An open-pored metal body, which is formed having a core layer (A) consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Ag or an alloy formed having one of said chemical elements, wherein one of said chemical elements is present in the alloy at more than 25 at %, and a gradated layer (B) is formed on surfaces of the core layer (A), said gradated layer being formed by intermetallic phase or mixed crystals of Al, and a layer (C), which is formed having aluminum oxide, is formed on the gradated layer (B).

Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

A porous metal foil and porous metal wire are described. Capacitor anodes made from either or both of the porous metal foil and porous metal wire are further described as well as methods to make same.

Tantalum powder that is highly spherical is described. The tantalum powder can be useful in additive manufacturing and other uses. Methods to make the tantalum powder are further described as well as methods to utilize the tantalum powder in additive manufacturing processes. Resulting products and articles using the tantalum powder are further described.

Tantalum powder that is highly spherical is described. The tantalum powder can be useful in additive manufacturing and other uses. Methods to make the tantalum powder are further described as well as methods to utilize the tantalum powder in additive manufacturing processes. Resulting products and articles using the tantalum powder are further described.

A molten metal print deposition device includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a deposition head for controlled deposition of a molten metal print medium defined by molten feedstock, and a capillary structure adapted to maintain the molten feedstock from the melt reservoir in a fluidic state for directing and depositing the feedstock onto a substrate. A print medium is defined by an alloy heated to a fluid state in a temperature range defined by but above a liquidus and solidus. A thermal source and control circuit maintain the molten feedstock at a temperature above the liquidus of the print medium during deposition.

A method for producing a metal shaped article having a porous structure includes a mold formation step of forming a mold having a plurality of columnar structures extending from a substrate by performing a resin material supply step of supplying a liquid containing a resin material to a plurality of places of the substrate at intervals in two directions crossing each other, and a curing step of curing the liquid, a sintering target material supply step of supplying a sintering target material to the mold, a removal step of removing the substrate, a degreasing step of degreasing the columnar structures, and a sintering step of sintering the sintering target material.

A method for producing a metal shaped article having a porous structure includes a mold formation step of forming a mold having a plurality of columnar structures extending from a substrate by performing a resin material supply step of supplying a liquid containing a resin material to a plurality of places of the substrate at intervals in two directions crossing each other, and a curing step of curing the liquid, a sintering target material supply step of supplying a sintering target material to the mold, a removal step of removing the substrate, a degreasing step of degreasing the columnar structures, and a sintering step of sintering the sintering target material.

A method for producing a metal shaped article having a porous structure includes a mold formation step of forming a mold having a plurality of columnar structures extending from a substrate by performing a resin material supply step of supplying a liquid containing a resin material to a plurality of places of the substrate at intervals in two directions crossing each other, and a curing step of curing the liquid, a sintering target material supply step of supplying a sintering target material to the mold, a removal step of removing the substrate, a degreasing step of degreasing the columnar structures, and a sintering step of sintering the sintering target material.