Abstract: A sensor refresh system. The sensor refresh system includes a sensor assembly including a sensing surface. The sensor refresh system includes a sensor attached to the sensing surface of the sensing assembly. The sensor includes a receptor binding a chemical species in a binding state. The sensor refresh system further includes an optical source irradiating the sensor when the chemical species is in the binding state to dissociate the chemical species from the receptor of the sensor in a dissociation state.

Abstract: Fuel cell alloy bipolar plates. The alloys may be used as a coating or bulk material. The alloys and metallic glasses may be particularly suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells because of they may exhibit reduced weights and/or better corrosion resistance. The alloys may include any of the following AlxCuyTiz, AlxFeyNiz, AlxMnyNiz, AlxNiyTiz, CuxFeyTiz, CuxNiyTiz, AlxFeySiz, AlxMnySiz, AlxNiySiz, NixSiyTiz, and CxFeySiz. The alloys or metallic glass may be doped with various dopants to improve glass forming ability, mechanical strength, ductility, electrical or thermal conductivities, hydrophobicity, and/or corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst layer includes a catalyst support, a catalyst material, and a graphene-based material. The catalyst material includes catalyst particles in an atomic form at a beginning of operation or life of the fuel cell catalyst layer. The graphene-based material includes defects capturing dissolved particles ionized from the atomic form after the beginning of operation or life of the fuel cell catalyst layer.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst includes a conglomerate of platinum atoms forming an amorphous nanoparticle structure having at least about 40% of highly undercoordinated surface atoms with fewer than 6 adjacent atoms on its surface; and a passivating crust including catalytically active monoatomic adsorbed oxygen atoms such that at least 50% of the amorphous nanoparticle structure has oxygen coverage, the amorphous nanoparticle structure having a diameter of up to 3 nm.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell active hydrogen capture and release system including a first zone having a target predetermined concentration of hydrogen c1 and housing: an electrical component, an adsorbing electrode including a hydrogen adsorbing material, a counter electrode separated from the adsorbing electrode, and an electric circuit connecting the adsorbing and counter electrodes to apply electrical bias configured to facilitate capture and release of hydrogen gas from the adsorbing electrode; and a second zone having a target predetermined concentration of hydrogen c2, c2 being greater than c1.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst material includes metal catalyst particles formed of a metal material and a carbon-based coating composition at least partially coating at least some of the metal catalyst particles. The carbon-based coating composition includes a carbon network. The carbon-based coating composition is doped with a dopant. The carbon-based coating composition includes a number of defects formed by one or more vacated carbon atoms in the carbon network. The carbon-based coating composition is made from a non-aromatic carbon molecule.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell active hydrogen capture and release system including a first zone having a target predetermined concentration of hydrogen c1 and housing: an electrical component, an adsorbing electrode including a hydrogen adsorbing material, a counter electrode separated from the adsorbing electrode, and an electric circuit connecting the adsorbing and counter electrodes to apply electrical bias configured to facilitate capture and release of hydrogen gas from the adsorbing electrode; and a second zone having a target predetermined concentration of hydrogen c2, c2 being greater than c1.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the quality of water or leaks within a household plumbing system via machine learning are provided. Appliances can be connected to a plumbing system, wherein each appliance includes one or more sensors configured to output sensor data regarding a property of the water being utilized by that appliance. A processor is programmed to receive the sensor data and establish boundaries of normal operation. Then, when additional sensor data is received, the processor uses machine learning to classify that sensor data as being either within normal operation, or outside the bounds of normal operation. If the sensor data indicates the water property is outside the bounds, an output signal can be generated to inform the user.

Abstract: A computational method for determining a location and an amount of a transition metal M in surface facets of a Pt—M alloy using a density functional theory includes receiving a particle size and a surface facet distribution of the Pt—M alloy and a total concentration of M in the Pt—M alloy; calculating a total number of M atoms in the Pt—M alloy based on the particle size and the surface facet distribution of the Pt—M alloy and the total concentration of M in the Pt—M alloy; and predicting a mixing energy between Pt and at least one of the total number of M atoms in a subsurface layer of each of the surface facets of the Pt—M alloy when Pt is mixed with the at least one of the total number of M atoms.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell catalyst support includes a fibrous catalyst support material. The fibrous catalyst support material includes a mixed metal oxide material of magnesium (Mg) and titanium (Ti) with a general formula of MgaTibO5-x, where 0?x?3, and a ratio of a to b is greater than 0.01 and less than 0.8.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting a crack in an automotive windshield and alerting a user of the same. This can allow the user to repair the crack before the user might otherwise detect the crack by his/her own visual inspection. The windshield can be provided with emitters configured to emit signals (e.g., sound, light, etc.) and corresponding detectors configured to detect the emitted signals. Signal profiles or signatures can be stored that represent normal measurements when there is no crack. Upon detecting a signal signature that deviates from the stored normal signal signatures, the system can notify the user of a potential crack in the windshield. The system can also determine the location of the crack based upon which of the detectors detect a change in the detected signal.

Abstract: An electrochemical system includes a hydrogen diffusion barrier physically separating the system into a hydrogen rich zone and a hydrogen poor zone, an electronic component located in the hydrogen poor zone and exposed to hydrogen diffusing from the hydrogen rich zone, a hydrogen pump, located in the hydrogen rich zone and the hydrogen poor zone, including: a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte separating the cathode and the anode, an anode encapsulation contacting the anode and a portion of the electrolyte, and an external electrical circuit biased to drive H+ current from the anode to the cathode to pump hydrogen diffusing from the hydrogen rich zone into the hydrogen poor zone back into the hydrogen rich zone.

Abstract: A computational method for training a neural network force field (NNFF) configured to simulate molecular and/or atomic motion within a material system. The method includes the step of receiving molecular structure data of a molecule in the material system. The method also includes optimizing a geometry of the molecule using the molecular structure data and a density functional theory (DFT) simulation to obtain DFT optimized geometry data. The method further includes optimizing the geometry of the molecule using the molecular structure data and a classical force field (FF) simulation to obtain FF optimized geometry data. The method also includes outputting NNFF training data comprised of the DFT optimized geometry data and the FF optimized geometry data. The NNFF training data is configured to train an NNFF for simulating molecular and/or atomic molecular and/or atomic motion within the material system.

Abstract: A desalination battery cell includes a first compartment separated by an anion exchange membrane from a second compartment, each of the first and second compartments containing a saline water solution having a concentration of dissolved salts c1 and first and second intercalation host electrodes, respectively, in fluid communication with the solution, a voltage source supplying electric current to the first and second intercalation host electrodes to release cations into the solution, and a controller programmed to adjust an amount of the electric current being supplied to change direction of anions in the solution passing through the anion exchange membrane between the compartments such that the first and second compartments alternately collect and disperse salt from the solution and release desalinated water solution having a concentration c2 of dissolved salts and a brine solution having a concentration c3 of dissolved salts such that c3>C1>C2.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell component including a bulk portion and a surface portion comprising a chromium getter multi-elemental oxide material having a formula (I): AxByOz (I), where A is Ba, Ca, Cr, Mg, or Sr, B is Al, Bi, C, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ti, Y, or Zn, x is a number selected from 1 to 8, y is a number selected from 1 to 64, and z is a number selected from 1 to 103, the multi-elemental oxide being configured to prevent chromium poisoning of the component.

Abstract: Fuel cell alloy bipolar plates. The alloys may be used as a coating or bulk material. The alloys and metallic glasses may be particularly suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells because of they may exhibit reduced weights and/or better corrosion resistance. The alloys may include any of the following AlxCuyTiz, AlxFeyNiz, AlxMnyNiz, AlxNiyTiz, CuxFeyTiz, CuxNiyTiz, AlxFeySiz, AlxMnySiz, AlxNiySiz, NixSiyTiz, and CxFeySiz. The alloys or metallic glass may be doped with various dopants to improve glass forming ability, mechanical strength, ductility, electrical or thermal conductivities, hydrophobicity, and/or corrosion resistance.

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: Fuel cell alloy bipolar plates. The alloys may be used as a coating or bulk material. The alloys and metallic glasses may be particularly suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells because of they may exhibit reduced weights and/or better corrosion resistance. The alloys may include any of the following AlxCuyTiz, AlxFeyNiz, AlxMnyNiz, AlxNiyTiz, CuxFeyTiz, CuxNiyTiz, AlxFeySiz, AlxMnySiz, AlxNiySiz, NixSiyTiz, and CxFeySiz. The alloys or metallic glass may be doped with various dopants to improve glass forming ability, mechanical strength, ductility, electrical or thermal conductivities, hydrophobicity, and/or corrosion resistance.

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 fuel cell catalyst layer includes a catalyst support, a catalyst material, and a graphene-based material. The catalyst material includes catalyst particles in an atomic form at a beginning of operation or life of the fuel cell catalyst layer. The graphene-based material includes defects capturing dissolved particles ionized from the atomic form after the beginning of operation or life of the fuel cell catalyst layer.