Abstract: A membrane structure is provided. The membrane structure includes a first layer having a plurality of interconnected pores; and a second layer disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a plurality of unconnected pores. Each of the unconnected pores is in fluid communication with at least one of the interconnected pores of the first layer. A method of making a membrane structure is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a first layer having a plurality of interconnected pores; and disposing a second layer on the first layer. Disposing a second layer includes depositing a conducting layer on the first layer; and anodizing the conducting layer to convert the conducting layer into a porous layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating at least one component from a mixture of a plurality of chemical species is provided. The apparatus comprises a membrane structure comprising a plurality of pores disposed within a matrix material to allow mass transport from a first surface of the membrane structure to a second surface of the membrane structure. The matrix material has a thermal conductivity of at least about 10 W/m/K; and a functional material disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of pores. The functional material has the property of promoting selective transport of at least one species through the membrane structure from the first surface to the second surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and a method for the production of hydrogen. The system advantageously combines an independent high temperature heat source with a solid oxide electrolyzer cell and a heat exchanger located between the cathode inlet and the cathode outlet. The heat exchanger is used to extract heat from the molecular components such as hydrogen derived from the electrolysis. A portion of the hydrogen generated in the solid oxide electrolyzer cell is recombined with steam and recycled to the solid oxide electrolyzer cell. The oxygen generated on the anode side is swept with compressed air and used to drive a gas turbine that is in operative communication with a generator. Electricity generated by the generator is used to drive the electrolysis in the solid oxide electrolyzer cell.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials. The oxide materials described herein as a class typically contain europia (Eu2O3). The oxides may further contain other additives, such as oxides of gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), or terbium (Tb). In certain embodiments the oxide, in addition to europia, further comprises ytterbia (Yb2O3), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), or neodymium (Nd).

Abstract: A detection system is presented. The detection system includes a sensing component and a data analyzer. The sensing component includes a first sensor and a second sensor in fluid communication with the first sensor. The first sensor is disposed to allow operation at a predetermined temperature T1 and is selective to a first gas species at T1 and in presence of a second gas species. The second sensor is disposed to allow operation at a temperature T2 and is sensitive to the first gas species and a second gas species at T2. Temperature T2 is lower than T1. The data analyzer is disposed to receive an output signal from the sensing component and configured to calculate concentrations of the first gas species and the second gas species based on the output signal from the sensing component. A method of calculating concentrations of gas species in a gaseous mixture is also presented.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials. The oxide materials described herein as a class typically contain one or more of ytterbia (Yb2O3) and europia (Eu2O3). The oxides may further contain other additives, such as oxides of gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), or terbium (Tb). In certain embodiments the oxide, in addition to the ytterbia and/or europia, further comprises lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), or neodymium (Nd).

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One particular embodiment is an article that comprises a coating having a surface connected porosity content of up to about 5 percent by volume. The coating comprises a material that comprises a primary oxide and a secondary oxide, wherein (i) the primary oxide comprises a cerium cation, and (ii) the secondary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of the praseodymium and neodymium.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One embodiment is an article comprising a material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of at least one type selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation. The material comprises a primary oxide and a secondary oxide. The primary oxide comprises cerium or hafnium. The secondary oxide comprises (i) praseodymium or ytterbium, and (ii) another cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium.

Abstract: A method for forming a ceramic coating is provided. The method includes providing a slurry comprising a liquid and a plurality of feedstock particles disposed in the liquid, injecting the slurry into the flame of a thermal spray gun, and spraying the slurry on a surface of a substrate using the thermal spray gun to form the ceramic coating such that at least a part of the surface of the substrate is covered by the ceramic coating, wherein a thickness of the ceramic coating is in a range from about 10 nanometers to about 3 micrometers, and wherein a density of the ceramic coating is more than about 90 percent, and wherein the ceramic coating is a continuous coating.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One particular embodiment is an article that comprises a coating having a surface connected porosity content of up to about 5 percent by volume. The coating comprises a material that comprises a primary oxide and a secondary oxide, wherein (i) the primary oxide comprises a cerium cation, and (ii) the secondary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of the praseodymium and neodymium. The material is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of at least one type selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One embodiment is a material comprising a primary oxide and a secondary oxide. The primary oxide comprises cerium or hafnium. The secondary oxide comprises (i) praseodymium or ytterbium, and (ii) another cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium.

Abstract: A membrane structure is provided. The membrane structure includes a first layer having a plurality of pores; and a second layer disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a plurality of unconnected pores. At least a portion of the plurality of unconnected pores of the second layer is at least partially filled with a filler such that the first layer is substantially free of the filler. At least a portion of the plurality of unconnected pores of the second layer is in fluid communication with at least one of the pores of the first layer. A method of making a membrane structure is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a first layer having a plurality of interconnected pores; disposing a second layer on the first layer, and filling at least a portion of the unconnected pores of the second layer with a filler such that the first layer is substantially free of the filler.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One particular embodiment is an article that comprises a coating having a surface connected porosity content of up to about 5 percent by volume. The coating comprises a material that comprises a primary oxide and a secondary oxide, wherein (i) the primary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, terbium, and hafnium, and (ii) the secondary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium. The material is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of at least one type selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation.

Abstract: Articles coated with wetting resistant materials are presented. One embodiment is an article comprising a substrate and a coating having low surface connected porosity disposed on the substrate. The coating comprises an oxide, which comprises aluminum, yttrium, and at least one rare earth element according to the following atomic proportions: (RxY1-x)3 Al5O12 where x is in the range from about 0.001 to about 0.999, and where R is at least one of the rare earth elements, Y is yttrium, O is oxygen, and Al is aluminum.

Abstract: Methods for separating carbon dioxide from a fluid stream at a temperature higher than about 200° C. with selectivity higher than Knudsen diffusion selectivity include contacting a porous membrane with the fluid stream to preferentially transport carbon dioxide. The porous membrane includes a porous support and a continuous porous separation layer disposed on a surface of the porous support and extending between the fluid stream and the porous support layer. The porous support comprises alumina, silica, zirconia, stabilized zirconia, stainless steel, titanium, nickel-based alloys, aluminum-based alloys, zirconium-based alloys or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One embodiment is an article comprising a material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of at least one type selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation. The material comprises a primary oxide and a secondary oxide. The primary oxide comprises cerium and hafnium. The secondary oxide comprises a secondary oxide cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium. Another embodiment is an article comprising a material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of at least one type selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One particular embodiment is an article that comprises a coating having a surface connected porosity content of up to about 5 percent by volume. The coating comprises a material that comprises a primary oxide and a secondary oxide, wherein (i) the primary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, terbium, and hafnium, and (ii) the secondary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium.

Abstract: Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One embodiment is a material comprising a primary oxide and a secondary oxide. The primary oxide comprises cerium and hafnium. The secondary oxide comprises a secondary oxide cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium. Another embodiment is a material comprising a primary oxide and a secondary oxide. The primary oxide comprises cerium or hafnium. The secondary oxide comprises (i) praseodymium or ytterbium, and (ii) another cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium.

Abstract: A structure includes a substantially non-conductive frame having an exterior surface. The structure defines a plurality of passages that open to the exterior surface. Mesoporous material is disposed in the plurality of passages and is supported therein by the frame. In a method for making a mesoporous nanocrystalline titania hybrid material, a templating agent, an acid, and a titania precursor is mixed into a template liquid. A frame that defines a plurality of passages is placed into the template liquid. A solvent is evaporated from the template liquid, thereby forming a titania gel encapsulating the templating agent. The gel is heated to remove substantially the templating agent from the non-conductive frame and the titania, thereby leaving a mesoporous titania material.

Abstract: An article including a metallic substrate is presented. The article further includes a sacrificial layer disposed on a surface of the substrate and an anti-fouling layer disposed on the sacrificial layer. The anti-fouling layer includes a metal-polymer composite. An article including an anti-fouling layer having a nitride is also presented.