Abstract: A coated hydrogen storage pellet; wherein the pellet comprises a hydrogen-storage material; the coating comprises a hydrogen-permeable polymer and the coating has a mean thickness of less than 50 ?m.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting, handling and upgrading carbonaceous material. The systems and methods involve forming a reaction mixture of a carbonaceous material, a supercritical fluid, a catalyst and a source of hydrogen, and maintaining the reaction mixture at moderate temperatures for modest time periods. Exemplary reaction temperatures are those below 200° C. Exemplary reaction times range from 30 minutes to less than 24 hours.

Abstract: A spacecraft and spacesuit having a radiation shield are disclosed. The shield comprises a hydrogen-containing material encapsulated or bound in a polymer. The hydrogen-containing material has a higher hydrogen content than polyethylene. The hydrogen-containing material may be: encapsulated in a polymer container, sandwiched between layers of polymer, mixed with a polymer as binder, or held in the pores of a polymer foam. The hydrogen may be a hydride or borohydride such as beryllium borohydride, ammonium octahydrotriborate, lithium borohydride tetramethyl ammonium borohydride and beryllium hydride. Methods of manufacturing the shield are also disclosed.

Abstract: A spacecraft and spacesuit having a radiation shield are disclosed. The shield comprises a hydrogen-containing material encapsulated or bound in a polymer. The hydrogen-containing material has a higher hydrogen content than polyethylene. The hydrogen-containing material may be: encapsulated in a polymer container, sandwiched between layers of polymer, mixed with a polymer as binder, or held in the pores of a polymer foam. The hydrogen may be a hydride or borohydride such as beryllium borohydride, ammonium octahydrotriborate, lithium borohydride tetramethyl ammonium borohydride and beryllium hydride. Methods of manufacturing the shield are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for extracting and upgrading heavy hydrocarbons from substrates such as oil sands, oil shales, and tar sands in a unitary operation. The substrate bearing the hydrocarbon is brought into contact with a supercritical or near-supercritical fluid, a source of hydrogen such as hydrogen gas, and a catalyst. The materials are mixed and heated under elevated pressure. As a consequence of the elevated temperature and pressure, upgraded hydrocarbon-containing material is provided in a single or unitary operation. In some embodiments, sonication can be used to improve the upgrading process. Fluids suitable for use in the process include carbon dioxide, hexane, and water. It has been observed that upgrading can occur within periods of time of a few hours.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controllably converting aluminum into alane. In the system of the invention, a reaction between aluminum and hydrogen to form alane is performed at temperatures below 100° C. using a supercritical fluid such as CO2 as a reaction medium, with the optional inclusion of a co-solvent, such as an ether, in the reaction vessel. Inert gas is used to exclude unwanted gases such as oxygen. The reaction of aluminum and hydrogen has been observed to proceed at approximately 60° C. using Me2O as an added solvent in CO2 at supercritical pressures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting, handling and upgrading liquid-based carbonaceous material. The systems and methods involve forming a reaction mixture of a liquid-based carbonaceous material, a supercritical fluid, a catalyst and a source of hydrogen, and maintaining the reaction mixture at moderate temperatures for modest time periods. Exemplary reaction temperatures are those below 200° C. Exemplary reaction times range from 30 minutes to less than 24 hours.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing, recharging, reprocessing and chemical doping of hydrogen storage materials utilizing supercritical fluids. The processes include dissolution or suspension of the material in a supercritical fluid mixed with hydrogen.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controllably converting aluminum into alane. In the system of the invention, a reaction between aluminum and hydrogen to form alane is performed at temperatures below 100° C. using a supercritical fluid such as CO2 as a reaction medium, with the optional inclusion of a co-solvent, such as an ether, in the reaction vessel. Inert gas is used to exclude unwanted gases such as oxygen. The reaction of aluminum and hydrogen has been observed to proceed at approximately 60° C. using Me2O as an added solvent in CO2 at supercritical pressures.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controllably converting aluminum into alane. In the system of the invention, a reaction between aluminum and hydrogen to form alane is performed at temperatures below 100° C. using a supercritical fluid such as CO2 as a reaction medium, with the optional inclusion of a co-solvent, such as an ether, in the reaction vessel. Inert gas is used to exclude unwanted gases such as oxygen. The reaction of aluminum and hydrogen has been observed to proceed at approximately 60° C. using Me2O as an added solvent in CO2 at supercritical pressures.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for extracting and upgrading heavy hydrocarbons from substrates such as oil sands, oil shales, and tar sands in a unitary operation. The substrate bearing the hydrocarbon is brought into contact with a supercritical or near-supercritical fluid, a source of hydrogen such as hydrogen gas, and a catalyst. The materials are mixed and heated under elevated pressure. As a consequence of the elevated temperature and pressure, upgraded hydrocarbon-containing material is provided in a single or unitary operation. In some embodiments, sonication can be used to improve the upgrading process. Fluids suitable for use in the process include carbon dioxide, hexane, and water. It has been observed that upgrading can occur within periods of time of a few hours.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting, handling and upgrading carbonaceous material. The systems and methods involve forming a reaction mixture of a carbonaceous material, a supercritical fluid, a catalyst and a source of hydrogen, and maintaining the reaction mixture at moderate temperatures for modest time periods. Exemplary reaction temperatures are those below 200° C. Exemplary reaction times range from 30 minutes to less than 24 hours.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for producing ammonia under conditions having at least one of a temperature and a pressure that are respectively lower than the temperature and pressure at which the Haber process is performed. In some embodiments, a supercritical fluid is used as a reaction medium.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing, recharging, reprocessing and chemical doping of hydrogen storage materials utilizing supercritical fluids. The processes include dissolution or suspension of the material in a supercritical fluid mixed with hydrogen.

Abstract: Hydrogen storage materials which are liquid metal alloys in their discharged state, thereby facilitating their recharging by reaction with hydrogen gas.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for preparing hydrogen storage materials using low boiling point solvents or reaction media. Examples of such solvents or reaction media include dimethyl ether, ethyl methyl ether, epoxyethane, and trimethylamine. The synthesis of the hydrogen storage materials is conducted is a selected medium, and after synthesis is complete, the reaction medium is removed as necessary by moderate heating.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controllably converting aluminum into alane. In the system of the invention, a reaction between aluminum and hydrogen to form alane is performed at temperatures below 100° C. using a supercritical fluid such as CO2 as a reaction medium, with the optional inclusion of a co-solvent, such as an ether, in the reaction vessel. Inert gas is used to exclude unwanted gases such as oxygen. The reaction of aluminum and hydrogen has been observed to proceed at approximately 60° C. using Me2O as an added solvent in CO2 at supercritical pressures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing ammonia. In one approach, Li3N is reacted with hydrogen to produce ammonia and is regenerated using nitrogen. Catalysts comprising selected transition metals or their nitrides can be used to promote the reactions. In another approach, supercritical anhydrous ammonia is used as a reaction medium to assist the reaction of hydrogen with nitrogen to produce ammonia, again promoted using catalysts.

Abstract: A method of purifying a UF.sub.6 gas stream which comprises irradiating the UF.sub.6 gas stream with laser radiation in a vessel in order to selectively convert fluoride impurities in the gas stream to involatile products, removing the purified UF.sub.6 gas stream from the vessel and separately removing the impurities from the vessel.