The present invention is directed towards an electrodepositable coating composition comprising (a) a fluoropolymer; (b) an electrochemically active material and/or electrically conductive agent; (c) a pH-dependent rheology modifier; and (d) an aqueous medium comprising water; wherein water is present in an amount of at least 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the electrodepositable coating composition. Also disclosed herein is a method of coating a substrate, as well as coated substrates and electrical storage devices.

Described are processes for making graphene pellet (GP) with a three-dimensional structure. The process includes forming a nickel pellet from nickel powder to function as a catalyst for graphene growth, exposing the nickel pellet to a hydrocarbon under conditions sufficient to grow graphene, and etching nickel from graphene with an acid resulting in a graphene pellet. Also described is a process for making a graphene paper from the graphene pellet comprising applying a compression force to the graphene pellet sufficient to compress the pellet. Also described is a method for forming a graphene pellet composite useful as an electrode.

Described are processes for making graphene pellet (GP) with a three-dimensional structure. The process includes forming a nickel pellet from nickel powder to function as a catalyst for graphene growth, exposing the nickel pellet to a hydrocarbon under conditions sufficient to grow graphene, and etching nickel from graphene with an acid resulting in a graphene pellet. Also described is a process for making a graphene paper from the graphene pellet comprising applying a compression force to the graphene pellet sufficient to compress the pellet. Also described is a method for forming a graphene pellet composite useful as an electrode.

A method for preparing a three-dimensional chitosan/silver composite scaffold includes mixing an acidic aqueous chitosan solution including protonated chitosan and a deposition accelerating agent being a soluble silver salt, spacedly disposing a cathode and an anode in the resultant suspension, and applying an electric field to the cathode and the anode so that the suspension undergoes electrodeposition. The suspension has a protonated chitosan concentration ranging from 0.7 to 2.8 w/v %, and a molarity of silver ions ranging from 4 to 60 mM. The composite scaffold prepared has columnar through-holes extending in a same extension direction and each having opposite first and second openings with the latter not less in width.

A method for preparing a three-dimensional chitosan/silver composite scaffold includes mixing an acidic aqueous chitosan solution including protonated chitosan and a deposition accelerating agent being a soluble silver salt, spacedly disposing a cathode and an anode in the resultant suspension, and applying an electric field to the cathode and the anode so that the suspension undergoes electrodeposition. The suspension has a protonated chitosan concentration ranging from 0.7 to 2.8 w/v %, and a molarity of silver ions ranging from 4 to 60 mM. The composite scaffold prepared has columnar through-holes extending in a same extension direction and each having opposite first and second openings with the latter not less in width.

Techniques for electrodepositing selenium (Se)-containing films are provided. In one aspect, a method of preparing a Se electroplating solution is provided. The method includes the following steps. The solution is formed from a mixture of selenium oxide; an acid selected from the group consisting of alkane sulfonic acid, alkene sulfonic acid, aryl sulfonic acid, heterocyclic sulfonic acid, aromatic sulfonic acid and perchloric acid; and a solvent. A pH of the solution is then adjusted to from about 2.0 to about 3.0. The pH of the solution can be adjusted to from about 2.0 to about 3.0 by adding a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to the solution. A Se electroplating solution, an electroplating method and a method for fabricating a photovoltaic device are also provided.

Techniques for electrodepositing selenium (Se)-containing films are provided. In one aspect, a method of preparing a Se electroplating solution is provided. The method includes the following steps. The solution is formed from a mixture of selenium oxide; an acid selected from the group consisting of alkane sulfonic acid, alkene sulfonic acid, aryl sulfonic acid, heterocyclic sulfonic acid, aromatic sulfonic acid and perchloric acid; and a solvent. A pH of the solution is then adjusted to from about 2.0 to about 3.0. The pH of the solution can be adjusted to from about 2.0 to about 3.0 by adding a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to the solution. A Se electroplating solution, an electroplating method and a method for fabricating a photovoltaic device are also provided.

A method of forming a down-hole tool comprises contacting at least a portion of at least one down-hole structure comprising at least one ceramic-metal composite material with a molten electrolyte comprising sodium tetraborate. Electrical current is applied to at least a portion of the at least one down-hole structure to form at least one borided down-hole structure comprising at least one metal boride material. Other methods of forming a down-hole tool, and a down-hole tool are also described.

A method of forming a down-hole tool comprises contacting at least a portion of at least one down-hole structure comprising at least one ceramic-metal composite material with a molten electrolyte comprising sodium tetraborate. Electrical current is applied to at least a portion of the at least one down-hole structure to form at least one borided down-hole structure comprising at least one metal boride material. Other methods of forming a down-hole tool, and a down-hole tool are also described.

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.