A dendrite penetration-resistant layer for a rechargeable alkali metal battery, comprising an amorphous carbon or polymeric carbon matrix, an optional carbon or graphite reinforcement phase dispersed in this matrix, and a lithium- or sodium-containing species that are chemically bonded to the matrix and/or the optional carbon or graphite reinforcement phase to form an integral layer that prevents dendrite penetration through this integral layer in the alkali metal battery, wherein the lithium- or sodium-containing species is selected from Li.sub.2CO.sub.3, Li.sub.2O, Li.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4, LiOH, LiX, ROCO.sub.2Li, HCOLi, ROLi, (ROCO.sub.2Li).sub.2, (CH.sub.2OCO.sub.2Li).sub.2, Li.sub.2S, Li.sub.xSO.sub.y, Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, Na.sub.2O, Na.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4, NaOH, NaiX, ROCO.sub.2Na, HCONa, RONa, (ROCO.sub.2Na).sub.2, (CH.sub.2OCO.sub.2Na).sub.2, Na.sub.2S, Na.sub.xSO.sub.y, or a combination thereof, wherein X=F, Cl, I, or Br, R= a hydrocarbon group, x=0-1, y=1-4; and wherein the lithium- or sodium-containing species is derived from an electrochemical decomposition reaction.

A dendrite penetration-resistant layer for a rechargeable alkali metal battery, comprising an amorphous carbon or polymeric carbon matrix, an optional carbon or graphite reinforcement phase dispersed in this matrix, and a lithium- or sodium-containing species that are chemically bonded to the matrix and/or the optional carbon or graphite reinforcement phase to form an integral layer that prevents dendrite penetration through this integral layer in the alkali metal battery, wherein the lithium- or sodium-containing species is selected from Li.sub.2CO.sub.3, Li.sub.2O, Li.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4, LiOH, LiX, ROCO.sub.2Li, HCOLi, ROLi, (ROCO.sub.2Li).sub.2, (CH.sub.2OCO.sub.2Li).sub.2, Li.sub.2S, Li.sub.xSO.sub.y, Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, Na.sub.2O, Na.sub.2C.sub.2O.sub.4, NaOH, NaiX, ROCO.sub.2Na, HCONa, RONa, (ROCO.sub.2Na).sub.2, (CH.sub.2OCO.sub.2Na).sub.2, Na.sub.2S, Na.sub.xSO.sub.y, or a combination thereof, wherein X=F, Cl, I, or Br, R= a hydrocarbon group, x=0-1, y=1-4; and wherein the lithium- or sodium-containing species is derived from an electrochemical decomposition reaction.

A housing for a spark plug. The housing includes a bore along the longitudinal axis X of the housing, as the result of which the housing has an outer side and an inner side, and an electroplated or chemically applied nickel-containing protective layer situated on at least one portion of the outer side of the housing and a sealing layer situated on the nickel-containing protective layer. The sealing layer contains silicon. A first intermediate layer is applied between the housing and the nickel-containing protective layer and/or a second intermediate layer is applied between the nickel-containing protective layer and the sealing layer and/or a cover layer is applied on the sealing layer. The sealing layer may be free of chromium.

A lithium-ion battery having an anode including an array of nanowires electrochemically coated with a polymer electrolyte, and surrounded by a cathode matrix, forming thereby interpenetrating electrodes, wherein the diffusion length of the Li.sup.+ ions is significantly decreased, leading to faster charging/discharging, greater reversibility, and longer battery lifetime, is described. The battery design is applicable to a variety of battery materials. Methods for directly electrodepositing Cu.sub.2Sb from aqueous solutions at room temperature using citric acid as a complexing agent to form an array of nanowires for the anode, are also described. Conformal coating of poly-[Zn(4-vinyl-4′methyl-2,2′-bipyridine).sub.3](PF.sub.6).sub.2 by electroreductive polymerization onto films and high-aspect ratio nanowire arrays for a solid-state electrolyte is also described, as is reductive electropolymerization of a variety of vinyl monomers, such as those containing the acrylate functional group. Such materials display limited electronic conductivity but significant lithium ion conductivity. Cathode materials may include oxides, such as lithium cobalt oxide, lithium magnesium oxide, or lithium tin oxide, as examples, or phosphates, such as LiFePO.sub.4, as an example.

A hydrogel material composition includes: (1) an alginate (or other cross-linking polymer) material; (2) an optional α-hydroxy carboxylate material; and (3) an iron cation material. The hydrogel material composition with or without the α-hydroxy-carboxylate material may be used in a photolithographic imaging application or a photorelease application within the context of a photoirradiation induced reduction/oxidation reaction of an iron (III) cation material to form an iron (II) cation material.

A hydrogel material composition includes: (1) an alginate (or other cross-linking polymer) material; (2) an optional α-hydroxy carboxylate material; and (3) an iron cation material. The hydrogel material composition with or without the α-hydroxy-carboxylate material may be used in a photolithographic imaging application or a photorelease application within the context of a photoirradiation induced reduction/oxidation reaction of an iron (III) cation material to form an iron (II) cation material.

A method of producing a surface-treated steel sheet, comprising: subjecting a steel sheet having a Sn coating or plating layer to an anodic electrolytic treatment in an alkaline aqueous solution to form a Sn oxide layer; and then subjecting the steel sheet to a cathodic electrolytic treatment in an aqueous solution containing zirconium ions to form a layer containing zirconium oxide, wherein the Sn coating or plating layer has a Sn coating weight of 0.1 g/m.sup.2 to 20.0 g/m.sup.2, the Sn oxide layer has, at a point in time when the Sn oxide layer is formed, a reduction current peak within a potential range of −800 mV to −600 mV and an electric quantity of a reduction current in the potential range of 1.5 mC/cm.sup.2 to 10.0 mC/cm.sup.2, and the layer containing zirconium oxide has a Zr coating weight of 0.1 mg/m.sup.2 to 50.0 mg/m.sup.2.

A method of producing a surface-treated steel sheet, comprising: subjecting a steel sheet having a Sn coating or plating layer to an anodic electrolytic treatment in an alkaline aqueous solution to form a Sn oxide layer; and then subjecting the steel sheet to a cathodic electrolytic treatment in an aqueous solution containing zirconium ions to form a layer containing zirconium oxide, wherein the Sn coating or plating layer has a Sn coating weight of 0.1 g/m.sup.2 to 20.0 g/m.sup.2, the Sn oxide layer has, at a point in time when the Sn oxide layer is formed, a reduction current peak within a potential range of −800 mV to −600 mV and an electric quantity of a reduction current in the potential range of 1.5 mC/cm.sup.2 to 10.0 mC/cm.sup.2, and the layer containing zirconium oxide has a Zr coating weight of 0.1 mg/m.sup.2 to 50.0 mg/m.sup.2.

The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a surface nanotube array of a laser-melted stainless steel, including a step of an anodic oxidation treatment on the stainless steel, which includes performing the anodic oxidation treatment on the stainless steel by applying a voltage between the stainless steel as an anode and a graphite as a cathode in a solution formed by using sodium dihydrogen phosphate, perchloric acid, and ethylene glycol as a solute, and deionized water as a solvent.

The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a surface nanotube array of a laser-melted stainless steel, including a step of an anodic oxidation treatment on the stainless steel, which includes performing the anodic oxidation treatment on the stainless steel by applying a voltage between the stainless steel as an anode and a graphite as a cathode in a solution formed by using sodium dihydrogen phosphate, perchloric acid, and ethylene glycol as a solute, and deionized water as a solvent.