Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to rechargeable batteries and solid electrolytes therefore which include lithium-stuffed garnet oxides, for example, in a thin film, pellet, or monolith format wherein the density of defects at a surface or surfaces of the solid electrolyte is less than the density of defects in the bulk. In certain disclosed embodiments, the solid-state anolyte, electrolyte, and catholyte thin films, separators, and monoliths consist essentially of an oxide that conducts Li+ ions. In some examples, the disclosure herein presents new and useful solid electrolytes for solid-state or partially solid-state batteries. In some examples, the disclosure presents new lithium-stuffed garnet solid electrolytes and rechargeable batteries which include these electrolytes as separators between a cathode and a lithium metal anode.

Abstract: A home appliance chemically resistant to peroxide degradation. The home appliance includes a metal substrate disposed therein that includes a metal substrate having a bulk portion and a coating layer contacting a surface of the bulk portion. The coating layer includes a ternary metal oxide compound, a metal alloy, an intermetallic compound, or a combination thereof. The ternary metal oxide compound, the metal alloy or the intermetallic compound is (a) unreactive with hydrogen peroxide or (b)(1) reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more metal oxides unreactive with hydrogen peroxide or reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more metal oxides unreactive with hydrogen peroxide and/or (b)(2) reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more elemental metals reactive with hydrogen peroxide to form one or more metal oxides.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell (e.g., a fuel cell) including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, and an electrolyte membrane layer extending between the anode catalyst layer the cathode catalyst layer, and a graphene-based layer. The graphene-based layer is disposed between the cathode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane layer and/or the anode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane layer. The graphene-based layer is configured to suppress crossover gases and metallic cation exchange to enhance performance and durability of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Microcracked and crack-free catalyst layers such as for electrodes in electrochemical cells (e.g., fuel cells) and method of making the same are disclosed. The microcracks may improve durability by better tolerating stresses without inducing or propagating into macrocracks. The microcracks also improve efficiency by providing reactant (e.g., oxygen) passages to catalyst in the catalyst layer. The microcracks may be formed in a predetermined pattern to further localize additional reactant passages is conventionally starved or more starved locations.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell cathode catalyst layer includes electrocatalyst particles, an electrocatalyst support having an electronically conductive porous material including a plurality of pores with a diameter of less than or equal to 10 nm having a surface morphology comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys, the surface morphology being configured to contain the electrocatalyst particles within the plurality of pores and to enhance mass transport of molecular oxygen to the electrocatalyst particles by adsorbing molecular oxygen to the surface morphology, and an ionomer adhered to the electrocatalyst, the electrocatalyst support, or both.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a membrane physically separating the anode from the cathode, the cathode having a cathode catalyst layer including an ionomer and an electrocatalyst support substrate forming an ionomer-support interface having a covalent bond between the substrate and the ionomer via a grafting compound, the substrate further having a plurality of terminated hydrophilic groups.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell (e.g., a fuel cell) includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte membrane layer disposed between and spacing part the anode layer and the cathode layer. The electrochemical cell further includes a functional layer disposed at an interface between the cathode layer and the electrode membrane layer. The functional layer includes a composition including a carbon material, an ionomer material, and optionally an amount of catalyst material.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell catalyst state of health monitoring device. The device includes a first magnetic device adjacent a first side of a first catalyst material associated with a first electrode. The device further includes a second magnetic device adjacent a second side of the first catalyst material. The first or second magnetic device is configured to generate a magnetic field. The other of the first and second magnetic devices is configured to receive a magnetic response from the first catalyst material. The device also includes a controller configured to receive the magnetic response and to determine magnetic response data of the first catalyst material in response to the magnetic response. The magnetic response data is indicative of a state of health.

Abstract: Various implementations include audio devices and methods for noise reduction control in wearable audio devices and/or vehicle audio systems. Certain implementations include a non-occluding wearable audio device having: at least one electro-acoustic transducer; at least one microphone; and a control system coupled with the at least one electro-acoustic transducer and the at least one microphone, the control system programmed to: adjust an active noise reduction (ANR) setting for audio output to the at least one electro-acoustic transducer in response to detecting use of the non-occluding wearable audio device in a vehicle.

Abstract: A true three-dimensional physical simulation system for the influence of fault movement on tunnel operation and a test method are disclosed. The system includes a fault movement rack system, a fault movement jacking system, and a loading and movement control system. The fault movement rack system is configured to accommodate a movement model and serves as a loading reaction device. The fault movement jacking system is configured to implement fault movement and ensures that the model is not twisted and overturned in a fault movement process. The loading and movement control system is configured to perform initial ground stress loading on the model and control the fault movement jacking system to implement fault movement of the model.

Abstract: A true three-dimensional physical simulation system for the influence of fault movement on tunnel operation and a test method, including a fault movement rack system, a fault movement jacking system, and a loading and movement control system. The fault movement rack system accommodates a movement model and serves as a loading reaction device. The fault movement jacking system implements fault movement and ensures that the model is not twisted and overturned in a fault movement process. The loading and movement control system performs initial ground stress loading on the model and controls the fault movement jacking system to implement fault movement of the model. Fault movement of a deep stratum under a complex high ground stress condition can be simulated, the influence of underground fault movement on safe and stable operation of a deep tunnel is simulated, and a powerful technical support is provided for safe construction of deep engineering.

Abstract: An active noise reduction earbud includes a housing and a first feedforward microphone disposed in the housing. A first sound inlet opening extends through the housing and is configured to conduct external sound to the first feedforward microphone. The first sound inlet opening is configured to sit within a concha cavum of a user's ear and faces toward an auricle of the user's ear when the earbud is worn.

Abstract: A catalyst support material for an electrochemical system. The catalyst support material includes a metal material of SnWO4 reactive with H3O+, HF and/or SO3? to form reaction products in which the metal material of SnWO4 accounts for a stable molar percentage of the reaction products.

Abstract: Set forth herein are processes for making lithium-stuffed garnet oxides (e.g., Li7La3Zr2O12, also known as LLZO) that have passivated surfaces comprising a fluorinate and/or an oxyfluorinate species. These surfaces resist the formation of oxides, carbonates, hydroxides, peroxides, and organics that spontaneously form on LLZO surfaces under ambient conditions. Also set forth herein are new materials made by these processes.

Abstract: A lubricator assembly for servicing a tubular member includes a mounting base, a lubricant housing movably coupled to the mounting base and configured to receive lubricant from a lubricant source, a guide pin slidably disposed in the lubricant housing, a first seal positioned between the guide pin and the lubricant housing and a second seal positioned between the guide pin and the lubricant housing, and a first chamber extending between the first seal and the second seal, wherein the guide pin is configured to direct lubricant disposed in the first chamber against the tubular member in response to the tubular member engaging the guide pin.

Abstract: A frame with an outer silicon layer and a manufacturing method of forming the silicone layer on the outer part of frame are disclosed. The manufacturing method includes a forming step, a combining step and a removing step. First, a pair of mold with a forming space is formed with a silicone carrier including an effective combination region and an ineffective region. An emplacing space is next formed in the effective combination region and a frame is put into the emplacing space. Before putting in the frame, either the outer part of frame or the emplacing space is coated with a silicone coating, and then the effective combination region is combined on the outer part of frame by a secondary sulfurization. Finally, the effective combination region is removed from the ineffective region to form a silicone layer, made of the effective combination region, on the outer part of frame.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a flow field plate, a catalyst layer, and a gas diffusion layer (GDL). The flow field plate has at least one channel and at least one land. Each of the at least one channel being positioned between two adjacent lands. The GDL is positioned between the flow field plate and the catalyst layer. The catalyst layer has a first region aligned with the at least one channel and a second region aligned with the at least one land. The first region has a first composition, a first carbon material, and a first carbon ratio of an amount of the first composition to the first carbon material. The second region has a second composition, a second carbon material, and a second carbon ratio of an amount of the second composition to the second carbon material. The first carbon ratio is different than the second carbon ratio.

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: An electrochemical cell includes a cathode including a cathode active material; an anode including silicon, conductive carbon, lithium metal, sodium metal, magnesium metal, sulfur, or a combination of any two or more thereof; a separator; and an electrolyte including a lithium sulfonylimide salt, an asymmetric fluorinated glycol ether, and optionally an electrolyte additive, an aprotic gel polymer, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Set forth herein are pellets, thin films, and monoliths of lithium-stuffed garnet electrolytes having engineered surfaces. These engineered surfaces have a list of advantageous properties including, but not limited to, low surface area resistance, high Li+ ion conductivity, low tendency for lithium dendrites to form within or thereupon when the electrolytes are used in an electrochemical cell. Other advantages include voltage stability and long cycle life when used in electrochemical cells as a separator or a membrane between the positive and negative electrodes. Also set forth herein are methods of making these electrolytes including, but not limited to, methods of annealing these electrolytes under controlled atmosphere conditions. Set forth herein, additionally, are methods of using these electrolytes in electrochemical cells and devices. The instant disclosure further includes electrochemical cells which incorporate the lithium-stuffed garnet electrolytes set forth herein.