in a variety of applications, including high-density energy storage, i.e., supercapacitors and fuel cells.

Abstract: A wire capable of conducting electrical current has a polymer core and a coating layer surrounding the core. The coating layer, which may be, for example, gold or copper, conducts electrical current and the core provides strength so that the wire is able to withstand bending and breakage. Among other things, the polymer core wire is useful for connecting an integrated circuit to a lead frame or substrate.

Abstract: Electrically conductive polymer materials, such as mixtures of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) are combined with functionalized carbon nanotubes to form composites that exhibit increased electrical conductivity. Functionalized or non-functionalized carbon nanotubes combined with the same electrically conductive polymer materials are combined with non-conductive polymers to increase the electrical conductivity of the non-conductive polymer. The functionalized carbon nanotubes are functionalized with carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups. The resulting materials are useful in methods of forming electrically conductive films and electrically conductive features.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of nanocomposites is provided. The method comprises the steps of mixing carbon nanotubes with a urea solution to form urea/carbon nanotube composites (first step), mixing the urea/carbon nanotube composites with a solution of a metal oxide or hydroxide precursor to prepare a precursor solution (second step), and hydrolyzing the urea in the precursor solution to form a metal oxide or hydroxide coating on the carbon nanotubes (third step). Further provided are nanocomposites synthesized by the method. In the nanocomposites, a metal oxide or hydroxide is coated to a uniform thickness in the nanometer range on porous carbon nanotubes. Advantageously, the thickness of the coating can be easily regulated by controlling the urea content of urea/carbon nanotube composites as precursors. In addition, the nanocomposites are nanometer-sized powders and have high electrical conductivity and large specific surface area.

Abstract: Two-dimensional nanomaterials are produced in a process comprising the steps of (a) providing (a1) a mixture comprising graphene oxide particles, water and at least one cationic surfactant and/or nonionic surfactant or (a2) a mixture comprising graphene particles, at least one solvent useful for solution exfoliation of graphite and at least one cationic surfactant and/or nonionic surfactant, (b) adding at least one sol precursor compound to the mixture from step (a), (c) reacting the mixture from step (b) in a sol/gel process to form gel from the at least one sol precursor compound on the graphene oxide particles or, respectively, the graphene particles, (d) removing the at least one surfactant, and (e) optionally heating the gel-coated graphene oxide particles for at least 1 min to at least 500° C. under inert gas atmosphere to reduce the graphene oxide to graphene.

Abstract: The present invention refers to hybrid anode disk structures for use in X-ray tubes of the rotary anode type and is concerned more particularly with a novel light weight anode disk structure (RA) which comprises an adhesion promoting protective silicon carbide (SiC) interlayer (SCI) deposited onto a rotary X-ray tube's anode target (AT), wherein the latter may e.g. be made of a carbon-carbon composite substrate (SUB?). Moreover, a manufacturing method for robustly attaching a coating layer (CL) consisting of a high-Z material (e.g. a layer made of a tungsten-rhenium alloy) on the surface of said anode target is provided, whereupon according to said method it may be foreseen to apply a refractory metal overcoating layer (RML), such as given e.g. by a tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), vanadium (V) or rhenium (Re) layer, to the silicon carbide interlayer (SCI) prior to the deposition of the tungsten-rhenium alloy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to preparing particles for use as electrode material in batteries. Wet attrition milling provides the particles sized as desired. Pre-milling with a jet mill, for example, may occur prior to the wet attrition milling. Further, adding a soluble carbon-residue-forming material to a suspension before and/or after the wet attrition milling can facilitate the wet attrition milling and/or enable in-line coating via procedures causing precipitation of the carbon-residue-forming material onto the particles that are sized.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to methods of making carbonaceous material or coating from a precursor. Oxidation of hydrocarbons forming the precursor occurs upon adding an oxidation agent to a mixture of the precursor and a solvent for the precursor. The oxidation of the hydrocarbons yields constituents that are insoluble in the solvent and may not melt. The constituents that are insoluble in the solvent may further coat solid particles, if the solid particles are provided in the mixture. Carbonization of solids recovered by separation from liquids in the mixture increases carbon weight percent of the constituents that are insoluble in the solvent. The methods result in products that provide the carbonaceous material or coating and are suitable for use in electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an electrode for electrochemical reaction, wherein a conductive diamond layer is formed on an electrode substrate in the electrode; and the electrode substrate on which the conductive diamond layer is formed is kept at a temperature of 400° C. or more and 1,000° C. or less in a water vapor, thereby forming a micropore in the conductive diamond layer. Also, the present invention provides an electrode for electrochemical reaction obtained by the foregoing production process.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate and a carbon nanotube film on the substrate. The carbon nanotube film includes microscopically visible overlapping dots of carbon nanotubes. The overlapping dots being microscopically visible signifies that the carbon nanotube film was formed by depositing a solution of the carbon nanotubes on the substrate in a single pass manner.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a carbon nanotube templated battery electrode. The apparatus includes a substrate, and a plurality of catalyst areas extending upward from the substrate, the plurality of catalyst areas forming a patterned frame. The apparatus also includes a carbon nanotube forest grown on each of the plurality of catalyst areas and extending upward therefrom such that a shape of the patterned frame is maintained, and a coating attached to each carbon nanotube in the carbon nanotube forest, the coating formed of an electrochemically active material. The system includes the apparatus, and a particulate cathode material distributed evenly across the apparatus such that the particulate cathode material fills the passages, a current collector film formed on top of the particulate cathode material, and a porous spacer disposed between the apparatus and the cathode.

Abstract: Embodiments of a product such as a stimuli-responsive product can comprise a shape memory component and a nanofiber component that forms a fibrous microstructure or network. The resulting product can be responsive to stimuli, such as electrical stimuli, in a manner that cause the product to deform, deflect, and rebound. In one embodiment, the product can comprise an epoxy and a continuous non-woven nanofiber, the combination of which provides a product with enhanced actuation speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode active material comprising: a core layer capable of repeating lithium intercalation/deintercalation; an amorphous carbon layer; and a crystalline carbon layer, successively, wherein the core layer comprises at least two core particles. A secondary battery comprising the same electrode active material is also disclosed. The electrode active material can inhibit variations in volume of the core layer that may occur during repeated charge/discharge cycles, since the core layer comprising at least two core particles, each core particle having an increased area that is in contact with the carbon layer coated thereon. Therefore, the battery using the electrode active material can provide improved cycle life characteristics.

Abstract: Composite carbon electrodes for use in, for example, Capacitive Deionization (CDI) of a fluid stream or, for example, an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) are described. Methods of making the composite carbon electrodes are also described. The composite carbon electrode comprises an electrically conductive porous matrix comprising carbon; and an electric double layer capacitor, comprising an activated carbonized material, dispersed throughout the pore volume of the electrically conductive porous matrix.

Abstract: Electrically conductive fibers made of carbon nanotubes that are assembled and covered by at least one deposit that includes a biopolymer, the manufacturing of these electrodes and the use of these electrodes in bioelectrochemical systems such as, for example, enzymatic or immunological biosensors, DNA, RNA, and biobatteries.

Abstract: A carbon nanofiber can have a surface and include at least one crystalline whisker extending from the surface of the carbon nanofiber. A battery anode composition can be formed from a plurality of carbon nanofibers each including a plurality of crystalline whiskers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heatsink for an electrical or electronic device, to E&E devices comprising a heat source and a heatsink as well as to processes for producing the heatsink. The comprising a plastic body made of a thermally conductive plastic material comprising of an expanded graphite in an amount of at least 20 wt. %, relative to the total weight of the thermally conductive plastic material and/or has an in-plane thermal conductivity ?// at least 7.5 W/m·K. The heat sink can be produced from the thermally conductive plastic material by interjection molding of the thermally conductive plastic material, optionally followed by applying a coating layer. In the E&E device the heatsink is assembled together with a heat source in heat conductive communication with each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for fabricating three-dimensional sidewall-conductive carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on selective substrates. In particular, fabrication of three-dimensional sidewall-conductive CNFs on niobium titanium nitride (NbTiN) layer is described. The present disclosure also describes a nano-electro-mechanical switch using one or more three-dimensional sidewall-conductive CNFs.

Abstract: Techniques for increasing conductivity of carbon nanotube films are provided. In one aspect, a method for increasing conductivity of a carbon nanotube film includes the following steps. The carbon nanotube film is formed from a mixture of metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are exposed to a solution comprising a one-electron oxidant configured to dope the semiconducting carbon nanotubes to increase a conductivity thereof, thereby increasing the overall conductivity of the film. The step of forming the carbon nanotube film can be performed prior to the step of exposing the carbon nanotubes to the one-electron oxidant solution. Alternatively, the step of exposing the carbon nanotubes to the one-electron oxidant solution can be performed prior to the step of forming the carbon nanotube film. A method of fabricating a transparent electrode on a photovoltaic device from a carbon nanotube film is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a diamond UV sensor element improved with a UV/visible light blind ratio using a diamond single crystal as a light receiving portion and detecting a light based on the change of electric resistance caused by a light irradiated to the light receiving portion is provided, the method, including (1) a step of hydrogenating the surface of the diamond single crystal in an atmosphere substantially containing hydrogen, and (2) a step of forming a light receiving portion by exposing the hydrogenated surface of the diamond single crystal into an atmosphere containing ozone or active oxygen.

Abstract: To obtain a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon composite material exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity in every direction in the plane containing the X and Y axes. A carbon fiber-carbon composite formed body in which a number of sheet-like dispersions containing pitch-based carbon fibers dispersed therein randomly in the plane containing the X and Y axes are laminated into a carbon fiber laminate, and pyrolytic carbon is deposited on the surfaces of the carbon fibers of the carbon fiber laminate to coat around the carbon fibers, whereby the carbon fiber laminate is filled with the pyrolytic carbon, and a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon composite material obtained using the carbon fiber-carbon composite formed body.

Abstract: A conductive wire includes an aramid fiber and at least one layer attached about the aramid fiber, the at least one layer including at least one of aligned carbon nanotubes and graphene platelets.

Abstract: Mesoporous graphite is used as an active material of a negative electrode constituting a lithium ion secondary battery or a lithium ion capacitor. Specifically, the mesoporous graphite has a specific area within the range of 0.01 m2/g or more and 5 m2/g or less, and the total volume of mesopores within the range of 0.005 mL/g or more and 1.0 mL/g or less, wherein a volume of mesopores each having a pore diameter of 10 nm or more and 40 nm or less is 25% or more and 85% or less of the total volume of mesopores. By this structure, an output characteristic is enhanced.

Abstract: There are provided a carbon wire using CNT or a similar carbon filament having a sufficiently low electrical resistance value, and a wire assembly employing that carbon wire. A carbon wire includes an assembly portion and a graphite layer. The assembly portion is configured of a plurality of carbon filaments implemented as carbon nanotubes in contact with one another. The graphite layer is provided at an outer circumference of the assembly portion.

Abstract: The invention provides methods functionalizing a planar surface of a graphene layer, a graphite surface, or microelectronic structure. The graphene layer, graphite surface, or planar microelectronic structure surface is exposed to at least one vapor including at least one functionalization species that non-covalently bonds to the graphene layer, a graphite surface, or planar microelectronic surface while providing a functionalization layer of chemically functional groups, to produce a functionalized graphene layer, graphite surface, or planar microelectronic surface.

Abstract: Provided is a porous carbon material composite formed of a porous carbon material and a functional material and equipped with high functionality. A porous carbon material composite is formed of (A) a porous carbon material obtainable from a plant-derived material having a silicon (Si) content of 5 wt % or higher as a raw material, said porous carbon material having a silicon (Si) content of 1 wt % or lower, and (B) a functional material adhered on the porous carbon material, and has a specific surface area of 10 m2/g or greater as determined by the nitrogen BET method and a pore volume of 0.1 cm3/g or greater as determined by the BJH method and MP method.

Abstract: A material suitable for use as an electrode for a battery, comprising an article which comprises carbonized fabric having an impregnant therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to freestanding carbon nanotube paper comprising purified carbon nanotubes, where the purified carbon nanotubes form the freestanding carbon nanotube paper and carbon microparticles embedded in and/or present on a surface of the carbon nanotube paper. The invention also relates to a lithium ion battery, capacitor, supercapacitor, battery/capacitor, and fuel cell containing the freestanding carbon nanotube paper as an electrode. Also disclosed is a method of making a freestanding carbon nanotube paper. This method involves providing purified carbon nanotubes, contacting the purified carbon nanotubes with an organic solvent under conditions effective to form a dispersion comprising the purified carbon nanotubes. The dispersion is formed into a carbon nanotube paper and carbon microparticles are incorporated with the purified carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, the method including: forming a recess in a graphene layer wherein the recess creates a boundary between a first portion of the graphene layer and a second portion of the graphene layer; depositing electrically insulating material within the recess; and depositing an electrically conductive material over the insulating material.

Abstract: In a method for functionalizing a carbon nanotube surface, the nanotube surface is exposed to at least one vapor including at least one functionalization species that non-covalently bonds to the nanotube surface, providing chemically functional groups at the nanotube surface, producing a functionalized nanotube surface. A functionalized nanotube surface can be exposed to at least one vapor stabilization species that reacts with the functionalization layer to form a stabilization layer that stabilizes the functionalization layer against desorption from the nanotube surface while providing chemically functional groups at the nanotube surface, producing a stabilized nanotube surface. The stabilized nanotube surface can be exposed to at least one material layer precursor species that deposits a material layer on the stabilized nanotube surface.