Abstract: A superior, industrially scalable one-pot ethylene glycol-based wet chemistry method to prepare platinum-adlayered ruthenium nanoparticles has been developed that offers an exquisite control of the platinum packing density of the adlayers and effectively prevents sintering of the nanoparticles during the deposition process. The wet chemistry based method for the controlled deposition of submonolayer platinum is advantageous in terms of processing and maximizing the use of platinum and can, in principle, be scaled up straightforwardly to an industrial level. The reactivity of the Pt(31)-Ru sample was about 150% higher than that of the industrial benchmark PtRu (1:1) alloy sample but with 3.5 times less platinum loading. Using the Pt(31)-Ru nanoparticles would lower the electrode material cost compared to using the industrial benchmark alloy nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cell applications.

Abstract: The electrocatalytic compositions of this invention comprise a platinum-based electrocatalyst and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), whereby the PVP improves certain properties of the platinum-based electrocatalyst. The electrolytic compositions described herein have applications in fuel cell technologies. The polymer-modified platinum-based electrocatalyst compositions exhibit an enhanced long-term CO tolerance with a small hindrance to the intrinsic activity of the platinum based electrocatalyst. Furthermore, the electrocatalytic compositions demonstrate improved catalyst stability.

Abstract: An error detecting and correcting method and mechanism. An error correcting code for data is utilized wherein a special syndrome pattern is used to indicate corresponding data includes a previously detected uncorrectable error. In response to receiving data and corresponding first check bits from a storage device, new check bits corresponding to the read data are generated. Based upon the read check bits and newly generated check bits, a syndrome is generated. If an uncorrectable error is detected, the newly generated check bits are inverted prior to be stored. Subsequent readers of the stored data will generate a syndrome which corresponds to the predetermined pattern and determine that the data includes a previously detected uncorrectable error. Data including an error corresponding to an previously detected uncorrectable error may be discarded and no error reported.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting when a microphone is connected to a microphone coupling includes a detection signal generator that asserts a microphone detection signal. A microphone power module supplies a microphone current to the microphone coupling in response to the assertion of the microphone detection signal. A microphone detection module detects when the microphone is not connected to the microphone coupling based on an impedance of the microphone coupling, wherein the microphone power module disconnects the microphone current from the microphone coupling when the microphone is not connected to the microphone coupling. In an embodiment, the circuit further detects when a microphone button is depressed.