6906 results about "Redox" patented technology

A method for determining the concentration of a reduced (or oxidised) form of a redox species in an electrochemical cell of the kind comprising a working electrode and a counter electrode spaced from the working electrode by a predetermined distance, said method comprising the steps of: (1) applying an electric potential difference between the electrodes; (2) selecting the potential of the working electrode such that the rate of electro-oxidation of the reduced form (or electro-reduction of the oxidised form) of the species is diffusion controlled, (3) selecting the spacing between the working electrode and the counter electrode so that reaction products from the counter electrode arrive at the working electrode; (4) determining current as a function of time after application of the potential and prior to achievement of a steady state; (5) estimating the magnitude of the steady state current, and (6) obtaining from the change in current with time and the magnitude of the steady state current, a value indicative of the diffusion coefficient and/or of the concentration of the reduced form (or the oxidised form) of the species. Also disclosed is an apparatus for determining the concentration of a redox species in an electrochemical cell comprising: an electrochemical cell having a working electrode and a counter (or counter/reference) electrode, means for applying and electric potential difference between said electrodes, means for measuring the change in current with time, and characterised in that the working electrode is spaced from the counter electrode by less than 500 mum.

A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.

A method of forming an interconnect for a semiconductor device using triple hard layers, comprises: forming a first hard layer serving as an etch stop layer on a metal interconnect-formed dielectric layer; forming a second hard layer on the first hard layer; forming a dielectric layer on the second hard layer; forming a third hard layer on the dielectric layer; forming a hole through the third and second hard layers, the dielectric layer, and the first hard layer; and filling the hole with metal to establish an interconnect. The second and third hard layers are each made of carbon-doped silicon oxide formed from a source gas and a redox gas, while controlling the carbon content in the second hard layer as a function of a flow rate of the redox gas.

An organic device has a hole current-electron current conversion layer which comprises a laminate of an electron transportation section and a hole transportation section. The electron transportation section includes a charge transfer complex formed upon an oxidation-reduction reaction between a reduced low work function metal and an electron-accepting organic compound, the reduced metal being produced upon an in-situ thermal reduction reaction caused upon contact, through lamination or mixing by co-deposition, of an organic metal complex compound or an inorganic compound containing at least one metal ion selected from ions of low work function metals having a work function of not more than 4.0 eV, and a thermally reducible metal capable of reducing a metal ion contained in the organic metal complex compound or the inorganic compound in vacuum to the corresponding metal state, and the electron transportation section having the electron-accepting organic compound in the state of radical anions. The hole transportation section includes an organic compound having an ionization potential of less than 5.7 eV and an electron-donating property and an inorganic or organic substance capable of forming a charge transfer complex upon its oxidation-reduction reaction with the organic compound, the organic compound and the inorganic or organic substance being contacted through lamination or mixing, and the electron-donating organic compound is in the state of radical cations.

Electrochromic compositions suitable for use in electrochromic media in electrochromic devices contain minimally two electrochromic compounds of the same redox type, whose redox potentials are greater than 30 mV. The lower redox potential electrochromic compound makes a large contribution to the absorbancy of the electrochromic medium despite being present in only minor concentration.

Redox flow devices are described in which at least one of the positive electrode or negative electrode-active materials is a semi-solid or is a condensed ion-storing electroactive material, and in which at least one of the electrode-active materials is transported to and from an assembly at which the electrochemical reaction occurs, producing electrical energy. The electronic conductivity of the semi-solid is increased by the addition of conductive particles to suspensions and/or via the surface modification of the solid in semi-solids (e.g., by coating the solid with a more electron conductive coating material to increase the power of the device). High energy density and high power redox flow devices are disclosed. The redox flow devices described herein can also include one or more inventive design features. In addition, inventive chemistries for use in redox flow devices are also described.

A method for the synthesis of compounds of the formula C-LixM1-yM'y(XO4)n, where C represents carbon cross-linked with the compound LixM1-yM'y(XO4)n, in which x, y and n are numbers such as 0<=x<=2, 0<=y<=0.6, and 1<=n<=1.5, M is a transition metal or a mixture of transition metals from the first period of the periodic table, M' is an element with fixed valency selected among Mg<2+>, Ca<2+>, Al<3+>, Zn<2+> or a combination of these same elements and X is chosen among S, P and Si, by bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, the mixture of precursors, with a gaseous atmosphere, the synthesis taking place by reaction and bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, the mixture of the precursors, the procedure comprising at least one pyrolysis step of the carbon source compound in such a way as to obtain a compound in which the electronic conductivity measured on a sample of powder compressed at a pressure of 3750 Kg.cm<-2 >is greater than 10<-8 >S.cm<-1>. The materials obtained have excellent electrical conductivity, as well a very improved chemical activity.

Disclosed is a sensor for sensing the presence of an analyte component without relying on redox mediators. This sensor includes (a) a plurality of conductive polymer strands each having at least a first end and a second end and each aligned in a substantially common orientation; (b) a plurality of molecular recognition headgroups having an affinity for the analyte component and being attached to the first ends of the conductive polymer strands; and (c) an electrode substrate attached to the conductive polymer strands at the second ends. The electrode substrate is capable of reporting to an electronic circuit reception of mobile charge carriers (electrons or holes) from the conductive polymer strands. The electrode substrate may be a photovoltaic diode.

An all-solid lithium secondary battery has excellent reliability including safety. However, in general, its energy density or output density is lower than that achieved by liquid electrolyte systems.

The all-solid lithium battery includes a lithium ion-conducting solid electrolyte as an electrolyte. The lithium ion-conducting solid electrolyte is mainly composed of a sulfide, and the surface of a positive electrode active material is coated with a lithium ion-conducting oxide. The advantages of the present invention are particularly significant when the positive electrode active material exhibits a potential of 3 V or more during operation of the all-solid lithium battery, i.e., when redox reaction occurs at a potential of 3 V or more.

PCT No. PCT/EP96/05140 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 23, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 23, 1998 PCT Filed Nov. 21, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/19206 PCT Pub. Date May 29, 1997The invention relates to a method for the electrolytic deposition of metal coatings, in particular of copper coatings with certain physical-mechanical and optical properties and uniform coating thickness. According to known methods using soluble anodes and applying direct current, only uneven metal distribution can be attained on complex shaped workpieces. By using a pulse current or pulse voltage method, the problem of the coatings being of varying thickness at various places on the workpiece surfaces can indeed be reduced. However, the further problem of the geometric ratios being changed continuously during the depositing process by dissolving of the anodes is not resolved thus. This can be avoided by using insoluble anodes. In order to guarantee sufficient stability of the anodes and a bright coating even at those points on the workpiece surfaces, onto which the metal is deposited with high current density, it is essential to add compounds of an electrochemically reversible redox system to the depositing solution.

The presence of a select analyte in the sample is evaluated in an an electrochemical system using a conduction cell-type apparatus. A potential or current is generated between the two electrodes of the cell sufficient to bring about oxidation or reduction of the analyte or of a mediator in an analyte-detection redox system, thereby forming a chemical potential gradient of the analyte or mediator between the two electrodes After the gradient is established, the applied potential or current is discontinued and an analyte-independent signal is obtained from the relaxation of the chemical potential gradient. The analyte-independent signal is used to correct the analyte-dependent signal obtained during application of the potential or current. This correction allows an improved measurement of analyte concentration because it corrects for device-specific and test specific factors such as transport (mobility) of analyte and/or mediator, effective electrode area, and electrode spacing (and as a result, sample volume), without need for separate calibration values. The analysis can be performed using disposable test strips in a hand held meter, for example for glucose testing.

The present invention provides a method of measuring a component in blood, by which an amount of the component can be corrected accurately by measuring a hematocrit (Hct) value of the blood with high accuracy and high reliability and also provides a sensor used in the method. The sensor for measuring a component in blood has a first analysis portion and a second analysis portion. The first analysis portion has a first electrode system (11,12) and a reagent layer (14), and the reagent layer (14) has an oxidoreductase that acts on the component and a mediator. In the first analysis portion, the component in the blood is measured by causing a redox reaction of the component with the oxidoreductase in the presence of the mediator and detecting a redox current caused when a voltage is applied by the first electrode (11,12). The second analysis portion has a working electrode and a counter electrode, and a mediator is provided on the counter electrode but not on the working electrode. In the second analysis portion, a Hct value of the blood is measured by supplying the blood to the electrode system, applying a voltage to cause a current to flow, and detecting a value of the current. Using this Hct value, the amount of the component is corrected.

An organic electroluminescent device including a substrate, the substrate includes, laminated thereon, an anode layer; an organic structure including at least one light- emissive layer or at least one light-emissive unit having at least one light-emissive layer; a low resistance electron-transporting layer including a mixed layer of an electron-donating metal dopant and an organic compound; an organometallic complex-contained layer including an organometallic complex compound containing at least one metal ion selected from the group having an alkaline metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion and a rare earth metal ion; a reducing reaction generating layer; and a cathode layer, in that order. At least one of the anode layer and the cathode layer is transparent. The reducing reaction generating layer is a layer produced by depositing on the organometallic complex- contained layer a thermally reducible metal capable of reducing a metal ion in the organometallic complex compound in a vacuum to the corresponding metal, followed by causing an oxidation-reduction reaction therebetween.

The present invention relates to electrochemical cells including a first working electrode 32, a first counter electrode 34, a second working electrode 36, and a second counter electrode 38, wherein the electrodes are spaced such that reaction products from the first counter electrode 34 arrive at the first working electrode 32, and reaction products from the first and second counter electrodes 34, 38 do not reach the second working electrode 36. Also provided is a method of using such electrochemical cells for determining the concentration of a reduced or oxidized form of a redox species with greater accuracy than can be obtained using an electrochemical cell having a single working and counter electrode.

The invention is directed to enhanced methods for detecting an analyte of interest in situ, by immunoassay, or by hybridization comprising binding an enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule to an analyte of interest in the presence of a redox-inactive reductive species and a soluble metal ion. The enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the inactive reductive species to an active reducing agent, which in turn reduces the metal ion to a metal atom thereby providing an enhanced means of detecting the analyte via metal deposition.

A vanadium redox cell having a positive half cell containing a positive half cell solution comprising a supporting electrolyte selected from H₂SO₄, HBr/HCl mixtures and one or more ions selected from the group vanadium (EI), Vanadium (IV), Vanadium (V), Br₃ and Br₂Cl; a negative half cell containing a negative half cell solution comprising a supporting electrolyte selected from H₂SO₄, HBr and HBr/HCl mixtures and one or more vanadium ions selected from the group Vanadium (II), Vanadium (III) and Vanadium (FV) and a perfluorinated cast cation exchange membrane or separator disposed between the positive and negative half cells and in contact with the positive and negative half cell solutions.

A redox flow cell is presented that utilizes a porous membrane separating a first half cell and a second half cell. The porous membrane is chosen to have a figure of merit (FOM) is at least a minimum FOM. A method of providing a porous membrane for a flow cell can include determining a figure of merit; determining a first parameter from a pore size or a thickness for the porous membrane; determining a second parameter from the pore size or the thickness that is not the first parameter for the porous membrane, based on the figure of merit; and constructing a porous membrane having the pore size and the thickness.

The carbon electrode material of the present invention is used for a vanadium redox-flow cell. The carbon electrode material has quasi-graphite crystal structure in which <002> spacing obtained by X-ray wide angle analysis is 3.43 to 3.60 Å, size of a crystallite in c axial direction is 15 to 33 Å and size of crystallite in a axial direction is 30 to 70 Å. In addition, an amount of surface acidic functional groups obtained by XPS surface analysis is 0.1 to 1.2% and total number of surface bound-nitrogen atoms is 5% or smaller relative to total number of surface carbon atoms. The carbon electrode materials formed of a non-woven fabric of a carbonaceouss fiber is preferable.