Abstract: A method performed by at least one computing device. The method includes receiving a credit request from a self-checkout device before a customer completes an instore checkout process and sending a request for a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) to one or more authentication computing devices. The authentication computing device(s) send the URL to the mobile device. The method includes sending a credit application to the mobile device after the customer selects the URL, receiving a submission of the credit application from the mobile device, approving credit based on the submission, and forwarding a code to the mobile device. The code indicates that the credit is to be used to complete the instore checkout process when scanned by the scanner.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus. includes a shoe having a sole with at least a portion of foam replaced with a composite polymeric foam, at least one probe disposed in the composite polymeric foam, a voltage detector coupled to the probe that detects voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam, and a transformation module that converts voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam in response to deformation events into GRF, acceleration, or pressure data. In another example, a method includes receiving voltage data produced by composite polymeric foam, the composite polymeric foam providing support and padding in the sole of a shoe, converting the voltage data to force data, comparing the force data to a profile, and transmitting, when the force data fails to fall within a threshold of the profile, a feedback signal to a physical feedback device, the feedback signal indicating a difference with the profile.

Abstract: A solid state electrolyte material including a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material including a decontaminated surface thickness. The decontaminated surface thickness is less than or equal to 5 nm. The decontaminated surface thickness may be greater than or equal to 1 nm. The decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material may be selected from the group consisting of Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), Li5La3Ta2O12 (LLTO), Li6La2CaTa2O12 (LLCTO), Li6La2ANb2O12 (A is Ca or Sr), Li1+xAlxGe2-x(PO4)3 (LAGP), Li14Al0.4(Ge2-xTix)1.6(PO4)3 (LAGTP), perovskite Li3xLa2/3-xTiO3 (LLTO), Li0.8La0.6Zr2(PO4)3 (LLZP), Li1+xTi2-xAlx(PO4)3 (LTAP), Li1+x+yTi2-xAlxSiy(PO4)3-y (LTASP), LiTixZr2-x(PO4)3 (LTZP), Li2Nd3TeSbO12 and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A deionization battery cell including a first electrode compartment containing a first intercalation host electrode and includes a first water stream compartment in fluid communication with the first electrode compartment. The deionization battery cell further includes a second electrode compartment containing a second intercalation host electrode and a second water stream compartment in fluid communication with the second electrode compartment. The deionization battery cell also includes an ion exchange membrane assembly including a plurality of anion exchange membranes separated from each other, and from one or more cation exchange membranes positioned between the anion exchange membranes, by a plurality of intervening water stream compartments. The first and second water stream compartments are separated from one another by the ion exchange membrane assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and first and second electrodes. The PEM is situated between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode includes a first catalyst material layer including a first catalyst material and having first and second surfaces. The first electrode includes first and second material layers adjacent to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the first catalyst material. The first material layer faces away from the PEM and the second material layer faces the PEM. The first material layer comprises a graphene-based material layer having a number of defects configured to mitigate dissolution of the first catalyst material through the first material layer.

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: An electrochemical cell includes a fuel source; an oxidation source; a positive electrode exposed to an electrolyte membrane; a negative electrode exposed to the electrolyte membrane; and the electrolyte membrane positioned between the positive and negative electrodes, the electrolyte membrane including an electron donor material and a shunt material having specific volume percentage of one or more carbon-containing semiconductors that become electronically conductive at a specific shunting onset potential below the cell's open circuit potential.

Abstract: This document describes techniques, methods, systems, and other mechanisms for improving interactions between insurance agents, insurance providers, and insurance customers while ensuring that such interactions comply with regulatory requirements. This includes providing unique user interfaces that facilitate efficient communication between computing devices operated by insurance agents and computing devices operated by insurance customers to ensure that electronic scope of appointment forms are provided to potential customers and executed in accordance with government regulations prior to face to face or telephonic meetings between an insurance agent and an insurance customer.

Abstract: An electrochemical water cleaning device including one or more deionization cells having a membrane electrode assembly including a first electrode compartment separated by an anion exchange membrane from a second electrode compartment, each of the first and second compartments configured to contain an intercalation host electrode, a first water stream compartment separated by the membrane electrode assembly from a second water stream compartment, each of the first and second water stream compartments configured to contain a saline water solution and arranged to be in respective fluid communication with the first and second electrode compartments.

Abstract: A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.

Abstract: A water treatment system centrally communicates and controls one or more water treatment devices to regulate the use of the one or more water treatment devices. The water treatment system is configured to enable a localized, on-demand supply of purified water throughout a building or a network of buildings. The water treatment system may control a degree of purity (e.g., water hardness or concentration of dissolved salts) via mixing of purified and unpurified water streams in a controllable ratio (e.g., via one or more controllable valves or one or more tunable water softening units).

Abstract: An electrochemical deionization system that maintains an operating temperature range of a solution stream (e.g., seawater or brackish water) flowing through the cells of the electrochemical deionization system. Maintaining the operating temperature range is targeted at prolonging the lifetime of the system and increasing the overall performance of the electrochemical deionization system.

Abstract: A separator for an electrochemical deionization cell for removing ions from a solution stream. The separator includes an anion exchange membrane layer formed from an anion exchange membrane material. The anion exchange membrane layer has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The separator further includes a porous layer adjacent to the anion exchange membrane layer and formed from a porous material. The porous layer has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first surface of the porous layer is adjacent to the first surface of the anion exchange membrane layer.

Abstract: Water deionization systems based on electrochemical water desalination or softening using a capacitive or intercalative deionization devices including a stack of electrochemical cells. Each cell includes first and second electrodes and an ion exchange membrane. Each cell includes inlet and outlet channels with control valves that control the separation of the source water into brine (e.g., concentration) and clean water (e.g., purification) streams. The deionization device or module may include multiple electrochemical cells connected electrically in series, parallel or a combination of both. The cells may also be in serial, parallel, or combined fluid communication. The output water of one or more streams from each cell or collection of cells may be recirculated and combined with one or more input water streams to improve the electrochemical energy efficiency of the cells. The electrochemical cells at different rows may have varying electrode thickness, area and loading of the active material.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a device configured to remove ions from a solution. The electrode includes an intercalation material including a binary transition metal Prussian blue analogue compound, a ternary transition metal Prussian blue analogue compound, or a combination thereof. The binary compound may have a general formula: AxByCz[Fe(CN)6], where A=Li, Na, or K; B=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; C=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; 0?x?1; 0?y?1; and 0?z?1. The ternary compound may have the general formula: AxByCzDw[Fe(CN)6], where A=Li, Na, or K; B=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; C=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; D=Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, or Zn; 0?x?1; 0?y?1; 0?z?1; 0?w?1.

Abstract: A device for removing ions from a solution. The device includes first and second intercalation hosts, an anion exchange membrane, a first compartment extending between the first intercalation host and the anion exchange membrane, and a second compartment extending between the second intercalation host and the anion exchange membrane. The first and/or second intercalation hosts include a mixture of first and second intercalation materials. The first and/or second intercalation hosts may include layers (e.g., alternating layers) of the first and second intercalation materials. The first and second intercalation materials are different.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging air cleaning device. The device includes a pre-charger configured to generate a corona discharge to electrostatically charge particulate matter in an air stream. The device further includes a separator downstream from the pre-charger configured to convey the electrostatically charged particulate matter and formed of an insulative material. The device also includes a collection electrode configured to receive and to absorb the conveyed electrostatically charged particulate matter. The collection electrode includes a substrate material and a coating layer coated onto the substrate material. The coating layer includes a carbon black material and a polymeric binder. The substrate material is a metal plate including mechanical perforations.

Abstract: A device for removing ions from a solution. The device includes first and second end plates, an anion exchange membrane positioned between the first and second end plates, a first multiple of two or more first cation intercalation electrodes positioned between the first end plate and the anion exchange membrane, and one or more second intercalation electrodes positioned between the second end plate and the anion exchange membrane. The first multiple of two or more first cation intercalation electrodes and the one or more second intercalation electrodes are configured to receive an electric bias of current or voltage such that the first multiple of two or more first cation intercalation electrodes and the one or more second intercalation electrodes store and release ions from the solution.

Abstract: A device for removing ions from a solution. The device includes first and second flow channels between an anion exchange membrane and first and second flow plates, respectively. The first flow channel has a first land volume positioned between the first land regions and the anion exchange membrane. The first flow channel has a first channel volume positioned between the anion exchange membrane and the first channel regions and spaced apart from the anion exchange membrane. The second flow channel has a second land volume positioned between the second land regions and the anion exchange membrane. The second flow channel has a second channel volume positioned between the anion exchange membrane and the second channel regions and spaced apart from the anion exchange membrane. The device also includes an intercalation material positioned within the first land and channel volumes or the second land and channel volumes.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and replacing fuel cells within a fuel cell stack assembly. The method includes measuring one or more operating conditions of a fuel cell within the fuel cell stack assembly. The method includes determining, using a processor, a state of health of the fuel cell based at least in part on the one or more operating conditions. The method includes detaching the fuel cell from an adjacent cell within the fuel cell stack assembly by removing a first electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a first endplate of the fuel cell from a second electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a second endplate of the adjacent cell. The method includes attaching a replacement fuel cell by mating a third electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a third endplate of the replacement fuel cell with a fourth electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a fourth endplate of the adjacent cell.