Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes a first reacting a molecule from at least one of a carboxylic acid, an ester of a carboxylic acid, and/or an anhydride with ammonia to form a nitrile, where the first reacting is catalyzed using an acid catalyst. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of acetic acid, lactic acid, and/or 3-hydroxyproprionic acid (3-HPA). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the molecule may include at least one of methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and/or ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate (ethyl 3-HP). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anhydride may be acetic anhydride.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a first layer having a first molecule that includes a metal and a halogen, a second layer that includes the first molecule, and a third layer that includes a chiral molecule, where the third layer is positioned between the first layer and the second layer, and the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer form a crystalline structure.

Abstract: Wood template-supported phase change material (PCM) composite having thermal energy storage applications. A wood template-supported PCM may include a wood template that has had at least a portion of its xylan and/or lignin removed and saturated with a PCM. The PCM may be stabilized with a cross linkable network for improved infiltration into the wood template. The wood template-supported PCM composite may be formed by extracting xylan and/or lignin from the wood to create a wood template, densifying at least a portion of the wood template, and inserting a PCM into the wood template.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes utilizing a microorganism for the converting of a substrate to an acid contained in a mixture that includes the acid and water, maintaining a pH of the mixture to less than 5, and treating the mixture with a first stream comprising an organic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus for a cooler device includes a manifold constructed at least partially of silicon oxide. The manifold includes an array of inlet channels and an array of outlet channels. Each inlet channel has a first depth. The array of outlet channels are interlaced with the array of inlet channels, Each outlet channel has a second depth that is larger than the first depth. Each of the array of outlet channels has a pair of sidewalls separating each outlet channel from adjacent inlet channels of the array of inlet channels.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved open vertical display case (OVDC) which utilizes radiant cooling to cool and/or maintain food products at a target temperature. The radiant cooling is performed using a plurality of piping routed through the walls and containing a first refrigerant stream. The plurality of piping may be cooled using a refrigeration circuit. In some embodiments, a phase change material may be used for thermal energy storage and positioned between the plurality of piping and the refrigeration circuit. In some embodiments, the refrigeration circuit may be connected to heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and water heating systems within the building.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for directing a coking-prone liquid to a high temperature environment, where the device includes an inner tube positioned concentrically within an outer tube, creating a first annular space between an outer wall of the inner tube and an inner wall of the outer tube and a first intermediate tube positioned concentrically around the outer tube, creating a second annular space.

Abstract: An asphalt modifier includes bitumen, polyolefin particles, and one or more alkyl terephthalamides. Preparing an asphalt modifier includes combining one or more alkyl terephthalamides, polyolefin particles, and bitumen, and dispersing the polyolefin particles in the bitumen to yield the asphalt modifier. Digesting polyethylene terephthalate includes combining polyethylene terephthalate with an alkylamine or carboxyalkylamine to yield a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature between about 20° C. and about 300° C. to yield an alkyl terephthalamide.

Abstract: A two-body wave energy converter (WEC) that utilizes components in the two bodies having variable geometry is described. The WEC includes a surface control body which includes a first variable geometry component, and a reaction control body, which includes a second variable geometry component. During operating, the two variable geometry components may be substantially inflated to enable the WEC to generate electrical energy using power-take off (PTO) components or substantially deflated to allow for load shedding or protection from intense elements.

Abstract: A system comprising a first plurality of microchannels, a second plurality of microchannels in thermal communication with the first plurality of microchannels such that the first plurality of microchannels and second plurality of microchannels form a heat exchanger, and a phase change composite in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and methods of operating are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the conversion of chlorophyll-derived phytol into useful and economically viable surfactants. The provided compositions utilize the hydrophobic phytol structure and added functional groups to increase hydrophilicity at one end of the molecule.

Abstract: Among other things, the present disclosure relates to re-purposing used lithium-ion batteries. The present disclosure includes treating an electrode using a solvent prior to electrochemically relithiating the electrode. In some embodiments, the relithiation may be done using a roll-to-roll device, wherein the electrode may be secured on a first pin and a second pin, then it may be unwound and submerged in an electrolyte solution. Lithium ions may be inserted into the electrode using a voltage. The layer of lithium may provide lithium ions to the electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes depositing a first layer onto a substrate, depositing a second layer onto a surface of the first layer, and separating the substrate from the second layer, where the substrate includes a first III-V alloy, the second layer includes second III-V alloy, and the first layer includes a material that includes at least two of a Group 1A element, a Group 2A element, a Group 6A element, and/or a halogen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for making polycrystalline thin films having very large grains sizes and exhibiting improved properties over existing thin films.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include inventive methods for preparing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In certain embodiments, the method comprises dissolving a functionalized material (e.g., a material that is functionalized with one or more functionalizing compounds) in a solvent, depositing a deposit composition on a perovskite layer where the deposit composition comprises the dissolved functionalized material, heating the deposit composition, and optionally removing some or all of the one or more functionalizing compounds from the deposit composition. Additional embodiments of the invention are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes converting a gas stream that contains hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) to a second mixture that contains a hydrocarbon, for example, a hydrocarbon having between 3 and 15 carbon atoms, where the converting is performed using a first catalyst configured to convert H2 and CO to methanol, a second catalyst configured to convert methanol to dimethyl ether (DME), and a third catalyst configured to convert DME to the hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Phosphite dehydrogenase (ptxD) expression was established as a selectable marker for nuclear and chloroplast genetic selection in Picochlorum renovo and Picochlorum celeri Phosphite was used as a sole phosphorus source in P. renovo and P. celeri. Growth on phosphite led to comparable growth and composition relative to phosphate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device that includes a perovskite layer; and a first layer that includes a molecule having a structure according to formula (I) Wherein the perovskite layer and the first layer are in physical contact, n is between 1 and 10, inclusively, R1 includes at least one of hydrogen, a first alkyl group, a first alkoxy group, and/or a first halogen, R2 includes at least one of hydrogen, a second alkyl group, a second alkoxy group, and/or a second halogen, R1 is bonded to aromatic ring (A) at carbon atom (1), carbon atom (2), carbon atom (3), or carbon atom (4), R2 is bonded to aromatic ring (B) at carbon atom (5), carbon atom (6), carbon atom (7), or carbon atom (8), and R1 and R2 are the same or different.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for ethanol production from a lignocellulosic feedstock. These processes provide DMR of lignocellulosic biomass comprising two-stage deacetylation followed by mechanical refining so as to increase fermentable sugar yield while reducing hydrolytic enzyme loading requirements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are CdSeTe photovoltaic devices having interdigitated back contact architecture for use in polycrystalline thin films in photovoltaic devices.