Abstract: Solvent free epoxy system that includes: a hardener compound H comprising: a molecular structure (Y1—R1—Y2), wherein R1 is an ionic moiety Y1 is a nucleophilic group and Y2 nucleophilic group; and an ionic moiety A acting as a counter ion to R1; and an epoxy compound E comprising: a molecular structure (Z1R2—Z2), wherein R1 is an ionic moiety, Z1 comprises an epoxide group, and Z2 comprises an epoxide group; and an ionic moiety B acting as a counter ion to R2. In embodiments, the epoxy compound E and/or the hardener H is comprised in a solvent-less ionic liquid. The systems can further include accelerators, crosslinkers, plasticizers, inhibitors, ionic hydrophobic and/or super-hydrophobic compounds, ionic hydrophilic compounds, ionic transitional hydrophobic/hydrophilic compounds, biological active compounds, and/or plasticizer compounds. Polymers made from the disclosed epoxy systems and their methods of used.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing production and distribution of liquid water extracted from air. In certain embodiments, a system is provided that includes a plurality of local water generation units (110) including a first local water generation unit and a second local water generation unit. The first and second water generation units each include a controller that is configured to control a production rate of liquid water extracted from the air, a local water collection unit, and a local transceiver. A principal water supply unit (120) is in fluid communication with at least one of the local water collection units. The principal water supply unit is configured to store at least part of the liquid water extracted from the air and to maintain a principal water level at a reservoir of the principal water supply unit based on one or more operational parameters for water distribution.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatus comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to tag and tag devices comprising a redox-active polymer film, and method of using and manufacturing the same. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a conductive structure formed on the substrate which includes a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons. The conductive structure further includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, where the layer of redox-active polymer is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electrical signal. The apparatus additionally includes a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a permeable fuel electrode configured to support a metal fuel thereon, and an oxidant reduction electrode spaced from the fuel electrode. An ionically conductive medium is provided for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A charging electrode is also included, selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant reduction electrode, (b) a separate charging electrode spaced from the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, and (c) a portion of the permeable fuel electrode. The charging electrode is configured to evolve gaseous oxygen bubbles that generate a flow of the ionically conductive medium. One or more flow diverters are also provided in the electrochemical cell, and configured to direct the flow of the ionically conductive medium at least partially through the permeable fuel electrode.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatuses and methods of fabricating solid-state electrochemical cells having redox-active polymers. In one aspect, an electrochemical cell comprises a negative electrode including a first redox-active polymer and configured to be reversibly oxidized during a discharging operation and further configured to be reversibly reduced during a charging operation. The electrochemical cell additionally comprises a positive electrode including a second redox-active polymer and configured to be reversibly reduced during the discharging operation and further configured to be reversibly oxidized during the charging operation. The electrochemical cell further comprises an electrolyte including a solid ion-exchange polymer, the electrolyte interposed between positive and negative electrodes and configured to conduct ions therebetween.

Abstract: This disclosure includes systems and methods for extracting water vapor from atmospheric air and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, systems and methods for optimizing liquid water production from air, in some instances, taking into account diurnal variations. The systems comprise an adsorption zone an a desorption zone, an actuator to move a desiccant between the adsorption zone and the desorption zone. The liquid water production is optimized based, at least in part, on measurements of one or more of: an ambient air temperature, ambient air relative humidity, and a level of solar insolation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an oxidant reduction electrode module containing an oxidant reduction electrode mounted to a housing to form a gaseous oxidant space therein that is immersed into the ionically conductive medium. A fuel electrode is spaced from the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the ionically conductive medium may conduct ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A gaseous oxidant channel extending through the gaseous oxidant space provides a supply of oxidant to the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the fuel electrode and the oxidant reduction electrode are configured to, during discharge, oxidize the metal fuel at the fuel electrode and reduce the oxidant at the oxidant reduction electrode, to generate a discharge potential difference therebetween for application to a load.

Abstract: Provided is a rechargeable electrochemical cell system for generating electrical current using a fuel and an oxidant. The system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. A controller is configured to apply an electrical current between charging electrode(s) and a fuel electrode with the charging electrode(s) functioning as an anode and the fuel electrode functioning as a cathode, such that reducible metal fuel ions in the ionically conductive medium are reduced and electrodeposited as metal fuel in oxidizable form on the fuel electrode. The controller may selectively apply current to a charging electrode and third electrode between fuel electrodes of separate cells to increase uniformity of the metal fuel being electrodeposited on the fuel electrode. The controller controls a number of switches to apply current to the electrodes and select different modes for the system. Also provided are methods for charging and discharging an electrochemical cell system, and selecting different modes.

Abstract: Systems for generation of liquid water are provided. In embodiments, the systems comprise a thermal desiccant unit comprising a porous hygroscopic material located within a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a working fluid that accumulates heat and water vapor upon flowing from fluid inlet of the housing, through the porous hygroscopic material, and to the fluid outlet of the housing, a condenser comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for condensing water vapor from the working fluid; an enthalpy exchange unit operatively coupled between the thermal desiccant unit and the condenser, wherein the enthalpy exchange unit transfers enthalpy between the working fluid output from the thermal desiccant unit and the working fluid input to the thermal desiccant unit, and, wherein the enthalpy exchange unit transfers enthalpy between the working fluid output from the condenser and the working fluid input to the condenser.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to systems, methods, apparatuses, and techniques for generating water using waste heat. In certain embodiments, a system includes a water generating unit and a waste-heat-generating-system. The water generating unit can be configured to generate the water and comprises a desiccation device and a condenser coupled to the desiccation device. The waste-heat-generating-system can generate the waste heat when operating or is use. The water generating unit can be configured to use waste heat generated by the waste-heat-generating-system to generate the water.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for producing liquid water from ambient air. In certain embodiments, a system includes a regeneration fluid pathway configured to receive a regeneration fluid and a thermal unit configured to heat the regeneration fluid. The system can further include a continuous desiccant unit that comprises an adsorption zone and a desorption zone, as well as a batch desiccant unit that includes a regeneration inlet and a batch desiccant housing. The batch desiccant housing can include a batch desiccant inlet configured to input the ambient air, a batch desiccant outlet configured to output a batch output fluid, and a batch desiccant material. A condenser unit can be configured to produce liquid water from the regeneration fluid, and the system can maximize a water production rate of the condenser unit based on an amount of heat carried by the regeneration fluid.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatus comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to tag and tag devices comprising a redox-active polymer film, and method of using and manufacturing the same. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a conductive structure formed on the substrate which includes a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons. The conductive structure further includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, where the layer of redox-active polymer is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electrical signal. The apparatus additionally includes a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is an electrochemical cell, comprising: (i) a plurality of electrodes, comprising a fuel electrode that comprises aluminum and an air electrode that absorbs gaseous oxygen, the electrodes being operable in a discharge mode wherein the aluminum is oxidized at the fuel electrode and oxygen is reduced at the air electrode, and (ii) an ionically conductive medium, comprising an organic solvent; wherein during non-use of the cell, the organic solvent promotes formation of a protective interface between the aluminum of the fuel electrode and the ionically conductive medium, and wherein at an onset of the discharge mode, at least some of the protective interface is removed from the aluminum to thereafter permit oxidation of the aluminum during the discharge mode.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling treatment of water with ozone. The systems and methods can utilize one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules that are configured to store computing instructions. Execution of the instructions can cause the one or more processing modules to perform acts of: generating ozone; and applying the ozone to water. The act of generating the ozone can include: controlling a quantity of the ozone generated; and controlling when the ozone is generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing water from process gas are provided herein. The systems include a water generating system that adjusts the pressure and temperature conditions surrounding a hygroscopic material in order to release water vapor generated by exposure of the hygroscopic material to the process gas.

Abstract: Solar thermal units and methods of operating solar thermal units for the conversion of solar insolation to thermal energy are provided. In some examples, solar thermal units have an inlet, and a split flow of heat absorbing fluid to either side of the solar thermal unit, along a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Optionally, one or more photovoltaic panels can be provided as part of the solar thermal unit, which may convert solar insolation to electric power that may be used by a system connected to the solar thermal unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods drawn to an electrochemical cell comprising a low temperature ionic liquid comprising positive ions and negative ions and a performance enhancing additive added to the low temperature ionic liquid. The additive dissolves in the ionic liquid to form cations, which are coordinated with one or more negative ions forming ion complexes. The electrochemical cell also includes an air electrode configured to absorb and reduce oxygen. The ion complexes improve oxygen reduction thermodynamics and/or kinetics relative to the ionic liquid without the additive.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatus comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to tag and tag devices comprising a redox-active polymer film, and method of using and manufacturing the same. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a conductive structure formed on the substrate which includes a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons. The conductive structure further includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, where the layer of redox-active polymer is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electrical signal. The apparatus additionally includes a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure.

Abstract: Solar thermal units and methods of operating solar thermal units for the conversion of solar insolation to thermal energy are provided. In some examples, solar thermal units have an inlet, and a split flow of heat absorbing fluid to either side of the solar thermal unit, along a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Optionally, one or more photovoltaic panels can be provided as part of the solar thermal unit, which may convert solar insolation to electric power that may be used by a system connected to the solar thermal unit.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell system and a process for operating the same, the system having at least two fuel electrodes for receiving electrodeposited metal fuel; at least one oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; at least one charging electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes of the electrochemical cell system for conducting ions to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel, oxidant, and charging electrodes; and, one or more controllers configured to operate the cell system in discharging and charging modes and monitor a state of charge for each fuel electrode. The controllers may assign each fuel electrode in a discharging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined depletion criteria from the discharging unit to the charging unit, and each fuel electrode in the charging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined loading criteria from the charging unit to the discharging unit.