A lead-based alloy containing alloying additions of bismuth, antimony, arsenic, and tin is used for the production of doped leady oxides, lead-acid battery active materials, lead-acid battery electrodes, and lead-acid batteries.

Disclosed herein is a method of forming an alloy material for use in a wire. The method includes forming a master alloy containing lead and silver; and creating a molten wire alloy by combining the master alloy, additional lead, and a third material in a vessel. The method also includes flowing argon gas through and over the molten wire alloy. The method also includes drawing the molten alloy from the vessel through an actively cooled die, and solidifying the molten wire alloy to form a bar of wire alloy.

Disclosed herein is a method of forming an alloy material for use in a wire. The method includes forming a master alloy containing lead and silver; and creating a molten wire alloy by combining the master alloy, additional lead, and a third material in a vessel. The method also includes flowing argon gas through and over the molten wire alloy. The method also includes drawing the molten alloy from the vessel through an actively cooled die, and solidifying the molten wire alloy to form a bar of wire alloy.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

An objective is to improve the corrosion resistance of a positive electrode grid for lead acid batteries. Provided is a positive electrode grid for lead acid batteries, and a lead acid battery including the grid. The grid includes a lead alloy containing calcium and tin. The lead alloy has a calcium content of 0.10 mass % or less, and a tin content of 2.3 mass % or less, and a lattice constant of 4.9470 or less.

Identifying a stable phase of a binary alloy comprising a solute element and a solvent element. In one example, at least two thermodynamic parameters associated with grain growth and phase separation of the binary alloy are determined, and the stable phase of the binary alloy is identified based on the first thermodynamic parameter and the second thermodynamic parameter, wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

Identifying a stable phase of a binary alloy comprising a solute element and a solvent element. In one example, at least two thermodynamic parameters associated with grain growth and phase separation of the binary alloy are determined, and the stable phase of the binary alloy is identified based on the first thermodynamic parameter and the second thermodynamic parameter, wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

A gallium nitride thin film can be formed on a substrate at a low temperature (e.g., not higher than 600 C.) by applying a laser to resonantly excite molecules of a first precursor that contains nitrogen, in which the laser has a wavelength that is selected to match a vibration mode and/or a vibrational-rotational mode of the molecules of the first precursor. A second precursor is provided in which the excited first precursor and the second precursor react to form a nitride that is deposited on the substrate. For example, the second precursor may include gallium, and the nitride may be gallium nitride. Other nitride films can be produced in a similar manner.

Some variations provide a metal-alloy biphasic system containing a first metal M.sup.1 and a second metal M.sup.2, wherein a second metal phase has a melting temperature lower than that of a first metal phase, and wherein the metal-alloy biphasic system has a hierarchical microstructure containing a second length scale that is at least one order of magnitude smaller than a first length scale. Some variations provide a metal-alloy biphasic system containing a first metal M.sup.1 and a second metal M.sup.2, wherein a second metal phase has a melting temperature lower than that of a first metal phase, and wherein the first metal phase forms a continuous network. Other variations provide a metal-alloy biphasic powder containing at least a first metal and a second metal, wherein the solubility of first metal in second metal is less than 5%. Methods of making and using the powders and biphasic system are disclosed.