Abstract: A polymer aerogel has polymerizable monomers and crosslinkers, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of less than 1.5, and the polymer aerogel has a visible transmittance of at least 20%/3 mm, a haze of 50%/3 mm or lower, and a porosity of at least 10%. A method of producing an aerogel includes dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of 1.5 or lower, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, and removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce an aerogel polymer.

Abstract: A system has an alkaline capture stream as an input, an alkaline depleted stream as an output, a carbon dioxide removal unit operation having a return stream as an output, and a series of electrolyzers, each electrolyzer to receive a CO2-rich input stream and produce an acidified output stream that is more acidic than the CO2-rich input stream, and to receive a return stream and produce a basified output stream that is more alkaline than the input return stream. A method of removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere and generating hydrogen includes capturing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere in an alkaline capture solution, sending the alkaline solution as a CO2-rich input solution to a series of electrolyzers in a CO2-rich path, removing carbon dioxide from the acidified CO2-rich solution at a removal unit to produce a CO2-poor solution, sending the CO2-poor solution to the series of electrolyzers in a return path, and returning the return solution to the alkaline capture stream.

Abstract: A method of producing functionalized graphene oxide includes mixing graphene oxide with a reactive monomer containing at least one epoxy functional group and a secondary functional group that is selected from vinyl, acrylate, methacrylate, and epoxy to form a mixture, adding an activation agent, heating and stirring the mixture, cooling the mixture, separating the particles from the mixture, and drying the particles to produce functionalized graphene oxide.

Abstract: A composition of matter includes a first compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a first substrate, and second compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are chemically different. The particles are dispersed into a matrix that is in between the first and the second substrate. A deposition system has a multi-material printhead, a first reservoir of a first compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a first substrate, a second reservoir of a second compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a second substrate, a third reservoir of an polymer precursor material, and at least one mixer.

Abstract: A method for producing a homogenous molten composition and a fluid product is disclosed. For example, the method includes producing a first molten metal composition in an enclosed volume, contacting a hydrocarbon reactant with the first molten metal composition, decomposing the hydrocarbon reactant into at least one fluid product and carbon, forming a metal alloy from a mixture of the carbon and the first molten metal composition, and separating a homogenous second molten composition from the metal alloy.

Abstract: A method for transporting nitride (N3?) ions in an electrochemical cell includes providing nitrogen to a first side of a solid electrolyte membrane to form nitride ions and transporting the nitride ions across the solid electrolyte membrane. The solid electrolyte membrane includes a metal nitride. The method may be used for ionically-mediated separation and/or compression of nitrogen or to form ammonia.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cured polymer resin using functionalized graphene oxide, includes mixing functionalized graphene oxide with a resin precursor and an optional solvent to produce a functionalized graphene solution wherein the particles contain functional groups nearly identical to, or identical to, a polymer precursor material, adding a curing initiator to the resin solution and mixing to produce a resin solution, depositing the formulation into a desired shape, and curing the formulation to form a polymer having functionalized graphene oxide groups in a base polymer material.

Abstract: A process for decomposing a hydrocarbon-containing composition includes feeding the hydrocarbon-containing composition to a reactor containing a catalytically active molten metal or a catalytically active molten metal alloy, wherein the metal or alloy catalyzes a decomposition reaction of the hydrocarbon-containing composition into a hydrogen-rich gas phase and a solid carbon phase. The solid carbon phase is insoluble in the metal or alloy. The process may be a continuous process.

Abstract: An electrodialytic battery system comprises an electrodialysis apparatus having first and second reservoirs, wherein concentration of an input solution in the first reservoir increases and concentration of the input solution decreases in the second reservoir during an operation mode. A first redox-active electrolyte chamber comprises a first electrode and a first solution of a first redox-active electrolyte material and has a reversible redox reaction with the first electrolyte material to drive an ion into the first reservoir. A second redox-active electrolyte chamber comprises a second electrode and a second solution of a redox-active electrolyte material and has a reversible redox reaction with the second electrolyte material to accept an ion from the second reservoir. A first type of membrane is disposed between the first and second reservoirs, and a second type of membrane, different from the first type, is disposed between the respective electrode chambers and reservoirs.

Abstract: A desalination and energy storage system comprises at least one water reservoir, at least one negative-ion redox electrode, at least one positive-ion redox electrode, a cation-exchange membrane disposed between the at least one negative-ion redox electrode and the water reservoir, and an anion-exchange membrane disposed between the at least one positive-ion redox electrode and the water reservoir. The at least one water reservoir comprises an input and an output, wherein water in the at least one water reservoir is reduced below a threshold concentration during a desalination operation mode. The at least one negative-ion electrode comprises a first solution and is configured to accept, and have, a reversible redox reaction with at least one negative ion in the water, and the at least one positive-ion electrode comprises a second solution and is configured to accept, and have, a reversible redox reaction with at least one positive ion in the water.

Abstract: A method of removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere and generating hydrogen includes capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in an alkaline capture solution, sending the alkaline capture solution to a series of electrolyzers in a CO2-rich path, wherein each electrolyzer cell raises the acidity of the input CO2-rich solution to produce an acidified CO2-rich solution, removing carbon dioxide from the acidified CO2-rich solution at a carbon removal unit to produce a CO2-poor solution, sending the CO2-poor solution to the series of electrolyzers in a return path, wherein each electrolyzer raises the alkalinity of the return CO2-poor solution to produce a basified CO2-poor solution, wherein a difference in pH between the CO2-rich solution and the CO2-poor solution within each electrolyzer is less than 3, and returning the basified CO2-poor solution to the carbon dioxide capture unit operation.

Abstract: A solution flows through a salinate chamber and a desalinate chamber of an electrochemical cell. Solutes are moved from the desalinate chamber to the salinate chamber to create respective solvent and concentrate streams from the desalinate and salinate chambers. The concentrate stream flows to a recombination cell where it is combined with a solvent. The combination causes at least one of an absorption of heat within the recombination cell and emission of heat from the recombination cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical metal alloy identification device employing electrolytes to measure and identify different potentials of alloys is presented. This includes physical structure, disposables, electrical systems, control circuitry, and algorithms to identify alloys.

Abstract: A composition of matter has cement particles and resin structures having: a first functional group bonded directly to a surface of each cement particle; and a second functional group that bonds to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration, wherein the second functional group is bondable with second functional groups of others of the cement particles to form a polymer network; and a backbone that connects the first functional group with the second functional group. A method of forming cement particles includes mixing cement particles with reactive molecules, the reactive molecules having a first functional group bonded directly to a surface of each cement particle, a second functional group that is bondable to calcium silicate hydrate upon hydration, wherein the second functional group is bondable with second function groups of others of the cement particles to form a polymer network, and a backbone that connects the first functional group with the second functional group.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-evaporative drying comprises a solvent permeable transfer substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. An ejector is configured to eject a droplet comprising at least one solvent onto the first surface of the transfer substrate. A reservoir comprising a draw solution is configured to place the draw solution in contact with the second surface of the transfer substrate, and a print substrate is configured to contact a portion of the first surface of the transfer substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-evaporative drying comprises a solvent permeable transfer substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. An ejector is configured to eject a droplet comprising at least one solvent onto the first surface of the transfer substrate. A reservoir comprising a draw solution is configured to place the draw solution in contact with the second surface of the transfer substrate, and a print substrate is configured to contact a portion of the first surface of the transfer substrate.

Abstract: A device controls levels of carbon dioxide and water in a controlled environment. The device comprises a first electrode chamber, which receives an input fluid comprising first concentrations of carbon dioxide and water and is configured to deliver a first output fluid having concentrations of carbon dioxide and water lower than the first concentrations to a first environment, and a second electrode chamber having an outlet configured to deliver a second output fluid having third concentrations of carbon dioxide and water to a second environment. A reduction catalyst layer in the first electrode chamber reduces carbon dioxide and water in the input fluid to form ionic carrier species, an ion-transporting membrane is positioned between the first and second electrode chambers and comprises carrier species, and an oxidation catalyst layer in the second electrode chamber oxidizes the ionic carrier species to form carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: A colorimetric sensor has a first material deposited on a surface, and sensing particles on a surface of the first material, wherein the sensing particles comprise sensing species dispersed into porous host structures, such that at least a portion of the sensing particles is exposed to an ambient environment, wherein the first material attaches the sensing particles to surface. A method of forming a colorimetric sensor including depositing a first material onto a substrate, providing porous sensing particles, wherein the sensing particles comprise sensing species dispersed into a porous host structure, and embedding the porous sensing particles onto a surface of the deposited first material, wherein the first material attaches the sensing particles to the substrate such that at least a portion of the sensing particles is exposed to an ambient environment.

Abstract: A composition of matter has a fiber structure impregnated with a polymer, the polymer having dispersed functionalized particles chemically bonded to the polymer, wherein the functionalized particles contain one of either groups same as a precursor of the polymer, or groups reactive with a precursor. A composition of matter has a fiber structure impregnated with cured epoxy resin having dispersed functionalized particles chemically bonded to the cured epoxy, wherein the functionalized particles contain one of either groups same as the epoxy resin, or groups reactive with the epoxy resin.

Abstract: A polymer aerogel has polymerizable monomers and crosslinkers, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of less than 1.5, and the polymer aerogel has a visible transmittance of at least 20%/3 mm, a haze of 50%/3 mm or lower, and a porosity of at least 10%. A method of producing an aerogel includes dissolving precursors into a solvent, wherein the precursors include monomers, crosslinkers, a controlling agent and an initiator to form a precursor solution, wherein at least one of the monomers or at least one of the crosslinkers has a refractive index of 1.5 or lower, polymerizing the precursor solution to form a gel polymer, and removing the solvent from the gel polymer to produce an aerogel polymer.