Manganese dioxide cathodes are inexpensive and have high theoretical capacity (based on two electrons) of 617 mAh g-1, making them attractive for low-cost, energy-dense batteries. They are used in non-rechargeable batteries with anodes like zinc. Only ∼10% of the theoretical capacity is currently accessible in rechargeable alkaline systems. Attempts to access the full capacity using additives h...

Recently, the last two modules (out of seven) of the ALICE High Momentum Particle Identification detector (HMPID) were assembled and tested. The full detector, after a precommissioning phase, has been installed in the experimental area, inside the ALICE solenoid, at the end of September 2006. In this paper we review the status of the ALICE/HMPID project and we present a summary of the series pr...

A laser-driven photo-cathode electron gun capable of producing pulsed electron beams of 100 KeV with a duration of 35 ps was constructed as a continuing effort towards a high-brightness superconducting RF injector. Various species of photo-cathodes can be obtained either by ion implantation, CVD or ion enhanced deposition in the preparation chamber attached to the injector. A number of photo-ca...

The thermal emittance and temporal response of a photocathode set an upper limit on the maximum achievable electron beam brightness from a photoemission electron source, or photoinjector. We present measurements of these parameters over a broad range of laser wavelength for two different negative electron affinity NEA photocathodes. The thermal emittance of NEA GaAs and GaAsP has been measured ...

Rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are receiving ever-increasing attention due to their high theoretical energy density and inexpensive raw sulfur materials. However, their rapid capacity fade has been one of the key barriers for their further improvement. It is well accepted that the major degradation mechanisms of S-cathodes include low electrical conductivity of S and sulfides, pre...

Achieving small transverse beam emittance is important for high brightness cathodes for free electron lasers and electron diffraction and imaging experiments. Double-gate field emitter arrays with on-chip focussing electrode, operating with electrical switching or near infrared laser excitation, have been studied as cathodes that are competitive with photocathodes excited by ultraviolet lasers,...

Fully lithiated lithium sulphide (Li2S) is currently being explored as a promising cathode material for emerging energy storage applications. Like their sulphur counterparts, Li2S cathodes require effective encapsulation to reduce the dissolution of intermediate lithium polysulphide (Li2Sn, n=4-8) species into the electrolyte. Here we report, the encapsulation of Li2S cathodes using two-dimensi...

Results of a study of an electrolytic device that can produce excess power are presented. The power calibration procedure used for the experiments and the data analysis procedure is briefly described in this paper. Different combinations of cathode and electrolyte were investigated. Thin foils of different pure metals were and thin spattered layers of different pure metals on different substrat...

Nanocrystalline Li2MSiO4 (M = Fe, Mn) particles embedded between in situ formed rGO sheets are obtained by adopting customized solvothermal synthesis. An appreciable room temperature specific capacity of 149 mA h g(-1) with 89% capacity retention and 210 mA h g(-1) with 87% retention have been exhibited by Li2FeSiO4/rGO and Li2MnSiO4/rGO composites, corresponding to the participation of close t...

Tomosynthesis imaging requires projection images from different viewing angles. Conventional systems use a moving xray source to acquire the individual projections. Using a stationary distributed x-ray source with a number of sources that equals the number of required projections, this can be achieved without any mechanical motion. Advantages are a potentially faster image acquisition speed, hi...