Abstract: A pneumatic spring strut assembly comprises a cylinder comprising a working end and a boosting chamber. The working end includes a first volume of gas and the boosting chamber includes a second volume of gas. A temperature control valve assembly is disposed in the interior volume separating the working end from the boosting chamber and includes an over-pressure valve configured to release the second volume of gas into the working end when the pressure within the boosting chamber increases above the normal pressure range of operation. A valve is disposed in the wall of the cylinder, in the working end thereof, and is configured to yield, to thereby vent the first volume of gas to atmosphere, when the pressure within the interior volume of the working end increases above the normal pressure range of operation.

Abstract: A spring strut assembly comprises a cylinder having a wall defining an interior volume comprising a working end and a boosting chamber; the working end including a first volume and the boosting chamber including a second volume of gas. A piston assembly is disposed for reciprocation in the working end of the interior volume. A piston rod has a proximal end secured to the piston and a distal end projecting out of a first end of the cylinder. A temperature control valve assembly is disposed in the interior volume separating the working end from the boosting chamber and a shock absorbing assembly is disposed in the interior volume between the piston assembly and the first end of the cylinder, and is compressible by the piston assembly when the temperature control valve is dislodged by pressure in the boosting chamber thereby driving the piston assembly into the shock absorbing member.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring strut assembly comprises a cylinder wall defining an interior volume having a working end and a boosting chamber adjacent to the working end, the working end including a first volume of gas and the boosting chamber including a second volume of gas, a piston assembly disposed for reciprocation in the working end of the interior volume, a piston rod having a proximal end secured to the piston and a distal end projecting out of the interior volume, a temperature control valve assembly disposed in the interior volume separating the working end from the boosting chamber and including an engineered portion that is configured to prevent fluid flow between the working end and the boosting chamber while the first volume of gas is present in the working end and to permit fluid flow between the working end and the boosting chamber should the working end be evacuated of the first volume of gas.

Abstract: Methods for pre-lithiating negative electrodes for lithium-ion electrochemical cells (e.g., batteries) are provided. The methods include disposing a lithium metal source comprising a layer of lithium metal adjacent to a surface of a pre-fabricated negative electrode. The lithium metal source and electrode are heated (e.g., to a temperature of ?about 100° C.) to transfer a quantity of lithium to the pre-fabricated negative electrode. This lithiation process adds excess active lithium capacity that enables replacement of irreversibly lost lithium during cell formation and cell aging, thus leading to increased battery capacity and improved battery life. The methods may be batch or continuous.

Abstract: A method for determining an amount of lithium in a lithium-ion battery electrode sample includes a step of determining powder X-ray diffraction peaks of the lithium-ion battery electrode sample. The powder X-ray diffraction peaks of the lithium-ion battery electrode sample are compared with a set of lithium-containing samples having pre-determined lithium concentrations to determine the amount of lithium in the lithium-ion battery electrode sample.

Abstract: A welding assembly includes a sonotrode, cleaning station, and controller. The controller periodically commands clamping of the sonotrode onto the cleaning block, and a transmission of ultrasonic energy into the cleaning block for a calibrated duration sufficient for removing residual amounts of metal from welding pads of the sonotrode. The cleaning block may include an aluminum bar coated with a polymeric material, e.g., porous polyethylene silica or alumina composite. A thin sacrificial layer of an anti-adhesion material, e.g., colloidal silica, may be periodically applied to the welding pads, particularly after a transition from welding a first metal to welding a second metal. The sacrificial layer may be applied via a sponge, a saturated surface, or spraying.

Abstract: Titanium tetrahalide (preferably titanium tetrachloride) is reduced to titanium metal particles by reaction with an alkali metal dispersed in a non-aqueous, organic ionic liquid. The dispersion is enhanced using high-shear mixing. By-product alkali metal chloride salt(s) is dissolved in the ionic liquid. Precipitated titanium metal powder is readily separated from the ionic liquid solution as a product. And the separated solution may be subjected to electrolysis to recover chlorine gas, electrodeposited alkali metal, and the ionic liquid. Other metal halides may be added with the titanium halide to form titanium-based alloys or other titanium based products.

Abstract: A method of forming an emblem assembly configured for attachment to a vehicle includes positioning a mask adjacent and in contact with a second element so that the mask covers only a selected portion of the second element and does not cover an exposed portion of the second element. The method includes vacuum metalizing a first coating onto only the exposed portion, wherein the first coating has a distal edge surface abutting the mask, and, after vacuum metalizing, removing the mask from the second element to uncover the selected portion. The method includes depositing a back coating onto only the first coating and the selected portion to thereby wrap the back coating around the distal edge surface, and, after depositing, inserting the second element into a first element configured for attachment to the vehicle so that the first coating does not contact the first element to form the assembly.

Abstract: An electrode material for use in an electrochemical cell, like a lithium ion battery, is provided. The electrode material may be a negative electrode comprising silicon. A nanocomposite surface coating comprising carbon and metal oxide comprising a metal selected from a group consisting of: titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), tin (Sn), and combinations thereof is particularly useful with negative silicon-based electrodes to minimize or prevent charge capacity loss in the electrochemical cell. The coating may be ultra-thin with a thickness of less than or equal to about 60 nm. Methods for making such materials and using such coatings to minimize charge capacity fade in lithium ion electrochemical cells are likewise provided.

Abstract: A method of depositing a thin gold coating on bipolar plate substrates for use in fuel cells includes depositing a gold coating onto at least one surface of the bipolar plate substrate followed by annealing the gold coating at a temperature between about 200° C. to 500° C. The annealed gold coating has a reduced porosity in comparison with a coating which has not been annealed, and provides improved corrosion resistance to the underlying metal comprising the bipolar plate.

Abstract: A display emblem may comprise a metallized layer, a decoration layer, and at least one moisture impermeable layer.

Abstract: Titanium tetrahalide (preferably titanium tetrachloride) is reduced to titanium metal particles by reaction with an alkali metal dispersed in a non-aqueous, organic ionic liquid. The dispersion is enhanced using high-shear mixing. By-product alkali metal chloride salt(s) is dissolved in the ionic liquid. Precipitated titanium metal powder is readily separated from the ionic liquid solution as a product. And the separated solution may be subjected to electrolysis to recover chlorine gas, electrodeposited alkali metal, and the ionic liquid. Other metal halides may be added with the titanium halide to form titanium-based alloys or other titanium based products.

Abstract: A method of depositing a thin gold coating on bipolar plate substrates for use in fuel cells includes depositing a gold coating onto at least one surface of the bipolar plate substrate followed by annealing the gold coating at a temperature between about 200° C. to 500° C. The annealed gold coating has a reduced porosity in comparison with a coating which has not been annealed, and provides improved corrosion resistance to the underlying metal comprising the bipolar plate.

Abstract: Techniques are described for sample analysis. Thermal desorption of components of the sample occurs at atmospheric pressure at a plurality of times by applying one of a plurality of temperatures included in a temperature gradient at each of the times to a surface of the sample. Desorption of each component occurs at a different temperature thereby allowing differentiation of the components based on one of the times corresponding to the temperature at which desorption occurs for the component. Ions are generated from the thermally desorbed components. Mass spectra generated from the ions are analyzed to determine mass spectral features about the components. Analyzing includes associating one of the ions with a component if the one ion has an ion intensity apex or peak that is detected in the mass spectra and occurs at a time corresponding to a one of the temperatures at which thermal desorption occurs for the component.

Abstract: The incorporation of tungsten-containing hydrogen spillover materials into a composite fuel cell anode can be helpful in preserving the carbon catalyst support materials in the fuel cell cathode during periods of hydrogen starvation. Preferred examples of such tungsten-containing hydrogen spillover materials are tungsten oxides and tungsten silicides. These materials, when physically mixed with catalyst-loaded carbon support particles in a composite anode, have shown the ability to promote hydrogen storage in amounts that, during a disruption of hydrogen gas flow, can postpone an anodic potential excursion into the oxygen evolution region for a period of at least several seconds.

Abstract: A method of forming an emblem assembly configured for attachment to a vehicle includes positioning a mask adjacent and in contact with a second element so that the mask covers only a selected portion of the second element and does not cover an exposed portion of the second element. The method includes vacuum metalizing a first coating onto only the exposed portion, wherein the first coating has a distal edge surface abutting the mask, and, after vacuum metalizing, removing the mask from the second element to uncover the selected portion. The method includes depositing a back coating onto only the first coating and the selected portion to thereby wrap the back coating around the distal edge surface, and, after depositing, inserting the second element into a first element configured for attachment to the vehicle so that the first coating does not contact the first element to form the assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment may include a method of making nanoparticles comprising elemental metals or metalloids and/or alloys thereof. The method may include reducing a metal halide or a metalloid halide with an alkali metal to produce a reaction product comprising particles of the desired metal or metalloid and a halide salt. One embodiment may include introducing reactants to each other in the presence of a non-reactive solvent and/or inducing cavitation in the reactants and/or the non-reactive solvent when present. Certain metals or metalloids such as tin, aluminum, silicon, antimony, indium or bismuth may be useful in electrochemical cells such as lithium-ion cells when produced by these illustrative methods. One embodiment of a battery electrode may include nanoparticles that may be produced by these or other methods.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst for fuel cell applications includes a catalyst support and a noble metal or noble metal-based alloy catalyst supported upon the catalyst support. The catalyst support characteristically includes a Group IV-VI transition metal silicide with or without the mixing of carbon. A fuel cell incorporating the electrocatalyst into the anode and/or cathode is disclosed. Such fuel cell exhibit improved cycling and operating performance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices and methods for performing an analysis of a sample having a sample surface. The device and method feature a frame element affixed to a sample holder, jet element and a charged particle analyzer having an ion receiving orifice. The jet element directs a jet of gas towards the sample surface held by said sample holder focused on less than 2.0 mm2 of the sample surface. Ions formed by the electrode means are received by a charged particle analyzer having a ion receiving orifice for receiving one or more sample ions and performing a charged particle analysis with respect to the sample surface. The sample holder moves with respect to the jet element, and charged particle analyzer to permit scanning of a sample surface.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the composition of an MEA for a fuel cell. The method includes soaking the MEA in an unsaturated organic compound for a predetermined period of time, and then allowing the MEA to dry. The method then includes staining the MEA with osmium tetroxide (OsO4) in a closed container. The stained MEA is then encased in an epoxy. Thin sections of the encapsulated MEA are then prepared, and the sections are viewed through a transmission electron microscope. The stained MEA will show dark regions where the ionomer and carbon particles are located and lighter regions that are epoxy filled pores.