Abstract: The catalyst thin layer consists of electronically conductive catalyst nano-particles embedded in a polymeric matrix. The ratio number of catalyst atoms/total number of atoms in the catalyst layer is comprised between 40% and 90%, more preferably between 50% and 60%.

Abstract: A device includes: a lead frame having an aperture in a central portion thereof; at least one acoustic transducer mounted on the lead frame above the aperture and configured to convert between acoustic energy and an electrical signal with low signal losses; a housing connected to the lead frame and including a base portion on a same side of the lead frame as the acoustic transducer; an amplifier is provided on a base portion of the housing in close proximity to the acoustic transducer; and a lid configured together with the base portion of the housing to define a cavity, wherein the acoustic transducer and the amplifier are closely positioned within the MEMS device cavity.

Abstract: To prevent the liquid electrolyte from penetrating into the porous support while at the same time preserving or increasing the power density of the fuel cell, before the liquid electrolyte is deposited, at least a part of the walls delineating the pores of said support is covered by a film formed by a material presenting a contact angle of more than 90° with a drop of said liquid electrolyte. Said film further presents a thickness enabling passage of the reactive fluid in the pores of the support.

Abstract: A transducer device includes a coupling cavity, a first resonant element and a second resonant element. The first resonant element is coupled to the coupling cavity and configured to send or receive acoustic signals. The second resonant element is coupled to the coupling cavity and configured to modify a frequency response of the first resonant element via the coupling cavity.

Abstract: A method for determining the time-of-flight of a signal includes: receiving a signal having a series of pulses of period T, the series of pulses having a phase transition provided therein windowing the received signal with a window having a width substantially the same as T to determine a magnitude and phase of the windowed signal at a frequency F=1/T; sliding the window in time, one period T at a time, with respect to the received signal to produce N sets of magnitude and phase data at the frequency F; from the N sets of magnitude and phase data, determining a time when the phase transition occurs in the received signal; and determining a time-of-flight of the signal from the time when the phase transition occurs in the received signal.

Abstract: A lithium microbattery comprises a packaging thin layer formed by a matrix of polymer material in which metallic particles are dispersed. The packaging thin layer constitutes at least a part of the anodic current collector of the lithium microbattery. The polymer material is advantageously obtained from at least a photopolymerizable precursor material chosen from bisphenol A diglycidylether, bisphenol F butanediol diglycidil ether, 7-oxabicylco[4.1.0]heptane-3-carboxylate of 7-oxabicylco[4.1.0]hept-3-ylmethyl and a mixture of bisphenol A and epichloridine. It can also be a copolymer obtained from a homogenous mixture of at least two photopolymerizable precursor materials, respectively acrylate-base, such as diacrylate 1,6-hexanediol and methacrylate, and epoxide-base, for example chosen from bisphenol A diglycidylether, 7-oxabicylco[4.1.0]heptane-3-carboxylate of 7-oxabicylco[4.1.0]hept-3-ylmethyl and a mixture of bisphenol A and epichloridine.

Abstract: The lithium-ion microbattery comprises a positive electrode having a first Li+ ion storage capacity and a first thickness made from a first lithium insertion material, an electrolyte and a negative electrode having a second storage capacity and a second thickness made from a second insertion material. The thicknesses are such that the ratio of the first storage capacity over the second storage capacity is greater than or equal to 10 and lower than or equal to 1000. During the first charging of the micro-battery, the Li+ ions are inserted in the negative electrode and completely saturate the second insertion material. When initial charging is continued, they form a metallic lithium layer between the electrolyte and the lithium-saturated negative electrode by electroplating. During the subsequent charging and discharging cycles, only the metallic lithium layer participates in transfer of lithium ions.

Abstract: The packaging device of a microbattery arranged on a flexible support comprises at least one thin layer forming a protective barrier deposited on the whole of the microbattery, and a flexible compensation cover above the barrier. The cover is made from a material, for example polymer, with a thickness tcomp and a Young's modulus Ecomp chosen such that the neutral plane of the assembly is situated at the level of the microbattery. The thickness of the cover is calculated, with an accuracy of ±30%, by the equation t comp = t sub ? in which tsub is the thickness of the support and ? the ratio of the Young's moduli of the cover and of the support.

Abstract: The microcomponent, for example a microbattery, comprising a stack with at least two superposed layers on a substrate, is made using a single steel mask able to expand under the effect of temperature. The mask comprises at least one off-centered opening. The mask being at a first temperature, a first layer is deposited through the opening of the mask. The mask being at a second temperature, higher than the first temperature, a second layer is deposited through the opening of the mask. Finally, the mask being at a third temperature, higher than the second temperature, a third layer is deposited through the opening of the mask.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a beverage brewing device that includes a housing and a fill-port located on front side of the housing. The fill-port includes an inlet that may accept a fluid supply container. Provided in some embodiments is a method of preparing a brewed beverage that includes coupling a fluid supply container to a fill-port located on a front side of a brewing device, routing a fluid contained in the fluid container from the fluid container to a heat-exchange device to heat the fluid, routing the heated fluid to a brewing container to brew the fluid, and routing the brewed fluid into a beverage container used for serving the brewed beverage.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of substituted tartaric acid resolving agents from resolution process liquors comprising organic solvents, wherein the substituted tartaric acid derivatives are neutralised by adding a base, extracted into an aqueous phase and crystallized from the aqueous phase by addition of a mineral acid in the presence of an organic solvent.

Abstract: A new anode configuration (20) is proposed for a lithium microbattery (10). The anode (20) preferably consists of nanotubes or of nanowires (24) such that the empty space (26) left between the different components (24) provides compensation for the inherent swelling upon discharging the microbattery (10). With the absence of stresses on the electrolyte (18), the lifetime of the battery (10) may be increased.

Abstract: This method for producing a seal barrier for a micro component comprising a stack of two thin sealing layers involves forming a fusible interlayer between two sealing layers, said fusible interlayer having a melting temperature which is lower than that of the two sealing layers and melting said interlayer.

Abstract: A thermophilic microorganism is modified to permit the increased production of ethanol, wherein a first modification is the inactivation of the lactate dehydrogenase gene and a second modification upregulates the pyruvate dehydrogenase gene.

Abstract: The microbattery comprises a first current collector and a second current collector arranged on a substrate, and a stack comprising two electrodes separated by an electrolytic film. Each electrode is connected to a corresponding collector, one of the electrodes being a lithium-based anode. The stack is covered by a packaging comprising a metal layer. The first current collector is salient from the packaging and the second current collector is in contact with the metal layer. An alumina plug with a thickness of less than 30 nm is arranged between the first current collector and the metal layer, the electrode in contact with the first current collector being electrically insulated from the metal layer by the alumina plug.

Abstract: A lithium microbattery formed by a stack of thin layers on a substrate which comprises two current collectors, a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, a negative electrode and an encapsulating layer. The encapsulating layer is formed by a protective layer made from polymer material on which a barrier layer is arranged. The protective layer comprises a copolymer formed from a homogeneous mixture of at least two photopolymerizable precursor materials, respectively acrylate-based and epoxide-based.

Abstract: A self-cleaning assembly comprising an enclosed casing 1 with a movable piston 31 and filters 32,33 therein. The preferred assembly has a casing 1 with a dirty water inlet 5, a first outlet 6 for clean filtered water and a second outlet 7 for the removal of sludge from the casing. The filter assembly is constructed and arranged to provide, in its normal operating mode, a liquid flow path through the filter 32,33 in a first direction between the dirty water inlet 5 and the clean water outlet 6 and, in a cleaning mode, to provide a liquid flow path in a second direction between the dirty water inlet 5 and the sludge outlet 7. In the cleaning mode, the movable member 31 compresses the filters 32,33 during the liquid flow in the second direction and contaminant is released therefrom for removal from the filter assembly via the second outlet 7. In an alternative embodiment, the sludge outlet 7 is omitted and sludge is removed from the casing via the outlet 6.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film coating method using a thin film having minimal adhesion in relation to biological species, of the type comprising the deposition of a thin film with —COOH function. The invention is characterised in that the method includes a step involving the vapour phase chemical decomposition of a carbonaceous precursor containing neither a carboxyl group nor a carbonyl group, in the presence of water. The invention is particularly suitable for use in the field of thin films.