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.

Cured cements, cement slurries, and methods of making cured cement and methods of using cement slurries are provided. The cured cement comprises cement, carbon nanotube sponges disposed within the cement, and conductive fibers disposed within the cement, in which the conductive fibers interconnect the carbon nanotube sponges and form a conductive web within the cured cement.

Cured cements, cement slurries, and methods of making cured cement and methods of using cement slurries are provided. The cured cement comprises cement, carbon nanotube sponges disposed within the cement, and conductive fibers disposed within the cement, in which the conductive fibers interconnect the carbon nanotube sponges and form a conductive web within the cured cement.

Disclosed is a negative electrode material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including: a lithium silicate phase; silicon particles dispersed in the lithium silicate phase; and at least one element Me dispersed in the lithium silicate phase, and selected from the group consisting of a rare-earth element and an alkaline-earth metal. The composition of the lithium silicate phase is represented, for example, by the formula: Li.sub.2zSiO.sub.2+z, and satisfies 0<z<2, and the element Me is dispersed in the lithium silicate phase, for example, as an Me oxide.

Disclosed is a negative electrode material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including: a lithium silicate phase; silicon particles dispersed in the lithium silicate phase; and at least one element Me dispersed in the lithium silicate phase, and selected from the group consisting of a rare-earth element and an alkaline-earth metal. The composition of the lithium silicate phase is represented, for example, by the formula: Li.sub.2zSiO.sub.2+z, and satisfies 0<z<2, and the element Me is dispersed in the lithium silicate phase, for example, as an Me oxide.

An enclosure and a method of making the enclosure is provided that includes mixing stainless steel, rubber, and polycarbonate to produce a material mixture that is electrically conductive. Carbon black powder and polyethylene are blended to produce an electrically resistive additive for dissipating static electricity. At least one injection mold for the enclosure is positioned in fluid communication with an exit end of a heating barrel. The weatherproof material mixture is injected into an entry end of the heating barrel to produce a melted weatherproof material mixture. The electrically resistive additive is introduced through a lateral port of the heating barrel proximate to the exit end to partially mix with the melted weatherproof material mixture to produce an injection mixture. The injection mixture into the at least one injection mold to produce the enclosure that is weatherproof, electrically conductive, and electrically resistive.

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 dose the hinge-type actuator.

An actuator includes a plurality of artificial muscle fibers and at least one conducting material. The at least one conducting material electrically stimulates the plurality of artificial muscle fibers during activation of the actuator. An actuator device includes at least one artificial muscle fiber and at least one high-strength creep-resistant fiber.

An actuator includes a plurality of artificial muscle fibers and at least one conducting material. The at least one conducting material electrically stimulates the plurality of artificial muscle fibers during activation of the actuator. An actuator device includes at least one artificial muscle fiber and at least one high-strength creep-resistant fiber.