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 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.

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: 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: 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 soil sampler attachable to a vehicle for agricultural uses includes a collector configured to collect a soil sample from a field as the vehicle advances across the field. The soil sampler further includes a preprocessor connected to the collector and configured to receive the soil sample from the collector and to preprocess the soil sample to dilute the soil sample. The soil sampler also includes a sensor connected to the preprocessor and configured to determine a concentration of at least one analyte in the soil sample. The soil sampler further includes a disposer connected to the sensor and configured to dispose the soil sample after the sensor determines the concentration of the at least one analyte in the soil sample.

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: 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 fuel cell electrolyte includes a nitrogen-doped phosphate tetrahedral network having a plurality of linked tetrahedra, each of the plurality of the linked tetrahedra having a phosphorus cation center and four anions including oxygen or nitrogen, the network having at least one compound of formula (I): H3+xPO4?xNx where x is any number between 0.001 and 3.

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: Battery systems and methods for accelerating ion diffusion in polymer electrolyte materials. The application of oscillating electric fields is used to improve the ionic transport properties of polymer electrolytes by reducing the apparent hopping barrier of the lithium ions within the electrolyte material. Polymer-electrolyte-based battery cells exhibiting enhanced ion mobility due to the application of such oscillating electric fields.

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: A computational method for simulating the motion of elements within a multi-element system using a neural network force field (NNFF). The method includes receiving a combination of a number of rotationally-invariant features and a number of rotationally-covariant features of a local environment of the multi-element system; and predicting a force vector for each element within the multi-element system based on the combination of the number of rotationally-invariant features, the number of rotationally-covariant features, and the NNFF, to obtain a simulated motion of the elements within the multi-element system.

Abstract: An anticorrosive and conductive substrate includes a bulk portion and a surface portion including a magnesium titanium material having a formula (I) TixMg1-xOy (I), where x is a number from 0 to ?1 and y is a number from 1 to ?2, and wherein at least about 50% of the magnesium titanium material has a cubic crystal structure, and wherein the magnesium titanium material is configured to impart anticorrosive and conductive properties to the substrate.

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 anticorrosive, conductive material includes a first oxide having oxygen vacancies and a formula (I): MgTi2O5-? (I), where ? is any number between 0 and 3 optionally including a fractional part denoting the oxygen vacancies; and a second oxide having a formula (II): TiaOb (II), where 1<=a<=20 and 1<=b<=30, optionally including a fractional part, the first and second oxides of formulas (I) and (II) forming a polycrystalline matrix.

Abstract: A catalyst support material for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The catalyst support material includes a metal material of an at least partially oxidized form of TiNb3O6 reactive with H3O+, HF and/or SO3? to form reaction products in which the metal material of the at least partially oxidized form of TiNb3O6 accounts for a stable molar percentage of the reaction products.

Abstract: A proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell bipolar plate includes a metal substrate having a bulk portion and a surface portion including an anticorrosive, conductive binary phosphide material having a formula (I): AxPy??(I), where A is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, post-transition metal, or metalloid, x, y is each a number independently selected from 1 to 15, and the binary phosphide material is configured to impart anticorrosive and conductive properties to the metal substrate.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor and an optical source. The sensor has a receptor configured to bind to a chemical species. A spacer is bound to the receptor, and a fluorophore is bound to the spacer. The optical source is configured to irradiate the sensor to dissociate the chemical species from the receptor. The optical source can be infrared light, microwave or radio wave. The sensor system optionally includes a photodetector configured to determine an amount of the chemical species by measuring fluorescence when the optical source irradiates the sensor.

Abstract: In some aspects, graphic layers for depicting a visible representation of an image along a surface of a photovoltaic module can include a plurality of substantially opaque isolated regions; and at least one substantially transparent contiguous region surrounding the substantially opaque isolated regions, wherein an outer surface of the at least one substantially transparent contiguous region comprises a matte surface finish.