Abstract: A computational method for controlling a powder particle uptake by a shielding gas in a laser additive manufacturing system. The computational method includes receiving a gas fluid domain, a powder bed domain, and an inlet shielding gas flow velocity of the laser additive manufacturing system. The method further includes determining a maximum gas flow velocity within the gas fluid domain based on the inlet shielding gas flow velocity and the gas fluid domain. The method also includes determining a threshold uptake flow velocity within the gas fluid domain based on the inlet shielding gas flow velocity and the powder bed domain. The method also includes controlling the powder particle uptake of the shielding gas in the laser additive manufacturing system in response to the maximum gas flow velocity and the threshold uptake flow velocity.

Abstract: A current conductor for use in an electrochemical device for removing ions from a solution. The current conductor includes a current conductor substrate having a current conductor surface. The current conductor also includes an anti-corrosive, anti-reactive coating coated onto the current conductor surface. The anti-corrosive, anti-reactive coating contains a material with a chemical composition of AOy, where A= Zr, Nb, Ti, or a combination thereof and 2 < y < 3; MxAOy, where M= Ca, Mg, Na, or a combination thereof, A= Zr, Nb, Ti, or a combination thereof, 0 < x < 2, and 2 < y < 3; MgCr2O4; or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A computational method for determining a location and an amount of a transition metal M in surface facets of a Pt—M alloy using a density functional theory includes receiving a particle size and a surface facet distribution of the Pt—M alloy and a total concentration of M in the Pt—M alloy; calculating a total number of M atoms in the Pt—M alloy based on the particle size and the surface facet distribution of the Pt—M alloy and the total concentration of M in the Pt—M alloy; and predicting a mixing energy between Pt and at least one of the total number of M atoms in a subsurface layer of each of the surface facets of the Pt—M alloy when Pt is mixed with the at least one of the total number of M atoms.

Abstract: A method for printing conductive solder paste on a base substrate to establish an electrical connection is provided. The method includes applying conductive solder paste over a stencil, and within an opening of the stencil to contact the base substrate therebeneath. In embodiments, a squeegee can be used to scrape some of the conductive solder paste off of the stencil, leaving behind some of the conductive solder paste within the opening. Subsequently, the stencil can be removed at a speed of more than 200 millimeters per second to help reduce the end-of-track bump ultimately formed at the end of the conductive solder paste that remains after the stencil is removed.

Abstract: A stencil printing system for printing solder paste on a base substrate to establish an electrical connection is provided. The system includes a stencil configured to removably attach or rest on an upper surface of the base. The stencil has an opening that provides access to the upper surface of the base. A squeegee spreads conductive paste across the stencil, whereupon the paste can be forced onto the upper surface of the base via the opening. In embodiments, the stencil has a stepped edge at the boundary of the opening. The stepped edge may include a platform or floor that sits lower than the upper surface of the stencil to collect the paste and reduce the amount of paste that falls back to the base as the stencil is removed. The squeegee may have a lower surface that extends oblique relative to the squeegee's leading surface and trailing surface.

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 stencil for use in stencil printing is disclosed. The stencil is configured to removably attach or rest on an upper surface of an underlying base. The stencil has an opening through which the conductive paste is deposited by spreading the conductive paste across an upper surface of the stencil and forcing the paste into the opening and onto an upper surface of the underlying base. The stencil has a stepped edge at a boundary of the opening. The stepped edge includes a ledge or floor that is configured to hold some of the paste even after a squeegee has removed the paste from an upper surface of the stencil. As the stencil is removed from the base, the ledge or floor can carry the paste that it holds away from the base in an effort to reduce an end-of-track bump on the underlying base.

Abstract: A method for printing conductive solder paste on a base substrate to establish an electrical connection is provided. The method includes applying conductive solder paste over a stencil, and within an opening of the stencil to contact the base substrate therebeneath. In embodiments, a squeegee can be used to scrape some of the conductive solder paste off of the stencil, leaving behind some of the conductive solder paste within the opening. Subsequently, the stencil can be removed at a speed of more than 200 millimeters per second to help reduce the end-of-track bump ultimately formed at the end of the conductive solder paste that remains after the stencil is removed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting a crack in an automotive windshield and alerting a user of the same. This can allow the user to repair the crack before the user might otherwise detect the crack by his/her own visual inspection. The windshield can be provided with emitters configured to emit signals (e.g., sound, light, etc.) and corresponding detectors configured to detect the emitted signals. Signal profiles or signatures can be stored that represent normal measurements when there is no crack. Upon detecting a signal signature that deviates from the stored normal signal signatures, the system can notify the user of a potential crack in the windshield. The system can also determine the location of the crack based upon which of the detectors detect a change in the detected signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the quality of water or leaks within a household plumbing system via machine learning are provided. Appliances can be connected to a plumbing system, wherein each appliance includes one or more sensors configured to output sensor data regarding a property of the water being utilized by that appliance. A processor is programmed to receive the sensor data and establish boundaries of normal operation. Then, when additional sensor data is received, the processor uses machine learning to classify that sensor data as being either within normal operation, or outside the bounds of normal operation. If the sensor data indicates the water property is outside the bounds, an output signal can be generated to inform the user.

Abstract: Improved gas flow systems and methods for use with powder bed-based laser additive manufacturing chambers are described. The disclosed gas flow configurations and associated build chamber designs enhance the removability of laser melting emissions. In accordance with various configurations, the clear rate of generated-spatter contamination is improved by employing system designs in which the gas flow outlet is lowered toward the substrate, the gas flow inlet channel length is increased, uniform gas flow is enabled using multi-channeled pumps, and/or one or more supplementary gas inlet flows are introduced to the chamber design.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating a melt pool characteristic for selective laser melting additive manufacturing. The system includes a selective laser melting apparatus and an electronic controller configured to obtain a surface geometry of a previous layer of a component being manufactured using the selective laser melting apparatus, simulate an addition of a powder layer having a desired powder layer thickness to the component based upon the surface geometry of the previous layer, determine a melt pool characteristic based upon geometric information of the simulated powder layer and the desired powder layer thickness, determine an adjustment to the simulated powder layer based upon the melt pool characteristic, and actuate the selective laser melting apparatus based upon the simulated powder layer and the determined adjustment.

Abstract: An anode catalyst layer of an electrochemical cell includes an anode catalyst material. The anode catalyst material is a Pt-based alloy. The Pt-based alloy is a binary Pt-M alloy, where M is Ge, Se, Ag, Sb, Os, or Tl. The Pt-based alloy is a ternary Pt-MI-MII alloy, where MI is Ru, Ge, or Mo, and MII is Ir, Os, Tl, Au, Bi, Se, or Pd.

Abstract: An anticorrosive, conductive material includes a first oxide having oxygen vacancies and a formula (I): MgTi2O5-? (I), where ? is any number between 0 and 3 optionally including a fractional part denoting the oxygen vacancies; and a second oxide having a formula (II): TiaOb (II), where 1<=a<=20 and 1<=b<=30, optionally including a fractional part, the first and second oxides of formulas (I) and (II) forming a polycrystalline matrix.

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: An electrolyzer system includes an anticorrosive, conductive material including a first oxide having oxygen vacancies and a formula (Ia): MgTi2O5-? (Ia), where ? is any number between 0 and 3 including a fractional part denoting the oxygen vacancies; and a second oxide having a formula (II): TiaOb (II), where 1<=a<=20 and 1<=b<=30, optionally including a fractional part, the first and second oxides of formulas (Ia) and (II) forming a polycrystalline matrix within the electrolyzer system.

Abstract: A polyelemental catalyst structure. The structure includes a region formed of a first metal material, a first core region formed of a second metal material, and a second core region formed of a third metal material. The first core region has interfacial contact with the region. The second core region has interfacial contact with the first core region. The polyelemental catalyst structure includes platinum (Pt), a first metal MI, a second metal MII and a third metal MIII. The first metal MI is configured to enhance catalytic activity of Pt. The second metal MII is configured to enhance stability of the polyelemental catalyst structure. The third metal MIII is configured to enhance covalent bonding between Pt, the first metal MI, the second metal MII and/or the third metal MIII.

Abstract: A desalination cell including an electrode including a material having at least one compound of the following formula: AxMIyMIIz(CN)6, where A is Na, Li or K, 0?x?2, MI is a first metal, MII is a second metal, 1?y, and z?2. The material is configured to reduce calcium carbonate formation and/or carbon dioxide gas formation during operation of the desalination cell. The first metal may be Fe, Mn, Co, Sc, Ti, Cr or Zn. The second metal is Fe, Mn, Co, Sc, Ti, Cr or Zn. The first metal may be different than the second metal.

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 unreactive with hydrogen peroxide.

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.