The invention provides a variety of novel devices, systems, and methods of utilizing mixed-ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) materials adapted to function with an applied current or potential. The materials, as part of a circuit, are placed in contact with a part of a human or nonhuman animal body. A sodium selective membrane system utilizing the MIEC is also described.

A nonlimiting example method for synthesizing a pigment-pendent polyamide (PP-polyamide) may comprise: functionalizing metal oxide particles bound to a pigment particle with a compound having an epoxy to produce a surface treated pigment having a pendent epoxy; and reacting the pendent epoxy with a polyamide to yield the PP-polyamide. Another nonlimiting example method for synthesizing a PP-polyamide may comprise: functionalizing metal oxide particles bound to a pigment particle with a silica particle having a carboxylic acid surface treatment to produce a surface treated pigment having a pendent carboxylic acid; converting the pendent carboxylic acid to a pendent acid chloride; and reacting the pendent acid chloride with a polyamide to yield the PP-polyamide. Said PP-polyamide may be useful in producing objects by methods that include melt extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, melt spinning, melt emulsification, spray drying, cryogenic milling, freeze drying polymer dispersions, and precipitation of polymer dispersions.

An electrically conductive paste includes: an elastic binder; and a conductive filler. The conductive filler includes: at least one spherical conductive filler, at least one plate-like conductive filler, and at least one rod-like conductive filler. In an embodiment, the spherical filler has a mean particle diameter, measured in accordance with ISO 21501-2:2019-11 of at most 200 μm.

An electrically conductive paste includes: an elastic binder; and a conductive filler. The conductive filler includes: at least one spherical conductive filler, at least one plate-like conductive filler, and at least one rod-like conductive filler. In an embodiment, the spherical filler has a mean particle diameter, measured in accordance with ISO 21501-2:2019-11 of at most 200 μm.

Disclosed is a method for producing a surface-treated carbon black, including a step (step (i)) of mixing a carbon-black-containing aqueous-slurry-solution in which a carbon black is dispersed in water with a dihydrazide compound, and subsequently removing the water. Disclosed is a method for producing a rubber wet masterbatch, including: a step (I) of mixing a carbon-black-containing aqueous-slurry-solution in which a carbon black is dispersed in water, a rubber latex solution, and a dihydrazide compound with each other to produce a carbon-black-containing aqueous-rubber-latex-solution; a step (II) of solidifying the resultant carbon-black-containing aqueous-rubber-latex-solution to produce a carbon-black-containing rubber solidified product; and a step (III) of dehydrating and drying the resultant carbon-black-containing rubber solidified product to produce the rubber wet masterbatch. These producing methods can give a vulcanized rubber low in exothermicity, and a rubber composition restrained from being lowered in scorch property (or having scorch resistance).

A nanocomposite includes at least one polymer and metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in the at least one polymer. Each polymer can have a number average molecular weight of at least 10000 grams/mole. The at least one polymer includes a first polymer including (meth)acrylic acid monomer units. The metal oxide nanoparticles are surface modified with a carboxylic acid silane surface modifying agent. An aqueous dispersion that can be used to make the nanocomposite and a method of making the nanocomposite is described.

A nanocomposite includes at least one polymer and metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in the at least one polymer. Each polymer can have a number average molecular weight of at least 10000 grams/mole. The at least one polymer includes a first polymer including (meth)acrylic acid monomer units. The metal oxide nanoparticles are surface modified with a carboxylic acid silane surface modifying agent. An aqueous dispersion that can be used to make the nanocomposite and a method of making the nanocomposite is described.

A polymer composite exhibiting piezoelectric properties can be formed for flexible and/or thin film applications, in which the polymer composite includes a polymer matrix and a piezoelectric ceramic filler embedded in the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may include at least two polymers: a first polymer and a second polymer. The first polymer may be a fluorinated polymer, and the second polymer may be compatible with the first polymer and have a dielectric constant of less than approximately 20. The piezoelectric ceramic filler may be a lead-free ceramic filler, such as barium titanate, and be approximately 40-70% by volume of the polymer composite. The remaining 30-60% by volume may be the polymer matrix, which may itself be approximately 5-20% by weight second polymer and 80-95% fluorinated polymer.

A polymer composite exhibiting piezoelectric properties can be formed for flexible and/or thin film applications, in which the polymer composite includes a polymer matrix and a piezoelectric ceramic filler embedded in the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may include at least two polymers: a first polymer and a second polymer. The first polymer may be a fluorinated polymer, and the second polymer may be compatible with the first polymer and have a dielectric constant of less than approximately 20. The piezoelectric ceramic filler may be a lead-free ceramic filler, such as barium titanate, and be approximately 40-70% by volume of the polymer composite. The remaining 30-60% by volume may be the polymer matrix, which may itself be approximately 5-20% by weight second polymer and 80-95% fluorinated polymer.

An imaging system includes a pixel array configured to generate image charge voltage signals in response to incident light received from an external scene. An infrared illumination source is deactivated during the capture of a first image of the external scene and activated during the capture of a second image of the external scene. An array of sample and hold circuits is coupled to the pixel array. Each sample and hold circuit is coupled to a respective pixel of the pixel array and includes first and second capacitors to store first and second image charge voltage signals of the captured first and second images, respectively. A column voltage domain differential amplifier is coupled to the first and second capacitors to determine a difference between the first and second image charge voltage signals to identify an object in a foreground of the external scene.