Abstract: A proton exchange membrane fuel cell has a unit cell assembly including an anode side and a cathode side. The anode side has a cooling base plate, a conductor assembly, a hydrogen flow field, a water absorbing element, and a hydrogen duct assembly. The cathode side has an air flow field, a conductor assembly, an air flow distributor, and an insulating compression plate with wing extensions. A membrane electrode assembly is disposed between the anode side and the cathode side physically connecting the flow fields on both the anode and cathode sides. A sealed anode assembly creates a sealed hydrogen volume and includes the anode conductor assembly, the hydrogen duct assembly, and the membrane electrode assembly all disposed between the insulating compression plate and the cooling base plate. The fuel cell may comprise multiple unit cell assemblies arranged in planar, folded, stacked, or pancake configurations.

Abstract: A reformer that directly receives heat and performs an ATR catalyst reaction and an SR catalyst reaction. The reformer includes: a reforming reactor to reform hydrogen containing fuel into reformed gas having abundant hydrogen by performing an ATR catalyst reaction and an SR catalyst reaction; a heat source contacting one side of the reforming reactor and providing the reforming reactor with heat; and an air feeder to feed the reforming reactor with air by an air flow control unit. Thus, the ATR catalyst reaction featuring a relatively short preheating time is performed while the reformer is initially operated, so that hydrogen can be produced when the reformer is initially operated, thereby efficiently operating a fuel cell.

Abstract: The pump comprises a pump body, a control member, an elastic member, and blades. The pump body has a holding space, one or more pump inlets, and one or more pump outlets. The holding space, the pump inlets, and the pump outlets communicate with each other. The pump outlets communicate with a fuel outlet of the fuel storage device; while the pump inlets communicate with a fuel reservoir of the fuel storage device. The control member passes through the fuel storage device and is rotatably set in the holding space. The elastic member is set fixed on the pump body and connects with the control member. The blades are set in the holding space and connect with the control member. Thereby, no extra energy is needed for the pump to transport the fuel from the fuel reservoir to the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention is directed to use of polythiophenes in a method to determine the genuineness of an article which method comprises providing an article treated with a composition comprised of a polythiophene, the polythiophene having a low temperature color and a weak fluorescence and the structure of the polythiophene being designed such that when the composition is placed in a heat-exchange relationship with the article, the low temperature color will change to a high temperature color and the weak fluorescence will change to a strong fluorescence when a pre-determined temperature is met or exceeded in the article, heating the article to a temperature that meets or exceeds the pre-determined temperature and detecting the color and the fluorescence change.

Abstract: A fuel cell bipolar plate assembly is disclosed which includes a reinforcement positioned between the anode and cathode plates to strengthen the assembly.

Abstract: A method for forming a solid oxide fuel cell stack from a plurality of individual solid oxide fuel cells, wherein the anodes of the solid oxide fuel cells are infiltrated by one or more materials for making the anodes less sensitive to sulfur poisoning and/or less subject to carbon degradation and/or for improving the electrochemical performance of the stack, the method comprising the steps of oxidizing the anodes of the individual solid oxide fuel cells before forming a stack, building a solid oxide fuel cell stack with all of the anodes in an oxidized state, reducing all of the anodes, and then infiltrating all of the anodes with at least one of the materials.

Abstract: Provided is a photovoltaic device with an organic buffer layer for efficiency improvement. The photovoltaic device includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to each other, a photoactive layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a buffer layer disposed between the photoactive layer and the second electrode. The buffer layer includes a compound including an aromatic organic cation and an anion in a quantity ranging from 30 wt % to 100 wt %, more preferably 50 wt % to 100 wt % with respect to the entire weight of the buffer layer.

Abstract: A method for creating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object includes spreading a reactive powder on a substrate, selectively dispensing a core binder in the reactive powder to form a core material, and selectively dispensing a shell binder in the reactive powder to form a shell on the core material.

Abstract: Provided are novel back sheets for solar module encapsulation. According to various embodiments, the back sheets are ungrounded and flexible. In certain embodiments, the back sheets include an integrated flexible and electrically isolated moisture barrier and a seal around the edge of the moisture barrier. The electrically isolated moisture barrier may be a thin metallic sheet, e.g., an aluminum foil. The electrically isolated, flexible moisture barrier eliminates the need for grounding.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve the problems with conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cells and provide a proton conducting membrane which exhibits an excellent heat resistance and an excellent protonic conductivity and a high dimensional stability even at high temperatures, a method for producing the same and a fuel cell using the same. The proton conducting membrane of the present invention is a proton conducting membrane having particles 1 comprising a metal-oxygen crosslinked structure and the particles 1 have an acid group such as sulfonic acid group incorporated in the surface thereof and form a continuity. The gap 2 between the particles is communicated from the main surface to the opposite surface of the proton conducting membrane to form a proton conducting channel.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell unit; a fuel cartridge; and a fuel actuator that is disposed between the fuel cartridge and the fuel cell unit, to control the fuel supply from the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell unit comprises: a stack including unit cells oriented in parallel to one another; a phase change layer disposed adjacent to the stack and having a length perpendicular to the parallel orientation of the unit cells; a fuel diffusion layer disposed on the phase change layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a Group IBIIIAVIA solar cell absorber which includes an active portion and an electrically resistive portion. The absorber is interposed between a base layer and a transparent conductive layer. The electrically resistive portion increases resistance between the base layer and a connector layer that is formed on the transparent conductive layer. The connector layer comprises the busbar and the fingers of the solar cell. The busbar is preferably placed over the electrically resistive portion while the fingers extend over the active portion of the absorber layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical method for detecting a target polynucleotide. An electrode comprising an electrode surface is provided. The electrode surface includes at least one probe molecule reversibly immobilized with respect to the electrode surface. A first electrochemical signal indicative of an amount of probe molecule immobilized with respect to the electrode surface is obtained. The electrode surface is contacted with a liquid comprising the target polynucleotide. Upon the contacting step, at least some of the probe molecule immobilized with respect to the electrode surface dissociates therefrom. A second electrochemical signal indicative of an amount of probe molecule immobilized with respect to the electrode surface is obtained. The presence of the target polynucleotide is determined at least partially on the basis of the first and second electrochemical signals.

Abstract: A process for preparing bitumen bale for clean, safe, eco-friendly and cost-effective packing, storing and transporting of viscous bitumen products and the products thereof is delineated in the present disclosure. The bituminous products are introduced into a baling process line. The cooling efficiency is enhanced by utilizing the process. Viscous bitumen products are made in the form of spiral bitumen bale. “BituBale Film capsules” are produced by the process. Polymer additives are added to bitumen/asphalt, by the process, to enhance the durability and to get good gripping surfaces. The process enhances the homogenous nature of the products. The process for preparing bitumen bale for clean, safe, eco-friendly and cost-effective packing, storing and transporting of viscous bitumen products is a clean, safe, environmentally friendly and cost effective method.

Abstract: The disclosed techniques involve electrical separation systems that allow recovery of species from feedstreams, typically aqueous solutions. The disclosed techniques can also provide electrical separation systems having reduced tendency to form scale especially when water is being purified to reduce the concentration of hardness-causing species.

Abstract: Proposed is a PEM fuel cell that comprises a separator plate assembly with a charging chamber, which is partitioned off by a partition wall and via charging spots has a fluid connection to an adjoining cathode chamber. The partition wall is designed so that the depths of the charging channels in the charging chamber and the depths of the distribution channels in the adjoining cathode chambers change in such a way that the quantity of oxidant that is charged at a charging spot from the charging chamber into the cathode chamber can be fixed in advance. As a result, the charging of oxidant, which has not been humidified or only slightly, into the cathode chamber can be improved with regard to the curve of the relative humidity along the cathode. Also proposed is a method for manufacturing a separator plate assembly suitable for a PEM fuel cell.

Abstract: An electrically conductive porous body for a fuel cell has a porous metal body and an electrically conductive layer that is disposed on one surface side of the porous metal body and that has gas permeability, wherein at least a part of the one surface side of the porous metal body is buried into one surface side of the electrically conductive layer, and wherein the flatness of the other surface side of the electrically conductive layer, into which the porous metal body is not buried, is higher than the flatness of the one surface side of the porous metal body. Sufficient contact surface area is obtained between the porous metal body and the membrane electrode assembly, without applying pressure to the porous metal body. It is therefore possible to achieve a low contact resistance with the membrane electrode assembly, without causing a change in the internal condition of the porous metal body.

Abstract: A filter device and method for using a filter device. The filter device includes a catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of organic molecules, such as an oxidation reaction, and an adsorbent for adsorbing reacted organic molecules. As a result, gaseous contaminants that include organic molecules are reacted to alter the polarity and reduce the molecular weight of the molecules. The reacted molecules are then adsorbed using an adsorbent. The filter and method are particularly useful for reacting and capturing hydrocarbons such as aliphatic hydrocarbons from an enclosed space, such as a disk drive assembly.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including: an active material layer capable of electrochemically absorbing and desorbing at least Li; and a current collector sheet that supports the active material layer thereon and that does not react with Li, wherein the active material layer includes a plurality of deposited films or sintered films supported on a surface of the current collector sheet, and each of the deposited films or sintered films is provided with at least one groove formed in a side surface thereof, the groove extending from a top surface side towards the current collector sheet side thereof. It is preferable that the plurality of deposited films or sintered films are arranged in a grid configuration, a staggered grid configuration or a honeycomb configuration on a surface of the current collector sheet.

Abstract: A method and plant for the introduction of a liquid into a molten mass under pressure. Such a method and plant are particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for the formation of a coating layer on a cable element having at least one conductor, the layer having an extruded thermoplastic polymer forming a continuous phase incorporating a dielectric liquid, and are useful, for example, in the production of an electric cable for the transportation and/or distribution of electrical power. The method includes the steps of bringing the liquid to a predetermined pressure greater than the pressure of the molten mass; feeding the liquid into a plurality of storage tanks, and injecting the liquid into the molten mass at an injection pressure equal to the above-mentioned predetermined pressure by means of a plurality of injectors in respective fluid communication with the plurality of storage tanks.