Abstract: A composition of matter includes a functionalized graphene derivative having at least one functional group bonded through a chemical linker to the graphene surface. A method includes reacting fluorographite with at least one reactant, wherein at least one reactant is one of either a di-functional or a multifunctional reactant, to produce a fluorographite derivative.

Abstract: A composite particle includes a solid particle, and a coating directly on the solid particle, the coating comprising a water-absorbing material. A layer includes a plurality of composite particles in contact, wherein the composite particles are comprised of: a solid particle; and a coating directly on the solid particle, the coating comprising a water-absorbing material. A method of fabricating composite particles includes combining solid particles with at least one precursor, cross-linker, and radical initiator in a solution to cause polymerization and formation of a water-absorbing coating on the solid particles resulting in composite particles, removing the solution and any unreacted precursors, and drying the composite particles.

Abstract: A method of forming a porous structure involves mixing a solvent with a curable material which disperses in the solvent such that the mixture has greater than 50% solvent content. The mixture is deposited on a substrate and viscosity of the mixture is increased. The curable material in the mixture is cured while a shape of the curable material is maintained by the solvent. After curing, the solvent is removed from the structure.

Abstract: A system includes an electrodialysis device with a salinate chamber through which a salinate stream flows. A desalinate chamber is separated from the salinate chamber by a central, ion-selective membrane. A desalinate stream flows through the desalinate chamber. An anolyte chamber and a catholyte chamber are on opposite outer sides of the salinate and desalinate chambers and separated therefrom by first and second ionic exchange membranes. A solvent exchange interface is in contact on a first side with the salinate stream and is in contact a media flow on a second side. The solvent exchange interface moves a solvent from the media flow to the salinate stream.

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 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 pair of bonded substrates having a first substrate of a first material, a second substrate of the first material, and an adhesive bonding the first substrate to the second substrate, wherein the adhesive has chemically linked compatibilizing particles compatible with the first and second substrates. A composition of matter has an adhesive having a chemically linked particle network forming a bond between a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein compatibilizing particles in the particle network are compatible with the first and second substrates. A method of joining two structures of identical materials includes preparing first and second structures to expose bare material, applying an adhesive to the bare material on the first and second structures, the adhesive containing compatibilizing particles compatible with the material and the preparing allows interaction between the material and the compatibilizing particles, and curing the adhesive.

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: An acrylic adhesive composition includes a first part including an aminoborane initiator and acrylate or/and methacrylate monomers, and a second part including inert microcapsules of a cure activator and acrylate monomers, wherein the microcapsules are breakable, such that when broken, the first part reacts with the second part and the acrylic adhesive begins to cure. A two-part structural adhesive includes a suspension component containing an aminoborane initiator, and microcapsules containing an encapsulated component, wherein the microcapsules are dispersed in the suspension component. A method of activating an aminoborane initiator suspension to form a structural adhesive includes adding microcapsules containing an encapsulated component, to the aminoborane initiator suspension at a predetermined ratio, and breaking the microcapsules to activate curing.

Abstract: A system for hydrocarbon decomposition comprising a reactor volume, a mechanism to distribute the liquid catalyst as a liquid mist, a distributor to distribute a hydrocarbon reactant, a heat source, a separator to separate the solid product from the liquid catalyst, a re-circulation path and mechanism to re-circulate the liquid catalyst, and an outlet for at least one gaseous product. A system to distribute a liquid to an enclosed volume as a mist has a plurality of orifices designed to break the liquid into a mist. A method to decompose a hydrocarbon reactant includes generating a mist of a liquid catalyst, heating the reactor volume, introducing a hydrocarbon reactant into the reactor volume to produce a solid product and a gaseous product, separating the solid product from the liquid catalyst, removing the solid and gaseous products from the reactor volume, and recirculating the liquid catalyst to the reactor volume.

Abstract: A liquid desiccant regeneration system comprises an electrodialysis apparatus having first and second reservoirs, wherein concentration of an input solution in the first reservoir increases to a threshold concentration 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 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, is disposed between the respective electrode chambers and reservoirs.

Abstract: A system comprises an electrodialysis apparatus, which includes first and second reservoirs, wherein a salt concentration in the first reservoir reduces below a threshold concentration, and salt concentration in the second reservoir increases during an operation mode. A first electrode comprises a first solution of a first redox-active electrolyte material, and a second electrode comprises a second solution of a second redox-active electrolyte material. In a first reversible redox reaction between the first electrode and first electrolyte material at least one ion is accepted from the first reservoir, and in a second reversible redox reaction between the second electrode and second electrolyte material at least one ion is driven into the second reservoir. A first type of ion exchange membrane is disposed between the first and second reservoirs, and a second type of ion exchange membrane, different from the first type, is disposed between the respective electrodes and reservoirs.

Abstract: A catalyst having a porous support having at least one of thermally or electrically conductive particles bonded by a polymer, and enzymes embedded into pores of the porous support. A process of manufacturing an enzyme-embedded porous support includes forming solution of monomers, enzymes, a solvent, and at least one of electrically and thermally conductive particles, polymerizing the monomers by adding initiators to the solution, and evaporating the solvent to produce an enzyme-embedded porous support. A process of manufacturing an enzyme embedded porous support, includes mixing enzymes, at least one of electrically conductive or thermally conductive particles, and a polymer in a solvent, and evaporating the solvent.

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 system comprises a first electrode, an electrolyte membrane, and a second electrode. The first electrode is configured to reduce oxygen in a gas to an oxygen carrier ion at an intermediate temperature. The electrolyte membrane is configured to transport the oxygen carrier ion, and the second electrode is configured to oxidize the oxygen carrier ion to an oxygen molecule. Oxidation of the oxygen molecule consumes less than four electrons.

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 sensor has a transparent polymer aerogel, and sensing materials dispersed into the transparent, polymer aerogel, where the sensing materials change color in response to environmental conditions. A method of forming a sensor includes providing a substrate, forming a polymer aerogel layer on the substrate, and infusing the polymer aerogel layer with sensing molecules.

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: 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: An electrochemical stack includes a solid electrolyte membrane as one of the components of a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane may have been formed during stack assembly via an in situ reaction.