Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a power transfer rate in to and/or out of a vehicle energy storage device to affect a current state of charge of the energy storage device. The vehicle may be on a mission comprising a plurality of future power transfer opportunities. In one example, the method comprises adjusting the power transfer rate based on an estimated duration of a future power transfer opportunity. Further, the method may include, if the estimated duration of the future power transfer opportunity is different from a predetermined threshold, changing the power transfer rate at the future power transfer opportunity. The method allows the operating life of the energy storage device to be extended.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a power transfer rate in to and/or out of a vehicle energy storage device to affect a current state of charge of the energy storage device. The vehicle may be on a mission comprising a plurality of future power transfer opportunities. In one example, the method comprises adjusting the power transfer rate based on an estimated duration of a future power transfer opportunity. Further, the method may include, if the estimated duration of the future power transfer opportunity is different from a predetermined threshold, changing the power transfer rate at the future power transfer opportunity. The method allows the operating life of the energy storage device to be extended.

Abstract: A single hybrid organic-inorganic film. The film includes both an organic component, and an inorganic component. The organic component and inorganic component are well interspersed within the film. The film may be incorporated into a multilayer structure including a substrate. A method of forming a hybrid organic-inorganic film. The method includes generating a plasma stream with an expanding thermal plasma generator. The method also includes providing a first reactant and at least one second reactant into the plasma stream extending to a substrate, and forming the hybrid organic-inorganic film on the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a crack-free protective coating comprising at least one of aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxynitride or combinations thereof. Disclosed herein too is a method for making an article comprising disposing a protective coating comprising at least one of aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, aluminum oxynitride or combinations thereof upon a substrate comprising pyrolytic boron nitride, pyrolytic graphite and/or carbon doped boron nitride.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article comprising a substrate; and a columnar structure, wherein the columnar structure comprises a semi-conductor and is disposed upon the substrate in a manner wherein the longitudinal axis of the columnar structures is substantially perpendicular to the substrate. Disclosed herein is an electrode that comprises a substrate upon which is disposed an electron transport coating, wherein the electron transport coating comprises a columnar structure.

Abstract: A coating structure including an outer coating comprising aluminum; and an interlayer disposed between a substrate and the outer coating is provided. The interlayer may include a rare earth metal, a transition metal, or a noble metal. The interlayer may have one or more property of being less responsive to halogen etching relative to the outer coating; having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate and less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the outer coating or vice versa; having a color different from the color of the outer coating; having a electrical conductivity different from the electrical conductivity of the outer coating. A method of making is article is provided. The method may include securing an interlayer to a substrate surface, and securing an outer coating to a surface of the interlayer opposite the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an assembly for plasma generation comprising a cathode plate comprising a fixed cathode tip, the cathode tip being integral part of the cathode plate. The assembly further comprises at least one cascade plate, at least one separator plate disposed between the cathode plate and the cascade plate, an anode plate, and an inlet for a gas. The cathode plate, separator plate, cascade plate and anode plate are “electrically isolated” from one another, and the electrically isolated cathode plate, separator plate, and cascade plate define a plasma generation chamber. The cathode tip is disposed within the plasma generation chamber.

Abstract: A non-planar article includes a plasma deposited abrasion resistant coating with a substantially uniform thickness and a substantially uniform abrasion resistance with delta haze (%) in the range between about +/?0.25 of the mean value.

Abstract: A system to coat a substrate includes a deposition chamber maintained at sub-atmospheric pressure, one or more arrays containing two or more expanding thermal plasma sources associated with the deposition chamber, and at least one injector containing orifices for each array. The substrate is positioned in the deposition chamber and each expanding thermal plasma source produces a plasma jet with a central axis, while the injector injects vaporized reagents into the plasma to form a coating that is deposited on the substrate. The injector orifices are located within a specified distance from the expanding thermal plasma source to obtain generally a coating with generally uniform coating properties.

Abstract: There is provided a structure. The structure comprises a substrate, and a titanium oxide layer disposed over the substrate. There is also provided a method of forming a titanium oxide coating on a substrate. The method includes generating a plasma; providing a first reactant, comprising titanium, and a second reactant, comprising oxygen, into the plasma stream extending to the substrate; and forming the titanium oxide coating on the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a structure. The structure comprises a substrate, and a titanium oxide layer disposed over the substrate. There is also provided a method of forming a titanium oxide coating on a substrate. The method includes generating a plasma; providing a first reactant, comprising titanium, and a second reactant, comprising oxygen, into the plasma stream extending to the substrate; and forming the titanium oxide coating on the substrate.

Abstract: A deposition process comprises determining a target process condition within a chamber of an expanding thermal plasma generator for plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of a coating on a substrate; the generator comprising a cathode, replaceable cascade plate and anode with concentric orifice; and replacing the cascade plate with another plate having a configured orifice to effect the identified target process condition; and generating a plasma at the target process condition by providing a plasma gas to the plasma generator and ionizing the plasma gas in an arc between cathode and anode within the generator and expanding the gas as a plasma onto a substrate in a deposition chamber.

Abstract: A single hybrid organic-inorganic film. The film includes both an organic component, and an inorganic component. The organic component and inorganic component are well interspersed within the film. The film may be incorporated into a multilayer structure including a substrate. A method of forming a hybrid organic-inorganic film. The method includes generating a plasma stream with an expanding thermal plasma generator. The method also includes providing a first reactant and at least one second reactant into the plasma stream extending to a substrate, and forming the hybrid organic-inorganic film on the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a structure. The structure comprises a substrate, and a titanium oxide layer disposed over the substrate. There is also provided a method of forming a titanium oxide coating on a substrate. The method includes generating a plasma; providing a first reactant, comprising titanium, and a second reactant, comprising oxygen, into the plasma stream extending to the substrate; and forming the titanium oxide coating on the substrate.