Methods of forming a metal-alloy graphene nanocomposites are provided. The methods include providing a graphene substrate and forming a conducting polymer layer on a first major surface of the graphene substrate. The methods also include pyrolyzing the conducting polymer layer to form a nitrogen-doped graphene substrate and dispersing a plurality of metal-alloy nanoparticles on a first surface of the nitrogen-doped graphene substrate to form the nanocomposite.

A Ni-base superalloy composition to be used for powder-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology, such as selective laser melting (SLM) or electron beam melting (EBM). The cracking susceptibility during an AM process is considerably reduced by controlling the amount of elements, especially Hf, that form low-melting eutectics.

A lens alignment system and method is disclosed. The disclosed system/method integrates one or more lens retaining members/tubes (LRM/LRT) and focal length spacers (FLS) each comprising a metallic material product (MMP) specifically manufactured to have a thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in a predetermined range via selection of the individual MMP materials and an associated MMP manufacturing process providing for controlled TEC. This controlled LRM/LRT TEC enables a plurality of optical lenses (POL) fixed along a common optical axis (COA) by the LRM/LRT to maintain precise interspatial alignment characteristics that ensure consistent and/or controlled series focal length (SFL) within the POL to generate a thermally neutral optical system (TNOS). Integration of the POL using this LRM/LRT/FLS lens alignment system reduces the overall TNOS implementation cost, reduces the overall TNOS mass, reduces TNOS parts component count, and increases the reliability of the overall optical system.

An electric contact pair includes a first electric contact, and a second electric contact to be brought into electrical contact with the first electric contact. The first electric contact includes a first plating film made of Ag or a Ag alloy on its outermost surface, and the second electric contact includes a second plating film made of Rh or a Rh alloy on its outermost surface. The first plating film maybe layered on a first conductive base material, the second plating film maybe layered on a second conductive base material, and the first conductive base material and the second conductive base material are made of copper or a copper alloy, or aluminum or an aluminum alloy. A connector terminal pair includes a first terminal including the first electric contact, and a second terminal including the second electric contact.

A catalyst according to the present invention exhibits a catalytic action to a methanol decomposition reaction or a hydrocarbon steam-reforming reaction in a short time. The present invention provides a catalyst for producing hydrogen gas, using an Ni.sub.3Si-based intermetallic compound.

A catalyst according to the present invention exhibits a catalytic action to a methanol decomposition reaction or a hydrocarbon steam-reforming reaction in a short time. The present invention provides a catalyst for producing hydrogen gas, using an Ni.sub.3Si-based intermetallic compound.

A thermoelectric conversion material made of a polycrystalline material represented by a composition formula (1) shown below and having an MgAgAs type crystal structure is provided. An insulating coat is provided on at least one surface of the polycrystalline material. Composition formula (1): (A.sub.a1Ti.sub.b1).sub.xD.sub.yX.sub.100-x-y, wherein 0.2≦a1≦0.7, 0.3≦b1≦0.8, a1+b1=1, 30≦x≦35, 30≦y≦35 hold, wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf, D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn and Sb.

A thermoelectric conversion material made of a polycrystalline material represented by a composition formula (1) shown below and having an MgAgAs type crystal structure is provided. An insulating coat is provided on at least one surface of the polycrystalline material. Composition formula (1): (A.sub.a1Ti.sub.b1).sub.xD.sub.yX.sub.100-x-y, wherein 0.2≦a1≦0.7, 0.3≦b1≦0.8, a1+b1=1, 30≦x≦35, 30≦y≦35 hold, wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf, D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn and Sb.

An aspect of the present invention provides an Fe—Ni alloy metal foil having excellent heat resilience, where the Fe—Ni alloy metal foil is prepared by an electroforming (EF) method and has a thickness of 100 μm or less (except O μm), wherein the Fe—Ni alloy metal foil comprises, by wt %, Ni: 34-46 %, a remainder of Fe and inevitable impurities, and wherein the Fe—Ni metal foil has a degree of heat resilience in an amount of 30 ppm or less.

Methods for controlling properties of structural elements of implantable medical devices, where the structural elements contain shape memory alloys (SMAs) include promoting or inhibiting in vivo formation of R-phase crystal structure or converging or separating the R-phase from the austenite phase.