Abstract: Disclosed herein are chemical actuators and ionic motive force transducers. The actuators and transducers are capable of converting an electrical stimulus into an ionic gradient within a reaction volume.

Abstract: A membrane is provided that includes a membrane substrate defining a plurality of pores to allow ion transport therethrough; an ion-doped conductive polymer disposed on a surface of the membrane substrate; and a conductive material disposed between the membrane substrate and the ion-doped conductive polymer. The membrane may have an areal density from about 0.01 Coulombs per cm2 (C/cm2) to about 100 C/cm2. Such membranes provide for controlled bidirectional ion transport therethrough and may be used in electrochemical cells that includes such membranes as part of (or the entirety of) the separator. Such separators may be used to control charge transfer through the electrochemical cell and/or reversibly stop charge transfer therethrough to prevent thermal runaway.

Abstract: A membrane is provided that includes a membrane substrate defining a plurality of pores to allow ion transport therethrough; an ion-doped conductive polymer disposed on a surface of the membrane substrate; and a conductive material disposed between the membrane substrate and the ion-doped conductive polymer. The membrane may have an areal density from about 0.01 Coulombs per cm2 (C/cm2) to about 100 C/cm2. Such membranes provide for controlled bidirectional ion transport therethrough and may be used in electrochemical cells that includes such membranes as part of (or the entirety of) the separator. Such separators may be used to control charge transfer through the electrochemical cell and/or reversibly stop charge transfer therethrough to prevent thermal runaway.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating, coordinating and managing the operation of a competitive marketplace via the Internet. The system and method collect bids for market services from a plurality of customers, calculators a clearing piece for the market service and calculates settlement information based on the clearing piece calculated and the bids collected.