A fabrication method of a nickel nanowire includes: preparing an anodized aluminum oxide or plastic nanotemplate having nanopores and one surface on which platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu) or an alloy thereof is deposited as a working electrode; producing a plating solution which is a mixture of nickel(II) sulfate heptahydrate (NiSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2O) as a precursor and ammonium sulfate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4) as a buffer solution; and dipping the anodized aluminum oxide or plastic nanotemplate into the plating solution and depositing a nickel nanowire in an electrodeposition process using platinum (Pt) or iridium (Ir) as a counter electrode. A crystal direction of the nickel nanowire is a [111] direction.

The invention is a high-throughput voltage screening crystallographic device and methodology that uses multiple micro wells and electric circuits capable of assaying different crystallization condition for the same or different proteins of interest at the same of different voltages under a humidity and temperature controlled environment. The protein is solubilized in a lipid matrix similar to the lipid composition of the protein in the native environment to ensure stability of the protein during crystallization. The invention provides a system and method where the protein is transferred to a lipid matrix that holds a resting membrane potential, which reduces the degree of conformational freedom of the protein. The invention overcomes the majority of the difficulties associated with vapor diffusion techniques and essentially reconstitutes the protein in its native lipid environment under cuasi physiological conditions.

An object of the present invention is to produce a member useful for preventing edible oil from degrading by performing simple, economical, and safe steps.

A method for producing an edible oil degradation-preventing member, comprising the steps of: (1) forming titanium nitride on the surface of a metallic titanium material or titanium alloy material by one treatment method selected from the group consisting of a heat treatment under an ammonia gas atmosphere and a heat treatment under a nitrogen gas atmosphere, at a heating temperature of 750 C. or higher; (2) anodizing the metallic titanium material or titanium alloy material with the titanium nitride formed on the surface thereof obtained in step (1) by applying a voltage of 10 V or more in an electrolyte solution having no etching effect on titanium, thereby forming a titanium oxide film; and (3) heating the metallic titanium material or titanium alloy material with the titanium oxide film formed on the surface thereof obtained in step (2) at a temperature of 400 C. or higher in an atmosphere selected from an air atmosphere, a mixed atmosphere of oxygen gas and nitrogen gas, and an oxygen gas atmosphere.

An object of the present invention is to produce a member useful for preventing edible oil from degrading by performing simple, economical, and safe steps.

A method for producing an edible oil degradation-preventing member, comprising the steps of: (1) forming titanium nitride on the surface of a metallic titanium material or titanium alloy material by one treatment method selected from the group consisting of a heat treatment under an ammonia gas atmosphere and a heat treatment under a nitrogen gas atmosphere, at a heating temperature of 750 C. or higher; (2) anodizing the metallic titanium material or titanium alloy material with the titanium nitride formed on the surface thereof obtained in step (1) by applying a voltage of 10 V or more in an electrolyte solution having no etching effect on titanium, thereby forming a titanium oxide film; and (3) heating the metallic titanium material or titanium alloy material with the titanium oxide film formed on the surface thereof obtained in step (2) at a temperature of 400 C. or higher in an atmosphere selected from an air atmosphere, a mixed atmosphere of oxygen gas and nitrogen gas, and an oxygen gas atmosphere.

A lithium metal negative electrode for an electrochemical cell for a secondary lithium metal battery includes a polycrystalline metal substrate having a major facing surface with a defined crystallographic texture. An epitaxial lithium metal layer is formed on the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate. The epitaxial lithium metal layer exhibits a predominant crystal orientation. The predominant crystal orientation of the epitaxial lithium metal layer is derived from the defined crystallographic texture of the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate.

A lithium metal negative electrode for an electrochemical cell for a secondary lithium metal battery includes a polycrystalline metal substrate having a major facing surface with a defined crystallographic texture. An epitaxial lithium metal layer is formed on the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate. The epitaxial lithium metal layer exhibits a predominant crystal orientation. The predominant crystal orientation of the epitaxial lithium metal layer is derived from the defined crystallographic texture of the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate.

There is disclosed an insulated metal substrate, consisting of a dielectric oxide coatings of high crystallinity (>vol 90%) on aluminium, magnesium or titanium and high thermal conductivity (over 6 Wm.sup.1K.sup.1), formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation on a surface comprising aluminium, magnesium or titanium. There is also disclosed a plasma electrolytic oxidation process for generating dielectric oxide coatings of controlled crystallinity on a surface of a metallic workpiece, wherein at least a series of positive pulses of current are applied to the workpiece in an electrolyte so as to generate plasma discharges, wherein discharge currents are restricted to levels no more than 50 mA, discharge durations are restricted to durations of no more than 100 s and are shorter than the durations of each the positive pulses, and/or by restricting the power of individual plasma discharges to under 15W. There is also disclosed an insulated metal substrate capable of withstanding exposure to high temperatures (over 300 C.) and thermal shock or repeated thermal cycling of over 300 C., as a result of excellent adhesion of the insulating dielectric to the metal substrate, and the mechanically compliant nature of the coating (E20-30 GPa). Furthermore, there is disclosed a method of making these insulated metal substrates so thin as to be mechanically flexible or pliable without detriment to their electrical insulation.

There is disclosed an insulated metal substrate, consisting of a dielectric oxide coatings of high crystallinity (>vol 90%) on aluminium, magnesium or titanium and high thermal conductivity (over 6 Wm.sup.1K.sup.1), formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation on a surface comprising aluminium, magnesium or titanium. There is also disclosed a plasma electrolytic oxidation process for generating dielectric oxide coatings of controlled crystallinity on a surface of a metallic workpiece, wherein at least a series of positive pulses of current are applied to the workpiece in an electrolyte so as to generate plasma discharges, wherein discharge currents are restricted to levels no more than 50 mA, discharge durations are restricted to durations of no more than 100 s and are shorter than the durations of each the positive pulses, and/or by restricting the power of individual plasma discharges to under 15W. There is also disclosed an insulated metal substrate capable of withstanding exposure to high temperatures (over 300 C.) and thermal shock or repeated thermal cycling of over 300 C., as a result of excellent adhesion of the insulating dielectric to the metal substrate, and the mechanically compliant nature of the coating (E20-30 GPa). Furthermore, there is disclosed a method of making these insulated metal substrates so thin as to be mechanically flexible or pliable without detriment to their electrical insulation.

The invention is a high-throughput voltage screening crystallographic device and methodology that uses multiple micro wells and electric circuits capable of assaying different crystallization condition for the same or different proteins of interest at the same of different voltages under a humidity and temperature controlled environment. The protein is solubilized in a lipid matrix similar to the lipid composition of the protein in the native environment to ensure stability of the protein during crystallization. The invention provides a system and method where the protein is transferred to a lipid matrix that holds a resting membrane potential, which reduces the degree of conformational freedom of the protein. The invention overcomes the majority of the difficulties associated with vapor diffusion techniques and essentially reconstitutes the protein in its native lipid environment under cuasi physiological conditions.

The invention is a high-throughput voltage screening crystallographic device and methodology that uses multiple micro wells and electric circuits capable of assaying different crystallization condition for the same or different proteins of interest at the same of different voltages under a humidity and temperature controlled environment. The protein is solubilized in a lipid matrix similar to the lipid composition of the protein in the native environment to ensure stability of the protein during crystallization. The invention provides a system and method where the protein is transferred to a lipid matrix that holds a resting membrane potential, which reduces the degree of conformational freedom of the protein. The invention overcomes the majority of the difficulties associated with vapor diffusion techniques and essentially reconstitutes the protein in its native lipid environment under cuasi physiological conditions.