The present invention relates to novel gold nanocrystals and nanocrystal shape distributions that have surfaces that are substantially free from organic impurities or films. Specifically, the surfaces are clean relative to the surfaces of gold nanoparticles made using chemical reduction processes that require organic reductants and/or surfactants to grow gold nanoparticles from gold ions in solution. The invention includes novel electrochemical manufacturing apparatuses and techniques for making the gold-based nanocrystals. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions thereof and the use of the gold nanocrystals or suspensions or colloids thereof for the treatment or prevention of diseases or conditions for which gold therapy is already known and more generally for conditions resulting from pathological cellular activation, such as inflammatory (including chronic inflammatory) conditions, autoimmune conditions, hypersensitivity reactions and/or cancerous diseases or conditions In one embodiment, the condition is mediated by MIF (macrophage migration inhibiting factor).

A sliding member includes a base layer that includes soft particles made of a soft material deposited in a matrix and a soft layer made of a soft material. The soft material is softer than the matrix, the soft layer is formed on a surface of the base layer, and an average epitaxial index of the soft particles at the boundary portion of the sliding member is equal to or greater than 70% and less than or equal to 100%. The epitaxial index of a soft particle at the boundary portion is a ratio of: a portion of a length between a first endpoint and a second endpoint of a soft particle where an edge of the boundary portion is not visible within an area less than 1 m from the length between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, to the length between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

A sliding member includes a base layer that includes soft particles made of a soft material deposited in a matrix and a soft layer made of a soft material. The soft material is softer than the matrix, the soft layer is formed on a surface of the base layer, and an average epitaxial index of the soft particles at the boundary portion of the sliding member is equal to or greater than 70% and less than or equal to 100%. The epitaxial index of a soft particle at the boundary portion is a ratio of: a portion of a length between a first endpoint and a second endpoint of a soft particle where an edge of the boundary portion is not visible within an area less than 1 m from the length between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, to the length between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

A method for preparing an electrolytic copper foil includes placing an anode and a cathode to be plated in a twin crystal growth agent containing electroplating solution in an electroplating tank, and, under conditions that the electroplating solution is provided with randomly alternating transitions of one or two of an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f11 and an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f12 and one or two of an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f21 and an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f22, performing direct current electroplating to obtain the electrolytic copper foil, wherein f11>40 kHz, 15 kHz<f1240 kHz, 0 kHz<f2115 kHz, and f22=0 kHz.

A method for preparing an electrolytic copper foil includes placing an anode and a cathode to be plated in a twin crystal growth agent containing electroplating solution in an electroplating tank, and, under conditions that the electroplating solution is provided with randomly alternating transitions of one or two of an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f11 and an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f12 and one or two of an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f21 and an ultrasonic wave at a frequency f22, performing direct current electroplating to obtain the electrolytic copper foil, wherein f11>40 kHz, 15 kHz<f1240 kHz, 0 kHz<f2115 kHz, and f22=0 kHz.

Electrophoresis of an ethanol dispersion of an octacalcium phosphate (OCP) crystal is performed to form a multilayer deposited film of the OCP crystal on a cathode (gold sensor) that is an electrode made of a conductive material such as gold. The multilayer deposited film is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning to form a single-layer deposited film of the OCP crystal on the cathode. The OCP crystalline film formed on the gold sensor surface is a stable crystalline film having a layered structure in which a hydrated layer and an apatite layer are regularly repeated, where a specific crystal plane is oriented in a specific direction with the hydrated layer being an uppermost layer.

Electrophoresis of an ethanol dispersion of an octacalcium phosphate (OCP) crystal is performed to form a multilayer deposited film of the OCP crystal on a cathode (gold sensor) that is an electrode made of a conductive material such as gold. The multilayer deposited film is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning to form a single-layer deposited film of the OCP crystal on the cathode. The OCP crystalline film formed on the gold sensor surface is a stable crystalline film having a layered structure in which a hydrated layer and an apatite layer are regularly repeated, where a specific crystal plane is oriented in a specific direction with the hydrated layer being an uppermost layer.

Electrophoresis of an ethanol dispersion of an octacalcium phosphate (OCP) crystal is performed to form a multilayer deposited film of the OCP crystal on a cathode (gold sensor) that is an electrode made of a conductive material such as gold. The multilayer deposited film is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning to form a single-layer deposited film of the OCP crystal on the cathode. The OCP crystalline film formed on the gold sensor surface is a stable crystalline film having a layered structure in which a hydrated layer and an apatite layer are regularly repeated, where a specific crystal plane is oriented in a specific direction with the hydrated layer being an uppermost layer.

Electrophoresis of an ethanol dispersion of an octacalcium phosphate (OCP) crystal is performed to form a multilayer deposited film of the OCP crystal on a cathode (gold sensor) that is an electrode made of a conductive material such as gold. The multilayer deposited film is subjected to ultrasonic cleaning to form a single-layer deposited film of the OCP crystal on the cathode. The OCP crystalline film formed on the gold sensor surface is a stable crystalline film having a layered structure in which a hydrated layer and an apatite layer are regularly repeated, where a specific crystal plane is oriented in a specific direction with the hydrated layer being an uppermost layer.

The present disclosure describes electrochromic devices comprising transparent conductive layer acting as an electrode, an active electrochromic film, an ion conductor, and an ion storage film at least one of which comprises at least one MXene material.