Abstract: An optical fiber sensor extends coaxially with a controllable heater to provide high-resolution axial measurement of thermal properties such as thermal convection of the surrounding, Heat removal by either conduction or convection may be used to deduce material height in a tank, or velocity of flow when coupled with localized heating, or other aspects of the material based on thermal conductivity.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensor extends coaxially with a controllable heater to provide high-resolution axial measurement of thermal properties such as thermal convection of the surrounding, Heat removal by either conduction or convection may be used to deduce material height in a tank, or velocity of flow when coupled with localized heating, or other aspects of the material based on thermal conductivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the preparation of ceramic materials. Using the methods of the present invention, a porous ceramic material is impregnated with a metal-organic polymer and then treated with heat to decompose the polymer. Advantageously, the heat treatment may be performed at low temperature. The methods of the invention can be used to increase the density of a porous ceramic material or to change its composition. The methods are particularly useful for the formation of ceramic products in the form of films, coatings and layers in multilayer ceramic systems.

Abstract: A method of extracting electrochemical energy from flowing hydrocarbon fluids, including positioning a porous electrolyte layer between a substantially porous anode layer and a substantially porous cathode layer to define a fuel cell, flowing a mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and oxidant over the fuel cell, heating the fuel cell to at least a predetermined minimum temperature, and extracting electrochemical energy from fuel cell. The electrolyte is typically an ionic or protonic conductor.

Abstract: A method for producing a fuel cell, including applying a porous, non-densified electrolyte layer over an anode substrate, sintering the electrolyte layer to the anode substrate, and applying a porous catalytic anode layer onto the electrolyte and spaced from the anode layer to define a fuel cell to produce a non-gastight fuel cell. Typically, the fuel cell is annealed and substantially porous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the preparation of electrodes for use in solid oxide fuel cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for the preparation of ceramic electrodes that provide high ionic and electronic conduction, high porosity and high surface area. Additionally, the methods of the invention allow for controlled and optimized properties of ionic and electronic phases for a particular operating condition. Advantageously, the methods of the invention allow for the fabrication of SOFC electrodes using low processing temperatures and inexpensive techniques requiring no specialized equipment.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nanostructured solid oxide fuel cell includes dispersing ceria and doped ceria nanoparticles in a first colloidal solution, atomizing the first colloidal solution into a spray, depositing the spray onto a substrate to form a thin film electrolyte, dispersing a nanocomposite powder including ceria and CuO in the first solution, forming a second colloidal solution, atomizing the second colloidal solution into a second spray, and depositing the second spray over the thin film electrolyte as an interfacial layer.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel undoped and doped nanometer-scale CeO2 particles as well as a novel semi-batch reactor method for directly synthesizing the novel particles at room temperature. The powders exhibited a surface area of approximately 170 m2/g with a particle size of about 3-5 nm, and are formed of single crystal particles that are of uniform size and shape. The particles' surface area could be decreased down to 5 m2/g, which corresponds to a particle size of 100 nm, by thermal annealing at temperatures up to 1000° C. Control over the particle size, size distribution and state of agglomeration could be achieved through variation of the mixing conditions such as the feeding method, stirrer rate, amount of O2 gas that is bubbled through the reactor, the temperature the reaction is carried out at, as well as heating the final product at temperatures ranging from 150° to 1000° C.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nanostructured solid oxide fuel cell includes dispersing ceria and doped ceria nanoparticles in a first colloidal solution, atomizing the first colloidal solution into a spray, depositing the spray onto a substrate to form a thin film electrolyte, dispersing a nanocomposite powder including ceria and CuO in the first solution, forming a second colloidal solution, atomizing the second colloidal solution into a second spray, and depositing the second spray over the thin film electrolyte as an interfacial layer.