A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge unit and a contact detection unit. The liquid discharge unit has a liquid discharge port from which a liquid is discharged toward an object. The liquid discharge unit is movable along at least one of a first axis and a second axis intersecting the first axis and movable along a third axis intersecting the first axis and the second axis. The third axis is parallel to a direction in which the liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge port toward the object. The contact detection unit detects contact of the liquid discharge unit with the object. The contact detection unit is detachably attached to the liquid discharge unit.

A cathode material and a fabricating method thereof, and a lithium-ion battery are described. The cathode material is a 1D metal-organic coordination polymer of [CuL(Py).sub.2].sub.n, and its structure is formed by interlinking organic ligands (L) and metals (Cu). The cathode material can use redox active sites on both the metal and organic ligand to carry out multi-electron transfer. A C≡N bond contained in L together with a benzene ring of L in an adjacent polymer chain form a weak interaction of C≡N . . . π. In addition, a Py of adjacent polymer chains also have an interaction of π . . . π. Therefore, [CuL(Py).sub.2].sub.n chains are closely interlaced and packed, but there is still enough regular space for lithium ions to enter and exit quickly, so it can be charged and discharged rapidly and exhibits high power density.

A solid-state ion conductor includes a compound of Formula 1:
Li.sub.(6-a)x+2y-b*z-6A.sub.1−xM.sup.a.sub.xO.sub.yX.sup.b.sub.z  Formula 1
wherein, in Formula 1, A is an element having an oxidation state of +6, M is an element having an oxidation state of a, wherein a is +2, +3, +4, +5, or a combination thereof, X is an element having an oxidation state of b, wherein b is −1, −3, or a combination thereof, and 2<[(6−a)x+2y−b*z−6]≤6.5, 0≤x≤1, y>0, and z≥0.

A slurry is prepared by mixing an active material particle, a binder, and a dispersion medium. The slurry is applied to a surface of a substrate to form a first film. The first film is dried to form a second film. A convex die is pressed against a surface of the second film to form a depressed portion in the surface. After the depressed portion is formed, the second film is dried to form an active material layer. In the second film, a solid phase, a liquid phase, and a gas phase form a pendular state or a funicular state.

A composition comprises: an at least partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate component having an hydrolysation degree of at least 5%; a polyalkylene glycol component having a number average molecular mass Mn lower than 9000 g/mol and consisting of one or more substances selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and their derivatives; a positive or negative electrode active component; and a conductive component; wherein the mass ratio between the at least partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate component and the positive or negative electrode active component equals at least 0.12 and at most 0.30, and wherein the mass ratio between the polyalkylene glycol component and the positive or negative electrode active component equals at least 0.012 and at most 0.10.

Provided herein are battery cells comprising artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers used as protective coatings on electrodes. The SEI layers are produced by liquid-phase deposition (LDP). The battery cell may comprise an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode, a polymer separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, and a casing containing the anode, the cathode, the electrolyte, and the polymer separator, wherein at least one or the anode or cathode comprises an SEI layer produced by an LDP method.

Provided is an inkjet application device (1) including a distribution flow path for the liquid material, the distribution flow path including a first flow channel (4) configured to supply the liquid material pumped with a pump (2) to a supply tank (3) and a second flow channel (6) configured to supply the liquid material in the supply tank (3) to the inkjet head (5), wherein the supply tank (3) accommodates a filter (40), which is configured to allow the particles in the liquid material to pass therethrough without allowing air bubbles in the liquid material, which are generated by the pumping of the pump (2), to pass therethrough.

Provided herein is an electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers that includes first carbon nanofibers electrically connected to second carbon nanofibers to form an electrically conductive network, and second carbon nanofibers electrically connected to other second carbon nanofibers, wherein at least one of the second carbon nanofibers is in direct surface contact with another of the second carbon nanofibers; and an active material that provides electrochemical insulation on surfaces of the first carbon nanofibers and partial surfaces of at least a portion of the second carbon nanofibers, wherein the active material comprises at least 50% by weight of the electrically conductive, chemically insulated network, and wherein the active material provides electrochemical insulation to the entirety of the electrically conductive, chemically insulated network of nanofibers including the area between the first carbon nanofibers and the second carbon nanofibers.

Battery electrode compositions and methods of fabrication are provided that utilize composite particles. Each of the composite particles may comprise, for example, a high-capacity active material and a porous, electrically-conductive scaffolding matrix material. The active material may store and release ions during battery operation, and may exhibit (i) a specific capacity of at least 220 mAh/g as a cathode active material or (ii) a specific capacity of at least 400 mAh/g as an anode active material. The active material may be disposed in the pores of the scaffolding matrix material. According to various designs, each composite particle may exhibit at least one material property that changes from the center to the perimeter of the scaffolding matrix material.

An electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery and method of forming the same, the electrode material including composite particles, each composite particle including: a primary particle including an electrochemically active material; and an envelope disposed on the surface of the primary particle. The envelope includes turbostratic carbon having a Raman spectrum having: a D band having a peak intensity (I.sub.D) at wave number between 1330 cm.sup.-1 and 1360 cW.sup.-1; a G band having a peak intensity (I.sub.G) at wave number between 1530 cm.sup.-1 and 1580 cm.sup.-1; and a 2D band having a peak intensity (I.sub.2D) at wave number between 2650 cm.sup.-1 and 2750 cm.sup.-1. In one embodiment, a ratio of I.sub.D/I.sub.G ranges from greater than zero to about 1.1, and a ratio of 1.sub.2D/I.sub.G ranges from about 0.4 to about 2.