Abstract: A protective coating sustains the long term performance of a solid-state hydrogen sensor that includes a catalyst layer for promoting the electrochemical dissociation of hydrogen. The catalyst is susceptible to deterioration in the presence of at least one contaminant, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, water and oxygen. The coating comprises at least one layer of silicon dioxide having a thickness that permits hydrogen to diffuse to the catalyst layer and that inhibits contaminant(s) from diffusing to the catalyst layer. The preferred coating further comprises at least one layer of a hydrophobic composition, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene, for inhibiting diffusion of water through the protective coating to the catalyst layer. The preferred protective coating further comprising at least one layer of alumina for inhibiting diffusion of oxygen through the protective coating to said catalyst layer.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly may be made using a one-sided catalyst coated membrane (CCM) wherein only one catalyst layer, either the anode or the cathode, is coated directly on the ion-exchange membrane. In particular, a one-sided CCM may be used where it may not be practicable to coat both sides of the ion-exchange membrane with catalyst layers such as when PTFE is added to the anode catalyst layer to render it reversal tolerant.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly may be made using a one-sided catalyst coated membrane (CCM) wherein only one catalyst layer, either the anode or the cathode, is coated directly on the ion-exchange membrane. In particular, a one-sided CCM may be used where it may not be practicable to coat both sides of the ion-exchange membrane with catalyst layers such as when PTFE is added to the anode catalyst layer to render it reversal tolerant.

Abstract: A method for coating an ion-exchange membrane with a catalyst layer by first heating a surface of the membrane to thereby soften the surface, followed by deposition of a catalyst composition and compaction into the ion-exchange membrane to produce a catalyst-coated membrane. Heating of the ion-exchange membrane may be at a temperature between 20° C. and 50° C., typically between 30° C. and 40° C., above the glass transition temperature of the dry ion-exchange membrane. In one embodiment, the catalyst composition is fluidized in a fluidized bed reactor prior to being deposited on the membrane surface. A system for coating the ion-exchange membrane is also provided. The catalyst-coated membrane is particularly useful in electrochemical fuel cells.

Abstract: A method for forming narrow length transistors by forming a trench in a first layer over a semiconductor substrate. Spacers are then formed within the trench and a gate dielectric is formed between the spacers at the bottom of the trench on the semiconductor substrate. The trench is then filled with a gate electrode material which is chemically-mechanically polished back to isolate the gate electrode material within the trench, and the first layer is removed leaving the gate dielectric, gate electrode and spacers behind.