Abstract: A method includes forming a carbon aerogel on a substrate to produce a highly adsorptive structure. The carbon aerogel is characterized by having physical characteristics of in-situ formation on the substrate.

Abstract: A highly adsorptive structure includes: a substrate; and a metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a plurality of metal atoms coordinated to a plurality of organic spacer molecules; wherein the MOF is coupled to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the MOF is configured to adsorb and desorb a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The refrigerant includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.

Abstract: An adsorptive cooling system includes two highly adsorptive structures positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, each highly adsorptive structure includes a substrate and a metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled to the respective substrate and adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The adsorptive cooling system includes a cooling unit and a circulation system adapted for circulating the refrigerant from one of the highly adsorptive structures to the cooling unit to provide cooling from the thermal energy source and to return the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the same or other highly adsorptive structure. Each substrate may include a plurality of microchannels, providing ingress and egress paths for a refrigerant, defined by grooves in a surface of the substrate nearest the MOF and/or surfaces of a plurality of microcapillaries of the substrate. The microchannels provide ingress and egress paths for a refrigerant.

Abstract: An ink formulation and electrode that enhances hydrogen production, oxygen production, carbon dioxide reduction and other electrocatalytic reactions. Embodiments include an ink formulation with polymer binders having different catalytical precursors and a 3D electrode produced by additive manufacturing from the inventor's ink formulation. Various embodiments of the inventor's apparatus, systems, and methods provide inks that that are 3D-printed into patterns that optimize surface area and flow. The catalytic materials are imbedded into the ink matrix which is then printed into a 3D structure that has architecture that optimizes surface area and flow properties.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring a three-dimensional printed template created using an additive manufacturing technique, infilling the template with an aerogel precursor solution, allowing formation of a sol-gel, and converting the sol-gel to an aerogel.

Abstract: A metal boride aerogel includes a three-dimensional aerogel structure comprising metal boride particles having an average diameter of less than one micron. A method is disclosed for forming a metal boride aerogel including dispersing boron nanoparticles in a solution of a metal salt, forming a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel using the dispersed boron nanoparticles in the solution of the metal salt, drying the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel to form a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel, and heating the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel to form a metal boride aerogel. The metal boride aerogel is essentially free of metal oxide.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring a three-dimensional printed template created using an additive manufacturing technique, infilling the template with an aerogel precursor solution, allowing formation of a sol-gel, and converting the sol-gel to an aerogel. In another embodiment, a product includes an aerogel having inner channels corresponding to outer walls of a three-dimensional printed template around which the aerogel was formed.

Abstract: A method includes forming a carbon aerogel on a substrate to produce a highly adsorptive structure. The carbon aerogel is characterized by having physical characteristics of in-situ formation on the substrate.

Abstract: An ink formulation and electrode that enhances hydrogen production, oxygen production, carbon dioxide reduction and other electrocatalytic reactions. Embodiments include an ink formulation with polymer binders having different catalytical precursors and a 3D electrode produced by additive manufacturing from the inventor's ink formulation. Various embodiments of the inventor's apparatus, systems, and methods provide inks that that are 3D-printed into patterns that optimize surface area and flow. The catalytic materials are imbedded into the ink matrix which is then printed into a 3D structure that has architecture that optimizes surface area and flow properties.

Abstract: A product includes a highly adsorptive structure comprising: a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of microchannels; and a carbon aerogel adhered to the substrate. The carbon aerogel is characterized by having physical characteristics of in situ formation on the substrate. Moreover, An adsorptive cooling system includes: a first highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, the first highly adsorptive structure comprising: a first substrate; and a first carbon aerogel adhered to the first substrate; a second highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from the thermal energy source, the second highly adsorptive structure comprising: a second substrate; and a second carbon aerogel adhered to the second substrate. The first substrate and/or the second substrate independently comprise a plurality of microchannels.

Abstract: A highly adsorptive structure includes: a substrate; and a metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a plurality of metal atoms coordinated to a plurality of organic spacer molecules; wherein the MOF is coupled to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the MOF is configured to adsorb and desorb a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The refrigerant includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.

Abstract: An adsorptive cooling system includes: a first highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, the first highly adsorptive structure including: a first substrate; and a first carbon aerogel adhered to the first substrate, a second highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from the thermal energy source, the second highly adsorptive structure including: a second substrate; and a second carbon aerogel adhered to the second substrate, a cooling unit; and a circulation system adapted for circulating the refrigerant from at least one of the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure to the cooling unit to provide cooling from the thermal energy source and to return the refrigerant from the cooling unit to at least one of the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure.

Abstract: A highly adsorptive structure includes: a substrate; and a carbon aerogel adhered to the substrate, wherein the carbon aerogel is characterized by having physical characteristics of in-situ formation on the substrate, and wherein the carbon aerogel is configured to selectively adsorb and desorb one or more refrigerants selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.

Abstract: A highly adsorptive structure, includes: a substrate; and a metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a plurality of metal atoms coordinated to a plurality of organic spacer molecules; wherein the MOF is coupled to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the MOF is adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The refrigerant includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.

Abstract: An adsorptive cooling system includes two highly adsorptive structures positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, each highly adsorptive structure includes a substrate and a metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled to the respective substrate and adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The adsorptive cooling system includes a cooling unit and a circulation system adapted for circulating the refrigerant from one of the highly adsorptive structures to the cooling unit to provide cooling from the thermal energy source and to return the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the same or other highly adsorptive structure. Each substrate may include a plurality of microchannels, providing ingress and egress paths for a refrigerant, defined by grooves in a surface of the substrate nearest the MOF and/or surfaces of a plurality of microcapillaries of the substrate. The microchannels provide ingress and egress paths for a refrigerant.

Abstract: Making a carbon aerogel involves 3-D printing an ink to make a printed part, removing the solvent from the printed part, and carbonizing the printed part (with the solvent removed) to make the aerogel. The ink is based on a solution of a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin (RF resin), water, and an organic thickener. Advantageously, the RF resin contains an acid catalyst, which tends to produce carbon aerogels with higher surface areas upon activation than those produced from methods involving an ink composition containing a base catalyzed resin.

Abstract: An adsorptive cooling system includes: a first highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, including: a first substrate; and a first metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled to the first substrate and adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions; a second highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from the thermal energy source including: a second substrate; and a second MOF coupled to the second substrate and adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions; a cooling unit; and a circulation system adapted for circulating refrigerant from the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure to the cooling unit to provide cooling from the thermal energy source and to return the refrigerant to at least one of the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mixture includes a polyfunctional monomer having at least one functional group amenable to polymerization, a porogen, and a polymerization initiator. In another embodiment, a product includes a porous three-dimensional structure formed by additive manufacturing, where the porous three-dimensional structure has ligaments arranged in a geometric pattern, the ligaments defining pores therebetween. The pores have an average diameter greater than about 10 microns, where an average length scale of the ligaments is greater than 100 nanometers. The ligaments are nanoporous, where at least 80% of a volume measured according to outer dimensions of the porous three-dimensional structure corresponds to the pores.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ink includes a polymer precursor, a copolymer, a catalyst, and a solvent. In another embodiment, a product includes a three-dimensional printed structure having ligaments, where an average diameter of the ligaments is in a range of about 10 microns to about 500 microns.

Abstract: Making a carbon aerogel involves 3-D printing an ink to make a printed part, removing the solvent from the printed part, and carbonizing the printed part (with the solvent removed) to make the aerogel. The ink is based on a solution of a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin (RF resin), water, and an organic thickener. Advantageously, the RF resin contains an acid catalyst, which tends to produce carbon aerogels with higher surface areas upon activation than those produced from methods involving an ink composition containing a base catalyzed resin.