Abstract: This invention provides multifunctional coatings containing multiple components that usually do not associate with one another, from deposition of waterborne precursor compositions. Some variations provide a multiphase waterborne composition comprising a first-material phase containing a first material and a second-material phase containing a second material that is chemically different than, but covalently bonded to, the first material, wherein the first material and/or the second material contains ionic species. The first-material phase and the second-material phase are microphase-separated on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from about 0.1 microns to about 100 microns. The first and second materials may be selected from hydrophobic materials, hydrophilic materials, hygroscopic materials, oleophobic materials, and/or oleophilic materials, for example.

Abstract: Variations of the invention provide an improved aluminum battery consisting of an aluminum anode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a cathode comprising a metal oxide, a metal fluoride, a metal sulfide, or sulfur. The cathode can be fully reduced upon battery discharge via a multiple-electron reduction reaction. In some embodiments, the cathode materials are contained within the pore volume of a porous conductive carbon scaffold. Batteries provided by the invention have high active material specific energy densities and good cycling stabilities at a variety of operating temperatures.

Abstract: A metal microparticle coated with metal hydride nanoparticles is disclosed. Some variations provide a material comprising a plurality of microparticles (1 micron to 1 millimeter) containing a metal or metal alloy and coated with a plurality of nanoparticles (less than 1 micron) containing a metal hydride or metal alloy hydride. The invention eliminates non-uniform distribution of sintering aids by attaching them directly to the surface of the microparticles. No method is previously known to exist which can assemble nanoparticle metal hydrides onto the surface of a metal microparticle. Some variations provide a solid article comprising a material with a metal or metal alloy microparticles coated with metal hydride or metal alloy hydride nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles form continuous or periodic inclusions at or near grain boundaries within the microparticles.

Abstract: Methods to fabricate tightly packed arrays of nanoparticles are disclosed, without relying on organic ligands or a substrate. In some variations, a method of assembling particles into an array comprises dispersing particles in a liquid solution; introducing a triggerable pH-control substance capable of generating an acid or a base; and triggering the pH-control substance to generate an acid or a base within the liquid solution, thereby titrating the pH. During pH titration, the particle-surface charge magnitude is reduced, causing the particles to assemble into a particle array.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional (3D) composite structure includes: securing a mask between a collimated light source and a volume of a photo-monomer; directing a collimated light beam from the collimated light source to the mask for a period of exposure time such that a portion of the collimated light beam passes through the mask and is guided by a plurality of apertures into the photo-monomer to form a plurality of waveguides through a portion of the volume of the photo-monomer; removing any uncured photo-monomer to leave behind a three-dimensional ordered open-cellular microstructure to define an open volume and a structure of a first continuous material of the three-dimensional composite material; and placing a second continuous material in the open volume, wherein the second continuous material and the first continuous material share an interface between each other, and wherein the interface is everywhere continuous.

Abstract: A composition comprising a Lewis base containing depolymerization liquid and methods of using the Lewis base depolymerization liquid to depolymerize the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to form free fibers.

Abstract: This invention provides metal-foam electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. In some variations, an electrode includes a first metal layer disposed on a second metal layer, wherein the first metal layer comprises an electrically conductive, open-cell metal foam with an average cell diameter of about 25 ?m or less. The structure also includes smaller pores between the cells. The electrode forms a one piece monolithic structure and allows thicker electrodes than are possible with current electrode-fabrication techniques. These electrodes are formed from an all-fluidic plating solution. The disclosed structures increase energy density in batteries and power density in fuel cells.

Abstract: Some variations provide a composition comprising: a first solid material and a second solid material that are chemically distinct and microphase-separated; and at least one liquid selectively absorbed into either of the first solid material or the second solid material. The first and second solid materials are preferably present as phase-separated regions of a copolymer, such as in a segmented copolymer (e.g., a urethane-urea copolymer). The liquid may be a freezing-point depressant for water. For example, the liquid may be selected from methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or glycerol. The liquid may be a lubricant. For example, the liquid may be selected from fluorinated oils, siloxanes, petroleum-derived oils, mineral oil, or plant-derived oils. The liquid may consist of or include water. The liquid may be an electrolyte. For example, the liquid may be selected from poly(ethylene glycol), ionic liquids, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, or methyl ethyl dicarbonate.

Abstract: Self-cleaning optic apparatuses and automobiles with self-cleaning optic apparatuses are provided. An exemplary self-cleaning optic apparatus includes an optic device for transmitting or receiving light. The optic device is located in a chamber. The self-cleaning optic apparatus further includes a window for transmitting the light. Also, the self-cleaning optic apparatus includes a photocatalytic coating on a surface of the window. Energy emitted from within the chamber activates a photocatalytic reaction in the photocatalytic coating.

Abstract: Transparent, impact-resistant, anti-icing coatings are disclosed. In some variations, a transparent anti-icing coating comprises: a continuous matrix of a hardened material; asymmetric templates that inhibit wetting of water, wherein the asymmetric templates have a length scale from about 10-300 nanometers; porous voids surrounding the asymmetric templates, wherein the porous voids have a length scale from about 15-500 nanometers; and nanoparticles that inhibit heterogeneous nucleation of water, wherein the nanoparticles have an average size from about 5-50 nanometers. Disclosed coatings have transparencies of 90% or higher light transmission. These coatings utilize lightweight and environmentally benign materials that can be rapidly formed into coatings. A uniform distribution of particles and asymmetric templates throughout the coating allows it to be abraded, yet retain its anti-icing function as well as transparency.

Abstract: A method for fabricating polymeric sheets containing microwires includes encapsulating at least a portion of individual lengths of a plurality of microwires in a non-conductive polymeric sheet while the microwires are attached to the substrate. The microwires are then detached from the substrate without removing the microwires from the polymeric sheet. The detaching step forms a separated polymeric sheet containing the detached microwires. Individual detached microwires of the plurality are approximately perpendicular to the separated polymeric sheet. A microwire array device includes a non-conductive polymeric sheet and a plurality of microwires. Individual microwires of the plurality have an independent length at least partially encapsulated by the polymeric sheet, are approximately perpendicular to the polymeric sheet, and contain magnetic ferrite.

Abstract: Transparent, impact-resistant, anti-icing coatings are disclosed. In some variations, a transparent anti-icing coating comprises: a continuous matrix of a hardened material; asymmetric templates that inhibit wetting of water, wherein the asymmetric templates have a length scale from about 10-300 nanometers; porous voids surrounding the asymmetric templates, wherein the porous voids have a length scale from about 15-500 nanometers; and nanoparticles that inhibit heterogeneous nucleation of water, wherein the nanoparticles have an average size from about 5-50 nanometers. Disclosed coatings have transparencies of 90% or higher light transmission. These coatings utilize lightweight and environmentally benign materials that can be rapidly formed into coatings. A uniform distribution of particles and asymmetric templates throughout the coating allows it to be abraded, yet retain its anti-icing function as well as transparency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery electrode comprising an active battery material enclosed in the pores of a conductive nanoporous scaffold. The pores in the scaffold constrain the dimensions for the active battery material and inhibit sintering, which results in better cycling stability, longer battery lifetime, and greater power through less agglomeration. Additionally, the scaffold forms electrically conducting pathways to the active battery nanoparticles that are dispersed. In some variations, a battery electrode of the invention includes an electrically conductive scaffold material with pores having at least one length dimension selected from about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm, and an oxide material contained within the pores, wherein the oxide material is electrochemically active.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a thermoresponsive adhesive material. The material comprises a linear, phase-separated polymer having fluorinated polymer units and hydrophobic polymer units. The fluorinated polymer units and the hydrophobic polymer units are randomly ordered along the polymer. The hydrophobic polymer units include a first hydrophobic polymer unit and a second hydrophobic polymer unit. The first hydrophobic polymer unit is chosen from acrylate units or methacrylate units each substituted with one or more linear alkyl groups, linear alkenyl groups or a combination thereof, where at least one of the linear alkyl groups or alkenyl groups has 16 to 20 carbon atoms. The second hydrophobic polymer unit is chosen from acrylate units or methacrylate units each substituted with one or more linear alkyl groups, linear alkenyl groups or a combination thereof, where at least one of the linear alkyl or alkenyl groups of the second hydrophobic polymer unit has 5 to 14 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of making a composite part comprises covering a mold tool for a composite part with a parting film, the parting film comprising a polymer sheet and a pressure sensitive adhesive. The parting film is positioned so that the polymer sheet is between the mold tool and the pressure sensitive adhesive. At least one layer of pre-preg is layed up on the parting film covering the mold tool to form a layed-up composite part. The pre-preg comprises an adhesive. The layed-up composite part is removed from the parting film.

Abstract: Some variations provide a low-adhesion coating comprising a continuous matrix containing a first component, a plurality of inclusions containing a second component, and a solid-state lubricant distributed within the coating, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other of the first component or the second component is a hygroscopic material. The solid-state lubricant may be selected from graphite, graphene, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, hexagonal boron nitride, or poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or other fluoropolymers. The solid-state lubricant particles may be coated with a metal selected from cadmium, lead, tin, zinc, copper, nickel, or alloys containing one or more of these metals. The solid-state lubricant is typically characterized by an average particle size from about 0.1 ?m to about 500 ?m. The solid-state lubricant is preferably distributed throughout the coating.

Abstract: This invention provides durable, low-ice-adhesion coatings with excellent performance in terms of ice-adhesion reduction. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion coating comprising a microstructure with a first-material phase and a second-material phase that are microphase-separated on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 1 micron to 100 microns. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion material comprising a continuous matrix containing a first component; and a plurality of discrete inclusions containing a second component, wherein the inclusions are dispersed within the matrix to form a phase-separated microstructure that is inhomogeneous on an average length scale from 1 micron to 100 microns, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material. The coatings are characterized by an AMIL Centrifuge Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor up to 100 or more.

Abstract: A coating includes at least one coating layer containing first particles, second particles, and third particles distributed throughout a cross-linked, continuous polymer matrix. An outer surface of the coating layer includes surfaces of at least first particles extending outward from a top periphery of the polymer matrix. The outer surface exhibits a property of delaying ice formation compared to the coating layer without the first particles. A method includes applying a coating composition in one application step. The one-step coating composition contains first particles, second particles, and third particles in a base containing a polymer. A coating composition includes first particles, second particles, and third particles distributed in a matrix precursor.

Abstract: Novel nanoparticle-coated multilayer shell microstructures are disclosed herein. Some variations of the invention provide a material comprising a plurality of hollow microstructures characterized by an average shortest diameter from about 5 microns to about 1 millimeter, wherein each of the microstructures comprises multiple shells, including at least an inner shell and an outmost shell, with a combined thickness that is less than one-tenth of the average shortest diameter. The inner shell and the outmost shell have different composition. The outmost shell comprises nanoparticles sized between about 10 nanometers to about 500 nanometers, and the nanoparticles each contain an oxide and/or are surrounded by an oxide layer having a layer thickness of at least 1 nanometer. Several microstructure configurations are illustrated in the drawings.

Abstract: Thermal barrier materials are provided that possess low heat capacity and low thermal conductivity, while at the same time, high structural integrity and robustness. In some embodiments, the disclosed coating comprises metal-containing spheres that are sintered or glued together and/or embedded in a matrix. The coating has at least 60% void volume fraction and closed porosity. The coating thickness is from 50 microns to 500 microns, and the metal spheres have an average diameter that is from about 5% to about 30% of the coating thickness. In some embodiments, the metal spheres have an average diameter that is 4-10 times smaller than the coating thickness. Thermal barrier materials with these coatings can be beneficial in engine applications, for example.