Abstract: The invention relates to a method to produce a type II silicon clathrate, a method to produce a type I clathrate, and a method to decrease sodium in silicon clathrates.

Abstract: A spectroscopic polarimeter and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The spectroscopic polarimeter is described as being fabricated by etching or patterning grooves into a substrate with a centrally smooth area, laying down an opaque thin layer of metal, etching out a central cavity from the metal, laying down a thin layer of dielectric material, and then laying down metal over the cavity. Optionally, before or after the dielectric layer is laid, a thicker metal barrier at the edge of the design can be laid as well.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to formation of polymers grafted to or polymerized from the surface of gold nanoparticles. The polymers are functionalized to include therapeutic agents and/or targeting agents at their surface, thereby allowing both therapeutic and targeting compounds to be directed to specific cells in a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to new glass formulations with alumina contents greater than 35 mol % and methods for making these glasses. The glass may be a porous glass or a dense glass.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for making soluble precursors to imides, polyimides, and polymers containing imide groups, and a method of making thin films of the same by solution casting and then removing the solubilizing group to produce thermally stable and insoluble materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst for oxygenate synthesis to use for synthesizing an oxygenate from mixed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the catalyst comprising, an (A) component: rhodium, a (B) component: manganese, a (C) component: an alkali metal, and a (Z) component: magnesium oxide.

Abstract: Solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) are solid state heat engines that generate electricity from concentrated sunlight. A novel detailed balance model for STEGs is provided and applied to both state-of-the-art and idealized materials. STEGs can produce electricity by using sunlight to heat one side of a thermoelectric generator. While concentrated sunlight can be used to achieve extremely high temperatures (and thus improved generator efficiency), the solar absorber also emits a significant amount of black body radiation. This emitted light is the dominant loss mechanism in these generators. In this invention, we propose a solution to this problem that eliminates virtually all of the emitted black body radiation. This enables solar thermoelectric generators to operate at higher efficiency and achieve said efficient with lower levels of optical concentration. The solution is suitable for both single and dual axis solar thermoelectric generators.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to efficiently and effectively dredge in the presence of hard rock. An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a system that induces cavitation bubbles and/or a vortex flow within a dredging cutter head by use of water jets mounted within a cavity of the cutter head. The cavitation bubbles and/or vortex flow produced by the water jets urge comminution of hard rock encountered during dredging operations, providing a more effective and efficient dredging of waterways than conventional approaches.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method to extract lignin from lignocellulosic biomass using lactic acid.

Abstract: Methods, processes, and systems for the production of lipids and starch from modified algae are disclosed. In one embodiment, the modified algae over-expresses isoamylase and accumulates much higher amounts of starch than unmodified algae. In some embodiments, the modified algae comprises one or more copies of an isoamylase expression construct. In one embodiment, the modified algae is a sta7 Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant with a starchless phenotype that has been complemented with one or more copies of the wild-type genomic STA7 isoamylase gene construct. The complemented, modified algae accumulates much greater amount of starch than an unmodified algae and may be used to produce large amounts of starch and/or lipids.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method to produce a blended polymer by mixing polyamide 11 and polyamide 6, 10. The method may be utilize melt mixing or may utilize blended solutions. The invention also includes a blended polymer, wherein the blended polymer is produced from polyamide 11 and polyamide 6,10.

Abstract: The use of fuel cells to produce electricity are known as an environmentally clean and reliable source of energy, and show promise as an automotive power source if the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell can be made less expensive, more durable, reduce or eliminate humidification of the reactive gases, and operate at temperatures encountered during automotive operating conditions. The use of an electro-catalyst formed from heteropoly acids immobilized by a conductive material, such as carbon or platinum black, and stabilizing a metallic black with the immobilized conductive material addressed these automotive fuel cell needs. Coating the fuel cell electrode, polymer electrolyte assembly with a nano-particle catalyst derived from a heteropoly acid provided anodic carbon monoxide tolerance at anodic overpotentials and an active cathodic oxygen reduction. The heteropoly acids can also function as supercapacitor electrode films.

Abstract: ZnO structures comprising crystalline ZnO micro or nanorods and methods for making and using these ZnO structures are provided. The side surface of the central portion of each rod may comprise planes of the form {1 0 ?1 0}, {0 1 ?1 0}, {?1 1 0 0}, {?1 0 1 0}, {0 ?1 1 0} and {1 ?1 0 0}, with central edge regions including a crystallographic plane of the form {2 ?1 ?1 0} or {?2 1 1 0}. The tip of the rod may comprise planes of the form {1 0 ?1 1} {0 1 ?1 1}, {?1 1 0 1}, {?1 0 1 1}, {0 ?1 1 1} and {1 ?1 0 1} with tip edge regions including a crystallographic plane of the form {2 ?1 ?1 2} or {?2 1 1 2}. The rods may be joined at or near their bases to form the “flower-like” morphology. In an embodiment, a synthesis mixture is prepared by dissolving a zinc salt in an alcohol solvent, followed by addition of at least two additives. The zinc salt may be zinc nitrate hexahydrate, the first additive may be benzyl alcohol and the second additive may be urea.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to formation of polymers grafted to or polymerized from the surface of gold nanoparticles. The polymers are functionalized to include therapeutic agents and/or targeting agents at their surface, thereby allowing both therapeutic and targeting compounds to be directed to specific cells in a patient.

Abstract: Methods, processes, and systems of transportable nuclear batteries are provided. In one embodiment, the battery may comprise a sealed reactor shell, a reactor core, and a generator. In further embodiments, the transportable nuclear battery may comprise a nuclear fuel in the reactor core wherein the fuel comprises plutonium, carbon, hydrogen, zirconium and, thorium. In some embodiments, the fuel may comprise hydrogen-containing glass microspheres, wherein the glass microspheres, may be coated with a burnable poison, and other coating materials that may aid in keeping the hydrogen within the microsphere glass at relatively high temperature. The disclosed methods, processes and systems may aid in providing energy to remote areas.

Abstract: The invention provides support-free palladium membranes and methods of making these membranes. Single-gas testing of the unsupported foils produced hydrogen permeabilities equivalent to thicker membranes produced by cold-rolling. Defect-free films as thin as 7.2 microns can be fabricated, with ideal H2/N2 selectivities as high as 40,000. Homogeneous membrane compositions may also be produced using these methods.

Abstract: A downhole tool that selectively opens and closes an axial/lateral bore of a tubular string positioned in a wellbore used to produce hydrocarbons or other fluids. When integrated into a tubular string, the downhole tool allows individual producing zones within a wellbore to be isolated between stimulation stages while simultaneously allowing a selected formation to be accessed. The downhole tools and methods can be used in vertical or directional wells, and additionally in cased or open-hole wellbores.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to gold/lanthanide nanoparticle conjugates, such as gold/gadolinium nanoparticle conjugates, nanoparticle conjugates including polymers, nanoparticle conjugates conjugated to targeting agents and therapeutic agents, and their use in targeting, treating, and/or imaging disease states in a patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to lanthanide nanoparticle conjugates, such as gadolinium nanoparticle conjugates, nanoparticle conjugates including polymers, conjugation to targeting agents and therapeutic agents, and their use in targeting, treating, and/or imaging disease states in a patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for testing a wellbore, and to an apparatus and method to efficiently and effectively test the annular seal of a tubular string positioned within a wellbore. More specifically, the cement seal between a casing string and a wellbore is tested to assure there is no contamination of groundwater or between different geologic formations. An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a testing assembly comprising a frangible body and a tool body, the tool body providing a passageway to the annular seal when the frangible body is drilled out. In one particular embodiment, the frangible body initially forms an encapsulated bore that aligns with the passageway.