Ionic liquids boast a wide variety of application as modern electrolytes. Their unique collection of attributes, most notably insignificant vapor pressures, considerable ionic conductivity, and excellent thermal stability, prove ionic liquids excellent candidates for low-temperature electrolyte applications. This project focuses on the development of a low-temperature iodide-based ionic liquid electrolyte for a molecular electronic transducer (MET) seismometer. Based on ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide ([BMIM][I]), a functional electrolyte system is developed and optimized with addition of organic solvents, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and propylene carbonate (PC), and lithium iodide, showing the promise of operating at excessively low temperatures. The molecular interactions between [BMIM][I] and the organic solvents were classified using FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Specifically, the presence of hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl group on the organic solvents and the [BMIM]+ cation were captured. The effect of these interactions on several electrolyte properties were observed, including an extended glass transition temperature (Tg) of -120.2 °C and enhanced transport properties. When compared to the previous formulations, the optimized electrolyte exhibits a broader working temperature range, a higher fluidity over the temperature range from 25°C to -75 °C, and an enhanced ionic conductivity at temperatures below -70 °C as suggested by the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann (VFT) model. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) confirmed the electrochemical stability of the electrolyte as well as the activity of the I3- / I- redox reaction for the MET sensing technology at room temperature. The presented works not only present a facile strategy of designing low-temperature electrolyte systems via design of molecular interactions, but also support future operations of MET seismometer.

Evidence of Six Sigma principles dates back as far as the 1800s when normal distributions were first being introduced by Friedrich Gauss. Since then, Six Sigma has evolved and been documented into the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) methodology that is used today. Each stage in the DMAIC methodology serves a unique purpose, and various tools have been developed to accomplish each stage’s goal. The manufacturing industry has developed its own more specified set of methods and tools that have been coined as Lean Six Sigma. The more notable Lean Six Sigma principles are TIMWOOD, SMED, and 5S.

As a case study, DMAIC methodology was used at a company that encourages Six Sigma in all its departments—Niagara Bottling. Ultimately, the company was able to cut its financial losses in fines from customers by over 15% in just a 12-week span by utilizing Six Sigma. In this, the importance of instilling an entire culture of Six Sigma is exemplified. When only a handful of team members are on board with the problem-solving mindset, it is significantly more difficult to see substantial improvements.