Abstract: Ceramic and ceramic composite components suitable for high temperature applications and methods of manufacturing such components. The components are formed by a displacive compensation of porosity (DCP) process and are suitable for use at operating temperatures above 600° C., and preferably above 1400° C., and possess superior mechanical properties.

Abstract: Methods for forming micro- and/or nano-structures on the surfaces of a device and devices made thereby. The methods include exposing the surfaces of the device having an initial microstructure to an oxidizing environment at a first elevated temperature so as to form a first oxide scale on the device surfaces, exposing the first oxide scale to a reducing agent at a second elevated temperature so as to convert or partially convert the first oxide scale into a composite scale that includes a second oxide and a first metal, and exposing the composite scale to a dissolution agent that selectively dissolves part or all of the second oxide so as to yield a porous surface layer that includes the first metal.

Abstract: Methods, materials systems, and devices for inhibiting the infiltration and penetration of molten salts into solid materials, including porous materials at temperatures above the solidus temperature of the molten salt. The methods, materials systems, and devices utilize a non-wetted solid that is introduced into pores having entrances at an exterior surface of a porous solid material adapted to contact the molten salt.

Abstract: Methods for producing final bodies that contain a fine-grained refractory complex concentrated alloy (RCCA), as well as RCCAs, intermediate materials and final bodies containing the RCCAs, and high-temperature devices formed by such final bodies. Such a method includes providing a precursor with one or more precursor compounds containing elements of an RCCA, reducing the precursor compounds in the precursor via reaction with a reducing agent so as to generate the RCCA and a compound comprising a product of the reaction between the reducing agent and the precursor compounds, generating a solid material that contains at least the RCCA, forming with the solid material a porous intermediate body, and consolidating the porous intermediate body so as to partially or completely remove the pore volume from the porous intermediate body, and in doing so yield either a denser final body or a denser film.

Abstract: Methods for producing final bodies that contain a fine-grained refractory complex concentrated alloy (RCCA), as well as RCCAs, intermediate materials and final bodies containing the RCCAs, and high-temperature devices formed by such final bodies. Such a method includes providing a precursor with one or more precursor compounds containing elements of an RCCA, reducing the precursor compounds in the precursor via reaction with a reducing agent so as to generate the RCCA and a compound comprising a product of the reaction between the reducing agent and the precursor compounds, generating a solid material that contains at least the RCCA, forming with the solid material a porous intermediate body, and consolidating the porous intermediate body so as to partially or completely remove the pore volume from the porous intermediate body, and in doing so yield either a denser final body or a denser film.

Abstract: Methods for forming micro- and/or nano-structures on the surfaces of a device and devices made thereby. The methods include exposing the surfaces of the device having an initial microstructure to an oxidizing environment at a first elevated temperature so as to form a first oxide scale on the device surfaces, exposing the first oxide scale to a reducing agent at a second elevated temperature so as to convert or partially convert the first oxide scale into a composite scale that includes a second oxide and a first metal, and exposing the composite scale to a dissolution agent that selectively dissolves part or all of the second oxide so as to yield a porous surface layer that includes the first metal.

Abstract: Thermally-conductive ceramic and ceramic composite components suitable for high temperature applications, systems having such components, and methods of manufacturing such components. The thermally-conductive components are formed by a displacive compensation of porosity (DCP) process and are suitable for use at operating temperatures above 600° C. without a significant reduction in thermal and mechanical properties.

Abstract: Heat transfer/storage fluids that are resistant to oxidation in air at elevated temperatures, and systems that utilize such heat transfer/storage fluids, for example, as part of a concentrating solar power (CSP) system or other electricity-generating systems. The heat transfer/storage fluid is a molten chloride solution comprising two or more chlorides selected from the group consisting of CaCl2, SrCl2, BaCl2, NaCl, and KCl.

Abstract: Materials systems resistant to penetration of molten salts and may be present within a molten-salt-facing wall of a device for containing a molten salt bath at an elevated temperature, and molten-salt-facing walls and devices formed by such materials systems. A first layer of such a system defines an outer surface for direct contact with the molten salt bath, and resists erosion and corrosion and is penetrable by the molten salt at the elevated temperature. A second layer is located adjacent to the first layer and exhibits little or no wetting by the molten salt so that at least a portion of a thickness of the second layer is not penetrable by the molten salt. A third layer is located adjacent to the second layer and is porous and exhibits a low thermal conductivity at the elevated temperature.

Abstract: Methods for producing final bodies that contain a fine-grained refractory complex concentrated alloy (RCCA), as well as RCCAs, intermediate materials and final bodies containing the RCCAs, and high-temperature devices formed by such final bodies. Such a method includes providing a precursor with one or more precursor compounds containing elements of an RCCA, reducing the precursor compounds in the precursor via reaction with a reducing agent so as to generate the RCCA and a compound comprising a product of the reaction between the reducing agent and the precursor compounds, generating a solid material that contains at least the RCCA, forming with the solid material a porous intermediate body, and consolidating the porous intermediate body so as to partially or completely remove the pore volume from the porous intermediate body, and in doing so yield either a denser final body or a denser film.

Abstract: Methods, materials systems, and devices for inhibiting the infiltration and penetration of molten salts into solid materials, including porous materials at temperatures above the solidus temperature of the molten salt. The methods, materials systems, and devices utilize a non-wetted solid that is introduced into pores having entrances at an exterior surface of a porous solid material adapted to contact the molten salt.

Abstract: Heat transfer/storage fluids that are resistant to oxidation in air at elevated temperatures, and systems that utilize such heat transfer/storage fluids, for example, as part of a concentrating solar power (CSP) system or other electricity-generating systems. The heat transfer/storage fluid is a molten chloride solution comprising two or more chlorides selected from the group consisting of CaCl2, SrCl2, BaCl2, NaCl, and KCl.

Abstract: Ceramic and ceramic composite components suitable for high temperature applications and methods of manufacturing such components. The components are formed by a displacive compensation of porosity (DCP) process and are suitable for use at operating temperatures above 600° C., and preferably above 1400° C., and possess superior mechanical properties.

Abstract: Thermally-conductive ceramic and ceramic composite components suitable for high temperature applications, systems having such components, and methods of manufacturing such components. The thermally-conductive components are formed by a displacive compensation of porosity (DCP) process and are suitable for use at operating temperatures above 600° C. without a significant reduction in thermal and mechanical properties.

Abstract: Methods for the production of shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structures, wherein a nanoscale-to-microscale template is provided having an original chemical composition and an original shape, and the nanoscale-to-microscale template subjected to a chemical reaction, so as to partially or completely convert the nanoscale-to-microscale template into the shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure having a chemical composition different than the original chemical composition and having substantially the same shape as the original shape, being a scaled version of the original shape. The shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure formed comprises an element (such as silicon), a metallic alloy (such as a silicon alloy), or a non-oxide compound (such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride).

Abstract: Methods for the production of shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structures, wherein a nanoscale-to-microscale template is provided having an original chemical composition and an original shape, and the nanoscale-to-microscale template subjected to a chemical reaction, so as to partially or completely convert the nanoscale-to-microscale template into the shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure having a chemical composition different than the original chemical composition and having substantially the same shape as the original shape, being a scaled version of the original shape. The shaped nanoscale-to-microscale structure formed comprises an element (such as silicon), a metallic alloy (such as a silicon alloy), or a non-oxide compound (such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride).

Abstract: The present invention includes free-standing, shaped ceramic-bearing bodies useful in fluid sensors, filters, and catalyst devices. The invention also includes methods and processes for using such devices. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shaped metallic foils are converted into free-standing, porous rutile foils having an open pore structure by oxidation at an elevated temperature. The exposure of such foils to increasing concentrations of reducing gases such as carbon monoxide results in an increase in the steady-state electrical resistance. The resultant ceramic-bearing bodies may be used as effective sensors of reducing gas species in such applications as automobile and industrial emissions.

Abstract: The present invention includes free-standing, shaped ceramic-bearing bodies useful in fluid sensors, filters, and catalyst devices. The invention also includes methods and processes for using such devices. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shaped metallic foils are converted into free-standing, porous rutile foils having an open pore structure by oxidation at an elevated temperature. The exposure of such foils to increasing concentrations of reducing gases such as carbon monoxide results in an increase in the steady-state electrical resistance. The resultant ceramic-bearing bodies may be used as effective sensors of reducing gas species in such applications as automobile and industrial emissions.

Abstract: The present invention includes free-standing, shaped ceramic-bearing bodies useful in fluid sensors, filters, and catalyst devices. The invention also includes methods and processes for using such devices. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shaped metallic foils are converted into free-standing, porous rutile foils having an open pore structure by oxidation at an elevated temperature. The exposure of such foils to increasing concentrations of reducing gases such as carbon monoxide results in an increase in the steady-state electrical resistance. The resultant ceramic-bearing bodies may be used as effective sensors of reducing gas species in such applications as automobile and industrial emissions.