Abstract: A sensor for specifying a concentration of a predetermined gas component in a measurement gas on the basis of a current flowing in an electrolyte by decomposition of the predetermined gas component, includes an internal space; a reference gas space; a pumping cell capable of pumping out oxygen in the internal space by applying a predetermined voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode; and a measuring cell including third and fourth electrodes and measuring a current flowing when a voltage is applied between the third electrode and the fourth electrode; wherein the first electrode is formed of porous cermet consisted of a noble metal and an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte, and the porosity of the first electrode is greater than or equal to 10% and less than or equal to 50%.
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of stable solutions of charged inorganic-organic polymers, in which the hydrolysis-condensation reactions of metal alkoxides in alcoholic solutions are controlled using a condensation inhibitor that forms protons. The invention further relates to substrates coated by sol-gel electrophoretic deposition (EPD) with these solutions, and to metal oxide coated substrates obtained therefrom.
Abstract: A transition metal/carbon nanotube composite includes a carbon nanotube and a transition metal oxide coating layer disposed on the carbon nanotube. The transition metal oxide coating layer includes a nickel-cobalt oxide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 2, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2012
Assignees:
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
Inventors:
Ho-jung Yang, Hyo-rang Kang, Kwang-bum Kim, Jin-go Kim
Abstract: Electrochemical cell comprises, in one embodiment, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. An electrically-conductive, compressible, spring-like, porous pad for defining a fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode or the outer face of the anode. The porous pad comprises a particulate or mat of one or more doped- or reduced-valve metal oxides, which are bound together with one or more thermoplastic resins.
Abstract: A method for preparing a metal-doped ruthenium oxide material by heating a mixture of a doping metal and a source of ruthenium under an inert atmosphere. In some embodiments, the doping metal is in the form of iridium black or lead powder, and the source of ruthenium is a powdered ruthenium oxide. An iridium-doped or lead-doped ruthenium oxide material can perform as an oxygen evolution catalyst and can be fabricated into electrodes for electrolysis cells.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 22, 2012
Assignee:
California Institute of Technology
Inventors:
Thomas I. Valdez, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan
Abstract: A method for the electrophoretic coating of workpieces with a coating medium, in particular lacquer, and a coating installation are described. In the method, at least one workpiece is immersed in the coating medium. With a voltage source, a d.c. voltage is applied between the workpiece and at least one electrode immersed in the coating medium. The d.c. voltage is increased continuously, in an essentially stepless manner, throughout virtually the entire coating operation in such a way that the coating current density on the surface of the workpiece remains essentially constant over time.
Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and various apparatus components, such as base plates, lipseals, and contact ring assemblies are provided for reducing contamination of the contact area in the apparatuses. Contamination may happen during removal of semiconductor wafers from apparatuses after the electroplating process. In certain embodiments, a base plate with a hydrophobic coating, such as polyamide-imide (PAI) and sometimes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are used. Further, contact tips of the contact ring assembly may be positioned further away from the sealing lip of the lipseal. In certain embodiments, a portion of the contact ring assembly and/or the lipseal also include hydrophobic coatings.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 8, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2012
Assignee:
Novellus Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Vinay Prabhakar, Bryan L. Buckalew, Kousik Ganesan, Shantinath Ghongadi, Zhian He, Steven T. Mayer, Robert Rash, Jonathan D. Reid, Yuichi Takada, James R. Zibrida
Abstract: A low maintenance reference electrode has a liquid junction body with a multiplicity of micron-sized capillary channels extending through the body for transporting electrolyte to a test solution. A viscosity-increasing agent thickens the electrolyte to limit its flow to a rate on the order of microliters/day so that a few milliliters of electrolyte suffice to provide an extended electrode life.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 14, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2012
Assignee:
Thermo Orion, Inc.
Inventors:
Xiaowen Wen, Hyoungsik Yim, Lori Hrdy, Dawood Bhaijee
Abstract: A method for inhibiting corrosion in at least one required region of an elongate metal structure, comprising applying a high-frequency electromagnetic signal to the structure in a manner such that a voltage standing wave is established in the structure with a corrosion-inhibiting potential at the required region(s) of the structure. The method is advantageously applied to an oil well riser pipe, to inhibit corrosion of the external surface thereof in the vicinity of an oil production zone.
Abstract: A method of fluid sealing a workpiece is provided. The method includes providing a force to cause a ring to form a barrier to fluid entry with the workpiece and preventing fluid from crossing the barrier to fluid entry by forming a pressure differential across the barrier.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 28, 2010
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2012
Assignee:
NEXX Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Arthur Keigler, Qunwei Wu, Zhenqiu Liu, John Harrell
Abstract: Techniques generally describe articles of enclosing manufacture and methods related to containers including a magnesium sacrificial anode for corrosion protection. Example articles of enclosing manufacture may include a liner or a rod that is configured as a sacrificial anode to protect a metallic side or end wall of the enclosing manufacture from corrosion. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.
Abstract: The galvanic cathodic protection of steel embedded in concrete structures is enhanced by the utilization of a flexible composite anode assembly containing a sacrificial anode member. The anode member is at least partially covered by a matrix comprising an ionically-conductive material. The conductive material includes at least one electrochemical activating agent such as a mixture of lithium bromide and lithium nitrate and a compressible water-retaining mineral such as a phyllosilicate mineral. The presence of this mineral in the matrix increases the current delivered by the anode, thereby resulting in a greater level of cathodic protection, and a longer effective service life of the anode. Exfoliated vermiculite is a preferred phyllosilicate mineral and is present in an amount of between about 2% and about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the matrix.
Abstract: There is described a method for ensuring and monitoring electrolyzer safety and performances in a manufacturing process which uses at least one electrolyzing cell containing at least one cathode and at least one anode separated by a membrane, comprising the step of: determining a safe single voltage operation range depending of the current and corresponding to the normally working electrolyzing cell; determining a reference voltage deviation depending on the time derivation of the current; measuring the voltage over time at the terminals of the electrolyzing cell; determining the measured voltage deviation by calculating the time derivative of the measured voltage; comparing the measured voltage to the safe single voltage operation range and the measured voltage deviation to the reference voltage deviation over time; stopping the manufacturing process when the measured voltage is outside the safe single voltage operation range or the difference between the measured voltage deviation and the reference voltage
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 2, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2012
Assignee:
Recherche 2000 Inc.
Inventors:
Gilles Tremblay, Helmut Lademann, Georges Simard, Michel Veillette, Said Berriah
Abstract: The invention relates to a porous electrode used in an electrochemical cell, containing a carrier and/or catalytic agent, which is characterized by that it consists of two or more layers with different average pore sizes, out of which layers the contact layer with the smallest average pore size is in contact with the membrane, and one or more supporting layers with a greater average pore size are linked to the other side of this contact layer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a procedure for the manufacturing of such electrodes and to electrochemical cells containing such electrodes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2012
Assignee:
ThalesNano Zrt.
Inventors:
Ferenc Darvas, Dániel Szalay, Lajos Gödörházy
Abstract: Herein disclosed are an electrode and a method for making an electrode having an enhanced electrically effective surface providing an increased signal to noise ratio. The electrode having a metal surface selected from gold, tungsten, stainless steel, platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum-iridium, and combinations thereof; and an electrically conductive coating on said metal surface, said coating consisting essentially of polymerized pyrrole.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 12, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2012
Assignee:
Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: Embodiments of nanoelectronic sensors are described, including sensors for detecting analytes such ammonia. An environmental control system employing nanoelectronic sensors is described. A personnel safety system configured as a disposable badge employing nanoelectronic sensors is described. A method of dynamic sampling and exposure of a sensor providing a number of operational advantages is described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 8, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2012
Assignee:
Nanomix, Inc.
Inventors:
Mikhail Briman, Craig Bryant, Ying-Lan Chang, Jean-Christophe P. Gabriel, Shirpal C. Gandhi, Bradley N Johnson, Willem-Jan Ouborg, John Loren Passmore, Kastooriranganathan Ramakrishnan, Sergei Skarupo, Alexander Star, Christian Valcke
Abstract: The present invention concerns a probe for measuring hydrogen concentration in molten metals comprising a probe body and a hydrogen sensor. The sensor structure is based on a sensor body having a wall within which a sealed cavity is defined. The cavity contains a solid reference material for generating a reference partial pressure of hydrogen within the cavity. At least a portion of the wall of the cavity is formed from a solid electrolyte material carrying a measurement electrode on a surface of the solid electrolyte outside the cavity and a reference electrode on a surface of the solid electrolyte within the cavity, exposed to the reference partial pressure of hydrogen. An electrical conductor extends from the reference electrode through the wall of the cavity to an external surface of the sensor body. The probe body comprises a chamber for receiving the sensor and a reference-signal connection for connecting to the electrical conductor when the sensor is received in the chamber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 3, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2012
Assignee:
Environmental Monitoring and Control Limited
Inventors:
Matthew Paul Hills, Mark Anthony Steele Henson
Abstract: The multichannel potentiostat comprises a reference terminal, a counter-electrode terminal, and at least two working terminals, respectively designed to be connected to a reference electrode, a counter-electrode and at least two working electrodes of an electrochemical cell. The potentiostat comprises first and second regulating circuits to apply a setpoint voltage respectively between the first and second working terminals and the reference terminal. The potentiostat comprises a control circuit of the counter-electrode voltage applied to the counter-electrode terminal. The control circuit comprises a first input terminal connected to a predefined potential and a second input terminal to which a regulating voltage representative of at least one of the voltages of the working terminals is applied.
Abstract: A gated electrode structure for altering a potential and electric field in an electrolyte near at least one working electrode is disclosed. The gated electrode structure may comprise a gate electrode biased appropriately with respect to a working electrode. Applying an appropriate static or dynamic (time varying) gate potential relative to the working electrode modifies the electric potential and field in an interfacial region between the working electrode and the electrolyte, and increases electron emission to and from states in the electrolyte, thereby facilitating an electrochemical, electrolytic or electrosynthetic reaction and reducing electrode overvoltage/overpotential.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 2007
Date of Patent:
April 3, 2012
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California
Inventors:
Rakesh K. Lal, Likun Shen, Umesh Kumar Mishra