An electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process forms a radioluminescent phosphor and radioisotope composite layer on a conductive surface of a substrate. In the composite layer formed, the particles of radioisotope are homogeneously dispersed with the radioluminescent phosphor. The radioisotope may be a beta-emitter, such as Ni-63, H-3, Pm-147, or Sr-90/Y-90. By applying the composite layer using the EPD process, the electrode can be configured for betavoltaic, beta-photovoltaic and photovoltaic cells according to further embodiments. A direct bandgap semiconductor device can convert betas and/or photons emitted from composite layer. Methods and choice of materials and components produces a hybrid radioisotope battery, conversion of photons and nuclear decay products, or radioluminescent surfaces.

The present invention is directed to a method of coating an electrical current collector comprising treating a portion of a surface of the electrical current collector with an adhesion promoting composition to deposit a treatment layer over the portion of the surface of the electrical current collector, wherein the resulting surface of the electrical current collector comprises (a) a treated portion comprising the treatment layer and (b) a non-treated portion that lacks the treatment layer; electrodepositing an electrodeposited coating layer from an electrodepositable coating composition onto the surface of the electrical current collector to form a coated electrical current collector; and rinsing the coated electrical current collector, wherein the electrodeposited coating layer substantially adheres to the treated portion of the surface and does not adhere to the non-treated portion of the surface. Also disclosed are electrodes and electrical storage devices.

Graphene electrodes-based supercapacitors are in demand due to superior electrochemical characteristics. However, commercial applications have been limited by inferior electrode cycle life. A method to fabricate highly efficient supercapacitor electrodes using pristine graphene sheets vertically-stacked and electrically connected to the carbon fibers which results in vertically-aligned graphene-carbon fiber nanostructure is disclosed. The vertically-aligned graphene-carbon fiber electrode prepared by electrophoretic deposition possesses a mesoporous three-dimensional architecture which enabled faster and efficient electrolyte-ion diffusion with a specific capacitance of 333.3 F g.sup.−1. The electrodes have electrochemical cycling stability of more than 100,000 cycles with 100% capacitance retention. Apart from the electrochemical double layer charge storage, the oxygen-containing surface moieties and α-Ni(OH).sub.2 present on the graphene sheets enhance the charge storage by faradaic reactions. This enables the assembled device to provide a gravimetric energy density of 76 W h kg.sup.−1 with a 100% capacitance retention even after 1,000 bending cycles.

Disclosed is a method for surface treatment of an object, the method including the following steps: applying a surface layer on the object by electrodeposition of the object in a liquid bath; and forming the surface layer as a result of the bath containing at least an electrodeposition coating material and a conductive material. Furthermore, the method includes: providing the conductive material in the form of a carbon-based compound which is configured as a protective barrier covering generally the entire surface of the object. Also disclosed is an object including a surface layer which is applied in accordance with the above-mentioned method.

Disclosed is a method for surface treatment of an object, the method including the following steps: applying a surface layer on the object by electrodeposition of the object in a liquid bath; and forming the surface layer as a result of the bath containing at least an electrodeposition coating material and a conductive material. Furthermore, the method includes: providing the conductive material in the form of a carbon-based compound which is configured as a protective barrier covering generally the entire surface of the object. Also disclosed is an object including a surface layer which is applied in accordance with the above-mentioned method.

A metal wire containing tungsten is provided. A tungsten content of the metal wire is at least 90 wt %. A tensile strength of the metal wire is at least 4000 MPa. An elastic modulus of the metal wire is at least 350 GPa and at most 450 GPa. A diameter of the metal wire is at most 60 μm. An average crystal grain size of the metal wire in a cross-section orthogonal to an axis of the metal wire is at most 0.20 μm.

A metal wire containing tungsten is provided. A tungsten content of the metal wire is at least 90 wt %. A tensile strength of the metal wire is at least 4000 MPa. An elastic modulus of the metal wire is at least 350 GPa and at most 450 GPa. A diameter of the metal wire is at most 60 μm. An average crystal grain size of the metal wire in a cross-section orthogonal to an axis of the metal wire is at most 0.20 μm.

The invention relates to a connector including an electrical contact material which contains a metal base material and a conductive coating layer on a surface of the metal base material, in which the conductive coating layer includes: a matrix phase constituted by a metal other than gold; and a second phase that includes: elongated portions that elongate in a depth direction from a surface of the matrix phase; and enlarged diameter portions that, in the surface of the matrix phase, extend from the elongated portions along the surface, in which the second phase is constituted by gold or a non-metal conductive material that is less oxidizable than the metal constituting the matrix phase.

A light-weight composite material with enhanced structural characteristics includes, in one embodiment, a compositionally modulated nanolaminate coating electrically deposited into an open, accessible void structure of a porous substrate. As a result of including a nanolaminate within the void structure, the composite can include a greater amount of nanolaminate material per unit volume than can be achieved by depositing a nanolaminate material solely on a two-dimensional surface. In addition, the nanolaminate material as well as other material electrodeposited to form the composite is compositionally modulated so that discontinuities between layers are minimized and potentially eliminated. The light-weight but structurally enhanced composite material can be used in a number of different applications including, but not limited to, ballistic applications (e.g., armor panels or tank panels), automotive protection applications (e.g., car door panels, racing shells) and sporting equipment applications (e.g., golf club shafts and tennis racket frames).

A light-weight composite material with enhanced structural characteristics includes, in one embodiment, a compositionally modulated nanolaminate coating electrically deposited into an open, accessible void structure of a porous substrate. As a result of including a nanolaminate within the void structure, the composite can include a greater amount of nanolaminate material per unit volume than can be achieved by depositing a nanolaminate material solely on a two-dimensional surface. In addition, the nanolaminate material as well as other material electrodeposited to form the composite is compositionally modulated so that discontinuities between layers are minimized and potentially eliminated. The light-weight but structurally enhanced composite material can be used in a number of different applications including, but not limited to, ballistic applications (e.g., armor panels or tank panels), automotive protection applications (e.g., car door panels, racing shells) and sporting equipment applications (e.g., golf club shafts and tennis racket frames).