Abstract: Provided herein are solvents for an electrolyte of a battery comprising fluorinated compounds of the present disclosure, batteries comprising: an anode structure including an anode current collector; a cathode structure including a cathode current collector and a cathode material disposed on the cathode current collector; and the electrolyte of the disclosure. Also provided herein are layers of a battery, comprising a fluorinated polymer compounds of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An electrical water filter device includes a plurality of porous electrodes and one or more porous separators. Each of the one or more porous separators is interposed between two adjacent porous electrodes. A respective porous electrode includes a connection portion extending outside an edge of a porous separators next to the respective porous electrode.

Abstract: Electrochemical methods using intercalation chemistry to extract Li from seawater using the TiO2-coated FePO4 electrode. The difference in the thermodynamic intercalation potentials, as well as the diffusion barriers between Li and Na, could provide near 100% selectivity towards Li interaction when Li/Na molar ratio is higher than 10-3. For lower Li/Na ratio as in the authentic seawater case, pulsed-rest and pulse-rest-reverse pulse-rest electrochemical methods were developed to lower the intercalation overpotential and it was proven to successfully boost the Li selectivity. Moreover, the pulse-rest-reverse pulse-rest method can also promote electrode crystal structure stability during the co-intercalation of Li and Na and prolong the lifetime of the electrode. Finally, 10 cycles of successful and stable Li extraction with 1:1 of Li to Na recovery from authentic seawater were demonstrated, which is equivalent to the selectivity of ˜1.8×104. Also, with lake water of higher initial Li/Na ratio of 1.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling congestion in a data network are provided. A base target round-trip time (RTT) for packets of a network flow including packets transmitted from a source network device to destination network device is obtained. A number of hops packets associated with the network flow traverse between the source network device and the destination network device is determined. A topology scaled target RTT for the network flow is determined based on the base target RTT and the determined number of hops. A congestion window size for the network flow is managed based on the topology scaled target RTT.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include solid-state electrolytes comprising a porous host and solid polymer electrolyte fillers dispersed within pores of the porous host. Further embodiments include batteries comprising an anode, a cathode, and a solid-state electrolyte of the disclosure disposed between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to lithium-based batteries, and particularly to coordinated solvent molecules that can increase the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte without undermining its non-flammability. Some embodiments include a liquid-state polymer electrolyte composed of LiFSI salts, Dimethoxyethane (DME) solvents, and polysiloxane tethered with ion solvating moieties. DME coordinates with both the salt and the polymer, while together with the salt, they synergistically plasticize the polymer to increase the ionic conductivity. The resulting non-flammable polymer electrolyte has a room temperature ionic conductivity of 1.6 mS/cm and a wide operation window of 25-100° C. Benefiting from its liquid nature, the electrolyte can pair with commercially available electrodes without further cell engineering. Embodiments can extend the ionic conductivity range of polymer electrolytes and provide a new design pathway for next generation safe and manufacturable electrolytes.

Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle assembly comprises a vehicle body and an interchangeable cleaning apparatus. The vehicle body comprises a front end and a rear end. The vehicle body further comprises a seat sized for a child. The vehicle body further comprises a plurality of driving wheels and a steering assembly. The plurality of driving wheels is rotatably coupled to the vehicle body and adapted to contact a floor surface. The steering assembly comprises a steering mechanism for use by the child sitting on the seat of the vehicle body and a plurality of steerable wheels. The interchangeable cleaning apparatus is attached to the vehicle body and is configured to clean the floor surface while the vehicle body moves around the floor surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, a method, and a computer-readable medium for quickly switching channels. An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a memory having instructions stored thereon; and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the instructions stored on the memory to cause the electronic device to execute the following operations: playing a first program of a first channel, wherein the first program is a live program; receiving user input when playing the first program; and in response to receiving the user input, switching from the first channel to a second channel and playing a second program of the second channel, wherein the second program is an OTT program.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: Soil contamination by heavy metals constitutes an important environmental problem, whereas field applicability of existing remediation technologies has encountered numerous obstacles, such as long operation time, high chemical cost, large energy consumption, secondary pollution, and soil degradation. A design and demonstration of a method is provided which is based on asymmetrical alternating current electrochemistry (AACE) that achieves high degrees of contaminant removal for different heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd) at different initial concentrations (from 100 to 10,000 ppm), all reaching corresponding regulation levels for residential scenario after rational treatment time (from 30 min to 6 h). No excessive nutrient loss in treated soil was observed and no secondary toxic product was produced. Long-term experiment and plant assay showed the high sustainability of the method and its feasibility for agricultural use.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and its execution method and a computer-readable medium. An electronic device, comprising: a memory, in which instructions are stored; and a processor, configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to cause the electronic device to execute the following operations: receiving a request for entering a sleep mode; obtaining expected time to fall asleep; obtaining current volume value and/or current brightness value of a playback device; selecting a decay type; and determining a required amount of change per unit time of the brightness value and/or volume value of the playback device according to the decay type, expected time to fall asleep, and the current volume value and/or current brightness value.

Abstract: An anode includes: (1) a current collector; and (2) an interfacial layer disposed over the current collector. The interfacial layer includes a film of a layered material and a reinforcing material selectively disposed over certain regions of the film, while other regions of the film remain exposed from the reinforcing material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling congestion in a data network are provided. A base target round-trip time (RTT) for packets of a network flow including packets transmitted from a source network device to destination network device is obtained. A number of hops packets associated with the network flow traverse between the source network device and the destination network device is determined. A topology scaled target RTT for the network flow is determined based on the base target RTT and the determined number of hops. A congestion window size for the network flow is managed based on the topology scaled target RTT.

Abstract: A rechargeable manganese battery includes: (1) a first electrode including a porous, conductive support; (2) a second electrode including a catalyst support and a catalyst disposed over the catalyst support; and (3) an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to support reversible precipitation and dissolution of manganese at the first electrode and reversible evolution and oxidation of hydrogen at the second electrode.

Abstract: A method including: receiving, from an application executing on a computing device and by an authentication process executing on the computing device, data representative of user credentials corresponding to the application, the authentication process being isolated from the application; packaging, by the authentication process, the data representative of user credentials with a device identification assigned to the computing device and an indication that the user credentials correspond to the application, the device identification being hidden from the application; outputting for transmission, by the authentication process and to an authentication server, an authentication request containing the packaged user credentials and device identification; receiving, by the authentication process and from the authentication server, an indication of authentication of the user credentials; and forwarding the received indication from the authentication process to the application.

Abstract: In some implementations, a cathode is formed by (1) providing a cathode additive including (a) a matrix including a lithium compound, and (b) metal nanostructures embedded in the matrix; and (2) combining the cathode additive with a cathode active material to form a mixture. In other implementations, a cathode is formed by (1) providing a cathode additive including a compound of lithium and at least one non-metal or metalloid; and (2) combining the cathode additive with a cathode active material to form a mixture.

Abstract: A system and methods for monitoring an impact of geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) or an E3 component of electromagnetic pulses (EMP-E3), involving a transducer generating a transduced signal in response to a magnetic field of a current carrying element of a transmission line. The transduced signal reflects harmonic characteristics of the current carrying element, and is amplified and filtered, then digitally converted. Excessive impact is detected when a threshold condition is met with respect to a total harmonic distortion (THD) and/or a change in THD. The THD can be calculated from amplitudes of harmonic components of interest. The amplitudes can be calculated in various ways, including Fourier transforming the digital signal to locate peaks in the resulting spectral lines, or using a phase sensitive detection algorithm in which the digital signal is multiplied by a phase swept reference signal and then integrated.

Abstract: This disclosure provides novel batteries, e.g., redox flow batteries, and methods of making and operating batteries. Certain embodiments include redox flow battery comprising: a housing; a first electrode disposed in the housing; a second electrode disposed in the housing and facing the first electrode, the first electrode is spaced from the second electrode by a gap without an intervening ion selective membrane; and a fluid conveyance mechanism connected to the housing and configured to convey an electrolyte across the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A rechargeable manganese battery includes: (1) a first electrode including a porous, conductive support; (2) a second electrode including a catalyst support and a catalyst disposed over the catalyst support; and (3) an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to support reversible precipitation and dissolution of manganese at the first electrode and reversible evolution and oxidation of hydrogen at the second electrode.

Abstract: A method including: receiving, from an application executing on a computing device and by an authentication process executing on the computing device, data representative of user credentials corresponding to the application, the authentication process being isolated from the application; packaging, by the authentication process, the data representative of user credentials with a device identification assigned to the computing device and an indication that the user credentials correspond to the application, the device identification being hidden from the application; outputting for transmission, by the authentication process and to an authentication server, an authentication request containing the packaged user credentials and device identification; receiving, by the authentication process and from the authentication server, an indication of authentication of the user credentials; and forwarding the received indication from the authentication process to the application.