Techniques are described for infiltrating a nanofiber yarn with an infiltration material and removing a surface layer of the infiltration material on at least a portion of the infiltrated nanofiber yarn. This enables an infiltration method by which the infiltration material is selectively disposed within an interior of a nanofiber yarn and not disposed on an exterior surface of at least a portion of a nanofiber yarn. Electrical connection can be established by mechanically connecting an electrode (e.g., a conductive clamp or fitting) directly to the exposed surface of the nanofiber yarn.

Techniques are described for infiltrating a nanofiber yarn with an infiltration material and removing a surface layer of the infiltration material on at least a portion of the infiltrated nanofiber yarn. This enables an infiltration method by which the infiltration material is selectively disposed within an interior of a nanofiber yarn and not disposed on an exterior surface of at least a portion of a nanofiber yarn. Electrical connection can be established by mechanically connecting an electrode (e.g., a conductive clamp or fitting) directly to the exposed surface of the nanofiber yarn.

A durable electrode material suitable for use in Li ion batteries is provided. The material is comprised of a continuous network of graphite regions integrated with, and in good electrical contact with a composite comprising graphene sheets and an electrically active material, such as silicon, wherein the electrically active material is dispersed between, and supported by, the graphene sheets.

A durable electrode material suitable for use in Li ion batteries is provided. The material is comprised of a continuous network of graphite regions integrated with, and in good electrical contact with a composite comprising graphene sheets and an electrically active material, such as silicon, wherein the electrically active material is dispersed between, and supported by, the graphene sheets.

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.

An antenna comprising: a loop made of conductive material; two baluns connected to, and intersecting, opposing sides of the loop, wherein each balun has an output; a 180 hybrid coupler having two input ports, a sum output port, and a delta output port, wherein the two input ports are connected to the outputs of the baluns; a first low noise amplifier (LNA) connected to the sum output port; a second LNA connected to the delta output port; first and second receivers connected to the first and second LNAs respectively; and wherein the antenna is electrically small and is designed to simultaneously receive wideband signals in real time from 3 to 30 MHz.

The invention provides for polymer structures and their preparation and resulting novel functionalities including open-shell character and high intrinsic conductivity with wide-range tenability. Electrical conductivity can be further modulated by introducing or blending with materials, fillers, dopants, and/or additives. The materials or resultant composites of the invention can be processed by various techniques into different forms to realize multiple applications.

The invention provides for polymer structures and their preparation and resulting novel functionalities including open-shell character and high intrinsic conductivity with wide-range tenability. Electrical conductivity can be further modulated by introducing or blending with materials, fillers, dopants, and/or additives. The materials or resultant composites of the invention can be processed by various techniques into different forms to realize multiple applications.

An actuator device that includes a first fiber, a conducting material, and a coating. The coating coats the first fiber or the conducting material. The coating may also provide moisture protection, UV protection, thermal insulation and thermal conductivity.

An electrode includes selenium, a selenium-containing compound, selenium-carbon composite, a selenium-containing compound-carbon composite, or a mixture thereof; a carbon electronic conductor; a binder; and a current collector; wherein: the electrode is a solid electrode.