A method according to one embodiment includes combining an amorphous iron-based alloy and at least one metal selected from a group consisting of molybdenum, chromium, tungsten, boron, gadolinium, nickel phosphorous, yttrium, and alloys thereof to form a mixture, wherein the at least one metal is present in the mixture from about 5 atomic percent (at %) to about 55 at %; and ball milling the mixture at least until an amorphous alloy of the iron-based alloy and the at least one metal is formed. Several amorphous iron-based metal alloys are also presented, including corrosion-resistant amorphous iron-based metal alloys and radiation-shielding amorphous iron-based metal alloys.

Provided is a hydrogen storing alloy represented by the general formula: (RE.sub.1-a-bSm.sub.aMg.sub.b)(Ni.sub.1-c-dAl.sub.cM.sub.d).sub.x (where 0.3<a<0.6; 0<b<0.16; 0.1<cx<0.2; 0dx0.1; 3.2<x<3.5; RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element other than Sm, and Y, and essentially contains La; and M is Mn and/or Co). Also provided is a hydrogen storing alloy represented by the general formula: (RE.sub.1-a-bSm.sub.aMg.sub.b)(Ni.sub.1-c-dAl.sub.cM.sub.d).sub.x (where 0.1<a<0.25; 0.1<b<0.2; 0.02<cx<0.2; 0dx0.1; 3.6<x<3.7; RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element other than Sm, and Y, and essentially contains La; and M is Mn and/or Co). Further provided is a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery including a negative electrode containing the hydrogen storing alloy.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of the energy storage in Li-ion type batteries. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to materials for the anode of a Li-ion battery, to their method of preparation and to their use in the anode of a Li-ion battery. Another subject matter disclosed herein are Li-ion batteries manufactured by incorporating the disclosed materials. Devices comprising the disclosed Li-ion batteries are also disclosed.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of the energy storage in Li-ion type batteries. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to materials for the anode of a Li-ion battery, to their method of preparation and to their use in the anode of a Li-ion battery. Another subject matter disclosed herein are Li-ion batteries manufactured by incorporating the disclosed materials. Devices comprising the disclosed Li-ion batteries are also disclosed.

This invention provides a conductive paste and a method for producing a TOPCon solar cell, by which a TOPCon solar cell can be produced by a simple method, and additionally, a TOPCon solar cell can be constructed with excellent conversion efficiency. Specifically, the invention provides a conductive paste for use as a back electrode for TOPCon solar cells, the conductive paste comprising aluminum-silicon alloy particles, an organic vehicle, and a glass powder, the aluminum-silicon alloy particles having a silicon concentration of 25 wt % or more and 40 wt % or less.

Provided is an Fe-based nanocrystalline alloy powder. The Fe-based nanocrystalline alloy powder has a chemical composition, excluding inevitable impurities, represented by a composition formula of Fe.sub.aSi.sub.bB.sub.cP.sub.dCu.sub.eM.sub.f, where the M in the composition formula is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Mo, Zr, Ta, W, Hf, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, C, Al, S, O, and N, 79 at %?a?84.5 at %, 0 at %?b<6 at %, 0 at %<c?10 at %, 4 at %<d?11 at %, 0.2 at %?e?0.53 at %, 0 at %?f?4 at %, a+b+c+d+e+f=100 at %, a degree of crystallinity is more than 10% by volume, and an Fe crystallite diameter of the Fe-based nanocrystalline alloy powder is 50 nm or less.

A water-atomized metal powder is produced by dividing a molten metal stream into a metal powder by making injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more impinge on the molten metal stream and cooling the metal powder. Cooling with injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more enables can be performed not in the film boiling region but in the transition boiling region from the beginning of cooling. A gas-atomized metal powder may also be produced by dividing a molten metal stream into a metal powder by making an inert gas impinge on the molten metal stream and cooling the metal powder with injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more.

In an electric device the negative electrode active material layer includes a silicide phase containing a silicide of a transition metal is dispersed in a parent phase containing amorphous or low crystalline silicon as a main component, a predetermined composition, and a ratio value (B/A) of a diffraction peak intensity B of a silicide of a transition metal in a range of 2=37 to 45 to a diffraction peak intensity A of a (111) plane of Si in a range of 2=24 to 33 in a predetermined range in an X-ray diffraction measurement using a CuK1 ray is used as a Si-containing alloy. A solid solution or an oxide-coated solid solution in which a coating layer containing an oxide in a predetermined amount is formed on the particle surface of the solid solution and is used in the positive electrode active material layer.

The disclosure provides a method for generating a metallic coating on a substrate using a mixture comprising a precursor compound typically of chromium oxide, a chemical agent typically comprising NH.sub.z, and an inert transport fluid. The precursor compound and chemical agent are generally in the form of particulates having mean diameters less than about 100 microns, and the transport fluid is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate application of the mixture to a substrate. The mixture is applied to a substrate and the coated substrate is heated to a temperature exceeding the decomposition temperature of the chemical agent, generating a reducing gas typically comprising CO, H.sub.x, and/or NH.sub.x. In a particular embodiment, the precursor compound is CrO.sub.2, Cr.sub.3O.sub.4, CrO, or mixtures thereof, the chemical agent is urea, and the coated substrate is placed in a reactor having an inert atmosphere and subjected to a temperature of about 700 C. for about 5 minutes while maintaining an inert gas flow through the reactor.

The disclosure provides a method for generating a metallic coating on a substrate using a mixture comprising a precursor compound typically of chromium oxide, a chemical agent typically comprising NH.sub.z, and an inert transport fluid. The precursor compound and chemical agent are generally in the form of particulates having mean diameters less than about 100 microns, and the transport fluid is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate application of the mixture to a substrate. The mixture is applied to a substrate and the coated substrate is heated to a temperature exceeding the decomposition temperature of the chemical agent, generating a reducing gas typically comprising CO, H.sub.x, and/or NH.sub.x. In a particular embodiment, the precursor compound is CrO.sub.2, Cr.sub.3O.sub.4, CrO, or mixtures thereof, the chemical agent is urea, and the coated substrate is placed in a reactor having an inert atmosphere and subjected to a temperature of about 700 C. for about 5 minutes while maintaining an inert gas flow through the reactor.