Abstract: The invention is directed to a dispensing unit suitable to precise! dispense material in powder and/or granular form. The dispensing device comprises a gate valve opening sealingly closed by a blend. A control unit, which is interconnected to a scaling device, controls the opening of the gate valve opening by the position of the blend. The precise amount of the material is adjusted in relation to the signal of the scaling device.

Abstract: The invention relates to liquid chromatography techniques for rapidly characterizing samples, such as polymer solutions, emulsions and dispersions, and to devices for implementing such techniques. The system includes a design that provides the ability to perform chromatographic separations by using mobile phase composition gradients and temperature gradients during separations. The invention accomplishes this by providing mixing zones for a plurality of fluids as well as heated and chilled feeds feeding the fluids to the mixing zones. Additionally, the system provides the ability to analyze separated components with a detector and/or collect separated fractions into vessels of a fraction collector for further separation and/or analysis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combinatorial (i.e., high-throughput) materials research, such as catalysis research, that involves parallel apparatus for simultaneously effecting mechanical treatments such as grinding, mixing, pressing, crushing, sieving, and/or fractionating of such materials are disclosed. The methods and apparatus are useful for mechanically treating catalysis materials and other solid materials, including without limitation, electronic materials such as phosphors, colorants such as pigments, and pharmaceuticals such as crystalline drugs or drug candidates. The simultaneous protocols and parallel apparatus offer substantial improvements in overall throughput for preparing arrays of materials, such as catalysis materials.

Abstract: A fuel cell electrocatalyst that contains platinum, indium, and at least one of tungsten, iron, and manganese.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cerium compositions and methods for making such metal oxide compositions, specifically, such metal oxide compositions having high surface area, high metal/metal oxide content, and/or thermal stability with inexpensive and easy to handle materials.

Abstract: A method and catalysts and fuel processing apparatus for producing a hydrogen-rich gas, such as a hydrogen-rich syngas are disclosed. According to the method, a CO-containing gas, such as a syngas, contacts a platinum-free ruthenium-cobalt water gas shift (“WGS”) catalyst, in the presence of water and preferably at a temperature of less than about 450° C., to produce a hydrogen-rich gas, such as a hydrogen-rich syngas. Also disclosed is a platinum-free ruthenium-cobalt water gas shift catalyst formulated from: a) Ru, its oxides or mixtures thereof, b) Co, Mo, their oxides or mixtures thereof, and c) at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ti, Zr, Cr, Fe, La, Ce, Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof. The WGS catalyst may be supported on a carrier, such as any one member or a combination of alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, magnesia, lanthania, niobia, zeolite, perovskite, silica clay, yttria and iron oxide. Fuel processors containing such water gas shift catalysts are also disclosed.

Abstract: New ligands and compositions with bridged bis-aromatic ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. These catalysts with metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene into isotactic polypropylene.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing electrocatalysts are disclosed. The system includes a high temperature synthesis device for preparing an array of electrocatalysts as electrolytic surfaces of working electrodes. At least a portion of the electrolytic surfaces are defined by different materials. The device includes a plurality of openings for receiving the array of working electrodes and a mask having a plurality of openings configured for exposing at least a portion of each of the working electrodes for forming the electrolytic surfaces thereon.

Abstract: A composition for use as a catalyst in, for example, a fuel cell, the composition comprising platinum, copper and tungsten, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of one or more of platinum, copper and tungsten, wherein the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and tungsten, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than 90 atomic percent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the preparation of photoresist polymers via living free radical polymerization techniques. Sterically bulky ester monomers are utilized as the polymerization components. Use of chain transfer agents is included in polymerization processing conditions. Cleavage of polymer terminal end groups that include a heteroatom are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition for use as a catalyst in, for example, a fuel cell, the composition comprising platinum, nickel, and iron, wherein (i) the concentration of platinum is greater than 50 atomic percent, the concentration of nickel is less than 15 atomic percent and/or the concentration of iron is greater than 30 atomic percent, or (ii) the concentration of platinum is greater than 70 atomic percent and less than about 90 atomic percent. The present invention is further directed to a process for preparing such a catalyst composition from a catalyst precursor composition comprising platinum, nickel, and iron, wherein the concentration of platinum therein is less than 50 atomic percent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for screening diverse arrays of materials using infrared imaging techniques are provided. Typically, each of the individual materials on the array will be screened or interrogated for the same material characteristic. Once screened, the individual materials may be ranked or otherwise compared relative to each other with respect to the material characteristic under investigation. According to one aspect, infrared imaging techniques are used to identify the active sites within an array of compounds by monitoring the temperature change resulting from a reaction. This same technique can also be used to quantify the stability of each new material within an array of compounds. According to another aspect, identification and characterization of condensed phase products is achieved, wherein library elements are activated by a heat source serially, or in parallel.

Abstract: Devices and methods for evaluating an electrochemical reaction are disclosed. A device includes an electrochemical cell having a cavity for containing a liquidus electrolyte, a first working electrode having at least one electrolytic surface at least partially within the cavity, and a second counter electrode having at least one electrolytic surface at least partially within the cavity. The first working electrode includes a body and an insert supported by the body. The electrolytic surface of the working electrode is formed on or integral with the insert. The insert and body are each formed from a high-temperature material which allows for preparation or processing of the electrolytic surface at a temperature of at least 300° C. The device further includes a drive system detachably coupled to the first working electrode or a portion thereof for effecting relative motion between the electrolytic surface of the working electrode and a bulk portion of the liquidus electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to noble metal-free nickel catalysts that exhibit both high activity and selectivity to hydrogen generation and carbon monoxide oxidation. The noble metal-free water gas shift catalyst of the invention comprises Ni in either a supported or a bulk state and at least one of Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A parallel reactor system including a reactor and vessels in the reactor for holding reaction mixtures, and a cannula for introducing fluid reaction material into the vessels. A robot system is operable to insert the cannula into cannula passages in the reactor for delivery of reaction materials, including condensed gases, to respective vessels, and to withdraw the cannula from the cannula passages after delivery. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition for use as a catalyst in, for example, a fuel cell, the composition comprising platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of one or more of platinum, copper and titanium, wherein the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, including an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 90 atomic percent.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods, materials, and devices for making and screening combinatorial libraries to identify semi-conducting and thermoelectric materials. The disclosed method includes preparing a combinatorial library of materials, and identifying library members that are semiconductors. The method may include determining a thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, for each member of a second combinatorial library of materials. The method determines ZT by applying an oscillatory voltage across the library members, measuring power dissipated by library members, and calculating ZT from the power dissipated. The method may also include isolating single-phase materials of the semiconducting library members. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for discovering thermoelectric materials using combinatorial techniques.

Abstract: The database is populated with target chemicals, corresponding listings of reagent chemicals, corresponding listings of equipment and corresponding listings of procedures. The database is then searched in response to user identification of a target chemical. In response, a listing is displayed of reagent chemicals that are used to synthesize the target chemical, equipment that is used to synthesize the target chemical, and a procedure that is used to synthesize the target chemical by reacting the reagent chemicals in the equipment according to the procedure. An icon-based reaction editor and/or context-sensitive Boolean query option generators may be provided. A reaction template may be used to perform predictive chemistry. A reaction relay may be used to graphically display related chemicals and procedures using a hub and spoke arrangement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combinatorial (i.e., high-throughput) materials research, such as catalysis research, that involves parallel apparatus for simultaneously effecting mechanical treatments such as grinding, mixing, pressing, crushing, sieving, and/or fractionating of such materials are disclosed. The methods and apparatus are useful for mechanically treating catalysis materials and other solid materials, including without limitation, electronic materials such as phosphors, colorants such as pigments, and pharmaceuticals such as crystalline drugs or drug candidates. The simultaneous protocols and parallel apparatus offer substantial improvements in overall throughput for preparing arrays of materials, such as catalysis materials.