Abstract: A fuel cell electrode protective layer forming method is disclosed. The method includes forming primary defects in a carbon-based protective layer material via a formation step. The primary defects are configured to transport fuel cell products and/or reactants representing a transported portion of a total fuel cell products and/or reactants. The difference between the total fuel cell products and/or reactants and the transported portion is an untransported portion. The method further includes activating secondary defects in the carbon-based protective layer material via an activation step. The secondary defects are configured to transport a portion of the untransported portion of the total fuel cell reactants and/or products. The activation step is different than the formation step.

Abstract: A tribological system includes a tribological contact area including a first tribological contact surface of a first mechanical component and a second tribological contact surface of a second mechanical component, the first and second mechanical components being in relative motion with respect to each other; an external circuit connected to the first and second mechanical components and providing Joule heating; and an additive in contact with the tribological contact area, the additive having a first viscosity in a first state before the external circuit is activated, a second viscosity in a second state when the external circuit is activated to produce Joule heating, and a third viscosity in a third state when the external circuit is deactivated after activation, the second viscosity being lower than the third viscosity.

Abstract: A device includes a tribological assembly including first and second mechanical components in relative motion with respect to each other, the assembly having a silver-alloy surface and an additive lubricant including at least one component of the formulas (Ia) or (II): MxNOy (Ia), where M is Ca, V, Sb, Ni, or Ag, x (M:N ratio) is any number between 0.25 and 2, and y (O:N ratio) is any number between 1 and 8; MxSiOy (II), where M is Mg or Al, x (M:Si ratio) is any number between 0.5 and 2, and y (O:Si ratio) is any number between 2.5 and 6, the device being a sealed constant-pressure device.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region. At least one of a first number of fuel cell units in the first end region is a first fuel cell unit including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a first catalyst material on either or both an anode and a cathode of the first fuel cell unit. At least one of a second number of fuel cell units in the second end region is a second fuel cell unit including an MEA with a second catalyst material on either or both an anode and a cathode of the first fuel cell unit. The middle region is situated between the first and the second end region. At least one of a third number of fuel cell units in the middle region is a third fuel cell unit including an MEA with a third catalyst material on either or both an anode and a cathode of the first fuel cell unit. At least one of the first, the second, and the third catalyst material are different.

Abstract: A method for controlling surface asperity during laser sealing of a membrane vent hole. The method includes applying a laser pulse having a laser intensity spatial distribution to the membrane vent hole to form a seal over the membrane vent hole. The seal has a seal surface. The laser pulse includes a primary laser pulse region and a secondary laser pulse region beginning once the primary laser pulse region ends. The primary laser pulse region has a primary laser power, and the secondary laser pulse region has a secondary laser power. The secondary laser power is less than the primary laser power. The seal surface has a controlled surface asperity characteristic.

Abstract: An inertial measurement device for controlling surface asperity during laser sealing. The device includes a membrane having an upper surface and defining a vent hole extending downward from the upper surface. The vent hole has a first height and a first perimeter along the first height. The vent hole has a second height and a second perimeter extending along the second height. The first height is disposed above the second height. The first perimeter is greater than the second perimeter to form a shoulder portion therebetween. The shoulder portion, the first perimeter, and the first height collectively create a volume configured to control surface asperity during laser sealing of the vent hole.

Abstract: A method for controlling surface asperity during laser sealing of a membrane vent hole. The method includes applying a laser having a laser intensity spatial distribution to the membrane vent hole to form a seal over the membrane vent hole. The seal has a seal surface. The laser pulse includes a primary laser pulse region and a secondary pulse region later in time than the primary laser pulse region, and a time gap between the primary laser pulse region and the secondary laser pulse region. The primary laser pulse region and/or the secondary pulse region include first and second discontinuous laser pulses having a first time gap therebetween and/or third and fourth discontinuous laser pulses having a second time gap therebetween. The seal surface has a controlled surface asperity characteristic.

Abstract: A component of an electrochemical device includes a substrate made of stainless steel, where the substrate is further characterized by a microstructure containing an intermetallic compound. A component of an electrochemical device includes a substrate having at least one surface, where the substrate is made of stainless steel. The component further includes at least one surface coating layer on each of the at least one surface. Each of the at least one surface coating layer includes a carbide material or a MAX phase material.

Abstract: A home appliance chemically resistant to peroxide degradation. The home appliance includes a metal substrate disposed therein that includes a metal substrate having a bulk portion and a coating layer contacting a surface of the bulk portion. The coating layer includes a ternary metal oxide compound, a metal alloy, an intermetallic compound, or a combination thereof. The ternary metal oxide compound, the metal alloy or the intermetallic compound is (a) unreactive with hydrogen peroxide or (b)(1) reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more metal oxides unreactive with hydrogen peroxide or reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more metal oxides unreactive with hydrogen peroxide and/or (b)(2) reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more elemental metals reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more metal oxides.

Abstract: A cathode catalyst layer includes a substrate and an ionomer structured as a biphasic lamellar film in contact with the substrate, the lamellar film including a plurality of alternating layers of hydrophobic backbones and hydrophilic sidechains, the film having an outermost layer formed by the hydrophobic backbone affixed in place, the outermost layer being free of hydrophilic groups and forming a hydrophobic surface throughout the cathode catalyst layer.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell catalyst state of health monitoring device. The device includes a first magnetic device adjacent a first side of a first catalyst material associated with a first electrode. The device further includes a second magnetic device adjacent a second side of the first catalyst material. The first or second magnetic device is configured to generate a magnetic field. The other of the first and second magnetic devices is configured to receive a magnetic response from the first catalyst material. The device also includes a controller configured to receive the magnetic response and to determine magnetic response data of the first catalyst material in response to the magnetic response. The magnetic response data is indicative of a state of health.

Abstract: A desalination method that may be used to reduce limescale buildup in desalination electrodes. The desalination method includes providing an electrode including a first material having at least one compound of a formula before a desalination step. The formula is AxFeyCuz(CN)6, where A is Na, Li or K, 0.1?x?2, 1?y, and z?2. The desalination method further includes exchanging A in AxFeyCuz(CN)6 with Ca to form a second material from the first material during the desalination step.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell component including a bulk portion and a surface portion comprising a chromium getter multi-elemental oxide material having a formula (I): AxByOz (I), where A is Ba, Ca, Cr, Mg, or Sr, B is Al, Bi, C, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ti, Y, or Zn, x is a number selected from 1 to 8, y is a number selected from 1 to 64, and z is a number selected from 1 to 103, the multi-elemental oxide being configured to prevent chromium poisoning of the component.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell active hydrogen capture and release system including a first zone having a target predetermined concentration of hydrogen c1 and housing: an electrical component, an adsorbing electrode including a hydrogen adsorbing material, a counter electrode separated from the adsorbing electrode, and an electric circuit connecting the adsorbing and counter electrodes to apply electrical bias configured to facilitate capture and release of hydrogen gas from the adsorbing electrode; and a second zone having a target predetermined concentration of hydrogen c2, c2 being greater than c1.

Abstract: An electrochemical system includes a hydrogen diffusion barrier physically separating the system into a hydrogen rich zone and a hydrogen poor zone, an electronic component located in the hydrogen poor zone and exposed to hydrogen diffusing from the hydrogen rich zone, a hydrogen pump, located in the hydrogen rich zone and the hydrogen poor zone, including: a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte separating the cathode and the anode, an anode encapsulation contacting the anode and a portion of the electrolyte, and an external electrical circuit biased to drive H+ current from the anode to the cathode to pump hydrogen diffusing from the hydrogen rich zone into the hydrogen poor zone back into the hydrogen rich zone.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a first hydrogen-rich zone including a cathode, a second hydrogen-poor zone including an anode, an electrical component, and a sorbent configured to capture hydrogen in the second zone and release hydrogen protons into the first zone, an electrolyte located between the cathode and the sorbent, and an electrical circuit arranged to apply voltage bias to remove the captured hydrogen from the sorbent.

Abstract: A propane gas-utilizing system includes a housing having propane gas and a propane leakage prevention material having a catalyst, scavenger, and/or oxidizer of the propane gas arranged in the housing and including at least one of (a) an oxide material having at least one composition of formula (I): Ru1-xMxO2 (I), where 0<x?0.1 and M is Ag, K, Pt, Rh, or Ir, or (b) an oxide material having at least one composition of formula (II): Co3-xMxO4 (II), where 0<x?0.3, and M is Pd, Cu, or Sr, or (c) an oxide material having at least one composition of formula (III): MM?xOy (III), where x is a stoichiometric ratio of M? to M, 0?x?1.5, y is a stoichiometric ratio of O to M, 1?y?3, M is an alkali metal, and M? (if x>0) is Y, Ce, Nb, Ta, La, Nd, Mn, Ag, Au, or Cr.

Abstract: A squeegee for spreading a conductive paste across a stencil during a stencil printing process is provided. The stencil covers an underlying base such that the conductive paste is spread across the stencil and into openings in the stencil to contact the underlying base. The squeegee has a leading surface at the front of the squeegee, a trailing surface at the rear of the squeegee, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the leading surface and the trailing surface. In some embodiments, a rear corner or edge of the squeegee is the contact point between the squeegee and the stencil. Some of the paste can be collected beneath the bottom surface and scraped along with the squeegee.

Abstract: A wear resistant hydraulics system includes a first copper-based alloy having a formula (I), CuaSnbZncMd, where M is a combination of up to six transition metals, metalloids, and/or alkali metals, a is any number between 0.50 and 0.93, b is any number between 0.00 and 0.07, c is any number between 0.00 and 0.40, and d is any number between 0.01 and 0.40, and a second copper-based alloy including at least 50 wt. % of Cu, based on the total weight of the alloy; and at least one compound of formula (II) AxBy, where A is Cu, Sn, or Zn, B is Co, Cr, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Sb, Te, or Ti, x is any number between 1 and 53, and y is any number between 1 and 16, the first or second alloy having a bulk modulus KVRH value of about 70 to 304 GPa.

Abstract: A catalyst for a membrane electron assembly (MEA) comprising: a ternary oxide material having at least one composition of formula (I): IrxM1-xO2 (I), where x is any number between about 0.25 and 0.75, and M is Ag, Au, Ba, Bi, Ca, Ce, Eu, Ge, Hf, La, Nd, Os, Pd, Pr, Re, Rh, Se, Sm, Tl, or W, the material being configured to catalyze oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and increase stability, activity, or both of the catalyst.