Abstract: There is provided a gas sensor, including a gas sensing film formed of an oxide semiconductor material and a gas-permeable protection layer formed of oxide particles and arranged on the gas sensing film. The oxide particles of the protection layer have an average particle size of 500 nm or smaller.

Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus which form silicon dots having substantially uniform particle diameters and exhibiting a substantially uniform density distribution directly on a substrate at a low temperature. A hydrogen gas (or a hydrogen gas and a silane-containing gas) is supplied into a vacuum chamber (1) provided with a silicon sputter target (e.g., target 30), or the hydrogen gas and the silane-containing gas are supplied into the chamber (1) without arranging the silicon sputter target therein, a high-frequency power is applied to the gas(es) so that plasma is generated such that a ratio (Si(288 nm)/H?) between an emission intensity Si(288 nm) of silicon atoms at a wavelength of 288 nm and an emission intensity H? of hydrogen atoms at a wavelength of 484 nm in plasma emission is 10.0 or lower, and preferably 3.0 or lower, or 0.

Abstract: A method of making a coated article (e.g., window unit), and corresponding coated article are provided. A layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) is formed on a glass substrate. Then, a protective layer is formed on the substrate over the DLC inclusive layer. During heat treatment (HT), the protective layer prevents the DLC inclusive layer from significantly burning off. Thereafter, the resulting coated glass substrate may be used as desired, it having been HT and including the protective DLC inclusive layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing ultra clean liquid fuel from abandoned mine waste. A feedstock is prepared from water and coal mine waste having relatively high ash (non-carbonaceous matter) content. Foundry slag is added to the feedstock as a fluxant to adjust the melting behavior of the ash in the feedstock. Preferably, the fluxant is blast furnace slag provided in a particle size of less than about 150 ?m and is provided in an amount sufficient to lower the melting point of the ash in the feedstock by at least about 200° F. The feedstock is admitted with a flow of oxygen into a pressurized chamber of an entrained flow gasifier in which the feedstock and oxygen are heated to produce a synthetic gas from a coal component of the feedstock and molten slag from the ash and fluxant components of the feedstock. The molten slag is of a viscosity to freely flow out of the gasifier through an exit port in the bottom of the gasifier.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a capillary electrophoresis apparatus comprising a plurality of separation micro-channels. A sample loading channel communicates with each of the plurality of separation channels. A driver circuit comprising a plurality of electrodes is configured to induce an electric field across each of the plurality of separation channels sufficient to cause analytes in the samples to migrate along each of the channels. The system further comprises a plurality of detectors configured to detect the analytes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering and recycling hydrogen from a reforming process raises the pressure of at least one hydrogen-rich gas stream from at least one catalyst lock hopper and delivers at least a portion of the pressurized hydrogen-rich gas stream to at least one predetermined downstream location. At least another portion of the pressurized hydrogen-rich gas is used to maintain the desired pressure within the hydrogen recovery and recycling process and apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust gas purifying catalyst and a process for producing a metal oxide particle comprising multiple species of metal oxides and capable of satisfactorily exerting the properties of respective metal oxides. A process of the present invention comprises providing a sol containing at least a population of first colloid particles and a population of second colloid particles differing in the isoelectric point with each other; adjusting the pH of the sol to be closer to the isoelectric point of the population of first colloid particles than to the isoelectric point of the population of second colloid particles, thereby aggregating the population of first colloid particles; adjusting the pH of the sol, thereby aggregating the population of second colloid particles onto the population of first colloid particles aggregated; and drying and firing the obtained aggregate.

Abstract: The invention provides a photoelectric conversion element and a solar battery having the photoelectric conversion element each of which has a structure with a high carrier generating rate. Further, the invention provides a photoelectric conversion element and a solar battery having the photoelectric conversion element of which high energy converting efficiency. According to the invention, the photoelectric conversion element and the solar battery having the photoelectric conversion element are characterized in that a pair of electrodes sandwich a mixed layer including a charge generating layer and a charge acceptor layer. The charge generating layer is formed of a first organic compound and an inorganic compound. The charge acceptor layer is formed of a second organic compound.

Abstract: Embodiments include a gasification process where the carbon content of the residue from gasification of agricultural waste products and the fly ash content of the gaseous exhaust is controlled by regulated inflow of gasification-supporting air in a plurality of flow stream at different velocities to enhance fluidization of particulate feed in a bed being raked by a rotating sweep arm inducing radially outward movement of gasification residue into a collecting zone from which the residue enters a discharge duct. The particulate feed is dropped at a location in the gasification chamber above the bed in alignment with the inflow stream of maximum velocity.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a photoactive region disposed between and electrically connected to two electrodes where the photoactive region includes photoactive polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes that create excitons upon absorption of light in the range of about 400 nm to 1400 nm.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor (9) has improved electrochemical measurement properties and housing tightness for an electrolyte at the sites at which the connection lines (11, 21, 31) pass through. The sensor (9) includes a housing (4), containing at least one measuring electrode (1) and a counterelectrode (2) and with electric connection lines (11, 21, 31) from the electrodes (1, 2, 3) to a measuring unit (8) arranged outside the housing (4). The electric connection lines (11, 21, 31) include carbon nanotubes (CNT, Carbon Nanotubes) at least in some sections in the housing (4) in the area of the electrolyte wetting.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for separating oppositely-charged charge carriers, the substrate comprising a semiconductor; a ligand in electrical communication with said semiconductor; an ion-exchange resin attached to the semiconductor; an ion-exchange membrane; and an electrical conduit attaching said resin to said membrane. Also provided is a method for producing hydrogen gas, comprising: inducing charge separation in semiconductor particles so as to produce electrons and holes; oxidizing water with the holes to produce oxygen ions and protons, wherein the protons are sequestered from the oxygen ions as the protons are produced; and directing the sequestered protons to a cathode. The invention also provides a method to produce electricity comprising, inducing charge separation in semiconductor particles so as to produce electrons and holes, and completing the circuit with an electron hole transporter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrogen gas with a fuel processing system that includes a hydrogen-producing region that produces hydrogen gas from a feed stream and a heating assembly that consumes a fuel stream to produce a heated exhaust stream for heating the hydrogen-producing region. In some embodiments, the heating assembly heats the hydrogen-producing region to at least a minimum hydrogen-producing temperature. In some embodiments, the rate at which an air stream is delivered to the heating assembly is controlled to selectively increase or decrease the temperature of the heated exhaust stream. In some embodiments, the feed stream and the fuel stream both contain a carbon-containing feedstock and at least 25 wt % water. In some embodiments, the feed and fuel streams have the same composition.

Abstract: Reactors and methods that generate hydrogen from fuel, such as naturally-occurring or synthesized hydrocarbon fuel. One embodiment of the reactor comprises a CO2/H2 active membrane piston disposed inside a cylinder that provides for highly efficient and scalable hydrogen generation from hydrocarbon fuels. This embodiment may function in a two or four stroke modes. Another embodiment of the reactor comprises a dual piston configuration having CO2 and H2 active membrane pistons inside a single cylinder. Other embodiments of the reactor comprise flexible membranes or diaphragms that operate in a manner similar to pistons with or without regeneration of residual reaction products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steel sheet excellent in both a balance between strength and elongation and a balance between strength and hole expandability, in other words, a multi-phase steel sheet having an excellent balance between strength and hole expandability. The present invention is a multi-phase steel sheet excellent in hole expandability characterized in that: the steel sheet contains, as chemical components in mass, C: 0.03 to 0.15%, P: not more than 0.010%, S: not more than 0.003%, and either one or both of Si and Al in a total amount of 0.5 to 4%, and one or more of Mn, Ni, Cr, Mo and Cu in a total amount of 0.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus includes a susceptor having a substrate and a plurality of target devices facing the substrate and substantially parallel to each other, each target device being rotatable.

Abstract: A method of gasification burner online feeding for a coal-water slurry gasifier, where a coal-water slurry line and an oxidizer line are both protected by shield gas. The method may realize online, pressurized and continuous feeding of the gasification burners which are fixed after they stalled for other reasons than their own, thus greatly reducing the probability of accidental shutdown of gasifiers and improving the reliability of long-term service of the multi-nozzle opposed gasifier.

Abstract: In a plate type reformer and a fuel cell system including the plate type reformer, the plate type reformer includes: a plate type combustion reactor including a distributing plate having a distributing chamber with a plurality of distributing holes adapted to supply an oxidizing agent, and a combustion plate having a combustion chamber with an oxidizing catalyst layer adapted to generate heat energy in response to the oxidizing agent supplied through the distributing holes of the distributing plate reacting with fuel; a plate type preheater including a channel adapted to introduce a mixed fuel of fuel and water is introduced, the plate type preheater adapted to preheat the mixed fuel with the heat energy generated in the plate type combustion reactor; and a plate type reforming reactor with a reforming catalyst layer adapted to generate hydrogen gas from the mixed fuel preheated by the plate type preheater, the plate type reforming reactor effecting a reforming reaction using the heat energy of the plate type

Abstract: A method and a system for the vaporization of a liquid fuel is provided and includes providing a supply of a liquid fuel and an oxidant, atomizing the liquid fuel and mixing it with the oxidant, vaporizing the fuel in thermal radiation, catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture, and providing an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction. A hydrocarbon fuel can be mixed with oxygen, as a constituent of air, preferably forming a fuel rich fuel air mixture that passes through a catalytic reactor having an ultra-short channel length metal monolith substrate. The fuel air mixture is vaporized and partially oxidized.

Abstract: A hybrid solar lighting distribution system and components having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one fiber receiver, at least one hybrid luminaire, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator and each hybrid luminaire. A controller operates all components.