Abstract: A process for shutting down an operating electrolytic cell for the production of aluminium is described. The process includes: lowering anodes until a lower portion of the anodes is immersed in an aluminium layer; allowing the aluminium layer and an electrolyte bath to cool down with the lower portion of the anodes immersed in the aluminium layer; determining if the electrolyte bath is solidified, and if the electrolyte bath is solidified, raising the anodes before solidification of the aluminium layer to create a space between the solidified electrolyte bath and the anodes and the aluminium layer.

Abstract: Accordingly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides methods for making electrochemically active materials. Methods include making an electrochemically active material by reacting a platinum group metal salt in a organic solvent to yield a mixture, then heating the mixture to create a metal-organic solvent complex and an acid, followed by removing at least a portion of the acid, and yielding an electrochemically active material comprising the metal-organic solvent complex. In an exemplary embodiment, the resulting electrochemically active material may be used for coating an electrode.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibiting system is provided with the ability to allow both primary and secondary portions of the circuit to be used in the alternative without having the primary and secondary systems interfere with each other by operating at the same time. By incorporating a continuity controller, such as a switch or a diode to selectively disconnect the sacrificial anode from the circuit, the primary and secondary systems can both be provided on a marine vessel, but used independently from each other. In that way, the primary and secondary corrosion inhibiting systems are prevented from interfering with each other during normal operation.

Abstract: A gas sensor (200) has a gas sensor element (10) including a first measurement chamber (16); a first pumping cell (11) having a first interior pump electrode (11c) and its counterpart electrode (11b); a second measurement chamber (18); a second pumping cell (13) that has a second interior pump electrode (13b); and a beater (50). The heater (50) has a lead section (50a); a first resistance portion (50bx) having a higher resistance than the lead portion (50a); and a main heating portion (50k) having a second resistance portion (50by) having a higher resistance than the first resistance portion (50bx) disposed at a leading end side in a longitudinal direction relative to a leading end of the first resistance portion (50bx). The second interior pump electrode (13b) is located within the first resistance portion (50bx) in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method for providing a two dimensional spatially varying surface potential on a surface of a conductive substrate and use thereof. The method comprises providing a conductive substrate having a first conductive surface and comprising an array of“n” electrical potential contact points spatially arranged in two dimensions on the first conductive surface, wherein “n” is at least 3. An electrical potential is then applied to each of the “n” electrical contact points, wherein the electrical potentials applied to at least two of the “n” electrical potential contact points are different. Also disclosed are methods and applications for use of the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: There is described a method and a system for evaluating damage of a plurality of cells in an electrolyser. The method comprises acquiring a voltage for each one of the cells; comparing the voltage to at least two threshold voltage levels; classifying the cells as one of: severely damaged cells, non-severely damaged cells and undamaged cells, based on the comparison of the voltage with the at least two threshold voltage levels; and deactivating the cells classified as severely damaged cells from the electrolyser.

Abstract: A method for improving the performance of a galvanic fuel cell type oxygen sensor comprises providing a pressure equalization port leading to the interior of an inner core housing that contains the membrane, the electrolyte and the anode and cathode electrodes and hermetically sealing the sensor housing except for its sample inlet port and its sample outlet port. By connecting the same vacuum source to both the pressure equalization port and the sample outlet port, the device's membrane is less subject to movement or rupture as gas samples are drawn in via the sample inlet port. A technique for ensuring a hermetic seal is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrochemical sensor for detecting an analyte. The sensor comprises an electrode, a redox active species that is electrochemically accessible to the electrode, and a binding moiety capable of associating with the analyte, wherein association of the binding moiety with the analyte affects the electrochemistry of the redox active species. Also disclosed herein is a method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample.

Abstract: A method is provided for activating a zirconia oxygen sensor which detects the oxygen concentration of an ambient atmosphere by means of a zirconia element that has a porous electrode formed on both sides of an impervious oxygen ion conductor. An electrical current is applied as a pulsed, square wave, direct current during heat up, heat soak, and cool down of the ionic conductor that is applied to ceramic substrate, thereby causing oxygen ions to flowing through the sensor body and pumping oxygen gas through the sensor electrodes, thus improving electrode porosity distribution.

Abstract: A sensor (1) including a plate-shaped sensor element (21) extending in a front-rear direction and having at least 3 electrode terminals (25) provided on at least one side surface (24) of the sensor element at intervals in a lateral direction; a plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) connected to the electrode terminals (25) of the sensor element (21); and a separator (71) surrounding and insulating the plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b). The metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) each has a crimp portion (57a, 57b) formed at a rear end thereof and a lead wire (61) is crimp-connected to the crimp portion (57a, 57b). The crimp portions (57a) located at opposite sides with respect to the lateral direction face the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21), whereas the crimp portion (57b) faces away from the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21).

Abstract: Microelectrode comprising a body formed from electrically non-conducting material and including at least one region of electrically conducting material and at least one passage extending through the body of non-conducting material and the region of conducting material, the electrically conducting region presenting an area of electrically conducting material to a fluid flowing through the passage in use. An electrochemical cell which includes such a microelectrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining a concentration of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes applying a potential excitation to a fluid sample containing an analyte and determining if a current decay curve associated with the fluid sample has entered an analyte depletion stage. The method also includes measuring a plurality of current values associated with the fluid sample during the analyte depletion stage and calculating an analyte concentration based on at least one of the plurality of current values.

Abstract: A current-leveling electrode for improving electroplating and electrochemical polishing uniformity in the electrochemical plating or electropolishing of metals on a substrate is disclosed. The current-leveling electrode includes a base electrode and at least one sub-electrode carried by the base electrode. The at least one sub-electrode has a width which is less than a width of the base electrode to impart a generally tapered, stepped or convex configuration to the current-leveling electrode.

Abstract: A metal-containing material is introduced in the container with an anode inserted therein, the container is introduced in a tank filled with an electrolyte, with a cathode opposed to it, and direct current is passed through ((+) anode and (?) cathode) to recover the desired metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for the decontamination of fluid, particularly the removal of heavy metals and/or arsenic and/or their compounds from water, by means of electrolysis, wherein the water to be purified subjected to electrodes of different polarities. The invention can include means for control of the pH of the fluid. The invention can also include control systems that allow self-cleaning of electrodes, self-cleaning of filters, and automatic monitoring of maintenance conditions.

Abstract: A method, an electrode, a measuring cell, and a measuring device are disclosed which can detect and quantitatively determine an analyte having specific bonding properties, in a highly sensitive, simple and accurate manner using photocurrent. This method comprises contacting a working electrode and a counter electrode with an electrolyte medium, wherein the working electrode has an analyte immobilized thereon through a probe substance and wherein the analyte is bonded to a sensitizing dye; irradiating the working electrode with light to photoexcite the sensitizing dye; and detecting photocurrent flowing between the working electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the photocurrent is generated by transfer of electrons from the photoexcited sensitizing dye to the working electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel electropolymerisable monomers which are to be polymerised in an aqueous solution and comprise: an electropolymerisable pattern selected from acetylene, pyrrols, thiophenes, indols, anilines, azines, p-phenylene vinylenes, p-phenylenes, pyrenes, furanes, selenophenes, pyrridazines, carbazoles, acrylates, methacrylates and the derivatives thereof, and a metalloporphyrine which is substituted by at least two ionised or ionizable entities in an aqueous solution. The invention also relates to a method for the polymerization of such monomers, to the electroactive probe that can be obtained by the polymerization of such monomers, and to a method for detecting a target ligand in a biological sample using one such electroactive probe.

Abstract: A gas sensor element for detecting a specific gas component contained in a gas to be measured includes: a solid electrolyte layer; a first electrode disposed on the solid electrolyte layer; a second electrode disposed on the solid electrolyte layer; and a porous layer disposed on one of the first electrode and the second electrode such that the gas to be measured is introduced from the outside of said gas sensor element and passes through the porous layer to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode. The porous layer includes: a first porous layer including a first ceramic porous body which does not include noble metal particles dispersed therein; and a second porous layer provided on the first porous layer and including a second ceramic porous body and noble metal particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: This invention is a method for determining a concentration of an analyte. The steps include applying a potential excitation to a fluid sample containing an analyte, and measuring a current associated with the potential excitation at a plurality of time-points. The method also includes calculating an analyte concentration based on the measured current and a calibration curve, wherein the calibration curve is selected from a plurality of calibration curves and each calibration curve is associated with a time-segment selected from a plurality of time-segments.

Abstract: System and method for measuring alumina qualities and communicating the same are disclosed. In one example, a system includes an aluminum electrolysis cell, a feeder configured to supply a feed stock using a feed stream to the aluminum electrolysis cell, and a measurement device in communication with the feed stream, the measurement device adaptable to receive, release, and determine at least one attribute associated with the feed stock.