Metastable alloys have recently emerged as high-performance catalysts, extending the toolbox of binary alloy materials that can be utilized to mediate electrocatalytic reactions. In particular, nanostructured metastable ordered intermetallic compounds are particularly challenging to synthesize. Here the present invention is directed to a method for synthesizing sub-15 nm metastable ordered intermetallic Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles at room temperature, in a single step, by pulsed electrochemical deposition onto high surface area carbon supports. The resulting Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles displays a 7× enhancement of the mass activity relative to Pt/C and a 4× enhancement relative to Pd/C for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The high performance of Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles is demonstrated to arise from reduced oxygen binding caused by alloying of Pd with Bi. The isolation of Pd-sites from each other facilitate methanol tolerant ORR behavior.

Metastable alloys have recently emerged as high-performance catalysts, extending the toolbox of binary alloy materials that can be utilized to mediate electrocatalytic reactions. In particular, nanostructured metastable ordered intermetallic compounds are particularly challenging to synthesize. Here the present invention is directed to a method for synthesizing sub-15 nm metastable ordered intermetallic Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles at room temperature, in a single step, by pulsed electrochemical deposition onto high surface area carbon supports. The resulting Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles displays a 7× enhancement of the mass activity relative to Pt/C and a 4× enhancement relative to Pd/C for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The high performance of Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles is demonstrated to arise from reduced oxygen binding caused by alloying of Pd with Bi. The isolation of Pd-sites from each other facilitate methanol tolerant ORR behavior.

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.

The invention relates to the field of liquid phase synthesis of diamond or any other allotropic forms of carbon and more particularly to a process of liquid phase synthesis of carbonaceous films, according to which a voltage is applied, in a solution containing carbonaceous molecules, to a substrate on which a carbonaceous layer is to be deposited and photons are sent to the surface of the substrate. To this end, the invention also relates to a device for the liquid phase synthesis of carbonaceous films comprising a synthesis vessel inside which are arranged means for applying a voltage in a reaction zone, and photonic means are arranged to send photons to the reaction zone.

A high-strength coatings and methods of fabrication to yield single-crystal-like nickel containing nanotwins and stacking faults.

A high-strength coatings and methods of fabrication to yield single-crystal-like nickel containing nanotwins and stacking faults.

A nano-twinned copper layer is disclosed, wherein over 50% of a volume of the nano-twinned copper layer comprises a plurality of columnar crystal grains, the plurality of columnar crystal grains connect to each other, at least 70% of the plurality of columnar crystal grains are formed by a plurality of nano-twins stacking in an orientation of a crystal axis, and an angle included between two adjacent columnar crystal grains is greater 20° and less than or equal to 60°. In addition, a method for manufacturing the nano-twinned copper layer and a substrate comprising the same are also disclosed.

A nano-twinned copper layer is disclosed, wherein over 50% of a volume of the nano-twinned copper layer comprises a plurality of columnar crystal grains, the plurality of columnar crystal grains connect to each other, at least 70% of the plurality of columnar crystal grains are formed by a plurality of nano-twins stacking in an orientation of a crystal axis, and an angle included between two adjacent columnar crystal grains is greater 20° and less than or equal to 60°. In addition, a method for manufacturing the nano-twinned copper layer and a substrate comprising the same are also disclosed.

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.