A method of fabricating and using a zinc negative electrode and systems thereof are described. A zinc electroplated electrode including a layer of zinc metal bonded to a surface of an electrically conductive current collector is fabricated by an electroplating process using a zinc electroplating system. The zinc electroplating system includes: a zinc metal anode, a cathode including the current collector for plating zinc thereon, and an electrolyte bath comprising zinc ions. The electroplating process bonds the zinc metal to the surface of the current collector to create the electroplated zinc electrode. The electroplated zinc electrode is used as a negative electrode in a zinc metal cell. The zinc metal cell may be a primary cell or a secondary cell.

A method of fabricating and using a zinc negative electrode and systems thereof are described. A zinc electroplated electrode including a layer of zinc metal bonded to a surface of an electrically conductive current collector is fabricated by an electroplating process using a zinc electroplating system. The zinc electroplating system includes: a zinc metal anode, a cathode including the current collector for plating zinc thereon, and an electrolyte bath comprising zinc ions. The electroplating process bonds the zinc metal to the surface of the current collector to create the electroplated zinc electrode. The electroplated zinc electrode is used as a negative electrode in a zinc metal cell. The zinc metal cell may be a primary cell or a secondary cell.

A method of producing graphene sheets from coke or coal powder, comprising: (a) forming an intercalated coke or coal compound by electrochemical intercalation conducted in an intercalation reactor, which contains (i) a liquid solution electrolyte comprising an intercalating agent; (ii) a working electrode that contains the powder in ionic contact with the liquid electrolyte, wherein the coke or coal powder is selected from petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, lignite coal, or natural coal mineral powder; and (iii) a counter electrode in ionic contact with the electrolyte, and wherein a current is imposed upon the working electrode and the counter electrode for effecting electrochemical intercalation of the intercalating agent into the powder; and (b) exfoliating and separating graphene planes from the intercalated coke or coal compound using an ultrasonication, thermal shock exposure, mechanical shearing treatment, or a combination thereof to produce isolated graphene sheets.

A method of producing graphene sheets from coke or coal powder, comprising: (a) forming an intercalated coke or coal compound by electrochemical intercalation conducted in an intercalation reactor, which contains (i) a liquid solution electrolyte comprising an intercalating agent; (ii) a working electrode that contains the powder in ionic contact with the liquid electrolyte, wherein the coke or coal powder is selected from petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, lignite coal, or natural coal mineral powder; and (iii) a counter electrode in ionic contact with the electrolyte, and wherein a current is imposed upon the working electrode and the counter electrode for effecting electrochemical intercalation of the intercalating agent into the powder; and (b) exfoliating and separating graphene planes from the intercalated coke or coal compound using an ultrasonication, thermal shock exposure, mechanical shearing treatment, or a combination thereof to produce isolated graphene sheets.

Articles comprising a substrate and a coating are described. In some examples, the coating is disposed on at least one region of the surface and comprises at least one hydrophobic layer. In some instances, the hydrophobic layer comprises a composite comprising a single metallic element or metallic compound and at least one type of surface-modified inorganic particles to provide a metal-based matrix. In certain examples, the at least one type of surface-modified inorganic particles within the metal-based matrix is embedded within the metal-based matrix and is separate from the single metallic element or metallic compound in the metal-based matrix. Processes for producing the coatings and articles are also described.

Articles comprising a substrate and a coating are described. In some examples, the coating is disposed on at least one region of the surface and comprises at least one hydrophobic layer. In some instances, the hydrophobic layer comprises a composite comprising a single metallic element or metallic compound and at least one type of surface-modified inorganic particles to provide a metal-based matrix. In certain examples, the at least one type of surface-modified inorganic particles within the metal-based matrix is embedded within the metal-based matrix and is separate from the single metallic element or metallic compound in the metal-based matrix. Processes for producing the coatings and articles are also described.

Provided is a method for forming a metal film using a solid-state electrolyte membrane, and the method allows a metal film having a smooth surface to be formed and an additive to sufficiently serve its function. A method for forming a metal film includes the successive steps of (a) supplying a solution to a solution-housing space, the solution containing ions of the metal and an additive; (b) increasing a pressure of the solution in the solution-housing space in a state where the solution-housing space is uncommunicated with a solution tank and the substrate held by a holder is in contact with the solid-state electrolyte membrane; (c) decreasing the pressure of the solution in the solution-housing space; and (d) forming the film of the metal on the substrate by applying a voltage between an anode and the substrate while the solution is circulated between the solution-housing space and the solution tank.

A bathless plating for a conductive material with composite particles or with high surface coverage. The setup for the bathless electro-plating includes a cathode, a composite mixture, a membrane, and an anode. The cathode is a conductive material. The composite mixture comprises a metal salt, an acid, and a composite material. The composite mixture is applied to the cathode. A hydrophilic membrane is applied to the composite mixture. An anode, with oxidizing properties, is applied to the membrane. A current is applied to the bathless setup. Upon removing the current and composite mixture from the cathode, a metal-based composite coating remains on the cathode.

The present invention relates to a method for electrochemical purification of an aqueous solution comprising the steps of: providing a cathode and an anode to an aqueous solution, wherein said aqueous solution comprises soluble ions of at least one toxic heavy metal and wherein said cathode comprises an outer surface, which outer surface comprises a noble metal; applying an absolute potential to said cathode and wherein said absolute potential of said cathode drives the formation of an alloy comprising said noble metal and said at least one toxic heavy metal.

A radiator structure is provided. The radiator structure includes a substrate, a first metal coating layer and a second metal coating layer. The first metal coating layer and the second metal coating layer are made of materials different from one another, and are formed on the substrate by different processes. The first metal coating layer is a non-first masking area formed on the substrate by wet processing. The second metal coating layer is a non-second masking area correspondingly formed on the first metal coating layer and the substrate by sputtering. A first masking area and a second masking area are not necessarily the same.