Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anodic chambers are thus provided, at least one of which is evacuated below atmospheric pressure. A majority of anodic chambers can be spaced from one another in a manner that provides a substantially uniform reaction rate throughout the cathodic chamber.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anode chambers are thus provided, a majority of which are in ionic communication with the cathode chamber through a majority of the solid electrolyte elements and which are also provided with a sodium level control mechanism.

Abstract: A cell module and modular cell tray apparatus for a modular electrochemical device that are more easily manufactured and serviced. A cell module is provided having a plurality of electrochemical cells. The cell module includes an electrically conductive carrier element having a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is configured to accept a top portion of an electrode body of an electrochemical cell. A modular cell tray apparatus is provided having a plurality of the cell modules. The cell tray apparatus includes an electrically insulating tray having rows of cell receptacles to accept the cell modules. A modular electrochemical device is provided having a plurality of the cell tray apparatuses. The modular electrochemical device includes a plurality of electrical connectors configured to electrically connect the cell modules within a cell tray apparatus, and to electrically connect the cell tray apparatuses to each other.

Abstract: A battery stack includes a plurality of curved base layers, at least one curved bipolar layer, at least one anode layer disposed between a first curved base layer of the plurality of curved base layers and the at least one curved bipolar layer, at least one cathode layer disposed between the at least one bipolar layer, a second base layer and a plurality of seals. The first base layer and the at least one bipolar layer are provided with one or more seals that seal the first base layer to the at least one bipolar layer without contacting the anode and/or the cathode layer.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode connectable to a current tap and a charging medium in electrical contact with the anode. A switching device is configured to stop a charging operation of the electrochemical cell upon activation by the charging medium.

Abstract: An article for use in aggressive environments is presented. In one embodiment, the article comprises a substrate and a self-sealing and substantially hermetic sealing layer disposed over the bondcoat. The substrate may be any high-temperature material, including, for instance, silicon-bearing ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. A method for making such articles is also presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; disposing a self-sealing layer over the substrate; and heating the sealing layer to a sealing temperature at which at least a portion of the sealing layer will flow.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anode chambers are thus provided, a majority of which are in ionic communication with the cathode chamber through a majority of the solid electrolyte elements and which are also provided with a sodium level control mechanism.

Abstract: An article comprises a substrate and a coating disposed over the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a monoclinic silicate phase that undergoes no solid state phase transformation reaction in the temperature range from about 1100 degrees Celsius to about 1275 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A pre-sealed anode tube assembly for a sodium-metal-halide energy storage device includes an anode tube and a feed-through current collector assembly at least partially sealed within the anode tube. The pre-sealed anode tube assembly can be independently transported prior to being integrated with a desired sodium-metal-halide energy storage device.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anodic chambers are thus provided, at least one of which is evacuated below atmospheric pressure. A majority of anodic chambers can be spaced from one another in a manner that provides a substantially uniform reaction rate throughout the cathodic chamber.

Abstract: An article for use in aggressive environments is presented. In one embodiment, the article comprises a substrate and a self-sealing and substantially hermetic sealing layer disposed over the bondcoat. The substrate may be any high-temperature material, including, for instance, silicon-bearing ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. A method for making such articles is also presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; disposing a self-sealing layer over the substrate; and heating the sealing layer to a sealing temperature at which at least a portion of the sealing layer will flow.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a component having an environmental barrier coating. The method includes providing a component including silicon having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A bondcoat is bonded to at least a portion of an outer surface of the component. An intermediate layer having a general composition of RE2Si2O7 is bonded to the bondcoat. The intermediate layer has a second coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the first coefficient of thermal expansion. A protective layer having a general composition of RE2SiO5 is bonded to the intermediate layer. A surface layer is bonded to the protective layer. The surface layer includes RE and has a ratio of RE to oxygen of at least 2:3.

Abstract: An article for use in aggressive environments is presented. In one embodiment, the article comprises a substrate and a self-sealing and substantially hermetic sealing layer comprising an alkaline-earth aluminosilicate disposed over the bondcoat. The substrate may be any high-temperature material, including, for instance, silicon-bearing ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. A method for making such articles is also presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; disposing a self-sealing alkaline-earth aluminosilicate layer over the substrate; and heating the sealing layer to a sealing temperature at which at least a portion of the sealing layer will flow.

Abstract: An article for use in aggressive environments is presented. In one embodiment, the article comprises a substrate and a self-sealing and substantially hermetic sealing layer disposed over the bondcoat. The substrate may be any high-temperature material, including, for instance, silicon-bearing ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. A method for making such articles is also presented. The method comprises providing a substrate; disposing a self-sealing layer over the substrate; and heating the sealing layer to a sealing temperature at which at least a portion of the sealing layer will flow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article comprising a substrate; the substrate comprising a ceramic or a ceramic matrix composite; and a layer comprising coarse particles disposed upon the substrate; the coarse particles having an average particle size of 0.1 to about 1000 micrometers. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising disposing coarse particles on a substrate; the substrate comprising a ceramic or a ceramic matrix composite; the coarse particles having an average particle size of 0.1 to about 1000 micrometers.

Abstract: A method for the formation of a diffusion barrier layer on a surface of at least one fuel cell interconnect structure is described. The interconnect structure is usually formed from ferritic stainless steel, and includes chromium. The method includes the step of coating an austenite phase-stabilizer on the interconnect surface, and then heating the coated surface. The heat treatment transforms the microstructure of the surface region of the interconnect, from a substantially ferritic body-centered cubic (BCC) phase to a substantially austenitic face-centered cubic (FCC) phase. The diffusion rate of chromium through the FCC phase is relatively low. Thus, the formation of a thick layer of chromium oxide can be minimized, leading to better fuel cell performance. Related fuel cells and fuel cell stacks are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of protecting an article from a high temperature environment, the method includes providing a substrate comprising silicon, forming a slurry coating composition, wherein the composition comprises a metallic silicon powder, a rare-earth oxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, an aluminum oxide, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, and a binder effective to chemically stabilize the slurry coating, applying a layer of the slurry coating over the substrate, and heat-treating the slurry coating under conditions sufficient to oxidize the metallic silicon powder and form an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate, a rare-earth silicate, an aluminum silicate, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing bonded to the substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a component having an environmental barrier coating. The method includes providing a component including silicon having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A bondcoat is bonded to at least a portion of an outer surface of the component. An intermediate layer having a general composition of RE2Si2O7 is bonded to the bondcoat. The intermediate layer has a second coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the first coefficient of thermal expansion. A protective layer having a general composition of RE2SiO5 is bonded to the intermediate layer. A surface layer is bonded to the protective layer. The surface layer includes RE and has a ratio of RE to oxygen of at least 2:3.

Abstract: An environmental barrier coating for a component including silicon that has a first coefficient of thermal expansion is provided. The environmental coating includes a silicon bondcoat that is bonded to at least a portion of an outer surface of the component. An intermediate layer is bonded to the silicon bondcoat and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The intermediate layer has a general composition of RE2Si2O7. A protective layer is bonded to the intermediate layer and has a general composition of RE2SiO5. A surface layer is bonded to the protective layer. The surface layer includes RE and has a ratio of RE to oxygen of at least 2:3.

Abstract: An environmental barrier coating for a component including silicon that has a first coefficient of thermal expansion is provided. The environmental coating includes a silicon bondcoat that is bonded to at least a portion of an outer surface of the component. An intermediate layer is bonded to the silicon bondcoat and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The intermediate layer has a general composition of RE2Si2O7. A protective layer is bonded to the intermediate layer and has a general composition of RE2SiO5. A surface layer is bonded to the protective layer. The surface layer includes RE and has a ratio of RE to oxygen of at least 2:3.