A battery comprising an anode comprising anode material in contact with a metal anode current collector. The battery further comprises a cathode comprising cathode material in contact with a cathode current collector comprising a transparent conducting oxide (TCO). The battery further comprises an electrolyte with a pH in a range of 3 to 7.

A battery comprising an anode comprising anode material in contact with a metal anode current collector. The battery further comprises a cathode comprising cathode material in contact with a cathode current collector comprising a transparent conducting oxide (TCO). The battery further comprises an electrolyte with a pH in a range of 3 to 7.

Methods of metalizing vias within a substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of metalizing vias includes disposing a substrate onto a growth substrate. The substrate includes a first surface, a second surface, and at least one via. The first surface or the second surface of the substrate directly contacts a surface of the growth substrate, and the surface of the growth substrate is electrically conductive. The method further includes applying an electrolyte to the substrate such that the electrolyte is disposed within the at least one via. The electrolyte includes metal ions of a metal to be deposited within the at least one via. The method also includes positioning an electrode within the electrolyte, and applying a current and/or a voltage between the electrode and the substrate, thereby reducing the metal ions into the metal on the surface of the growth substrate within the at least one via.

An electromagnetic induction heating element includes a first heating layer 11 formed of electrocast nickel and having an endless-belt-like form; a second heating layer 12 formed of a non-magnetic material; and a coating layer 13 having a thickness of 3 μm or less, wherein the first heating layer 11, the second heating layer 12, and the coating layer 13 are sequentially stacked.

An electromagnetic induction heating element includes a first heating layer 11 formed of electrocast nickel and having an endless-belt-like form; a second heating layer 12 formed of a non-magnetic material; and a coating layer 13 having a thickness of 3 μm or less, wherein the first heating layer 11, the second heating layer 12, and the coating layer 13 are sequentially stacked.

A contact has a flat surface and a side surface that is parallel to the flat surface. At least a part of the side surface is curved so as to swell. At least a part of the contact is able to be elastically deformed in parallel to the flat surface.

A contact has a flat surface and a side surface that is parallel to the flat surface. At least a part of the side surface is curved so as to swell. At least a part of the contact is able to be elastically deformed in parallel to the flat surface.

A metal material having thermodynamic anisotropy has an X-axis hardness of 160-180 HV, an X-axis hardness thermal expansion coefficient of 5×10-6-100×10-6 K.sup.−1; a Y-axis hardness of 160-180 HV, a Y-axis hardness thermal expansion coefficient of 5×10-6-100×10-6 K.sup.−1; and a Z-axis hardness of 180-250 HV, a Z-axis hardness thermal expansion coefficient of 50×10-6-1000×10-6 K.sup.−1. A method for preparing a metal material having thermodynamic anisotropy is also disclosed.

A lithium-ion battery having an anode including an array of nanowires electrochemically coated with a polymer electrolyte, and surrounded by a cathode matrix, forming thereby interpenetrating electrodes, wherein the diffusion length of the Li.sup.+ ions is significantly decreased, leading to faster charging/discharging, greater reversibility, and longer battery lifetime, is described. The battery design is applicable to a variety of battery materials. Methods for directly electrodepositing Cu.sub.2Sb from aqueous solutions at room temperature using citric acid as a complexing agent to form an array of nanowires for the anode, are also described. Conformal coating of poly-[Zn(4-vinyl-4′methyl-2,2′-bipyridine).sub.3](PF.sub.6).sub.2 by electroreductive polymerization onto films and high-aspect ratio nanowire arrays for a solid-state electrolyte is also described, as is reductive electropolymerization of a variety of vinyl monomers, such as those containing the acrylate functional group. Such materials display limited electronic conductivity but significant lithium ion conductivity. Cathode materials may include oxides, such as lithium cobalt oxide, lithium magnesium oxide, or lithium tin oxide, as examples, or phosphates, such as LiFePO.sub.4, as an example.

A zinc foil is provided that can be used as a negative electrode active material, and in a battery including the zinc foil as a negative electrode active material, the amount of gas generated during long term storage of the battery is reduced as compared with that in a battery including a conventional zinc foil. The zinc foil contains zinc as a main material and bismuth. The bismuth content is 100 ppm or more and 10000 ppm or less on a mass basis. The zinc crystal grain size is 0.2 μm or more and 8 μm or less. The bismuth crystal grain size is less than 1000 nm, as measured in a backscattered electron image obtained using a scanning electron microscope. The zinc foil is free of aluminum and/or lead, or even if the zinc foil contains aluminum and/or lead, the aluminum content is 1% or less on a mass basis and/or the lead content is 200 ppm or less on a mass basis.