Abstract: A component of an exhaust system is provided. The component includes a housing extending from an inlet at a first end to an outlet at an opposing second end, an electrically conductive material disposed within the housing, and an induction coil configured to emit a magnetic field. The magnetic field is operable to heat the electrically conductive material from a first temperature of greater than or equal to about ?20° C. to less than or equal to about 50° C. to a second temperature of greater than or equal to about 200° C. to less than or equal to about 700° C. in a time period of less than or equal to about 20 seconds.

Abstract: A lithium-containing electrode with a protective coating and lithium-containing electrochemical cells including the same are provided herein. The protective coating has a first layer including a first fluoropolymeric matrix and Li—F compounds and a second layer including a second fluoropolymeric matrix. Methods of preparing the protective coating on the lithium-containing electrode by applying a first fluoropolymer and/or a first fluoropolymer precursor and a second fluoropolymer and/or a second fluoropolymer precursor are also provided herein.

Abstract: In an example of a method for suppressing aging of platinum group metal (PGM) particles in a catalytic converter, PGM particles are applied to a support. A surface of the PGM particles is passivated by exposing the PGM particles to carbon monoxide at a temperature equal to or less than 200° C. to introduce —CO groups to the surface. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is performed to selectively grow a barrier on the support around the PGM particles.

Abstract: An electroactive material for use in an electrochemical cell, like a lithium ion battery, is provided. The electroactive material comprises silicon or tin and undergoes substantial expansion during operation of a lithium ion battery. A polymeric ultrathin conformal coating is formed over a surface of the electroactive material. The coating is flexible and is capable of reversibly elongating by at least 250% from a contracted state to an expanded state in at least one direction to minimize or prevent fracturing of the negative electrode material during lithium ion cycling. The coating may be applied by vapor precursors reacting in atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form conformal ultrathin layers over the electroactive materials. Methods for making such materials and using such materials in electrochemical cells are likewise provided.

Abstract: Bimetallic oxidation catalyst devices include a support body, one or more metal A bulk deposits disposed on the support body, and a plurality of metal B atomic clusters disposed on the surface of each of the metal A bulk deposits. Metal A and metal B are different metals each selected from the group consisting of platinum group metals (PGM), Ag, Au, Ni, Co, and Cu, and substantially no metal B is deposited on the support body. At least 85% by weight of the metal B atomic clusters comprise up to 10 atoms and the maximum metal B atomic cluster size is 200 metal B atoms. The combined loading of metal A and metal B can be less than 1.5% by weight relative to the weight of the support body. Metal A can include Pd, Rh, Rh, or Pd, and metal B can include Pt, Pt, Ag, or Ag.

Abstract: Catalyst systems that are resistant to high-temperature sintering and methods for preparing such catalyst systems that are resistant to sintering at high temperatures are provided. Methods of forming such catalyst systems include contacting a support having a surface including a catalyst particle with a solution comprising a metal salt and having an acidic pH. The metal salt is precipitated onto the surface of the support. Next, the metal salt is calcined to selectively generate a porous coating of metal oxide on the surface of the support distributed around the catalyst particle.

Abstract: A porous separator for a lithium-containing electrochemical cell is provided herein. The porous separator includes a porous substrate and an active layer comprising lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles. Methods of manufacturing the porous separator and lithium-containing electrochemical cells including the porous separator are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a metal-polymeric composite joint including a first component and a second component. The first component includes a metal. The first component has a first surface including a plurality of micro-anchors. The second component includes a composite material including a polymer and a reinforcing fiber. The second component has a second surface that at least partially engages the first surface of the first component. A portion of the polymer of the second component occupies at least a portion of the micro-anchors of the first component to fix the second component to the first component. In one aspect, the metal-polymeric composite joint further includes a passivation layer disposed between the first surface of the first component and the second surface of the second component.

Abstract: An electrode material for an electrochemical cell, such as a lithium ion battery or a lithium sulfur battery, is provided. The electrode may be a negative anode. The electrode material comprises a composite comprising a porous matrix comprising a carbonized material. The electrode material further comprises a plurality of silicon particles homogeneously dispersed in the porous matrix of carbonized material. Each silicon particle of the plurality has an average particle diameter of greater than or equal to about 5 nanometers and less than or equal to about 20 micrometers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium ion battery cell. A non-aqueous liquid electrolyte solution is placed in contact with particles of a lithium ion-exchanged zeolite material for a time sufficient to remove water molecules from the liquid electrolyte solution. Thereafter, the liquid electrolyte solution may be introduced into an electrochemical cell assembly and hermetically sealed within a cell casing to form a lithium ion battery cell.

Abstract: A method of making a negative electrode for an electrochemical cell includes applying a fluoropolymer via a deposition process to one or more surface regions of an electroactive material. The electroactive material may be selected from the group consisting of: lithium metal, silicon metal, silicon-containing alloys, and combinations thereof. The fluoropolymer reacts with lithium to form a composite surface layer on the one or more surface regions that comprises an organic matrix material having lithium fluoride particles distributed therein. Electrochemical cells including such negative electrode are also provided.

Abstract: A negative electrode includes an active material. The active material includes a silicon-based core and a two-dimensional, layered mesoporous carbon coating in continuous contact with the silicon-based core. The two-dimensional, layered mesoporous carbon coating is capable of expanding and contracting with the silicon-based core. The negative electrode also includes a binder.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing electrically conductive copper components for electric devices and method of joining electrically conductive copper components are provided. Each of the electrically conductive copper components are manufactured to include a preexisting coating of joining material located on or adjacent to a joining surface thereof.

Abstract: Methods for making electroactive composite materials for electrochemical cells are provided. The method includes introducing a particle mixture comprising a first particle having a first diameter (R1) and comprising a first electroactive material and a second particle having a second diameter (R2) smaller than the first diameter (R1) and comprising a second electroactive material into a dry-coating device having a rotatable vessel defining a cavity and a rotor disposed therewithin. The vessel is rotated at a first speed in a first direction, and the rotor is rotated at a second speed greater than the first speed in a second direction opposing the first direction. The particle mixture flows between cavity walls and the rotor and experiences thrusting and compression forces that create a substantially uniform coating comprising the second electroactive material on one or more exposed surfaces of the first particle.

Abstract: In an example of a method for improving a life cycle of a battery containing a lithium-silicon negative electrode, the battery is provided. The battery includes a positive electrode; the lithium-silicon negative electrode, which has at least 10% of its capacity attributed to a silicon-based active material; a separator positioned between the positive and negative electrodes; and an electrolyte. The battery is operated within a voltage potential window ranging from about 0.7 V and about 0.07 V versus a lithium reference electrode.

Abstract: A lithium-ion conducting, solid electrolyte is deposited on a thin, flexible, porous alumina membrane which is placed between co-extensive facing side surfaces of a porous, lithium-accepting, negative electrode and a positive electrode formed of a porous layer of particles of a compound of lithium, a transition metal element, and optionally, another metal element. A liquid electrolyte formed, for example, of LiPF6 dissolved in an organic solvent, infiltrates the electrode materials of the two porous electrodes for transport of lithium ions during cell operation. But the solid electrolyte permits the passage of only lithium ions, and the negative electrode is protected from damage by transition metal ions or other chemical species produced in the positive electrode of the lithium-ion cell.

Abstract: Certain glass, glass-ceramic, and ceramic electrolyte bodies formed from lithium or sodium sulfides and glass-forming sulfides, sulfoxides and/or certain glass-forming oxides provide good conductivity of lithium ions or sodium ions for use in lithium metal electrode or sodium metal electrode battery cells. The stability of the lithium or sodium metal anode-glass electrolyte interface is improved by forming a metal oxide passivation layer by atomic layer deposition on the facing surface of the electrolyte and activating the coating by contact of the passivated surface with the lithium or sodium electrode material.

Abstract: A method for determining a state of charge (SOC) of a rechargeable battery cell includes determining a rate-invariant charge/discharge relationship between an open-circuit voltage (OCV) and a state of charge (SOC). This includes a first finite-rate voltage scan following a reduction branch of a relationship between OCV and the SOC, and executing a second finite-rate voltage scan following an oxidation branch of a relationship between OCV and the SOC. A rate-dependent charge/discharge relationship between the OCV and the SOC is determined during scanned voltage transitions between the reduction and oxidation branches. A present SOC state is determined based upon an electrical potential, the rate-invariant charge/discharge relationship between the OCV and the SOC, and the rate-dependent charge/discharge relationship between the OCV and the SOC during a voltage-scan reversal that occurs when the scanned voltage transitions between the reduction and oxidation branches.

Abstract: A high performance electrode for an electrochemical cell including electroactive materials having a large charge capacity and that undergo substantial volumetric expansion and contraction during cycling of the electrochemical cell and a method for making the high performance electrode are provided. The electroactive material of the high performance electrode may have a thickness greater than or equal to about 1 ?m. Methods of forming the high performance electrodes includes patterning the electroactive material to form a plurality of void spaces using a high-speed process selected from the group consisting of: laser ablation, electron beam machining, ion beam milling, roll forming, embossing, lithography, and combinations thereof. The plurality of void spaces accommodates the volumetric expansion and contraction to minimize cracking and damage to the electrode during cycling of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A composite porous separator for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium ion battery includes particles of a lithium ion-exchanged zeolite material. The composite porous separator may be manufactured by preparing a slurry comprising a polymeric binder material and the particles of the lithium ion-exchanged zeolite material, and then depositing the slurry on one or more sides of a porous substrate. Thereafter, the slurry may be dried to form a solid microporous active layer on the one or more sides of the substrate.