Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions including Pt—Ni—Cu nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (MPC) having enhanced activity and durability, and method of making said catalyst. The catalyst is synthesized by employing a solid state chemistry method, which involves thermally pretreating a N-doped MPC to remove moisture from the surface; impregnation of metal precursors on the N-doped MPC under vacuum condition; and reducing the metal precurors in a stream of CO and H2 gas mixture.

Abstract: A sputtering magnetron apparatus is provided. Another aspect employs a set of magnet assembly that forms a magnetic field over the target surface to confine electrons. A further aspect of a sputtering magnetron includes a side dark space shield that is made of magnetic metal which shunts the magnetic flux leaking from the side to prevent the formation of a secondary plasma around the dark space shield when it operates simultaneously with another plasma source.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions including Pt—Ni—Cu nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (MPC) having enhanced activity and durability, and method of making said catalyst. The catalyst is synthesized by employing a solid state chemistry method, which involves thermally pretreating a N-doped MPC to remove moisture from the surface; impregnation of metal precursors on the N-doped MPC under vacuum condition; and reducing the metal precursors in a stream of CO and H2 gas mixture.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst for an oxygen reduction reaction including intermetallic L10-NiPtAg alloy nanoparticles having enhanced ORR activity and durability. The catalyst including intermetallic L10-NiPtAg alloy nanoparticles is synthesized by employing silver (Ag) as a dopant and annealing under specific conditions to form the intermetallic structure. In one example, the intermetallic L10-NiPtAg alloy nanoparticles are represented by the formula: NixPtyAgz wherein 0.4?x?0.6, 0.4?y?0.6, z?0.1.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions including Pt—Ni—Cu nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (MPC) having enhanced activity and durability, and method of making said catalyst. The catalyst is synthesized by employing a solid state chemistry method, which involves thermally pretreating a N-doped MPC to remove moisture from the surface; impregnation of metal precursors on the N-doped MPC under vacuum condition; and reducing the metal precurors in a stream of CO and H2 gas mixture.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst for an oxygen reduction reaction including intermetallic L10-NiPtAg alloy nanoparticles having enhanced ORR activity and durability. The catalyst including intermetallic L10-NiPtAg alloy nanoparticles is synthesized by employing silver (Ag) as a dopant and annealing under specific conditions to form the intermetallic structure. In one example, the intermetallic L10-NiPtAg alloy nanoparticles are represented by the formula: NixPtyAgz wherein 0.4?x?0.6, 0.4?y?0.6, z?0.1.

Abstract: An oxygen evolution catalyst of the formula: Sr2MCoO5 where M=Al, Ga wherein M is bonded with four oxygen atoms to form a tetrahedron. The catalyst is operated at a potential of less than 1.58 volts vs. RHE at a current density of 50 ?A/cm2 for a pH of 7-13. The catalyst is operated at a potential of less than 1.55 volts vs. RHE at a current density of 50 ?A/cm2 and a pH of 13. The oxygen evolution catalyst of the formula: Sr2GaCoO5 wherein the catalyst is operated at a potential of less than 1.53 volts vs. RHE at a current density of 50 ?A/cm2 and a pH of 7. The oxygen evolution catalyst of formula: Sr2GaCoO5 wherein the catalyst maintains a current within 94% after 300 minutes at a potential of 1.645 volts vs. RHE wherein the current is greater than 1 milliamp and a pH of 7.

Abstract: Methods for making porous materials having metal alloy nanoparticles formed therein are described herein. By preparing a porous material and delivering the precursor solutions under vacuum, the metal precursors can be uniformly embedded within the pores of the porous material. Once absorption is complete, the porous material can be heated in the presence of one or more functional gases to reduce the metal precursors to metal alloy nanoparticles, and embed the metal alloy nanoparticles inside of the pores. As such, the metal alloy nanoparticles can be formed within the pores, while avoiding surface wetting and absorption problems which can occur with small pores.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.

Abstract: Methods for making porous materials having metal alloy nanoparticles formed therein are described herein. By preparing a porous material and delivering the precursor solutions under vacuum, the metal precursors can be uniformly embedded within the pores of the porous material. Once absorption is complete, the porous material can be heated in the presence of one or more functional gases to reduce the metal precursors to metal alloy nanoparticles, and embed the metal alloy nanoparticles inside of the pores. As such, the metal alloy nanoparticles can be formed within the pores, while avoiding surface wetting and absorption problems which can occur with small pores.

Abstract: An oxygen evolution catalyst of the formula: Sr2MCoO5 where M=Al, Ga wherein M is bonded with four oxygen atoms to form a tetrahedron. The catalyst is operated at a potential of less than 1.58 volts vs. RHE at a current density of 50 ?A/cm2 for a pH of 7-13. The catalyst is operated at a potential of less than 1.55 volts vs. RHE at a current density of 50 ?A/cm2 and a pH of 13. The oxygen evolution catalyst of the formula: Sr2GaCoO5 wherein the catalyst is operated at a potential of less than 1.53 volts vs. RHE at a current density of 50 ?A/cm2 and a pH of 7. The oxygen evolution catalyst of formula: Sr2GaCoO5 wherein the catalyst maintains a current within 94% after 300 minutes at a potential of 1.645 volts vs. RHE wherein the current is greater than 1 milliamp and a pH of 7.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material is provided. The material can be a grain boundary modified nanocomposite that has a plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains and a plurality of zinc oxide nanoparticles within the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains. In addition, the material has zinc antimony modified grain boundaries between the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains.

Abstract: A multilayer thin film that reflects an omnidirectional high chroma red structural color. The multilayer thin film may include a reflector layer, at least one absorber layer extending across the reflector layer, and an outer dielectric layer extending across the at least one absorber layer. The multilayer thin film reflects a single narrow band of visible light when exposed to white light and the outer dielectric layer has a thickness of less than or equal to 2.0 quarter wave (QW) of a center wavelength of the single narrow band of visible light.

Abstract: A multilayer stack displaying a red omnidirectional structural color. The multilayer stack includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer extending across the reflector layer, and an absorbing layer extending across the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer reflects more than 70% of incident white light that has a wavelength greater than 580 nanometers (nm). In addition, the absorbing layer absorbs more than 70% of the incident white light with a wavelength less than 580 nm. In combination, the reflector layer, dielectric layer, and absorbing layer form an omnidirectional reflector that reflects a narrow band of electromagnetic radiation with a center wavelength between 580-680 nm, has a width of less than 200 nm wide and a color shift of less than 100 nm when the reflector is viewed from angles between 0 and 45 degrees.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide are disclosed. The systems involve an electrochemical cell having a cathode of anodized silver and the methods involve introducing carbon dioxide into such a system and applying a potential. The disclosed systems and methods have improved carbon monoxide production selectivity, support higher current density, and have improved efficiency in comparison to existing silver-based CO2 electroreduction devices.

Abstract: A multilayer thin film that reflects an omnidirectional high chroma red structural color. The multilayer thin film may include a reflector layer, at least one absorber layer extending across the reflector layer, and an outer dielectric layer extending across the at least one absorber layer. The multilayer thin film reflects a single narrow band of visible light when exposed to white light and the outer dielectric layer has a thickness of less than or equal to 2.0 quarter wave (QW) of a center wavelength of the single narrow band of visible light.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide are disclosed. The systems involve an electrochemical cell having a cathode of anodized silver and the methods involve introducing carbon dioxide into such a system and applying a potential. The disclosed systems and methods have improved carbon monoxide production selectivity, support higher current density, and have improved efficiency in comparison to existing silver-based CO2 electroreduction devices.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material is provided. The material can be a grain boundary modified nanocomposite that has a plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains and a plurality of zinc oxide nanoparticles within the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains. In addition, the material has zinc antimony modified grain boundaries between the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains.

Abstract: A band gap material includes an alloy of cadmium, tellurium and magnesium. The alloy is doped with oxygen wherein the alloy includes an intermediate band positioned between conduction and valance bands of the alloy. The alloy has the formula: Cd1-xMgxTeOy wherein 0.1?x?0.75 and y?0.1.

Abstract: A process for densifying a composite material is provided. In some instances, the process can reduce stress in a sintered component such that improved densification and/or properties of the component is provided. The process includes providing a mixture of a first material particles and second material particles, pre-sintering the mixture at a first pressure and a first temperature in order to form a pre-sintered component, and then crushing, grinding, and sieving the pre-sintered component in order to form or obtain a generally uniform composite powder. The uniform composite powder is then sintered at a second pressure and a second temperature to form a sintered component, the second pressure being greater than the second pressure.