The present invention relates to core shell liquid metal encapsulates comprising and processes of making and using such encapsulates and networks. The shell(s) of such encapsulates employ a palette of materials having widely varied band structures and/or the desired spin pairing and/or bond polarization. Such encapsulates can be designed to respond to one or more stimuli of choice, including but not limited to electromagnetic, thermal, mechanical, photonic, and/or magnetic and are environmentally robust.

A mixed silver powder and a conductive paste comprising the powder are disclosed. The mixed silver powder is obtained by mixing two or more spherical silver powders having different properties from each other. The mixed powder may minimize the disadvantages of the respective types of the two or more powders and maximize the advantages thereof, thereby improving the characteristics of products. In addition, by comprehensively controlling the particle size distribution of surface-treated mixed silver powder and the particle diameter and specific gravity of primary particles, a high-density conductor pattern, a precise line pattern, and the suppression of aggregation over time can be simultaneously achieved.

A mixed silver powder and a conductive paste comprising the powder are disclosed. The mixed silver powder is obtained by mixing two or more spherical silver powders having different properties from each other. The mixed powder may minimize the disadvantages of the respective types of the two or more powders and maximize the advantages thereof, thereby improving the characteristics of products. In addition, by comprehensively controlling the particle size distribution of surface-treated mixed silver powder and the particle diameter and specific gravity of primary particles, a high-density conductor pattern, a precise line pattern, and the suppression of aggregation over time can be simultaneously achieved.

This silver paste includes a silver powder and a solvent, in which the silver powder includes first silver particles having a particle size of 100 nm or more and less than 500 nm, second silver particles having a particle size of 50 nm or more and less than 100 nm, and third silver particles having a particle size of 1000 nm or more and less than 10000 nm, and the content of the first silver particles is 12% by volume or more and 90% by volume or less, the content of the second silver particles is 1% by volume or more and 38% by volume or less, and the content of the third silver particles is 5% by volume or more and 80% by volume or less, regarding a total amount of the silver powder as 100% by volume.

An electrochromic device according to an embodiment includes a first transparent conductive layer, an ion storage layer, an electrolyte layer, an electrochromic layer, and a second transparent conductive layer. The electrolyte layer includes a tantalum atom. The electrochromic layer includes a tungsten atom. The ion storage layer includes an iridium atom and a tantalum atom. The ion storage layer is hydrogenated in bleached state and the electrochromic device has a transmittance of 64.1% or more in bleached state. A difference between the transmittance of the electrochromic device in bleached state and the transmittance of the electrochromic device in colored state is 8.4% or more.

An electrochromic device according to an embodiment includes a first transparent conductive layer, an ion storage layer, an electrolyte layer, an electrochromic layer, and a second transparent conductive layer. The electrolyte layer includes a tantalum atom. The electrochromic layer includes a tungsten atom. The ion storage layer includes an iridium atom and a tantalum atom. The ion storage layer is hydrogenated in bleached state and the electrochromic device has a transmittance of 64.1% or more in bleached state. A difference between the transmittance of the electrochromic device in bleached state and the transmittance of the electrochromic device in colored state is 8.4% or more.

A sensor may include a bladder, and a deformable conductor disposed on the bladder such that deformation of the bladder causes deformation of the deformable conductor, wherein the bladder is constrained so as to enhance the deformation of the conductor in response to the deformation of the bladder. A method may include applying a stimulus to a bladder having a deformable conductor attached thereto, detecting a change in an electrical characteristic associated with the deformable conductor in response to the stimulus, and selectively constraining the bladder to amplify the change in electrical characteristic in response to the stimulus.

A sensor may include a bladder, and a deformable conductor disposed on the bladder such that deformation of the bladder causes deformation of the deformable conductor, wherein the bladder is constrained so as to enhance the deformation of the conductor in response to the deformation of the bladder. A method may include applying a stimulus to a bladder having a deformable conductor attached thereto, detecting a change in an electrical characteristic associated with the deformable conductor in response to the stimulus, and selectively constraining the bladder to amplify the change in electrical characteristic in response to the stimulus.

An electrode or wiring, an electrode pair, and a method for manufacturing the electrode or wiring. The electrode or wiring includes: particles of a layered material including one or more layers; and metal particles or a sintered metal. The one or plural layers include a layer body represented by M.sub.mX.sub.n, wherein M is at least one metal belonging to group 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, X is a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, or a combination thereof, n is 1-4, and m is greater than n and at most 5, and a modification or terminal T (T being at least one of a hydroxyl group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, an oxygen atom, and a hydrogen atom) is present on the surface of the layer body.

An electrode or wiring, an electrode pair, and a method for manufacturing the electrode or wiring. The electrode or wiring includes: particles of a layered material including one or more layers; and metal particles or a sintered metal. The one or plural layers include a layer body represented by M.sub.mX.sub.n, wherein M is at least one metal belonging to group 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, X is a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, or a combination thereof, n is 1-4, and m is greater than n and at most 5, and a modification or terminal T (T being at least one of a hydroxyl group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, an oxygen atom, and a hydrogen atom) is present on the surface of the layer body.