Abstract: A method and apparatus to treat a dried unfired article comprising a ceramic precursor composition substantially held together by a binder, to be resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing. The method includes depositing a fluid on the article surface, and polymerizing the deposited fluid to form a polymer thin layer on the surface. The fluid may be an aerosol, a vapor, a fog, a mist, a smoke, or combinations thereof. An apparatus to perform the method and an article resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing are also provided. The article can be an unfired honeycomb body that includes a dried composition of ceramic precursor substantially held together by a binder and a layer disposed on a surface of the unfired honeycomb body. The surface to be exposed in the green state to a binder soluble solvent and the layer protects the binder from solubilization by the solvent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a particulate filter includes plugging at least some of the channels of a green cellular ceramic body on a first end with a green plugging material that includes a liquid vehicle to form a partially plugged green cellular ceramic body, firing the partially plugged green cellular ceramic body to form a partially plugged ceramic article, and plugging at least some of the channels on a second end of the partially plugged ceramic article with a plugging material that sets at a temperature of less than 1000° C.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rapid drying of ceramic greenwares having a high graphite content are disclosed. The methods include employing microwave drying to bring the dryness of the ceramic greenware to a first select dryness and then employing close-coupled hot-air drying to bring the dryness to the final target dryness. The judicious use of close-coupled hot-air drying reduces end defects due to unevenness in the microwave drying process while also substantially speeding up the drying process. Various configurations for and combinations of microwave drying and close-coupled hot-air drying are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to treat a dried unfired article comprising a ceramic precursor composition substantially held together by a binder, to be resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing. The method includes depositing a fluid on the article surface, and polymerizing the deposited fluid to form a polymer thin layer on the surface. The fluid may be an aerosol, a vapor, a fog, a mist, a smoke, or combinations thereof. An apparatus to perform the method and an article resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing are also provided. The article can be an unfired honeycomb body that includes a dried composition of ceramic precursor substantially held together by a binder and a layer disposed on a surface of the unfired honeycomb body. The surface to be exposed in the green state to a binder soluble solvent and the layer protects the binder from solubilization by the solvent.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as lanthanum boride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a particulate filter includes plugging at least some of the channels of a green cellular ceramic body on a first end with a green plugging material that includes a liquid vehicle to form a partially plugged green cellular ceramic body, firing the partially plugged green cellular ceramic body to form a partially plugged ceramic article, and plugging at least some of the channels on a second end of the partially plugged ceramic article with a plugging material that sets at a temperature of less than 1000° C.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: A substrate having a durable hydrophobic and/or oleophobic surface. The durable hydrophobic and/or oleophobic surface includes a first layer that is disposed on the substrate and comprises inorganic nanoparticles, an outer layer comprising a fluorosilane, and an optional immobilizing layer that comprises at least one of an inorganic oxide and a silsesquioxane. The durable surface is capable of retaining optical properties, such as haze, and hydrophobic and/or oleophobic properties after repeated contact with foreign objects such as, for example, wiping with a cloth or human finger.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.

Abstract: A glass substrate having at least one surface with engineered properties that include hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, anti-stick or adherence of particulate or liquid matter, resistance to fingerprinting, durability, and transparency (i.e., haze<10%). The surface comprises at least one set of topological features that together have a re-entrant geometry that prevents a decrease in contact angle and pinning of drops comprising at least one of water and sebaceous oils.

Abstract: A process for creating hydrophobic and oleophobic glass surfaces. The process consists of heating a glass article to temperatures near the glass softening point and pressing a textured mold into the glass article to create surface texture. The mold texture is selected to have dimensions that convey hydrophobicity and oleophobicity to the glass article when combined with appropriate surface chemistry. The surface features are controlled through choice of mold texture and through process parameters including applied pressure, temperature, and pressing time. Articles made by this process are also described.

Abstract: A thin film battery comprises a substrate, anode and cathode current collector layers formed over the substrate, anode and cathode layers formed over and in electrical contact with respective ones of the current collector layers, and an electrolyte layer formed between the anode and cathode layers. The thin film battery further comprises a barrier layer formed from a material such as tin oxide, tin phosphate, tin fluorophosphate, chalcogenide glass, tellurite glass or borate glass. The barrier layer is configured to encapsulate the thin film battery layers and substantially inhibit or prevent exposure of the thin film battery layers to air or moisture.