Graphene is formed with a practically uniform thickness on an uneven object. The object is immersed in a graphene oxide solution, and then taken out of the solution and dried; alternatively, the object and an electrode are immersed therein and voltage is applied between the electrode and the object used as an anode. Graphene oxide is negatively charged, and thus is drawn to and deposited on a surface of the object, with a practically uniform thickness. After that, the object is heated in vacuum or a reducing atmosphere, so that the graphene oxide is reduced to be graphene. In this manner, a graphene layer with a practically uniform thickness can be formed even on a surface of the uneven object.

An electrical connection component includes a connecting part that is electrically conductive, and an electrical contact on at least a part of a surface of the connecting part, the electrical contact including a graphene oxide film. The graphene oxide film is graphene oxide or a stack of graphene oxide, and a thickness of the graphene oxide film is 1 nm or more and 50 nm or less. The electrical connection component may be either a male terminal or a female terminal.

An electrical connection component includes a connecting part that is electrically conductive, and an electrical contact on at least a part of a surface of the connecting part, the electrical contact including a graphene oxide film. The graphene oxide film is graphene oxide or a stack of graphene oxide, and a thickness of the graphene oxide film is 1 nm or more and 50 nm or less. The electrical connection component may be either a male terminal or a female terminal.

A method includes at least partially submerging a substrate in a colloidal mixture of nanocrystals and a first solvent. The nanocrystals have first ligands coupled thereto. The method also includes applying an electric field to the colloidal mixture to form a solvated nanocrystal film and removing the solvated nanocrystal film from the first solvent. The method further includes applying a second solvent to the solvated nanocrystal film for ligand exchange. The second solvent comprises second ligands. A nanocrystal film product formed by one-step ligand exchange includes at least one dimension greater than 100 nm and ordered nanocrystals characterized as having a domain size of greater than 100 nm.

A method includes at least partially submerging a substrate in a colloidal mixture of nanocrystals and a first solvent. The nanocrystals have first ligands coupled thereto. The method also includes applying an electric field to the colloidal mixture to form a solvated nanocrystal film and removing the solvated nanocrystal film from the first solvent. The method further includes applying a second solvent to the solvated nanocrystal film for ligand exchange. The second solvent comprises second ligands. A nanocrystal film product formed by one-step ligand exchange includes at least one dimension greater than 100 nm and ordered nanocrystals characterized as having a domain size of greater than 100 nm.

The present disclosure describes a metal-ion rechargeable battery that includes a metal (such as zinc, aluminum, potassium, sodium, lithium, or lithium-alloys) anode coated with at least one layer of a two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) material. The at least one layer of the 2D TMD material, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS.sub.2), may be deposited on the metal electrode using electrochemical deposition. The battery may also include a carbon material cathode coated with at least one layer of manganese dioxide (MnO.sub.2) or another electrode material. A method of forming such a battery is also described. Batteries that include metal anodes with 2D TMD material coating may have reduced series resistance, exhibit excellent reversible specific capacity, and have stable performance over many cycles with little to no dendrite formation on the metal anodes.

A method of treating the surface of a metal base which is conducted prior to cationic electrodeposition coating and is used for improving throwing power in the cationic electrodeposition coating; a metallic material treated by the surface treatment method; and a method of coating this metallic material.

A method of treating the surface of a metal base which is conducted prior to cationic electrodeposition coating and is used for improving throwing power in the cationic electrodeposition coating; a metallic material treated by the surface treatment method; and a method of coating this metallic material.

A product according to one embodiment includes a first layer having a first composition, a first microstructure, and a first density; and a second layer above the first layer, the second layer having: a second composition, a second microstructure, and/or a second density. A gradient in composition, microstructure, and/or density exists between the first layer and the second layer, and either or both of the first layer and the second layer comprise non-spherical particles aligned along a longitudinal axis thereof.

A product according to one embodiment includes a first layer having a first composition, a first microstructure, and a first density; and a second layer above the first layer, the second layer having: a second composition, a second microstructure, and/or a second density. A gradient in composition, microstructure, and/or density exists between the first layer and the second layer, and either or both of the first layer and the second layer comprise non-spherical particles aligned along a longitudinal axis thereof.