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 problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for forming a multilayer coating film, the method being capable of achieving excellent finished appearance and excellent corrosion resistance without affecting electrodeposition coatability even when a part or all of the water-washing step is omitted after chemical conversion treatment, and to provide a coated article. The invention provides a method for forming a multilayer coating film, comprising forming a chemical conversion coating film and an electrodeposition coating film on a metal substrate by Step 1 of immersing a metal substrate in a chemical conversion treatment solution to form a chemical conversion coating film, and Step 2 of omitting a part or all of the water-washing step, and performing electrodeposition coating on the metal substrate using a cationic electrodeposition coating composition to form an electrodeposition coating film, wherein when the electrodeposition coating is performed in Step 2, the solution adhered to and/or deposited on the metal substrate has an electrical conductivity of less than 10,000 S/cm.

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for forming a multilayer coating film, the method being capable of achieving excellent finished appearance and excellent corrosion resistance without affecting electrodeposition coatability even when a part or all of the water-washing step is omitted after chemical conversion treatment, and to provide a coated article. The invention provides a method for forming a multilayer coating film, comprising forming a chemical conversion coating film and an electrodeposition coating film on a metal substrate by Step 1 of immersing a metal substrate in a chemical conversion treatment solution to form a chemical conversion coating film, and Step 2 of omitting a part or all of the water-washing step, and performing electrodeposition coating on the metal substrate using a cationic electrodeposition coating composition to form an electrodeposition coating film, wherein when the electrodeposition coating is performed in Step 2, the solution adhered to and/or deposited on the metal substrate has an electrical conductivity of less than 10,000 S/cm.

A method for forming an adhesion promoting layer and a corrosion resistant layer over the surfaces of a body-in-white (BIW) structure is provided. The method includes immersing the BIW structure in a pre-activating bath to pre-activate the surfaces of the BIW structure. The surfaces of the BIW structure comprise at least an aluminum alloy surface, at least a surface comprising ferrous metal, zinc, or TiZr, and the surfaces are substantially free of magnesium alloys. An adhesion promoting layer comprising cerium and a corrosion resistant layer comprising polymers are subsequently deposited over the pre-activated surfaces of the BIW structure by immersing the BIW structure in an aqueous bath comprising a source of cerium cations and a polymer precursor.

A method for forming an adhesion promoting layer and a corrosion resistant layer over the surfaces of a body-in-white (BIW) structure is provided. The method includes immersing the BIW structure in a pre-activating bath to pre-activate the surfaces of the BIW structure. The surfaces of the BIW structure comprise at least an aluminum alloy surface, at least a surface comprising ferrous metal, zinc, or TiZr, and the surfaces are substantially free of magnesium alloys. An adhesion promoting layer comprising cerium and a corrosion resistant layer comprising polymers are subsequently deposited over the pre-activated surfaces of the BIW structure by immersing the BIW structure in an aqueous bath comprising a source of cerium cations and a polymer precursor.

The present invention provides a method for preparing a polyaniline/RuO.sub.2/SnO.sub.2 composite electrode material, including: sputtering a SnO.sub.2 film onto a tantalum substrate by a magnetron sputtering method, to form a SnO.sub.2 layer; preparing porous-structured RuO.sub.2 nanoparticles with a uniform pore size distribution (10-15 nm) by a template method; and embedding polyaniline into the RuO.sub.2 nanoparticle matrix by a electrodeposition method, to finally obtain a multilayer-structured polyaniline/RuO.sub.2/SnO.sub.2 composite electrode material with a specific capacitance value of 680-702 F.Math.g1 and an excellent cycling charge-discharge performance after it is assembled into an electrochemical capacitor.

An electrode for use in bio-electrochemical systems is described, including: a substantially planar electrode material; a frame comprising a non-conductive substance; and one or more first conductive substances linked or secured to the frame. Bio-electrochemical systems, racks for inserting the electrode, and methods of using the racks are also described.

An electrode for use in bio-electrochemical systems is described, including: a substantially planar electrode material; a frame comprising a non-conductive substance; and one or more first conductive substances linked or secured to the frame. Bio-electrochemical systems, racks for inserting the electrode, and methods of using the racks are also described.

A coating method for a clad steel in which stainless sheets are combined on adjacent surfaces of an aluminum sheet may include preparing the clad steel, preparing a coating solution in which an epoxy resin and titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) powder are combined in an acrylic resin, etching the clad steel to improve adhesion property between the coating solution and the clad steel, heating the clad steel, and performing electrodeposition by immersing the clad steel in the coating solution.

A coating method for a clad steel in which stainless sheets are combined on adjacent surfaces of an aluminum sheet may include preparing the clad steel, preparing a coating solution in which an epoxy resin and titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) powder are combined in an acrylic resin, etching the clad steel to improve adhesion property between the coating solution and the clad steel, heating the clad steel, and performing electrodeposition by immersing the clad steel in the coating solution.