3274results about "Electrical-based machining electrodes" patented technology

Devices and methods are described for providing continuous measurement of an analyte concentration. In some embodiments, the device has a sensing mechanism and a sensing membrane that includes at least one surface-active group-containing polymer and that is located over the sensing mechanism. The sensing membrane may have a bioprotective layer configured to substantially block the effect and / or influence of non-constant noise-causing species.

The invention is directed to conductive polymer compositions, catalytic ink compositions (e.g., for use in screen-printing), electrodes produced by deposition of an ink composition, methods of making, and methods of using thereof. An exemplary ink material comprises platinum black and / or platinum-on-carbon as the catalyst, graphite as a conducting material, a polymer binding material, and an organic solvent. The polymer binding material is typically a copolymer of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers. The conductive polymer compositions of the present invention can be used, for example, to make electrochemical sensors. Such sensors can be used in a variety of analyte monitoring devices to monitor analyte amount or concentrations in subjects, for example, glucose monitoring devices to monitor glucose levels in subjects with diabetes.

A fixture for supporting a workpiece during electroplating of a metal upon the workpiece in a conductive electroplating bath includes a non-conductive frame member for receiving the workpiece therein. The fixture further includes a current distribution means having a plurality of contacts. The plurality of contacts is disposed inwardly for providing an equally distributed electrical contact with an outer perimeter region of the workpiece. The workpiece is supported between the frame member and the current distribution means. Lastly, a thief electrode is perimetrically disposed about the workpiece and spaced a prescribed distance from the workpiece by a gap region. During plating of a metal upon the workpiece, the gap region between the thief and the workpiece is filled with the conductive electroplating bath. An electroplating apparatus having a fixture for supporting a workpiece during an electroplating process and a method of supporting the workpiece to be electroplated are also disclosed.

Electrochemical cells, and more specifically, release systems for the fabrication of electrochemical cells are described. In particular, release layer arrangements, assemblies, methods and compositions that facilitate the fabrication of electrochemical cell components, such as electrodes, are presented. In some embodiments, methods of fabricating an electrode involve the use of a release layer to separate portions of the electrode from a carrier substrate on which the electrode was fabricated. For example, an intermediate electrode assembly may include, in sequence, an electroactive material layer, a current collector layer, a release layer, and a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate can facilitate handling of the electrode during fabrication and / or assembly, but may be released from the electrode prior to commercial use.

Electrodes for use in electrochemical devices are disclosed. More particularly coated electrode particles for use in solid electrochemical cells and materials and systems for improving electronic conductivity and repulsive force characteristics of an electrode network are disclosed. An article containing a plurality of distinct first particles that form an electrode network in which the distinct first particles are coated with a system of electrically conductive material is also disclosed. In some embodiments, the coating layer also includes a low refractive index material. In some embodiments, the coating layer of the electroactive material includes a plurality of second particles.

A tandem cell or photoelectrochemical system for the cleavage of water to hydrogen and oxygen by visible light has two superimposed photocells, both cells being connected electrically. The photoactive material in the top cell is a semiconducting oxide placed in contact with an aqueous solution. This semiconducting oxide absorbs the blue and green part of the solar emission spectrum of a light source or light sources and generates with the energy collected oxygen and protons from water. The not absorbed yellow and red light transmits the top cell and enters a second photocell, the bottom cell, which is mounted, in the direction of the light behind, preferably directly behind the top cell. The bottom cell includes a dye-sensitized mesoporous photovoltaic film. The bottom cell converts the yellow, red and near infrared portion of the sunlight to drive the reduction of the protons, which are produced in the top cell during the photo catalytic water oxidation process, to hydrogen.

A platinum / ruthenium alloy catalyst that includes finely dispersed alloy particles on a powdery, electrically conductive carrier material. The catalyst is particularly resistant to carbon monoxide poisoning when the alloy particles display mean crystallite sizes of 0.5 to less than 2 nm.

The assay devices, assay systems and device components of this invention comprise at least two opposing surfaces disposed a capillary distance apart, at least one of which is capable of immobilizing at least one target ligand or a conjugate in an amount related to the presence or amount of target ligand in the sample from a fluid sample in a zone for controlled fluid movement to, through or away the zone. The inventive device components may be incorporated into conventional assay devices with membranes or may be used in the inventive membrane-less devices herein described and claimed. These components include flow control elements, measurement elements, time gates, elements for the elimination of pipetting steps, and generally, elements for the controlled flow, timing, delivery, incubation, separation, washing and other steps of the assay process.

The invention relates to a novel rhodium sulfide catalyst for the reduction of oxygen in industrial electrolyzers. The catalyst is highly resistant towards corrosion and poisoning by organic species, thus resulting particularly suitable for use in aqueous hydrochloric acid electrolysis, when technical grade acid containing organic contaminants is employed.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a honeycomb compact-body molding die having material feed bores for supplying material therethrough and slit recesses formed in a polygonal lattice pattern to mold the material in a compact body with a honeycomb shape are disclosed. The slit recesses are formed on a recess forming surface of the molding die using an electrode having electrode segments, formed in a lattice pattern corresponding to shapes of the slit recesses each of which has a wall thickness of 0.1 mm or less, to generate an electrical discharge between the molding die and the electrode to form the slit recess on the molding die. When the electrode is worn by a given amount, an apical end cut-off processing step is executed to cut off an apical end of the electrode using a dress plate to expose a new apical end formed with an electrical discharge surface.

A surface-modified nano graphene platelet (NGP), comprising: (a) a nano graphene platelet having a thickness smaller than 10 nm; and (b) discrete, non-continuous, and non-metallic bumps or nodules bonded to a surface of the graphene platelet to serve as a spacer. When multiple surface-modified NGP sheets are stacked together to form an electrode, large numbers of electrolyte-accessible pores are formed, enabling the formation of large amounts of double layer charges in a supercapacitor, which exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacitance.

A method of rough shaping a prosthetic joint component that includes a generally spherical polycrystalline diamond compact by electric discharge machining is disclosed. The discharge machining electrode roughens a polycrystalline diamond compact sphere while the electrode and the sphere are rotating about different axes. By controlling the amount of discharge current, the depth and amount of the heat affected zone can be minimized. In the case of a polycrystalline diamond compact, the heat affected zone can be kept to about 3 to 5 microns in depth and is easily removable by grinding and polishing.

Embodiments described herein provide methods and systems for manufacturing faster charging, higher capacity energy storage devices that are smaller, lighter, and can be more cost effectively manufactured at a higher production rate. In one embodiment, a graded cathode structure is provided. The graded cathode structure comprises a conductive substrate, a first porous layer comprising a first cathodically active material having a first porosity formed on the conductive substrate, and a second porous layer comprising a second cathodically active material having a second porosity formed on the first porous layer. In certain embodiments, the first porosity is greater than the second porosity. In certain embodiments, the first porosity is less than the second porosity.

A catalyst for the electrolysis of water molecules and hydrocarbons, the catalyst including catalytic groups comprising A1-xB2−yB′yO4 spinels having a cubical M4O4 core, wherein A is Li or Na, B and B′ are independently any transition metal or main group metal, M is B, B′, or both, x is a number from 0 to 1, and y is a number from 0 to 2. In photo-electrolytic applications, a plurality of catalytic groups are supported on a conductive support substrate capable of incorporating water molecules. At least some of the catalytic groups, supported by the support substrate, are able to catalytically interact with water molecules incorporated into the support substrate. The catalyst can also be used as part of a photo-electrochemical cell for the generation of electrical energy.

An electrode comprising a primary and secondary metal nanoparticle coating on a metallic substrate is prepared by dispersing nanoparticles in a solvent and layering them onto the substrate, followed by heating. The enhanced surface area of the electrode due to the catalytic nanoparticles is dramatically enhanced, allowing for increased reaction efficiency. The electrode can be used in one of many different applications; for example, as an electrode in an electrolysis device to generate hydrogen and oxygen, or a fuel cell.

An electroerosion apparatus includes a tubular electrode supported in a tool head in a multiaxis machine. The machine is configured for spinning the electrode along multiple axes of movement relative to a workpiece supported on a spindle having an additional axis of movement. A power supply powers the electrode as a cathode and the workpiece as an anode. Electrolyte is circulated through the tubular electrode during operation. And, a controller is configured to operate the machine and power supply for distributing multiple electrical arcs between the electrode and workpiece for electroerosion thereof as the spinning electrode travels along its feedpath.

A method and apparatus for providing a welding current is disclosed. The power source is capable of receiving any input voltage over a wide range of input voltages and includes an input rectifier that rectifies the ac input into a dc signal. A dc voltage stage converts the dc signal to a desired dc voltage and an inverter inverts the dc signal into a second ac signal. An output transformer receives the second ac signal and provides a third ac signal that has a current magnitude suitable for welding. The welding current may be rectified and smoothed by an output inductor and an output rectifier. A controller provides control signals to the inverter and an auxiliary power controller that can receive a range of input voltages and provide a control power signal to the controller.

An ionically conductive ceramic element includes a central unit (703). The central unit (703) is composed of a plurality of integrated manifold and tube modules (IMAT) (22) joined end to end along a central axis (A). Each IMAT module (22) has a tube support portion (804) and a plurality of tubes (802) extending from the first surface (803). The tubes (802) each have a closed end (805) and an open end. The second surface (807) is at least partially open to the atmosphere. The open ends of the tubes (802) are open to the atmosphere through the second surface (807). An interior space (830) is formed in the interior of the IMAT (22) for collecting a desired product gas. A collection tube (710) is operable joined with a first end (714) of the central unit (703) for transporting the desired product gas collected in the interior space (730) of the connected IMAT modules (22).

This invention describes a rapid tooling process that integrates solid freeform fabrication (SFF) with electroforming to produce metal tools including molds, dies, and electrical discharge machining (EDM) electrodes. An SFF part is metalized by electroless plating and then placed in an electroplating solution, where metal is deposited upon the part by electrolysis. When the desired thickness of metal has been reached, the SFF part is removed from the metal shell. The shell is then optionally backed with other materials to form a mold cavity, and EDM electrode, or other desired parts for tooling. Thermomechanical modeling and numerical simulation with finite element analysis (FEA) is used to determine the geometry of the SFF part and the electroform thickness for minimizing the manufacturing time and cost while satisfy the tooling requirement.

An electrolytic cathode consists of a solid copper hanger bar and a stainless-steel mother plate attached to a receiving groove in the underside of the hanger bar. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the entire length of connection is welded, thereby establishing a large boundary surface for good electrical conductance. The solid hanger bar further includes a cladding of stainless steel wrapped over the copper bar and the upper portion of the mother plate, leaving only the ends of the copper bar exposed for electrical connection with conventional bus-bars. The lower edges of the cover are attached to the mother plate by a steel-to-steel weld that produces a strong and durable connection. The lateral edges of the cover are also connected to the copper bar by a conventional copper weld that completely seals the cover over the copper bar, thereby preventing contamination from the electrolytic solution. The cover is then welded to the mother plate and sealed around the copper bar. The heat produced by the welding process, which causes the steel cladding material to expand during welding, is used to improve the tightness of the fit between the cover and the copper bar as a result of the cover's shrinkage occurring during cooling.

Disclosed herein are electrochemical fabrication platforms for making structures, arrays of structures and functional devices having selected nanosized and / or microsized physical dimensions, shapes and spatial orientations. Methods, systems and system components use an electrochemical stamping tool such as solid state polymeric electrolytes for generating patterns of relief and / or recessed features exhibiting excellent reproducibility, pattern fidelity and resolution on surfaces of solid state ionic conductors and in metal. Electrochemical stamping tools are capable high throughput patterning of large substrate areas, are compatible with commercially attractive manufacturing pathways to access a range of functional systems and devices including nano- and micro-electromechanical systems, sensors, energy storage devices, metal masks for printing, interconnects, and integrated electronic circuits.

An electrode assembly for electrical impedance tomography comprising a plurality of different electrode modules, each containing a support strap made of a flexible material that presents a reduced longitudinal deformability and carrying a predetermined number of electrodes, each support strap being dimensioned to be seated and retained onto a respective extension portion of a body segment of a patient. Each electrode module presents the number of electrodes and a distance ‘De’ between each two consecutive electrodes predetermined as a function of a specific operational pattern to be obtained from each electrode module. The assembly can further comprise an electrical conducting cable having an end connected to a monitoring apparatus and a free end provided with a connector to be coupled to a respective electrode of an electrode module.

Switching uniformity of an optical modulation device for controlling the propagation of electromagnetic radiation is improved by use of an electrode comprising an electrically resistive layer that is transparent to the radiation. The resistive layer is preferably an innerlayer of a wide-bandgap oxide sandwiched between layers of indium tin oxide or another transparent conductor, and may be of uniform thickness, or may be graded so as to provide further improvement in the switching uniformity. The electrode may be used with electrochromic and reversible electrochemical mirror (REM) smart window devices, as well as display devices based on various technologies.

An electrode applied in electro-machining processes is provided. The electrode comprises a main body portion and at least one built-in internal flushing passage for introducing a flushing liquid to a volume between the electrode and a workpiece to be machined. The electrode is made by an additive fabrication process that enables specialized flushing for enhancing waste material evacuation and incorporate special material properties like zones of high electrical conductivity and thermal resistance. The fabrication process produces materials and geometries that could not otherwise be made using conventional processing.

The invention provides an electrolytic machining method for a thin-wall machine case of an aero-engine, belonging to the technical field of electrolytic machining. The electrolytic machining method mainly aims at the machining of a surface concave-convex structure of a complicated thin-wall rotary body part in the aviation field, and is characterized in that a tool cathode is of a thin-wall strip-shaped structure or a rigid rotary body structure; window or lug boss structures with different shapes are distributed on the surface of the cathode. In a machining process, a workpiece anode automatically rotates and the tool cathode is fed to the anode in a peripheral movement process. In the whole machining process, electrodes do not need to be replaced, and the surface concave-convex structure of the thin-wall rotary body part is machined and molded once through rolling sleeve electrolytic action of a cathode window.

In one aspect, the invention provides a photoelectrochemical (PEC) electrode or photoelectrode for use in splitting water by electrolysis. The photoelectrode has an electrically conductive surface in contact with an electrolyte solution. This surface is a doped tin oxide layer, which is in electrical contact with the semiconductor solar cell material of the PEC photoelectrode. In a variation of the present invention, another layer of metal oxide having transparent, anti-reflective, and conductive properties is disposed between the doped tin oxide layer and the semiconductor material.

A field emission array adopting carbon nanotubes as an electron emitter source, wherein the array includes a rear substrate assembly including cathodes formed as stripes over a rear substrate and carbon nanotubes; a front substrate assembly including anodes formed as stripes over a front substrate with phosphors being deposited on the anodes, a plurality of openings separated by a distance corresponding to the distance between the anodes in a nonconductive plate, and gates formed as stripes perpendicular to the stripes of anodes on the nonconductive plate with a plurality of emitter openings corresponding to the plurality of openings. The nonconductive plate is supported and separated from the front substrate using spacers. The rear substrate assembly is combined with the front substrate assembly such that the carbon nanotubes on the cathodes project through the emitter openings.

Described herein are casting and molding methods useful for making microstructured objects. By including a plurality of microfeatures on the surface of an object, other characteristics may be imparted to the object, such as increased hydrophobicity. Some of the casting and molding methods described herein further allow for manufacture of objects having both microfeatures and macro features, for example microfeatures on or within macro features or selected macro feature regions.

A composite, high-temperature resistant, non-carbon metal-based anode of a cell for the electrowinning of aluminium comprises a metal-based core structure of low electrical resistance, for connecting the anode to a positive current supply, coated with a series of superimposed, adherent, electrically conductive layers. These layers consist of at least one layer on the core structure constituting a barrier substantially impervious to monoatomic oxygen and molecular oxygen; one or more intermediate, protective layers on the oxygen barrier layer which remain inactive in the reactions for the evolution of oxygen gas; and an electrochemically active layer for the oxidation reaction of oxygen ions present at the anode / electrolyte interface into nascent monoatomic oxygen, as well as for subsequent reaction for the formation of gaseous biatomic oxygen. The active layer on the outermost intermediate layer is slowly consumable during electrolysis and protects the intermediate protective layer by inhibiting its dissolution into the electrolyte.