According to the invention there is provided an electrothermic composition comprising: at least one carbon component; at least one graphite component, and an optional binder or carrier, wherein the carbon, graphite, and/or their ratio are selected such that that the composition or a material formed from the composition has a thermal coefficient of electrical resistance (TCR) of about zero or is substantially stable over a predefined temperature range. The invention further relates to a product or a material produced or formed by the electrothermic composition. The invention additionally relates to a method of preparing an electrothermic composition comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a predetermined ratio of at least one carbon component and at least one graphite component such that the composition is electrically conductive, electrothermic and will have a TCR of about zero or is substantially stable over a predefined temperature range; and (ii) preparing the composition by mixing said at least one carbon component and said at least one graphite component, optionally in a suitable binder or carrier. Alternative embodiments relate to an electrothermic composition comprising: at least one carbon component; at least a second carbon component; and an optional binder or carrier; wherein the first carbon component, the second carbon component, and/or their ratio are selected such that that the composition or a material formed from the composition has a TCR of about zero or is substantially stable over a predefined temperature range.

A hinge-type actuator device in accordance with the present disclosure may include a first and second paddle, a first and second artificial muscle actuator segment, and a plurality of contacts, where the first and second artificial muscle actuator segments are actuated via the contacts, actuation of the first artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to open the hinge-type actuator, and actuation of the second artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to close the hinge-type actuator.

A composite material of Angstrom-scale nanowire arrays in zeolite and its fabrication methods are provided. The zeolite can be prepared by a hydrothermal method and the Angstrom-scale nanowire arrays can be prepared by using zeolite as a template. The zeolite can have porous structures with an average pore size of 0.74 nm and the plurality of nanowires can have an average diameter smaller than 1 nm and can be dispersed on internal or external surfaces of the porous structures. The Angstrom-scale nanowire arrays can be made of aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), zinc (Zn), or carbon (C). A composite material of the Angstrom-scale aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), or zinc (Zn) nanowire arrays in zeolite can exhibit characteristics of one-dimensional (1D) superconductor.

A composite material of Angstrom-scale nanowire arrays in zeolite and its fabrication methods are provided. The zeolite can be prepared by a hydrothermal method and the Angstrom-scale nanowire arrays can be prepared by using zeolite as a template. The zeolite can have porous structures with an average pore size of 0.74 nm and the plurality of nanowires can have an average diameter smaller than 1 nm and can be dispersed on internal or external surfaces of the porous structures. The Angstrom-scale nanowire arrays can be made of aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), zinc (Zn), or carbon (C). A composite material of the Angstrom-scale aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), or zinc (Zn) nanowire arrays in zeolite can exhibit characteristics of one-dimensional (1D) superconductor.

An electrically conductive element includes a substrate and a carbon nanotube film located on the substrate. The carbon nanotube film includes a number of carbon nanotube linear units and a number of carbon nanotube groups. The carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other and extend along a first direction. The carbon nanotube groups are combined with the carbon nanotube linear units by van der Waals force on a second direction. The second direction is intercrossed with the first direction. The carbon nanotube groups between adjacent carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other in the first direction.

An electrically conductive element includes a substrate and a carbon nanotube film located on the substrate. The carbon nanotube film includes a number of carbon nanotube linear units and a number of carbon nanotube groups. The carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other and extend along a first direction. The carbon nanotube groups are combined with the carbon nanotube linear units by van der Waals force on a second direction. The second direction is intercrossed with the first direction. The carbon nanotube groups between adjacent carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other in the first direction.

Described herein are a polyamide composition and a molded article comprising such polyamide composition, such as a mobile electronic device component. The polyamide composition comprises a polyamide polymer, an electrically conductive material comprising carbon fibers, carbon nano-tubes, or any combination thereof, and a glass filler having tri-dimensional structures characterized by an average length of at most 500 microns, said glass filler comprising at least 20 wt % glass flakes. The polyamide composition and the molded article exhibit near-isotropic mold shrinkage, low warpage and near-isotropic CLTE (Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion) and are electrostatic dissipative (ESD).

Described herein are improved composite anodes and lithium-ion batteries made therefrom. Further described are methods of making and using the improved anodes and batteries. In general, the anodes include a porous composite having a plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites. At least one of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites is formed from a dendritic particle, which is a three-dimensional, randomly-ordered assembly of nanoparticles of an electrically conducting material and a plurality of discrete non-porous nanoparticles of a non-carbon Group 4A element or mixture thereof disposed on a surface of the dendritic particle. At least one nanocomposite of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites has at least a portion of its dendritic particle in electrical communication with at least a portion of a dendritic particle of an adjacent nanocomposite in the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites.

Described herein are improved composite anodes and lithium-ion batteries made therefrom. Further described are methods of making and using the improved anodes and batteries. In general, the anodes include a porous composite having a plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites. At least one of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites is formed from a dendritic particle, which is a three-dimensional, randomly-ordered assembly of nanoparticles of an electrically conducting material and a plurality of discrete non-porous nanoparticles of a non-carbon Group 4A element or mixture thereof disposed on a surface of the dendritic particle. At least one nanocomposite of the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites has at least a portion of its dendritic particle in electrical communication with at least a portion of a dendritic particle of an adjacent nanocomposite in the plurality of agglomerated nanocomposites.

Winding wire articles may include a conductor formed into a predefined shape having at least one bend. Additionally, a plurality of cavities may be formed within the conductor. Insulation may also be formed around the conductor.