Abstract: An energy transfer system is disclosed which has a controller, a first capacitor acting as a first electrode, a second capacitor acting as a second electrode, a first inductor for storing energy received from the first capacitor, and transferring the stored energy to the second capacitor, and a first plurality of electronic switches. The first plurality of electronic switches may be controlled by the controller to control a transfer of energy from the first capacitor to the first inductor, and from the first inductor to the first capacitor. An additional energy transfer subsystem may be included which has a second inductor for receiving energy from the first capacitor while the first inductor is transferring the stored energy to the second capacitor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacitive deionization system which makes use of a controller, a first capacitor acting as a first electrode, a second capacitor acting as a second electrode, and a first inductor for storing energy received from the first capacitor, and transferring the stored energy to the second capacitor. A first plurality of electronic switches are controlled by the controller to control communication between the first inductor and the first capacitor, and between the first inductor and the second capacitor. An additional energy transfer subsystem is included which has a second inductor for receiving energy from the first capacitor while the first inductor is transferring stored energy to the second capacitor.

Abstract: A system combines complete, ultra-thin cells into a monolithic and robust framework necessary for desalination applications which yields orders of magnitude faster desalination. The electrode pairs are located so that a flow of feed water flows through or around the electrode pairs with the flow perpendicular to sequentially applied electric potentials. The system is controlled to charge the series of electrode pairs sequentially or phased. That means the charging of the second electrode pair is delayed with regard to the charging of the first electrode pair and the charging of a third electrode pair is delayed with respect to the charging of the second electrode pair.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a method for increasing the hydrophilicity of a carbon aerogel, comprising heating the carbon aerogels under air or a gas having a higher concentration of oxygen than air at a temperature of about 200°-500° C. to obtain an activated carbon aerogel. Also disclosed include an activated carbon aerogel obtained by the method, an electrode comprising the activated carbon aerogel, and a supercapacitor or capacitive deionization device comprising the electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrical energy storage apparatus which forms an interpenetrating, three dimensional structure. The structure may have a first non-planar channel filled with an anode material to form an anode, and a second non-planar channel adjacent the first non-planar channel filled with a cathode material to form a cathode. A third non-planar channel may be formed adjacent the first and second non-planar channels and filled with an electrolyte. The first, second and third channels are formed so as to be interpenetrating and form a spatially dense, three dimensional structure. A first current collector is in communication with the first non-planar channel and forms a first electrode, while a second current collector is in communication with the second non-planar channel and forms a second electrode. A separator layers separates the current collectors.

Abstract: A system combines complete, ultra-thin cells into a monolithic and robust framework necessary for desalination applications which yields orders of magnitude faster desalination. The electrode pairs are located so that a flow of feed water flows through or around the electrode pairs with the flow perpendicular to sequentially applied electric potentials. The system is controlled to charge the series of electrode pairs sequentially or phased. That means the charging of the second electrode pair is delayed with regard to the charging of the first electrode pair and the charging of a third electrode pair is delayed with respect to the charging of the second electrode pair.

Abstract: A separator made of ion conductive ink is produced by additive manufacturing. A micro-battery is produced with the separator made of ion conductive ink located between the battery's anode and cathode. The separator functions to keep the anode and cathode apart and to facilitate the transport of ions to produce an operative micro-battery.

Abstract: A method of making large ultrathin free-standing polymer films without use of a sacrificial layer includes the steps of providing a substrate, applying a polyelectrolyte material to said substrate, applying a polymer material onto said substrate and onto said polyelectrolyte material, and directly delaminating said polymer material from said substrate and said polyelectrolyte to produce the ultrathin free-standing polymer film.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes forming a nickel oxide/hydroxide active film onto a substrate from a solution including a nickelous salt and an electrolyte, where the nickel oxide/hydroxide active film has a physical characteristic of maintaining greater than about 80% charge over greater than 500 charge/discharge cycles, and wherein the nickel oxide/hydroxide active film has a physical characteristic of storing electrons at greater than about 0.5 electron per nickel atom.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting energy from fresh water and salt water, including a first porous electrode having first pores, a second porous electrode having second pores, a non-conducting permeable separator between the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode, a system for applying an electric potential difference between the first porous electrode, and the second porous electrode, and a system for flowing the fresh water and the salt water through the first porous electrode having first pores, through the non-conducting permeable separator, and through the second porous electrode having second pores thereby harvesting energy from the fresh water and the salt water.

Abstract: A composition comprising: at least one porous carbon monolith, such as a carbon aerogel, comprising internal pores, and at least one nanomaterial, such as carbon nanotubes, disposed uniformly throughout the internal pores. The nanomaterial can be disposed in the middle of the monolith. In addition, a method for making a monolithic solid with both high surface area and good bulk electrical conductivity is provided. A porous substrate having a thickness of 100 microns or more and comprising macropores throughout its thickness is prepared. At least one catalyst is deposited inside the porous substrate. Subsequently, chemical vapor deposition is used to uniformly deposit a nanomaterial in the macropores throughout the thickness of the porous substrate. Applications include electrical energy storage, such as batteries and capacitors, and hydrogen storage.

Abstract: A monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system is provided on an aerogel or nanotube scaffold. An anode, separator, cathode, and cathodic current collector are deposited on the aerogel or nanotube scaffold.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for capacitive desalination using segmented electrodes in a flow-through or flow-between configuration. The segmented electrodes constitute layered stack electrode units. Each electrode includes pores into which the target salt water flows. An electrical circuit energizes the electrodes and produces an electrical field acting on the target salt water producing desalted water. The segmented electrodes provide ultra-thin cells into a robust framework necessary for desalination applications which yield orders of magnitude faster desalination.

Abstract: A monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system is provided on an aerogel or nanotube scaffold. An anode, separator, cathode, and cathodic current collector are deposited on the aerogel or nanotube scaffold.

Abstract: A monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system is provided on an aerogel or nanotube scaffold. An anode, separator, cathode, and cathodic current collector are deposited on the aerogel or nanotube scaffold.

Abstract: An electrode “flow-through” capacitive desalination system wherein feed water is pumped through the pores of a pair of monolithic porous electrodes separated by an ultrathin non-conducting porous film. The pair of monolithic porous electrodes are porous conductors made of a material such as activated carbon aerogel. The feed water flows through the electrodes and the spacing between electrodes is on the order 10 microns.

Abstract: A composition comprising: at least one porous carbon monolith, such as a carbon aerogel, comprising internal pores, and at least one nanomaterial, such as carbon nanotubes, disposed uniformly throughout the internal pores. The nanomaterial can be disposed in the middle of the monolith. In addition, a method for making a monolithic solid with both high surface area and good bulk electrical conductivity is provided. A porous substrate having a thickness of 100 microns or more and comprising macropores throughout its thickness is prepared. At least one catalyst is deposited inside the porous substrate. Subsequently, chemical vapor deposition is used to uniformly deposit a nanomaterial in the macropores throughout the thickness of the porous substrate. Applications include electrical energy storage, such as batteries and capacitors, and hydrogen storage.

Abstract: A monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system is provided on an aerogel or nanotube scaffold. An anode, separator, cathode, and cathodic current collector are deposited on the aerogel or nanotube scaffold.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus comprising a nanotube or nanowire, a lipid bilayer around the nanotube or nanowire, and a sensing element connected to the lipid bilayer. Also a biosensor apparatus comprising a gate electrode; a source electrode; a drain electrode; a nanotube or nanowire operatively connected to the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; a lipid bilayer around the nanotube or nanowire, and a sensing element connected to the lipid bilayer.

Abstract: A composition comprising: at least one porous carbon monolith, such as a carbon aerogel, comprising internal pores, and at least one nanomaterial, such as carbon nanotubes, disposed uniformly throughout the internal pores. The nanomaterial can be disposed in the middle of the monolith. In addition, a method for making a monolithic solid with both high surface area and good bulk electrical conductivity is provided. A porous substrate having a thickness of 100 microns or more and comprising macropores throughout its thickness is prepared. At least one catalyst is deposited inside the porous substrate. Subsequently, chemical vapor deposition is used to uniformly deposit a nanomaterial in the macropores throughout the thickness of the porous substrate. Applications include electrical energy storage, such as batteries and capacitors, and hydrogen storage.