Abstract: Provided herein is a carbon based coating and methods of producing the same. The carbon based coating comprising an amorphous carbon thin film deposited on a substrate, the carbon based coating characterized in that the carbon based coating imparts enhanced surface durability properties.

Abstract: Provided herein is a film and methods of producing the same. The film includes a substrate and a layer adjacent to the substrate, wherein a surface of the layer comprises spaced apart protrusions. The methods include providing a substrate, depositing a layer on at least a portion of the substrate, decomposing the layer to form at least a first phase of material and a second phase of material, and removing at least a portion of the second phase from the decomposed layer to form a structured layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the loading ratio of a hydrogen gas in a transition metal are disclosed. Blocking desorption sites on the surface of a metallic structure increases the partial hydrogen/deuterium pressure when the absorption and desorption processes reach an equilibrium. The higher the number of desorption sites that are blocked, the higher the equilibrium pressure can be reached for attaining a higher hydrogen loading ratio. Moreover, since hydrogen desorption occurs at grain boundaries, reducing grain boundaries is conducive to reducing the hydrogen desorption rate. Methods and apparatus for increasing grain sizes to reduce grain boundaries are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing vacancies in a metallic structure are disclosed and for improving a hydrogen loading ratio in the metallic structure. The metallic structure comprises one or more transition metals or metal alloys. The metallic structure is prepared by forming a metal organic precursor and reducing the precursor to a metallic structure, in which a coordination number of the metal atoms is reduced and the vacancies in the metallic structure are increased.

Abstract: A gas-loading and packaging system is provided for loading a material used in a hydrogen fuel cell with gas and packaging the material in a sealed container. The gas may comprise a hydrogen gas or other gas. The material may, for example, comprise zeolite. The material is loaded with gas by exposing the material to the gas under high pressure and a cryogenic temperature of about 93 Kelvin or lower. When the material is exposed to gas under pressure and at cryogenic temperature, the gas absorbs into or adsorbs onto the material. The mass of the material is continuously monitored and used to determine when the material is loaded with the desired amount of gas. After the material is loaded with gas, high pressure and cryogenic temperature is maintained while the material is packaged and sealed in a cryogenically cooled container.

Abstract: Reaction processes occurring within an exothermic reaction reactor are investigated by comparing changes to at least one material in the reaction to a non-reacted sample of the material. Prior to the reaction, a sample or “coupon” of the material is removed and retained. The coupon of material is withheld from the reactor. The material is placed in the reactor and at least one exothermic reaction is triggered and sustained. Following the exothermic reaction, the material is removed from the reactor. Both the material and the coupon are then analyzed to ascertain changes to the material that did not occur to the sample. These changes are indicative of processes that occurred in the reactor.

Abstract: A gas-loading and packaging system is provided for loading a solid material used in a hydrogen fuel cell with gas and packaging the solid material in a sealed container. The gas may comprise a hydrogen gas or other gas. The solid material may, for example, comprise palladium, a nickel alloy, platinum, or other metal. The solid material is loaded with gas by exposing the solid material to the gas under high pressure. When the solid material is exposed to gas under pressure, the gas absorbs into or adsorbs onto the solid material. The mass of the solid material is continuously monitored and used to determine when the solid material is loaded with the desired amount of gas. After the solid material is loaded with gas, high pressure is maintained while the solid material is packaged in a sealed container that is capable of retaining the high pressure gas.

Abstract: A gas-loading and packaging system is provided for loading a solid material used in a hydrogen fuel cell with gas and packaging the solid material in a sealed container. The gas may comprise a hydrogen gas or other gas. The solid material may, for example, comprise palladium, a nickel alloy, platinum, or other metal. The solid material is loaded with gas by exposing the solid material to the gas under high pressure. When the solid material is exposed to gas under pressure, the gas absorbs into or adsorbs onto the solid material. The mass of the solid material is continuously monitored and used to determine when the solid material is loaded with the desired amount of gas. After the solid material is loaded with gas, high pressure is maintained while the solid material is packaged in a sealed container that is capable of retaining the high pressure gas.

Abstract: A gas-loading and packaging system is provided for loading a solid material used in a hydrogen fuel cell with gas and packaging the solid material in a sealed container. The gas may comprise a hydrogen gas or other gas. The solid material may, for example, comprise palladium, a nickel alloy, platinum, or other metal. The solid material is loaded with gas by exposing the solid material to the gas under high pressure. When the solid material is exposed to gas under pressure, the gas absorbs into or adsorbs onto the solid material. The mass of the solid material is continuously monitored and used to determine when the solid material is loaded with the desired amount of gas. After the solid material is loaded with gas, high pressure is maintained while the solid material is packaged in a sealed container that is capable of retaining the high pressure gas.

Abstract: Provided herein is a carbon based coating and methods of producing the same. The carbon based coating comprising an amorphous carbon thin film deposited on a substrate, the carbon based coating characterized in that the carbon based coating imparts enhanced surface durability properties.