An electrode for use in energy storage comprising a nanostructured mesoporous electrically conductive metal oxide and an ultrathin, conformal polymer coating on the metal oxide wherein said electrode has a mesoporous structure. Also disclosed is the related method for making an electrode for use in energy storage.

A cable having one or more conductive members and one or more strength members. Each conductive member has a metal microwire having an outer diameter and an inorganic cladding having an inner diameter. The microwire is positioned within the cladding, and the outer diameter of the microwire is at least about 2 microns less then the inner diameter of the cladding. Each strength member has a plurality of inorganic fibers surrounding the conductive members or an inorganic rod. The conductive members are conductive while applying a voltage of 5000 V to the conductive members and while exposing the cable to a temperature of about 1000° C.

A composite concerning a porous carbon structure having a surface and pores and a coating of MnO2 on the carbon surface, wherein the coating does not completely fill or obstruct a majority of the pores, and wherein the coating is formed by self-limiting electroless deposition.

A flash radiography diode includes a cathode and an anode. The cathode includes a frustum member with a bore extending through the frustum member. The anode is a tapered anode made of an electrically conductive material and oriented toward the cathode. The anode and the cathode are housed in a chamber with a gap between the anode and the cathode. The cathode is configured to emit electrons to the tapered anode, which electrons strike the anode and create an anode plasma. The anode plasma creates X rays which propagate from the anode.

Described herein is a field ionization and electron impact ionization device consisting of carbon nanotubes with microfabricated integral gates that is capable of producing short pulses of ions.

A fuel cell comprising an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a nanoporous membrane between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber. The nanoporous membrane allows nutrients to flow actively or passively from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber and can be modified by a thin film composite (TFC) to create a TFC nanofiltration membrane. The nanoporous membrane can have a pore size from about 100 nm to about 1000 nm. A method of making a fuel cell comprising configuring a nanoporous membrane between an anode chamber and a cathode chamber wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber and can be used to protect the cathode chamber.

A composition comprising: a metal oxide of a first metal ions and second metal ions; an electrically conductive material; and a binder material. The second metal ions have a higher oxidation state than the first metal ions. The presence of the second metal ion increases the number of metal cation vacancies. A method of: dissolving salts of a first metal ion and a second metal ion in water to form a solution; heating the solution to a temperature of about 80-90° C.; and adding a base to the solution to precipitate nanoparticles of a metal oxide of the first metal ion and the second metal ion.

A composition comprising: a metal oxide of a first metal ions and second metal ions; an electrically conductive material; and a binder material. The second metal ions have a higher oxidation state than the first metal ions. The presence of the second metal ion increases the number of metal cation vacancies. A method of: dissolving salts of a first metal ion and a second metal ion in water to form a solution; heating the solution to a temperature of about 80-90° C.; and adding a base to the solution to precipitate nanoparticles of a metal oxide of the first metal ion and the second metal ion.

Increased lithium capacity of defective oxide materials and methods for preparation are described herein. Point defects may be introduced into a metal oxide to increase its lithium ion capacity. Defective metal oxides can be prepared by heating the metal oxide under O2/H2O at elevated temperatures. These increased lithium capacity metal oxides may be suitable for use as high specific energy cathodes in lithium metal and lithium ion batteries.

An improved benthic microbial fuel cell for generating energy at the interface of aquatic sediment and seawater includes an anode electrode embedded within the aquatic sediment, a cathode electrode positioned within the seawater and above the aquatic sediment, a rig for maintaining the relative positions of the anode and cathode electrodes, electrical leads extending from the anode and cathode electrodes to a load, wherein the anode electrode comprises a bottlebrush electrode residing within a permeable tube. The apparatus is easier to deploy than previously-described fuel cells, while being lighter, more durable, and generating greater power density. Also disclosed are methods of generating power from such an apparatus.

A semiconductor device including a ferrite layer, a widebandgap semiconductor material layer, and a buffer layer. The buffer layer comprises an interweaving of MgO and BaM. In addition the buffer layer allows a gradual reduction of the interfacial stress, and mediates the strain between a silicon substrate and a ferrite layer of the device. In addition, the buffer layer allows for high crystal alignment resulting in high crystal quality and thereby producing a low microwave loss semiconductor device. The buffer layer also minimizes chemical interdiffusion of atoms between the substrate and the ferrite layer.

A device having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an ion-conducting electrolyte in contact with both electrodes. Each electrode has a metal, a metal oxide, a hydrous metal oxide, alloy thereof, or mixture thereof, however, the electrodes are different such materials. The positive electrode is capable of storing and donating ions and electrons and reducing oxygen. The negative electrode is capable of storing and donating ions and electrons and oxidizing hydrogen. The electrolyte permits transport of oxygen and hydrogen. The device can charge using ambient hydrogen and oxygen. It can be discharged as an electrochemical capacitor or be operated in a fuel cell mode.

A compound having the formula below. X is hydroxyl, a sulfonic ester or salt thereof, a phosphonate or salt thereof, a carboxylate or salt thereof, or a boronic ester or salt thereof. The value n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. A polymer made by polymerizing the compound. A method of: reacting NH2—(CH2—CH2—O)n—CH2—CH2—OH with thiophene acid chloride to form a (SC4H3)—CO—NH—(CH2—CH2—O)n—CH2—CH2—OH amide; reacting the amide with a vinyl sulfonic ester, a vinyl phosphonate, a vinyl carboxylate, or a vinyl boronic ester to form an intermediate; and converting the intermediate to a salt form.

An rf probe is placed within a plasma and an rf signal from a network analyzer for a given dc bias voltage Vp is applied The frequency applied by the network analyzer, ω, is less than the plasma frequency, ωpe, and therefore is not in the resonant absorption range (ω=ωpe) used to determine electron density in typical rf impedance probe operation. Bias voltages at the applied frequency are applied to the probe in a series of voltage steps in a range which includes the plasma potential. At each bias step, a value of Re(Zac), the real part of the plasma's complex impedance, is returned by the analyzer. A local minimum in the real part of the impedance Re(Zac) occurs where the applied bias voltage Vp equals the plasma potential φp. The plasma potential φp can be found by taking the first derivative of Re(Zac) with respect to Vp, ⅆ(Re⁡(Za⁢⁢c)ⅆVp, and finding the value of Vp at which ⅆ(Re⁡(Za⁢⁢c)ⅆVp=0 within error tolerances.

The invention relates to sulfur-functionalized polymer gels and carbon gels, including aerogels, and such carbon gels containing platinum or metal nanoparticles. The platinum-containing gels may be useful as fuel-cell electrodes.

An apparatus and method for controlling electron flow within a plasma to produce a controlled electron beam is provided. A plasma is formed between a cathode and an acceleration anode. A control anode is connected to the plasma and to the acceleration anode via a switch. If the switch is open, the ions from the plasma flow to the cathode and plasma electrons flow to the acceleration anode. With the acceleration anode suitably transparent and negatively biased with a DC high voltage source, the electrons flowing from the plasma are accelerated to form an electron beam. If the switch is closed, the ions still flow to the cathode but the electrons flow to the control anode rather than the acceleration anode. Consequently, the electron beam is turned off, but the plasma is unaffected. By controlling the opening and closing of the switch, a controlled pulsed electron beam can be generated.

A lighting apparatus is presented, having a Lambertian or quasi-Lambertian light source with an emitter side, as well as a reflector structure having an output side and a reflective surface with a concave parabolic contour that reflects light from the emitter side of the light source to provide Lambertian or quasi-Lambertian output light from the output side.

An electron injector including an electron source and a conducting grid situated close to the electron source, one or more RF accelerating/bunching cavities operating at the same fundamental RF frequency; a DC voltage source configured to bias the cathode at a small positive voltage with respect to the grid; a first RF drive configured to apply an RF signal between the cathode and grid at the fundamental and third harmonic RF frequencies; and a second RF drive configured to apply an RF drive signal to the accelerating/bunching cavities. Electrons are emitted by the cathode and travel through the grid to the accelerating/bunching cavities for input into an RF linac. The first RF drive applies a first RF drive signal at the fundamental frequency of the linac plus higher harmonics thereof to the gap between the cathode and the grid to cause the emitted electrons to form electron bunches and the second RF drive applies a second RF drive signal to the accelerating/bunching cavities on the other side of the grid to further accelerate and optimize the size of the electron bunches. Because the applied RF signals contain at the fundamental linac frequency, the electrons are bunched at that frequency and each RF bucket of the linac is filled with an electron bunch.

An insulated conducting wire (ICW) having an inorganic cladding and a microwire positioned within the cladding. The outer diameter of the microwire is less then the inner diameter of the cladding, and the insulated conducting wire is substantially free of bonding between the microwire and the cladding. A process of making a wire, having the steps of: drawing an inorganic tube through a heating zone such that the inner diameter of the tube is reduced; inserting a microwire into the tube whereby the tube becomes a cladding; and adjusting the draw process parameters such that the inner diameter of the cladding is larger than the outer diameter of the microwire, and the microwire and the cladding are not in contact with each other under thermal conditions that would cause bonding between the microwire and the cladding.

A field ionization device can include a first insulator layer on a first side of a substrate, a conductive gate layer on the first insulator layer, a cavity in the substrate, a portion of first insulator over the cavity, an aperture in the portion of the first insulator layer and the conductive gate layer thereby forming an aperture and aperture sidewall. The device can include a second insulator layer on the aperture sidewall and surface of the cavity, a metallization layer over the second insulator layer, a catalyst layer on the metallization layer, and a carbon nanotube. The cavity can be made by etching a second side of the substrate to near the insulator layer, wherein the second side is opposite the first side. The carbon nanotube can be grown from the catalyst layer. The device can further include a collector located near the carbon nanotube. The conductive gate layer can be biased negative with respect to the carbon nanotube. An electric field can exist between the carbon nanotube and the conductive gate layer. Another embodiment can include an array of multiple devices as described herein wherein the multiple devices are in close proximity to each other. Also provided is a method of making the device.

An ion-ion plasma source, that features a processing chamber containing a large concentration of halogen or halogen-based gases. A second chamber is coupled to the processing chamber and features an electron source which produces a high energy electron beam. The high energy electron beam is injected into the processing chamber where it is shaped and confined by a means for shaping and confining the high energy electron beam. The high energy electron beam produced in the second chamber when injected into the processing chamber ionizes the halogen gas creating a dense, ion-ion plasma in the processing chamber that is continuous in time.

A device for use in energy storage comprising a nanostructured mesoporous electrically conductive substrate coated with a metal oxide and an ultrathin conformal polymer coating on the metal oxide wherein said electrode has a mesoporous structure. Also disclosed is the related method for making an electrode for use in energy storage.

An apparatus and method for generating power from the voltage gradient naturally found in marine sediments. A pump flows sediment porewater to an anode, and a cathode is exposed to marine water. The arrangement can power a circuit.

Disclosed are an oligomer and a phthalonitrile monomer having the formulas: M is a metal or H. The value n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 for the oligomer and greater than or equal to 0 for the phthalonitrile monomer. Ar1 and Ar2 are independently selected aromatic- or heterocyclic-containing groups. Ar1, Ar2, or both are heteroaromatic or heterocyclic groups containing a nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen heteroatom. Also disclosed are thermosets and pyrolyzed materials made from the phthalonitrile monomer.

Disclosed are an oligomer and a phthalonitrile monomer having the formulas: M is a metal or H. The value n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 for the oligomer and greater than or equal to 0 for the phthalonitrile monomer. Ar1 and Ar2 are independently selected aromatic- or heterocyclic-containing groups. Ar1, Ar2, or both are heteroaromatic or heterocyclic groups containing a nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen heteroatom. Also disclosed are thermosets and pyrolyzed materials made from the phthalonitrile monomer.

A method of storing charge comprising the steps of providing a capacitor comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises a nonaqueous liquid of sufficient dielectric constant to dissociate salts soluble in the nonaqueous liquid, a composite comprising a prefabricated porous carbon electrode structure or a carbon foam substrate that is a prefabricated paper structure and a coating deposited by infiltrating the structure with iron oxide via self-limiting electroless deposition on the surface.

A method of forming a composite involving the steps of providing a porous carbon electrode structure having a surface and pores wherein the pores have an average diameter that ranges from about 2 nm to about 1 μm, depositing a coating comprising FeOx via self-limiting electroless deposition without completely filling or obstructing a majority of the pores, wherein the coating comprising FeOx covers most to all of the interior and exterior surfaces of the prefabricated porous carbon electrode structure and can be deposited in a homogenous form and wherein it can be used directly as an electrode without requiring additional conductive additives or binders to be processed into a device-suitable electrode.

Systems and methods are presented for generating and storing electric power in which a microbial solar cell is provided in a sealed container with photosynthetic organisms that generate reactants of the microbial fuel cell and the products of the microbial fuel cell from sunlight received through the container.

A method of: dissolving salts of a first metal ion and a second metal ion in water to form a solution; heating the solution to a temperature of about 80-90° C.; and adding a base to the solution to precipitate nanoparticles of an oxide of the first metal ion and the second metal ion.

A hydrogen-free amorphous dielectric insulating film having a high material density and a low density of tunneling states is provided. The film is prepared by e-beam deposition of a dielectric material on a substrate having a high substrate temperature Tsub under high vacuum and at a low deposition rate. In an exemplary embodiment, the film is amorphous silicon having a density greater than about 2.18 g/cm3 and a hydrogen content of less than about 0.1%, prepared by e-beam deposition at a rate of about 0.1 nm/sec on a substrate having Tsub=400° C. under a vacuum pressure of 1×10−8 Torr.

The present invention is a sample-stage for a scanning electron microscope. The sample stage has a U-shaped base, horizontally oriented with the closed end forming the right side. A bottom member abuts the bottom of the U-shaped base, forming an interior cavity with the U-shaped base. An angled support member abuts the top of the U-shaped base farthest from the right side for holding a sample at a user-defined angle. A first reflector abuts a portion of the interior right side of the U-shaped base, and a second reflector abuts a portion of the top surface of the bottom member. A beam stop abuts a portion of the right side of the U-shaped base.

Method of making an integrated passive, such as a high quality decoupling capacitor, includes providing a first temporary support, a silicon capacitor wafer, and providing an oxide layer and a conductive layer on it. Then, a second temporary support, such as a handle wafer, may be attached to the capacitor wafer (i.e., to the oxide layer on it) by an adhesive bond. The capacitor wafer may then be destructively removed. A second conductive layer is then provided on an exposed backside of the oxide layer. The addition of a second electrode on the second conductive layer yields the desired high quality capacitor. Further processing steps, such as solder bumping, may be carried out while the capacitor wafer is still attached to the handle wafer. When the desired processing steps are complete, the handle wafer is removed, and the relatively thin high quality integrated capacitor wafer results.

According to typical inventive practice, a cable is grasped by a Kellum grip and is positioned through the topside “V”-notch of an “M”-structure. Two wires engage pulleys and a ratchet distanced from the pulleys. The pulleys are joined with a grip plate, attached at an axial end of the Kellum grip. The ratchet is joined with a ratchet plate, proximate and/or attached to the “M”-structure. The “M”-structure has joined therewith three blade wheels having cutting orientations in the same linear direction. The blade wheels are situated interiorly and perpendicularly in correspondence to the geometric sides of the inverted triangle defined by the “V”-notch. Each blade wheel is adjustable to suit the diameter of the cable positioned through the “V”-notch. Ratcheting of the wires moves the ratchet plate and hence the “M”-structure, resulting in creation via the blade wheels of three parallel slices in the cable along its axis.

A method and device for eliminating torsion during the servicing of cable heads. The device is a tool with a handle portion and clamping members having an opening and gripping surfaces for receiving and gripping two different cable-heads for servicing, such as attachment or detachment. When the handle portion is squeezed and held, the tool provides a compression force substantially parallel to a common central axis of the cable heads. The arrangement of the tool prevents undesired load on the cable heads, optimizes the efficiency of servicing while preventing damage to the cable-heads.

An electrochemical cell comprises an ion permeable, liquid and vapor impermeable, membrane made by a solvent casting process. Two mutually insoluble polymers are cast together with the aide of mutually soluble co-solvents. The ion permeable membrane comprises a high molecular weight polyisobutylene polymer structural component. The linearized poly(acrylic acid) polymer ion conducting component comprises which is 4 wt % to 6 wt % of the membrane. The dried ion permeable membrane has a thickness of about 0.1 millimeters. The membrane is hydrated and used for transporting ions in an electrochemical cell. The cell demonstrates good reversibility, i.e. rechargability.

A method and device for eliminating torsion during the servicing of cable heads. The device is a tool with a handle portion and clamping members having an opening and gripping surfaces for receiving and gripping two different cable-heads for servicing, such as attachment or detachment. When the handle portion is squeezed and held, the tool provides a compression force substantially parallel to a common central axis of the cable heads. The arrangement of the tool prevents undesired load on the cable heads, optimizes the efficiency of servicing while preventing damage to the cable-heads.

A battery mechanism is disclosed. The battery mechanism in one embodiment includes battery assemblies, a switching mechanism, and an actuating mechanism. The battery assemblies are removably mounted to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism has a non-energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically disconnected from the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism also has an energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically connected to the switching mechanism. The actuating mechanism is connected to the switching mechanism, and switches the switching mechanism between the non-energized and the energized positions. The actuating mechanism preferably is activated remotely, improving personnel safety. The number and make-up of the battery assemblies may be varied to provide for different voltages.

A dielectric composite material is provided for switch control by optical stimulus. The material includes a plurality of photo-conductive particulates; and a transparent binder for containing the plurality of particulates to form a photo-conductive pigment based matrix. The pigment based matrix is disposed on to overlap first and second separate electrodes to produce an electrical junction. Capacitance of the pigment based matrix changes from a first value absent the optical stimulus to a second value in response to illumination at a specific electromagnetic frequency and intensity by the optical stimulus.

A variable intensity LED illumination system is configured to provide a change in luminance versus input voltage that corresponds to a desired transfer function, such as the dimming characteristics of an incandescent lamp, which more closely resembles the response of the human eye. The system also advantageously provides overvoltage protection, increased brightness, energy efficiency, and significantly better longevity and ruggedness, compared to incandescent lamps.

Disclosed herein is a metal-air battery having a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode has a cathode current collector and a composite of a porous carbon structure and a pseudocapacitive coating. The coating does not completely fill or obstruct a majority of the pores, and the pores can be exposed to a gas. The electrolyte is in contact with the anode and permeates the composite without completely filling or obstructing a majority of the pores.

A single-use Universal Serial Bus port protector having a top piece and a tongued planar surface, where the top piece includes a rectangular surface, a rectangular planar surface, a slotted planar surface, and at least one lever breakably attached to the slotted planar surface, and where the tongued planar surface includes two rails and two projections, where the top piece and the tongued planar surface are slideably insertable into a Universal Serial Bus port to ensure that no electrical connection is made to the Universal Serial Bus port when the top piece and the tongued planar surface are so inserted, where the at least one lever engages with at least one of the rails of the tongued planar surface upon insertion, and where the at least one lever breaks off when the Universal Serial Bus port protector is removed from the Universal Serial Bus port.

A positive magnetostrictive material such as a ferromagnetic alloy is subjected to a magnetic field during annealing treatment while being heated for a predetermined period of time at an elevated temperature below its softening temperature followed by cooling resulting in a treated ferromagnetic material having high tensile strength and positive magnetostriction properties for enhancing use thereof under tensile loading conditions. Such treatment of the ferromagnetic alloy may be augmented by application thereto of a compressive stress.

A high power diode includes a cathode for emitting a primary electron discharge, an anode, and a porous dielectric layer, e.g. a honeycomb ceramic, positioned between the cathode and the anode for receiving the primary electron discharge and emitting a secondary electron discharge. The diode can operate at voltages 50 kV and higher while generating an electron beam with a uniform current density in the range from 1 A/cm2 to >10 kA/cm2 throughout the area of the cathode. It is capable of repetitively pulsed operation at a few Hz with pulse duration from a few nanoseconds to more than a microseconds, while the total number of pulses can be >107 pulses. The diode generates minimal out-gassing or debris, i.e. with minimal ablation, providing a greater diode lifetime, and can operate in a high vacuum environment of 10−4 Torr. The high power diode is useful in many applications requiring a high current electron beam. Exemplary applications include x-ray photography of large samples, polymerization processes, sterilization of biological and chemical agents, irradiation of food, and as a pump for lasers, e.g. excimer lasers such as krypton fluorine (KrF) lasers.

An elongate structure having a magnetostrictive material composition is subjected to tensile stress in the longitudinal-axial direction, thereby generally orienting the magnetization of the elongate structure in the longitudinal-axial direction. Electrical current is conducted through the elongate structure and/or through at least one adjacent elongate conductor, thereby generally orienting the magnetization of the elongate structure in the transverse direction, generally in parallel with the transverse direction of the magnetic field concomitant the conduction of current through the elongate structure. The elongate structure magnetostrictively contracts due to the (generally 90°) repositioning of the magnetization of the elongate structure. Examples of inventive configurational variants include: (i) an elongate structure itself conducting current; (ii) a hollow elongate structure accommodating placement therethrough of at least one elongate conductor; (iii) an elongate structure flanked by a pair of elongate conductors conducting current in opposite directions; (iv) plural elongate structures bordering a centralized elongate conductor.

The invention relates to sulfur-functionalized polymer gels and carbon gels, including aerogels, and such carbon gels containing platinum or metal nanoparticles. The platinum-containing gels may be useful as fuel-cell electrodes.

A circuit breaker adapter is disclosed for use in a fuse holder therein replacing a blade type fuse. The adapter includes a housing and a modified circuit breaker where pronged terminals are pivotally attached conductive articulable extensions. The housing is a contiguous block of material that receives the modified circuit breaker and gripping clips of the fuse holder. The housing has a center chute shaped section that holds the circuit breaker. In particular, the inside of the housing has a pair of accessible open cavities to receive the extensions similar to many fuses. The circuit breaker literally plugs into sockets on the housing, and the extensions are rotated outward into one of the accessible open cavities. The adapter may be placed into the fuse holder.

An anode for use in a primary metal-air battery having an alkaline or neutral salt electrolyte, the anode comprising: a low molecular weight reactive metal substrate; a low molecular weight reactive metal powder; and at least a two-component electrolyte resistant polymer system; the first component is an ionic conductive linearized hydrogel, the second component is an inert structural polymer matrix, the reactive metal powder is dispersed and the first component is uniformly dispersed within the second component to form a material, and the reactive metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, tin, mixtures of aluminum, tin and magnesium and alloys thereof.

An apparatus for wirelessly transmitting electric currents walls. The walls may be bulkhead compartment walls of a fixed structure or a vehicle or the like. The apparatus includes a wireless electric power transmission arrangement that includes an electronic device on one side of a wall, which is powered by a power source on another side of the wall. The electronic device may be a sensor arrangement having one or more sensors, a battery charging device, a through-the-bulkhead repeater device or other electronic device requiring power.

A Universal Serial Bus port protector having a top piece and a tongued planar surface, where the top piece includes a rectangular surface, a rectangular planar surface, a box having an open bottom and an open top, and a shim-like piece, and where the tongued planar surface includes a tongued portion and an untongued portion, where the tongued portion includes one dado and two rabbet cuts and two projections, where the top piece and the tongued planar surface are slideably insertable into and extractable from a Universal Serial Bus port to ensure that no electrical connection is made to the Universal Serial Bus port when the top piece and the tongued planar surface are so inserted.

A battery compartment insert for use with a battery holder that utilizes an assembly of two cells sealed in shrink wrap, thus replacing the need for use of the battery assembly. The insert includes a battery compartment lid for holding two separate lithium bromide battery cells and four electrical contacts. There are two electrical contacts corresponding to each battery cell. The battery compartment lid includes two diodes each corresponding to one of the battery cells and guide posts such that each individual battery cell can be taken out and replaced. The battery compartment lid corresponds to the battery holder such that two electrical contacts are each able to electrically communicate with a corresponding battery cell such that a device may be powered by the battery cells.

A method and device to temporarily incapacitate a subject for a prolonged period by first applying to said subject a continuous pulsed electric waveform to incapacitate the subject, followed by applying a second intermittent pulsed electric waveform to the subject, which safely maintains the incapacitation of the subject with forced breathing.

A vapor sampling adapter for direct analysis in real time mass spectrometer (DART-MS) applications comprises a vapor transport line and a manifold. In the preferred embodiment the vapor transport line is heated and approximately 20 feet in length. This provides a means to utilize the highly accurate and reliable DART-MS device to detect chemical agents at sample location points up to 20 feet away from the device with the ability to easily move the sampling point to any desired point within the sampling range, thus allowing the operator to systematically scan a site in a fashion similar to that used with a handheld detector. Sample vapor flows through the vapor transport line to the manifold where it comes in proximity to the ion generator of the DART mass spectrometer before entering into the mass spectrometer for analysis. The present invention may be used to raster a surface to determine the precise location of chemical agent contamination. Additionally, the invention may be used to tune or calibrate a DART-MS.

A mobile power distribution system for use in field operations requiring primary and secondary power sources wherein at least one of the power sources is a generator. The system includes primary and secondary power connections, an automatic transfer switch, a transformer, and a plurality of high and low voltage outlets. The entire system is mounted on a trailer or skid platform and fits within a standard 20-foot ISO container.

An infrared radiation emitting element is provided. A carbonized conducting filament is formed from an insulating substrate material. Passing current through the filament produces radiation in the infrared band. The radiation emitted is tuned by altering the physical or chemical characteristics of the filament. A substrate is optionally doped prior to filament formation. Alternatively, or in addition, a post-filament formation doping process is used. The light-emitting element is a durable, low power IR emitter that is operable as a marker.

An electrostatic ohmic shunt radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch and method of manufacturing includes a co-planar waveguide (CPW) transmission line comprising a plurality of slots and a plurality of pillars, wherein a space between successive ones of the plurality of pillars is defined by one of the plurality of slots; a plurality of electrodes positioned in the slots; a conductive contact beam elevated over the CPW transmission line and the plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of conductive contact dimples positioned between the conductive contact beam and the CPW transmission line, wherein the plurality of pillars are adapted to prevent physical contact between the plurality of electrodes and the conductive contact beam.

The invention provides molecules useful for enhancing charge transport across membranes, such as electron transport across membranes, and methods of using such molecules, for example in improving the performance of a microbial fuel cell or in staining microbes for observation. The amphiphilic molecule comprises a conjugated core with hydrophilic groups on either end. The amphiphilic molecule inserts into the membrane of a microbe and facilitates charge transfer across the membrane of the microbe.

A series of polar and aprotic organic molecules, which, when used as solvents or additives in nonaqueous electrolytes, afford improved performance for electrochemical cells that operate at high voltages. These polar and aprotic solvents or additives may contain at least one unsaturated functionality per molecule. The unsaturated functionality is conjugated with the polar functionality of the molecule. The unsaturated functionality that is either a double or triple bond could be between carbon-carbon, or between carbon-heteroatom, or between hetroatom-heteroatom. Nonaqueous electrolyte solutions are provided comprising one or more lithium salts dissolved in the mixture solvents, which comprises, in all possible ratios, at least one of the polar, aprotic and unsaturated solvent or additives, one or more cyclic carbonic diesters such as ethylene carbonate, and one or more acyclic carbonic diesters such as dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and ethylmethyl carbonate.

A lithium/fluorinated carbon (Li/CFx) battery having a composite cathode including an electroactive cathode material, a non-electroactive additive, a conductive agent, and a binder. The electroactive cathode material is a single fluorinated carbon having a general formula of CFx, whereby x is an averaged value ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.2. The non-electroactive additive is at least one or a mixture of two or more oxides selected from the group comprising Mg, B, Al, Si, Cu, Zn, Y, Ti, Zr, Fe, Co, or Ni. The conductive agent is selected from the group comprising carbon, metals, and mixtures thereof. Finally, the binder is an amorphous polymer selected from the group comprising fluorinated polymers, ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubbers, styrene butadiene rubbers (SBR), poly (acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate), carboxymethyl celluloses (CMC), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Also, a method of reducing the initial voltage drop of a lithium/fluorinated carbon (Li/CFx) battery by providing a composite cathode which includes an electroactive cathode material having a general formula of CFx, whereby x is an averaged value ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.2, a non-electroactive additive, a conductive agent, and a binder.

A structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a solid electrolytic material disposed between the electrodes which, taken collectively, have sufficient mechanical strength to allow the electrochemical capacitor to be used as a structural component of an article of manufacture is described. The present invention also describes a method of capacitively storing electrical energy and conserving mass and/or volume in a device that includes the steps of: fabricating portions of the structure of a device with high-strength structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a body of solid electrolytic material disposed between said electrodes wherein the body of solid electrolytic material accounts for a majority of the mass of a structural element or a majority of the volume of a structural element in the device.

A supercapacitor or electrochemical capacitor includes spaced apart electrodes which are separated from each other by a separator made of an electrical insulating material. Each electrode is formed of carbonaceous material and capable of being impregnated with a liquid electrolyte. Metal current collectors are provided on the sides of the electrodes opposite from the separator. The electrodes have holes extending through the electrodes to reduce ionic impedance in order to produce faster charging and discharging of the device.

An air breathing battery apparatus is connected to the hollow tubing of a backpack frame to provide an uninterrupted, water-resistant, light-weight power supply during extended remote operations in the field. Air breathing power sources are connected to the hollow tubes of the backpack assembly to provide a constant uninterrupted air supply in a relatively small package that fits easily into the backpack frame with only negligible added weight. The positioning of the air breathing power source in a backpack composed of hollow tubing also protects the battery from inclement weather or when the user is in water, for example, while fording a river or stream, to permit the uninterrupted use of the electronics powered by the battery.

A chlorine-modified lithium manganese-based AB2O4 spinel cathode material is provided. Furthermore, a lithium or lithium ion rechargeable electrochemical cell is provided incorporating chlorine-modified lithium manganese-based AB2O4 spinel cathode material in a positive electrode. In addition, a process for preparing a stable chlorine-modified lithium manganese-based AB2O4 spinel cathode material is provided.

A lead manganese-based cathode material is provided. Furthermore, a lithium or lithium ion rechargeable electrochemical cell is provided incorporating lead manganese-based cathode material in a positive electrode. In addition, a process for preparing a stable lead manganese-based cathode material is provided.

A method of fabricating a hydrogen fuel cell cartridge is provided. Furthermore, a hydrogen fuel cell cartridge is provided. In addition, a hydrogen fuel cell system is provided, which includes a plurality of cartridge segments in a spiral configuration and a control unit.

A positive electrode material having a nominal stoichiometry Li1+y/2Co1−x−y−z−dSizFexMyM′d(PO4)1+y/2 where M is a trivalent cation selected from at least one of Cr, Ti, Al, Mn, Ni, V, Sc, La and/or Ga, M′ is a divalent cation selected from at least one of Mn, Ni, Zn, Sr, Cu, Ca and/or Mg, y is within a range of 0<y≦0.10 and x is within a range of 0≦x≦0.2. The use of double compositional modification to LiCoPO4 increases the discharge capacity from ˜100 mAh/g to about 130 mAh/g while retaining the discharge capacity retention of the singly Fe-substituted LiCoPO4. Additional compositional modification to include Si increases the cycle life and greatly improved the coulombic efficiency to between 97-100% at a C/3 cycle rate.

An electrolyte for a metal-oxygen battery includes a non-aqueous solvent which is characterized in that the solubility of oxygen therein is at least 0.1150 cc O2/cc of solvent at STP. The electrolyte also includes an electrolyte salt dissolved in the solvent. The solvent may comprise a mixture of materials in which at least 50%, on a weight basis, of the materials have an oxygen solubility of at least 0.1760 cc O2/cc at STP. Also disclosed is a method for optimizing the composition of an electrolyte for a metal-oxygen battery by selecting the solvent for the electrolyte from those materials which will dissolve the electrolyte salt and which have a solubility for oxygen which is at least 0.1150 cc O2/cc at STP.

An acceleration switch array having at least two acceleration switches. Each acceleration switch includes a substrate, an anchor attached to the substrate, an electrically conductive mass disposed around the anchor and secured to the anchor by a spring assembly which permits movement of the mass relative to the anchor, and a plurality of electrical contacts positioned at circumferentially spaced positions around and outwardly from the mass. These electrical contacts are aligned along at least one orthogonal axis. A resistor array is electrically connected between the electric contacts of each acceleration switch for each orthogonal axis so that, upon contact between the mass and any of the electrical contacts, an electrical resistance is presented at an output terminal that is unique for each electrical contact for each acceleration switch.

A metal-air battery has an anode in which the electrochemically active material is molybdenum. The molybdenum may be in the form of a bulk body of material or it may comprise a particulate material dispersed with or in another material. In some instances, the molybdenum may comprise a member of an alloy or mixture. Also disclosed is a modular battery system which may include the molybdenum-based anode material.

A structural battery includes an anode, cathode and electrolyte which, taken collectively, have sufficient mechanical strength to allow the battery to be used as a structural component of an article of manufacture. The combined anode, cathode and electrolyte have a stiffness between 10 MPa-1000 GPa, and in certain instances have a stiffness between 50 MPa-100 GPa. Also disclosed are solid electrolytes which may be used in structural batteries. The electrolytes are comprised of salts dissolved in a solvent such as a body of polymeric material. The electrolyte has good ionic conductivity and good mechanical properties. The solid electrolyte may be comprised of a body of uncrosslinked polymer or an at least partially crosslinked polymer such as a multifunctional polymer having segments comprised of linear resins and segments comprised of crosslinking resins. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the structural batteries.

A structural capacitor includes at least one pair of electrodes comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode, with a body of dielectric material disposed therebetween. The combination of the electrodes and dielectric has a stiffness which can be between 10 1000 GPa, and in some instances between 50 MPa-100 GPa. Failure strength of the combination can be between 1 MPa-10 GPa, and in specific instances between 10 MPa-1 GPa. The capacitor may include a plurality of electrode pairs. The dielectric may include a reinforcing material therein, and the capacitors may be configured in a variety of shapes so as to function as structural elements for articles of construction.

A MEMS device comprising a substrate; an anchored end connected to the substrate; and an actuator comprising a first electrode; a piezoelectric layer over the first electrode; and multiple sets of second electrodes over the piezoelectric layer, wherein each of the sets of second electrodes being defined by a transverse gap there between, and wherein one of the sets of second electrodes are actuated asymmetrically with respect to a first plane resulting in a piezoelectrically induced bending moment arm in a lateral direction that lies in a second plane. The device further comprises an end effector opposite to the anchored end and connected to the actuator; a ferromagnetic core support structure connected to the end effector; a movable ferromagnetic inductor core on top of the ferromagnetic core support structure; and a MEMS inductor coiled around the ferromagnetic core support structure and the movable ferromagnetic inductor core.

A structural fuel cell includes a first and a second electrically conductive electrode plate each comprised of a porous, open-cell material. A proton conductive membrane is disposed between the first and second plates, and a skin encloses the electrode plates and membrane. The structural fuel cell is fabricated from high strength materials, and the porous, open-cell material of the electrode plates may comprise a metal foam, a honeycomb structure, or other such expanded structure. The skin may comprise a composite material such as a reinforced polymer. In some instances, the combination of the electrode plates, membrane and skin has a flexural strength between 1-100 MPa, or a flexural stiffness between 0.1-10 GPa.

A nano/micro electro-mechanical relay, comprising an at least one normally open (NO) nano/micro relay switch and an at least one normally closed (NC) nano/micro relay switch. Both the NC nano/micro relay switch and the NO nano/micro relay switch can be switched between their respective normal relay switch positions and their respective actuated relay switch positions. An at least one nano/micro actuator including an at least one piezoelectric stack layer being attached to an at least one elastic layer, wherein the at least one piezoelectric stack layer contracts to deflect the at least one elastic layer, and thereby actuate the at least one nano/micro contact bar to simultaneously switch the NC nano/micro relay switch and the NO nano/micro relay switch between their respective normal relay switch position and their respective actuated relay switch positions.

A structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a solid electrolytic material disposed between the electrodes which, taken collectively, have sufficient mechanical strength to allow the electrochemical capacitor to be used as a structural component of an article of manufacture is described. The present invention also describes a method of capacitively storing electrical energy and conserving mass and/or volume in a device that includes the steps of: fabricating portions of the structure of a device with high-strength structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a body of solid electrolytic material disposed between said electrodes wherein the body of solid electrolytic material accounts for a majority of the mass of a structural element or a majority of the volume of a structural element in the device.

The carboxyl borate represents a novel liquid that upon reaction with lithium halide produces a lithium ion electrochemical device electrolyte upon dissolution in an aprotic solvent mixture.

Methods and apparatus for forming an electromechanical device are disclosed. In some embodiments, an electromechanical device includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a rotor movably disposed in the first and second substrates and having a plurality of first turbine blades disposed on a first side of the rotor and a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on a second side of the rotor, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are arranged about a central axis of the rotor, wherein adjacent permanent magnets have opposing magnetic poles; a channel disposed between the first and second substrates and a peripheral edge of the rotor; a plurality of microballs disposed in the channel to provide a bearing for the rotor; a third substrate disposed proximate the second side of the rotor and having a plurality of coils disposed therein such that rotation of the rotor induces current the plurality of coils.

A non-aqueous rechargeable electrochemical cell includes an electrolyte composition produced through the dissolution of a thermally stable lithium salt in a lactone solvent. The resulting cell has stable performance in a wide temperature range between −40° C. and 80° C. The resulting cell operates across this wide temperature range with a commercially acceptable capacity retention, power loss characteristics, and safety characteristics across this temperature range.

A passive fuel cell assembly, in which there is neither air pump, nor fuel pump, is comprised of a plurality of bi-cell units. Each bi-cell unit includes a first cell and a second cell, and each cell includes an electrode of a first polarity and an electrode of a second polarity, with an ion permeable membrane disposed therebetween. The bi-cell unit further includes a fuel container which comprises a housing defining a fuel chamber having a first and second open surface. The first and second cells are disposed on opposite sides so that electrodes of each cell having the first polarity are disposed in fluid contact with the fuel chamber. The assembly further includes an oxidizer supply member disposed between adjacent pairs of bi-cell units. The oxidizer supply member includes an oxidizer chamber having four sides to take in air, and having first and second open surfaces. The oxidizer supply member is disposed so that electrodes of the second polarity of adjacent bi-cell units are in fluid contact with the chamber of the oxidizer supply member. The various bi-cell units may be electrically interconnected in mixed series parallel relationship to obtain long operational life. The fuel cell bi-cell assembly may be configured to operate in conjunction with a liquid fuel such as an alcohol, and using air as an oxidizer.

A lithiated metal phosphate material is doped by a portion of the lithium atoms which are present at the M2 sites of the material. The doped material has the general formula: Li1+xM1−x−dDdPO4. In the formula, M is a divalent ion of one or more of Fe, Mn, Co and Ni. D is a divalent metal ion which is one or more of Mg, Ca, Zn, and Ti. It is present in an amount represented by the subscript d which has a value ranging from 0 to 0.1. The portion of the lithium which is present at the M2 octahedral sites of the material is represented by the subscript x and is greater than 0 and no more than 0.07. Also disclosed are electrodes which incorporate the material as well as batteries, including lithium ion batteries, which include cathodes fabricated from the doped, lithiated metal phosphate materials.

A non-aqueous electrolyte solution for lithium or a lithium ion cell, which improves lithium ion cell capacity retention and enhances storage life thereof. The non-aqueous solution can be implemented in the context of an electrolyte system that includes a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent formed from a mixture of one or more cyclic esters, and/or one or more chain esters, and at least one lactam based solvent. Such a system is suited for use with electrochemical energy storage devices, which are based on non-aqueous electrolytes, such as high energy density batteries and/or high power electrochemical capacitors. Such an electrochemical storage devices is generally based on non-aqueous electrolytes that include lithium salt dissolved in a solvent system.

A method for enhancing the performance characteristics of a battery through the use of the electrolyte composition comprised of a non-aqueous solvent, and a salt mixture. The salt mixture includes an alkali metal electrolyte salt and an additive salt having an anion of a mixed anhydride of oxalic acid and boric acid. Specific additive salts include lithium bis(oxalato) borate and lithium oxalyldifluoroborate. Particular electrolyte salts comprise LiPF6 and LiBF4. The additive salt is present in an amount of 0.1-60 mole percent of the total of the additive salt and electrolyte salt content of the electrolyte.

A method of preparing a composite cathode active material having superior cell characteristics includes mixing and milling starting material, carbon and an organic complexing agent. The mixture is heated at a first temperature in an inert atmosphere to form a composite precursor, and then the precursor is ground and heated at a second temperature in an inert atmosphere to produce a carbon-containing composite cathode material having high electronic conductivity. The said composite cathode has a general formula of LiFe1−xMxPO4—C, within 0≦x<1, M is selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, V, Cr, Mn and a mixture thereof.

A composition is provided as a salt having the formula MBF3X where M is an alkali metal cation and X is the halide fluoride, bromide or iodide. A lithium salt has several characteristics making the composition well suited for inclusion within a lithium-ion battery. A process for forming an alkali metal trifluorohaloborate salt includes the preparation of a boron trifluoride etherate in an organic solvent. An alkali metal halide salt where the halide is chloride, bromide or iodide is suspended in the solution and reacted with boron trifluoride etherate to form an alkali metal trifluorohaloborate. The alkali metal trifluorohaloborate so produced is collected as a solid from the solution. The process is simple and yields alkali metal trifluorohaloborate of sufficient purity to be used directly in battery applications.

A piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator includes a silicon substrate; an actuator beam comprising a first end region connected to the silicon substrate and a second end region connected to a mechanically compliant spring assembly; a first electrode over the silicon substrate; a piezoelectric layer above the first electrode; a second electrode over the piezoelectric layer; a conductive top structural layer above the second electrode, wherein a center half of the actuator beam is configured as a positive deflection region, and wherein both the first electrode and the second electrode supply voltage to both positive and negative deflection regions of the actuator beam.

An electrolyte membrane assembly for use in a fuel cell or other electrochemical device includes an ion exchange membrane, a base electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of a basic electrolyte solution in contact with at least some of the first face of the membrane, and an acid electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of an acidic electrolyte in contact with at least a portion of the second face of the membrane. The membrane may be a cation exchange membrane or an anion exchange membrane. Also disclosed are fuel cells which incorporate the electrolyte membrane assembly.