The present disclosure describes methods and systems comprising hydrodynamic cavitation, microwave irradiation, and at least one of oxidative sonoelectrolysis and reductive sonoelectrolysis, providing feedstock purification of at least one of water, fluid and mineral. Contaminants, broken down and chemically degraded into smaller and more volatile substances by hydrodynamic cavitation are ultimately destroyed in the course of one or more sonoelectrolysis steps. In various embodiments, at least one of oxidative sonoelectrolysis and reductive sonoelectrolysis is irradiated with microwaves in order to heat the sonoplasma present within acoustic cavitation bubbles to temperatures sufficient to destroy contaminants therein.

A smart electrochemical processing apparatus includes a reaction container, an electrode unit and a surface feature scanner. The reaction container has an electrolytic tank. The electrode unit has a first electrode fixed to the electrolytic tank and a second electrode rotatably positioned at the electrolytic tank. The surface feature scanner is positioned at the electrolytic tank. Before being put in the electrolytic tank for processing, a workpiece positioned at the second electrode is scanned with the surface feature scanner while being rotated by the second electrode. After surface feature data of the workpiece have been collected, various process parameters can be adjusted to thereby achieve satisfactory surface treatment of the workpiece.

Manufacturing an exterior décor panel for a home appliance includes laminating a photosensitive dry film on a front surface of a metal sheet, the photosensitive dry film having a higher etch resistance than the metal sheet against an electrolytic solution, photo-masking the photosensitive dry film attached to the metal sheet to create a pattern having a minimum width of 0.1 mm in the photosensitive dry film to thereby expose the front surface of the metal sheet corresponding to the pattern in the photosensitive film, electrolytic-polishing the photo-masked metal sheet by dipping the photo-masked metal sheet in an electrolytic bath to allow the electrolytic solution to contact the exposed front surface of the metal sheet and form the pattern in the front surface of the metal sheet, and performing post-treatment on the metal sheet, the post-treatment including washing and removing the photosensitive dry film.

Manufacturing an exterior décor panel for a home appliance includes laminating a photosensitive dry film on a front surface of a metal sheet, the photosensitive dry film having a higher etch resistance than the metal sheet against an electrolytic solution, photo-masking the photosensitive dry film attached to the metal sheet to create a pattern having a minimum width of 0.1 mm in the photosensitive dry film to thereby expose the front surface of the metal sheet corresponding to the pattern in the photosensitive film, electrolytic-polishing the photo-masked metal sheet by dipping the photo-masked metal sheet in an electrolytic bath to allow the electrolytic solution to contact the exposed front surface of the metal sheet and form the pattern in the front surface of the metal sheet, and performing post-treatment on the metal sheet, the post-treatment including washing and removing the photosensitive dry film.

A processing device for a metal material, containing: an airtight container for housing a specimen thereinside; an oxygen pump for extracting oxygen molecules from a gas discharged from the airtight container; a circulation means for returning the gas into the airtight container; and a plasma generation means present inside the airtight container for converting the gas returned from the circulation means into plasma and exposing the specimen thereto.

A processing device for a metal material, containing: an airtight container for housing a specimen thereinside; an oxygen pump for extracting oxygen molecules from a gas discharged from the airtight container; a circulation means for returning the gas into the airtight container; and a plasma generation means present inside the airtight container for converting the gas returned from the circulation means into plasma and exposing the specimen thereto.

Methods and apparatus for forming porous silicon layers are provided. In some embodiments, an anodizing bath includes: a housing having a first volume to hold a chemical solution; a cathode disposed within the first volume at a first side of the housing; an anode disposed within the first volume at a second side of the housing, opposite the first side, wherein a face of each of the cathode and the anode have a given surface area; a substrate holder configured to retain a plurality of substrates along a perimeter thereof within the first volume in a plurality of substrate holding positions, a plurality of vent openings fluidly coupled to the first volume to release process gases, wherein a top of each of the plurality of vent openings are disposed above a chemical solution fill level in the first volume.

A nozzle device includes a nozzle body and at least one second electrode. The nozzle body extends along a longitudinal axis, and has a top surface, a bottom surface for confronting a first electrode of a workpiece, a recess provided in the bottom surface, and a longitudinal channel extending downwardly from the top surface along the longitudinal axis to be in fluid communication with the recess. The longitudinal channel has an upper section and a lower tapered section which is tapered downwardly to form a lower communication port. The least one second electrode is disposed in the recess for being spaced apart from the first electrode.

A method for smoothing and polishing metals via ion transport by free solid bodies. The method includes connecting a part to be treated to a pole of a current generator and subjecting the part to friction with a set of particles that includes electrically charged and electrically conductive free solid bodies in a gaseous environment.

A method for smoothing and polishing metals via ion transport by free solid bodies. The method includes connecting a part to be treated to a pole of a current generator and subjecting the part to friction with a set of particles that includes electrically charged and electrically conductive free solid bodies in a gaseous environment.