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: 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: The document generally describes improved platform interfaces and solutions for agents, including agents having mobile computing devices that interact with platform via a network. Embodiments are configured to provide a number of improved platform interfaces and solutions for agents, including one or more improvements to: selectively receive leads when they are online (e.g., designated as on duty or otherwise working and available to receive leads), communicating with potential and existing customers about insurance plans when the agents are online, facilitating a customer's ability to review and sign insurance plans from their computing device when their agent is offline, automatically recording inbound and outbound calls according to regulatory requirements, providing call scripts to be recited during those calls in compliance with the regulations, and uniquely tag customers to assist the agents in organizing their customer contact records and tasks associated with their customers.

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 system for stretching a polynucleotide structure includes a first electrode configured to generate an electrostatic force perpendicular to a surface of the first electrode and to apply the electrostatic force to the polynucleotide structure to pin an end region of the polynucleotide structure near the surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode configured to generate an electric force along an axial direction of the polynucleotide structure to stretch the polynucleotide structure along the axial direction of the polynucleotide structure into a fully extended form.

Abstract: A cathode catalyst layer includes a support substrate having a pore-free outer surface region and porous surface region having a plurality of pores, each of the plurality of pores having a cavity defined by a wall, a first electrocatalyst, and a second electrocatalyst being different from the first electrocatalyst, the first electrocatalyst having a plurality of particles attached to the pore-free outer surface region and the second electrocatalyst having a plurality of particles housed within the cavities of the plurality of pores.

Abstract: A cathode catalyst layer includes a support substrate having a pore-free surface region and a porous surface region having a plurality of pores, a first electrolyte in direct contact with the pore-free surface region, and a second electrolyte contained within the plurality of pores, the second electrolyte being different from the first electrolyte.

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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.