Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a crystalline aluminum-iron-silicon alloy, and optionally an automotive component comprising the same, comprising forming a composite ingot including a plurality of crystalline phases by melting aluminum, iron, and silicon raw materials in an inert environment to form a substantially homogenous melt, subsequently solidifying the melt, and annealing the ingot under vacuum by heating at a temperature in the range of 850° C. to 1000° C. yield an annealed crystalline ingot wherein the predominant crystalline phase is FCC Al3Fe2Si. The raw materials can further include one or more additives such as zinc, zirconium, tin, and chromium. Melting can occur above the FCC Al3Fe2Si crystalline phase melting point, or at a temperature of about 1100° C. to about 1400° C. Annealing can occur under vacuum conditions.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor for a motor vehicle includes a substrate and an alumina coating covering the substrate, palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) catalyst particles being uniformly distributed in the alumina coating. The substrate includes a first ceramic layer including a Nernst cell, a second ceramic layer including a reference cell, a third ceramic layer, the second ceramic layer positioned between the first ceramic layer and the third ceramic layer, a heater element positioned between the second ceramic layer and the third ceramic layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a crystalline aluminum-iron-silicon alloy, and optionally an automotive component comprising the same, comprising forming a composite ingot including a plurality of crystalline phases by melting aluminum, iron, and silicon raw materials in an inert environment to form a substantially homogenous melt, subsequently solidifying the melt, and annealing the ingot under vacuum by heating at a temperature in the range of 850° C. to 1000° C. yield an annealed crystalline ingot wherein the predominant crystalline phase is FCC Al3Fe2Si. The raw materials can further include one or more additives such as zinc, zirconium, tin, and chromium. Melting can occur above the FCC Al3Fe2Si crystalline phase melting point, or at a temperature of about 1100° C. to about 1400° C. Annealing can occur under vacuum conditions.

Abstract: A method of determining a thickness of a submicron carbon of a carbon-coated metal base plate that includes conducting Raman spectroscopy at a target location of the carbon-coated metal base plate to obtain a Raman shift spectrum for the target location. The Raman shift spectrum obtained at the target location is then converted into a calculated thickness of the submicron carbon coating at the target location. The conversion of the Raman shift spectrum into the calculated thickness of the submicron carbon coating at the target location may involve referencing a linear correlation that has been established over the defined wavenumber range between (1) an integrated intensity of a Raman carbon signal obtained from each of a series of reference plates that includes a submicron carbon coating having a verified thickness and (2) the verified thicknesses of the submicron carbon coatings of the series of reference plates.

Abstract: A method of determining a thickness of a submicron carbon of a carbon-coated metal base plate that includes conducting Raman spectroscopy at a target location of the carbon-coated metal base plate to obtain a Raman shift spectrum for the target location. The Raman shift spectrum obtained at the target location is then converted into a calculated thickness of the submicron carbon coating at the target location. The conversion of the Raman shift spectrum into the calculated thickness of the submicron carbon coating at the target location may involve referencing a linear correlation that has been established over the defined wavenumber range between (1) an integrated intensity of a Raman carbon signal obtained from each of a series of reference plates that includes a submicron carbon coating having a verified thickness and (2) the verified thicknesses of the submicron carbon coatings of the series of reference plates.

Abstract: A coated substrate for forming fuel cell catalyst layers includes a plurality of substrate particles, an adhesion layer disposed over the substrate particles, and a precious metal layer disposed over the adhesion layer. The substrate particles may be carbon powders, carbon nanorods, carbon nanotubes and combinations thereof; with a preferred aspect ratio from 10:1 to 25:1. The adhesion layer includes a tungsten metal layer and may be formed into a heterogeneous layer comprising a lattice-interrupting layer interposed between two tungsten metal layers. The lattice-interrupting layer reduces mechanical stress to the adhesion layer with extended thickness that may develop when it experiences changing environments, and can be any layer other than the metal layer, for example, Al2O3, Al, or WOx, where x is 1.5 to 3.0. Characteristically, the coated substrate is used in fuel cell applications such as providing the catalyst particles used in the cathode and/or anode catalyst layers.

Abstract: A coated substrate for forming fuel cell catalyst layers includes a plurality of substrate particles, an adhesion layer disposed over the substrate particles, and a precious metal layer disposed over the adhesion layer. The adhesion layer includes a tungsten metal layer. Characteristically, the coated substrate is used in fuel cell applications such as providing the catalyst particles used in the cathode and/or anode catalyst layers.