Abstract: A layered construction for application to a device or substrate or placement in an enclosed space for use in decontaminating the underlying surface or enclosed space comprises a cathode, an electrolyte layer, an anode and a protective surface layer. A compound that can be electrically decomposed to release on demand and over an extended period of time, an oxidant is included in the layered structure, preferably in the electrolyte layer. Preferred compounds are those which can release halogen ions which react with various different chemical or biological contaminants which may contact the protective layer, destroying, or devitalizing the contaminants.

Abstract: A self-decontaminating system for decontaminating a surface on demand is disclosed herein. The system contains an electrochemical cell and at least one portion of the surface forms a functional component of the cell. The system may include an electrocatalytic fabric which is flexible and resistant to tears and breaks, such that the fabric can be rolled up or pleated in order to provide a high surface area structure that can serve as an active filter. The fabric can function as a stand-alone system or a protective coating. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating, decontaminating, and regenerating the self-decontaminating fabric.

Abstract: A layered construction for use in decontaminating a surface or enclosed space is described. The construction is an electrochemical cell which includes a cathode, an electrolyte layer, an anode and a protective surface layer. A precursor compound that can be electrically decomposed to release an oxidant, on demand and over an extended period of time, is included in the layered structure, preferably in the electrolyte layer. The oxidant compounds react with various different chemical or biological contaminants in contact the protective layer, thereby deactivating, destroying or devitalizing the contaminants. The layered construction is suitable for application to a device or substrate, or placement in an enclosed space, and can be used on sensitive surfaces such as electronic components and human skin.

Abstract: A method for protecting a surface of an article includes preparing or otherwise providing a reactive solution of a form of polyaniline and an acid, thereafter applying the reactive solution to the surface of the article to form an adherent conversion coating on the surface, thereafter oxidizing the adherent conversion coating to form an oxidized coating, and thereafter contacting a chromate-free, corrosion inhibiting organic compound such as a salt of a dithiocarbamate or a salt of a dimercaptothiadiazole to the oxidized coating to form a fixed conversion coating on the surface of the article. The resulting article has the fixed conversion coating adhered to the surface of the article. The fixed conversion coating has a mixture of a reduced polyaniline salt, and a fixed disulfur-linked dithiocarbamate polymer or dimer.

Abstract: A macrocyclic pore-apertured carbon nanotube apparatus is disclosed. The carbon nanotube apparatus can be used to filter or exclude ions, solutes in solution, as well as particles suspended in a colloidal mixture. The nanotube apparatus includes a carbon nanotube having a carboxylated portion at least one pore entrance and at least one molecular aperture adapted to be bonded to the carboxylated portion of the carbon nanotube. The molecular aperture is further adapted to prevent dissolved ions in a solution from entering the pore entrance. Methods for preparing and using the apparatus are also disclosed. The apparatus can also be incorporated into to filtration media for conducting reverse osmosis filtration.

Abstract: A microfabricated liquid junction reference electrode that can be integrated with microfabricated chemical or electrical sensors, which electrode is an M/MX type reference electrode comprised of a metal and a metal salt, as well as a X? Containing Ionic Liquid having a constant activity of X? and a porous thin-film membrane impregnated with a Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid.

Abstract: A layered construction for use in decontaminating a surface or enclosed space is described. The construction is an electrochemical cell which includes a cathode, an electrolyte layer, an anode and a protective surface layer. A precursor compound that can be electrically decomposed to release an oxidant, on demand and over an extended period of time, is included in the layered structure, preferably in the electrolyte layer. The oxidant compounds react with various different chemical or biological contaminants in contact the protective layer, thereby deactivating, destroying or devitalizing the contaminants. The layered construction is suitable for application to a device or substrate, or placement in an enclosed space, and can be used on sensitive surfaces such as electronic components and human skin.

Abstract: Electrochemical devices, methods, and systems for detecting and quantifying analytes are disclosed. A chemical detection reagent is locally generated in a test solution by electrochemical reaction of a precursor compound caused to migrate into the test solution from a precursor solution separated from the test solution by a cell separator. This approach provides precise metering of the reagent, via the charge passed, and avoids the need to store a reagent solution that may be chemically unstable. In one embodiment, the starch concentration in a colloidal solution can be measured via spectroscopic detection of a blue complex formed by the interaction of starch with iodine produced, on demand, by electrochemical oxidation of iodide ion. The approach may also be used to characterize certain types of analytes. The invention is amenable to automation and is particularly useful for on-line monitoring of production processes, including the inclusion of feed back loop mechanisms for process control.

Abstract: The corrosion inhibiting activity of a coating is determined from the effect of corrosion inhibiting species released by the coating on the oxygen reduction current for a cathode placed very close to the coating. A rotating disk electrode or pumped solution flow is used to sweep the corrosion inhibiting species from the coating surface to the cathode. The oxygen reduction current is measured under conditions of oxygen diffusion control.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention determine the type of damage to a wire, the amount of damage, and the location of the damage based on the wire's broadband impedance measured from a single measurement point. The type of damage is determined by comparing the wire's calculated dielectric function, resistance and inductance to known values that correspond to types of wire damage. The amount of damage is determined by comparing the wire's low-frequency impedance phase to known low-frequency impedance phase information that corresponds to a known amount of wire damage. The location of damage is determined by comparing the wire's high-frequency impedance phase to known high-frequency impedance phase information that corresponds to a known location of wire damage.

Abstract: A microfabricated liquid junction reference electrode that can be integrated with microfabricated chemical or electrical sensors, which electrode is an M/MX type reference electrode comprised of a metal and a metal salt, as well as a X? Containing Ionic Liquid having a constant activity of X? and a porous thin-film membrane impregnated with a Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid.

Abstract: A macrocyclic pore-apertured carbon nanotube apparatus is disclosed. The carbon nanotube apparatus can be used to filter or exclude ions, solutes in solution, as well as particles suspended in a colloidal mixture. The nanotube apparatus includes a carbon nanotube having a carboxylated portion at least one pore entrance and at least one molecular aperture adapted to be bonded to the carboxylated portion of the carbon nanotube. The molecular aperture is further adapted to prevent dissolved ions in a solution from entering the pore entrance. Methods for preparing and using the apparatus are also disclosed. The apparatus can also be incorporated into to filtration media for conducting reverse osmosis filtration.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a fluid includes sensing a property of the fluid and the temperature of the fluid at the time the property is sensed, then determining the status of the fluid from the sensing. The sample volume may be small in comparison to the total fluid volume.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention determine the type of damage to a wire, the amount of damage, and the location of the damage based on the wire's broadband impedance measured from a single measurement point. The type of damage is determined by comparing the wire's calculated dielectric function, resistance and inductance to known values that correspond to types of wire damage. The amount of damage is determined by comparing the wire's low-frequency impedance phase to known low-frequency impedance phase information that corresponds to a known amount of wire damage. The location of damage is determined by comparing the wire's high-frequency impedance phase to known high-frequency impedance phase information that corresponds to a known location of wire damage.

Abstract: A self-decontaminating system for decontaminating a surface on demand is disclosed herein. The system contains an electrochemical cell and at least one portion of the surface forms a functional component of the cell. The system may include an electrocatalytic fabric which is flexible and resistant to tears and breaks, such that the fabric can be rolled up or pleated in order to provide a high surface area structure that can serve as an active filter. The fabric can function as a stand-alone system or a protective coating. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating, decontaminating, and regenerating the self-decontaminating fabric.

Abstract: A pigment grade corrosion inhibitor and a method of applying the inhibitor is disclosed. The inhibitor is comprised of a host species comprised of an inorganic compound having a layered structure and a guest species comprised an anionic species of a weak acid. The host species is preferably a double hydroxide having a structure of: [M(II)1?x M(III)x (OH?)2] [An?x/n.y H2O], where M(II) is a divalent metal cationic species, M(III) is a trivalent metal cationic species, and An? is an anionic species, preferably with the species present in a range of: 0.2?M(III)/(M(II)+M(III))?0.4. The guest species include: various phosphoric acids and derivatives thereof; boric acid; cyanamidic acid; nitrous acid; derivatives of thio- and dithiocarbonic acid; thio-organic compounds functionalized with at least one —SH group of acidic character, including: 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMTD), 2,4-dimercapto-s-triazolo-[4,3-b]-1,3-4 thiadiazole, trithiocyanuric acid (TMT), and dithiocyanuric acid.

Abstract: A system that facilitates device and/or machinery diagnostics, prognostics and control by way of condition sensing, such as sensing the condition of the device and/or a fluid of the device (e.g., fluid health indicators). The system can employ a plurality of sensors to determine a current state and estimate a future state of the fluid and/or device, as well as providing control of the device, e.g., in order to increase the remaining useful life of the fluid and/or operation of the device. The sensors can communicate wirelessly with each other, with the device, and/or with a central control system that provides, e.g., sensor fusion, prognostics and control integration. In addition, the sensors can be powered locally based upon the physical or chemical properties of the environment.

Abstract: A pigment grade corrosion inhibitor and a method of applying the inhibitor is disclosed. The inhibitor is comprised of a host species comprised of an inorganic compound having a layered structure and a guest species comprised an anionic species of a weak acid. The host species is preferably a double hydroxide having a structure of: [M(II)1?xM(III)x(OH?)2][An?x/n.yH2O], where M(II) is a divalent metal cationic species, M(III) is a trivalent metal cationic species, and An? is an anionic species, preferably with the species present in a range of: 0.2?M(III)/(M(II)+M(III))?0.4.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing corrosion resistance of a metal surface that includes the step of forming a sol-gel coating in which nanostructured zinc phosphate (Zn3(PO4)2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) phases are present in the mixture. The method may include the steps of mixing an organosilane, organometallic, organic acid, water, and alcohol, and allowing the components of the mixture to partially hydrolyze, followed by adding at least one component having zinc functionality and at least one component having phosphate functionality to the partially hydrolyzed mixture, wherein the zinc component and phosphate component are added in a molar ratio of from about 1.5:1 to about 5:1 (Zn:PO4). The resulting mixture can be applied as a coating to a metal surface to improve the corrosion resistance of the metal and to enhance the adhesion of resinous materials to the metal surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing corrosion resistance of a metal surface that includes the step of forming a sol-gel coating in which nanostructured zinc phosphate (Zn3(PO4)2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) phases are present in the mixture. The method may include the steps of mixing an organosilane, organometallic, organic acid, water, and alcohol and allowing the components of the mixture to partially hydrolyze, followed by adding at least one component having zinc functionality and at least one component having phosphate functionality to the partially hydrolyzed mixture, wherein the zinc component and phosphate component are added in a molar ratio of from about 1.5:1 to about 5:1 (Zn:PO4). The resulting mixture can be applied as a coating to a metal surface to improve the corrosion resistance of the metal and to enhance the adhesion of resinous materials to the metal surface.