Abstract: An oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst, a membrane-electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell containing the catalyst are provided. The ORR catalyst is a solid catalyst on a carbon support and the solid catalyst contains platinum metal or a platinum alloy metal having a surface complexed with a monodentate thiol ligand comprising an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring containing at least one of a bromide and an iodide substituent.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for self-cleaning that include a lysozyme capable of decomposing a microbe, a substrate applied to a solid surface, and a linker moiety bound to an outer surface of said substrate and an active group of said digestive protein, said linker moiety between said lysozyme and said substrate and covalently linking said lysozyme to a surface of said substrate optionally by an amide bond.

Abstract: Bioactive coatings that include a base and a protein associated with the base for actively promoting the removal of organic stains are provided. In aspects, bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

Abstract: Bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme capable of enzymatically degrading a component of an organic stain, optionally a lipase or a lysozyme, and optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or bacterial organic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and processes in the field of self-cleaning system using digestive proteins. One composition includes a substrate, a digestive protein capable of decomposing a stain molecule, and a linker moiety bound to both said digestive protein and said substrate. The processes include binding a substrate to a surface and forming a linker moiety between a digestive protein and said substrate.

Abstract: A secondary ionomer that enhances activity and stability of a cathode catalyst in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes the ionic liquid, 1-methyl-2,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-9-ium 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutane-1-sulfonate ([MTBD][C4F9SO3]). When contacting the catalyst, [MTBD][C4F9SO3] enhances catalyst activity and stability more effectively than previously known ionomers, likely by preventing oxide formation and water adsorption at the catalyst surface. The disclosed secondary ionomer is thus most effective when completely coating the catalyst.

Abstract: A substrate or coating is provided that includes a protease with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes an anodic catalyst layer, a cathodic catalyst layer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane mediating protic communication between the anodic and cathodic catalyst layers. The cathodic catalyst layer includes an ionic liquid, 1-methyl-2,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-9-ium 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutane-1-sulfonate, in admixture with carbon-supported particles of platinum or a platinum alloy. The ionic liquid improves performance in both high moisture and low moisture operating conditions.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing water using hydrated cobalt molybdenum is disclosed. A plurality of hydrated cobalt molybdenum nanoparticles are supported on an electrode and are able to catalytically interact with water molecules generating oxygen. The catalyst can be used as part of an electrochemical or photo-electrochemical cell for the generation of electrical energy.

Abstract: Bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base including an enzyme associated therein, and a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

Abstract: Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst have particles of a first ORR catalytic material in interspersed contact with particles of a second ORR catalytic material. The first and second ORR catalytic materials have different d band centers so that oxygen can adsorb rapidly at a first binding site, be partly reduced, and then transfer to a second site at which reduction is completed and water desorption is rapid. This allows the catalyst to avoid limitations of slow reactant binding and/or slow product release.

Abstract: Methods for making porous materials having metal alloy nanoparticles formed therein are described herein. By preparing a porous material and delivering the precursor solutions under vacuum, the metal precursors can be uniformly embedded within the pores of the porous material. Once absorption is complete, the porous material can be heated in the presence of one or more functional gases to reduce the metal precursors to metal alloy nanoparticles, and embed the metal alloy nanoparticles inside of the pores. As such, the metal alloy nanoparticles can be formed within the pores, while avoiding surface wetting and absorption problems which can occur with small pores.

Abstract: A process for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide and water forming carbon monoxide and hydrogen comprising the steps of; providing a metal substrate formed of a metal having a low carbon monoxide bonding strength; forming a self-assembled monolayer bonded to the metal substrate wherein the self-assembled monolayer includes an organic ligand having a surface end having a reactive group bonded to the metal substrate and an opposing end including an organic functional group regulating a ratio of reaction products; contacting carbon dioxide and water with the electrode having the self assembled monolayer forming carbon monoxide and hydrogen; wherein a selectivity of reaction products of carbon monoxide and hydrogen produced by the electrode is regulated relative to a bare metal substrate.

Abstract: Bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

Abstract: Improved oxygen reduction reaction catalysts include octahedral nanoparticles of a platinum-copper-nickel alloy contacted by a secondary ionomer. The alloy can have a formula of Pt2CuNi, and the secondary ionomer can include an ionic liquid, 1-methyl-2,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-9-ium 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutane-1-sulfonate ([MTBD][C4F9SO3]). The oxygen reductions catalysts have improved stability, as well as mass area and specific area comparted to competing catalysts.

Abstract: A method for forming a multilayer thin film having a crystalline metal oxide layer, the method including: encapsulating at least one encapsulated layer of the multilayer thin film in a wet chemical composition by wet chemical methods; and crystallizing the wet chemical composition by microwave hydrothermal treatment to form a crystalline metal oxide layer encapsulating the at least one encapsulated layer of the multilayer thin film.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for self-cleaning that include a digestive protein capable of decomposing stain forming molecules, a substrate applied to a solid surface, and a linker moiety bound to an outer surface of said substrate and an active group of said digestive protein, said linker moiety between said protein and said substrate and covalently linking said protein to a surface of said substrate by an amide bond, the linker moiety between a free amine of said protein and said outer surface of said substrate wherein the digestive protein forms a layer on a surface of said substrate such that the digestive protein is surface exposed for reaction with a stain.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and processes in the field of self-cleaning system using digestive proteins. One composition includes a substrate, a digestive protein capable of decomposing a stain molecule, and a linker moiety bound to both said digestive protein and said substrate. The processes include binding a substrate to a surface and forming a linker moiety between a digestive protein and said substrate.

Abstract: Bioactive coatings that include a base and a protein associated with the base for actively promoting the removal of organic stains are provided. In aspects, bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

Abstract: Provided are methods for providing thermal stability to a protein whereby a digestive protein is covalently bound to a substrate by a linker moiety bound to an outer surface of said substrate and an active group of the protein, the linker moiety covalently linking the protein to a surface of the substrate wherein the digestive protein forms a layer on the surface of said substrate such that the digestive protein is surface exposed.