Abstract: A system and method that includes flowing brine containing a metal ion through a reactor that includes porous particles having metal ion imprinted polymer having selective binding sites. The system and method further include discharging the brine from the reactor, contacting the porous particles with water, and pressurizing the reactor with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide reacts with the adsorbed metal ions to form a metal carbonate solution, where the metal carbonate solution can then be continuously purified with ion exchange. The method can include recycling eluent from the ion exchange back into the system for re-use. The method further includes depressurizing the reactor to precipitate metal carbonate from the metal carbonate solution and discharging the metal carbonate solution from the reactor.

Abstract: A material includes a porous particle that includes a metal ion imprinted polymer. The metal ion imprinted polymer is formed from a hydrophilic co-monomer, a metal containing polymerizable compound, and a cross-linking agent. The metal containing polymerizable compound includes at least one metal chelating ligand. The metal ion imprinted polymer includes a plurality of metal ion selective binding sites. A method includes flowing brine containing a metal ion through a reactor that includes the material. The method further includes discharging the brine from the reactor, contacting the porous particles with water, and pressurizing the reactor with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide reacts with the adsorbed metal ions to form a metal carbonate solution. The method further includes depressurizing the reactor to precipitate metal carbonate from the metal carbonate solution and discharging the metal carbonate solution from the reactor.

Abstract: A material includes a porous particle that includes a metal ion imprinted polymer. The metal ion imprinted polymer is formed from a hydrophilic co-monomer, a metal containing polymerizable compound, and a cross-linking agent. The metal containing polymerizable compound includes at least one metal chelating ligand. The metal ion imprinted polymer includes a plurality of metal ion selective binding sites. A method includes flowing brine containing a metal ion through a reactor that includes the material. The method further includes discharging the brine from the reactor, contacting the porous particles with water, and pressurizing the reactor with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide reacts with the adsorbed metal ions to form a metal carbonate solution. The method further includes depressurizing the reactor to precipitate metal carbonate from the metal carbonate solution and discharging the metal carbonate solution from the reactor.

Abstract: A system and method that includes flowing brine containing a metal ion through a reactor that includes porous particles having metal ion imprinted polymer having selective binding sites. The system and method further include discharging the brine from the reactor, contacting the porous particles with water, and pressurizing the reactor with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide reacts with the adsorbed metal ions to form a metal carbonate solution, where the metal carbonate solution can then be continuously purified with ion exchange. The method can include recycling eluent from the ion exchange back into the system for re-use. The method further includes depressurizing the reactor to precipitate metal carbonate from the metal carbonate solution and discharging the metal carbonate solution from the reactor.

Abstract: Example systems are described for producing solar grade silicon from a silicon-generating reaction and recycled silicon particles. In one example, a system for manufacturing high purity solid silicon includes a reactor and a cooling chamber. The reactor includes one or more outlets and a reactor chamber. The one or more outlets are configured to receive a silicon tetrahalide, a reducing agent, and recycled silicon particles. The reactor chamber is configured to react the silicon tetrahalide and the reducing agent to produce fresh silicon, a halide salt, and reaction heat. The reactor chamber heats the recycled silicon particles, the fresh silicon, and the halide salt using at least a portion of the reaction heat to form molten silicon and molten halide salt. The molten silicon includes melted fresh silicon and melted recycled silicon particles. The cooling chamber is configured to cool the molten silicon to form the solid silicon.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for producing a strong, light, sorbent-based storage/dispenser system for gases and fuels. The system comprises a porous monolithic material with an adherent strong impervious skin that is capable of storing a gas under pressure in a safe and usable manner.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for producing a strong, light, sorbent-based storage/dispenser system for gases and fuels. The system comprises a porous monolithic material with an adherent strong impervious skin that is capable of storing a gas under pressure in a safe and usable manner.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates generally to a method for thermally decomposing a complex precursor salt. In one embodiment, the method includes heating a salt in a reactor until a molten salt is formed, adding the complex precursor salt to the molten salt in the reactor and removing a volatile precursor halide formed from thermal decomposition of the complex precursor salt from the reactor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a multi-stage system for performing melt coalescence and separation, the multi-stage system. In one embodiment, the multi-stage system includes a first container for mixing a powder with a salt, the first container having an opening, a heating means coupled to the first container for heating the first container and a second container coupled to the first container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates generally to a method for thermally decomposing a complex precursor salt. In one embodiment, the method includes heating a salt in a reactor until a molten salt is formed, adding the complex precursor salt to the molten salt in the reactor and removing a volatile precursor halide formed from thermal decomposition of the complex precursor salt from the reactor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a multi-stage system for performing melt coalescence and separation, the multi-stage system. In one embodiment, the multi-stage system includes a first container for mixing a powder with a salt, the first container having an opening, a heating means coupled to the first container for heating the first container and a second container coupled to the first container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates generally to a method for reutilizing ionic halides in a production of an elemental material. In one embodiment, the method includes reacting a mixture of an ionic halide, at least one of: an oxide, suboxide or an oxyhalide of an element to be produced and an aqueous acid solution at moderate temperature to form a complex precursor salt and a salt, forming a precursor halide from the complex precursor salt, reducing the precursor halide into the element to be produced and the ionic halide and returning the ionic halide into the mixture of the reacting step.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods, materials, and devices for making and screening combinatorial libraries to identify semi-conducting and thermoelectric materials. The disclosed method includes preparing a combinatorial library of materials, and identifying library members that are semiconductors. The method may include determining a thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, for each member of a second combinatorial library of materials. The method determines ZT by applying an oscillatory voltage across the library members, measuring power dissipated by library members, and calculating ZT from the power dissipated. The method may also include isolating single-phase materials of the semiconducting library members. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for discovering thermoelectric materials using combinatorial techniques.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided which has a liquid anode. Preferably the liquid anode comprises molten salt and a fuel, which preferably has a significant elemental carbon content. The supply of fuel is preferably continuously replenished in the anode. Where the fuel contains or pyrolizes to elemental carbon, the reaction C+2O2??CO2+4e? may occur at the anode. The electrochemical cell preferably has a solid electrolyte, which may be yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The electrolyte is connected to a solid or liquid cathode, which is given a supply of an oxidizer such as air. An ion such as O2? passes through the electrolyte. If O2? passes through the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode, a possible reaction at the cathode may be O2+4e??2O2?. The electrochemical cell of the invention is preferably operated as a fuel cell, consuming fuel and producing electrical current.

Abstract: Computer programs and computer-implemented methods implement techniques for evaluating experimental data from a library of materials. The techniques receive a plurality of images of a library of materials that includes an array of members associated with locations in the library. User input identifying a plurality of regions of interest is received. A series of reduced data values is determined for one or more of the regions of interest as a statistical function of a plurality of pixel values for pixels in the corresponding regions. A figure of merit is calculated from one or more of the series of reduced data values for a library member at the corresponding library location. The regions of interest include a plurality of pixels in the images and correspond to locations in the library.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided which has a liquid anode. Preferably the liquid anode comprises molten salt and a fuel, which preferably has a significant elemental carbon content. The supply of fuel is preferably continuously replenished in the anode. Where the fuel contains or pyrolizes to elemental carbon, the reaction C+2O2??CO2+4e? may occur at the anode. The electrochemical cell preferably has a solid electrolyte, which may be yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The electrolyte is connected to a solid or liquid cathode, which is given a supply of an oxidizer such as air. An ion such as O2? passes through the electrolyte. If O2? passes through the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode, a possible reaction at the cathode may be O2+4e??2O2?. The electrochemical cell of the invention is preferably operated as a fuel cell, consuming fuel and producing electrical current.

Abstract: Computer programs and computer-implemented methods implement techniques for evaluating experimental data from a library of materials. The techniques receive a plurality of images of a library of materials that includes an array of members associated with locations in the library. User input identifying a plurality of regions of interest is received. A series of reduced data values is determined for one or more of the regions of interest as a statistical function of a plurality of pixel values for pixels in the corresponding regions. A figure of merit is calculated from one or more of the series of reduced data values for a library member at the corresponding library location. The regions of interest include a plurality of pixels in the images and correspond to locations in the library.

Abstract: Computer programs and computer-implemented methods are disclosed for extracting and analyzing combinatorial chemical data from images. The invention receives a stream of data, identifies a plurality of regions of interest and determines a series of values for one or more regions of interest. The library includes a plurality of members. The data stream includes a series of images of the library. Each region of interest corresponds to a location in each of the images and to a location in the library. The series of values for each region includes a value for each of the images. Particular embodiments have the following features. The invention calculates a figure of merit for a library member from each series of values. The stream of data comprises a series of images generated at a frequency of greater than about 1, 6, 12 or 30 frames per second. The series of images is captured from a beginning of a combinatorial experiment to an end of a commercial experiment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high-throughput determination of phase change points of combinatorial libraries of metal alloys uses an infrared camera to monitor temperature-dependent changes in emissivity/reflectivity of the alloys. An infrared focal plane array monitors the emissivity/reflectivity changes over time, and the intensity of each heated member over time is correlated with temperature to detect the phase change points of the members.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods, materials, and devices for making and screening combinatorial libraries to identify semi-conducting and thermoelectric materials. The disclosed method includes preparing a combinatorial library of materials, and identifying library members that are semiconductors. The method may include determining a thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, for each member of a second combinatorial library of materials. The method determines ZT by applying an oscillatory voltage across the library members, measuring power dissipated by library members, and calculating ZT from the power dissipated. The method may also include isolating single-phase materials of the semiconducting library members. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for discovering thermoelectric materials using combinatorial techniques.