Abstract: A method of synthesizing a gel may include dissolving resorcinol and formaldehyde to form a homogenous medium. The method may also include subjecting the medium to nitrogen gas flow. The method may further include subjecting the medium to a vacuum procedure at a room temperature. Thus, the medium is subjected to the melting temperature of resorcinol. In addition, the method may include cooling the gel and subjecting the formed gel to the vacuum procedure at the temperature lower than the melting temperature of resorcinol.

Abstract: In certain aspects and embodiments, the present invention provides a radiolytic polymerization/gelation method for the synthesis of gels and their subsequent activated carbon derivatives. In certain exemplary embodiments, resorcinol-formaldehyde gels are produced from resorcinol and formaldehyde without additives, catalysts, buffers, initiators or other species. In certain embodiments, ionizing ?-type radiation from 60Co is used as a radiation source in the gel crosslinking process. Different compositions of resorcinol/formaldehyde and a wide range of irradiation doses were examined. Various techniques are used to characterize the outcome product, either the gels or their derived carbon gels or activated carbon.

Abstract: Provided are multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with nanospheres of carbon, methods of preparing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with nanospheres of carbon, and uses thereof.

Abstract: In certain aspects and embodiments, the present invention provides a radiolytic polymerization/gelation method for the synthesis of gels and their subsequent activated carbon derivatives. In certain exemplary embodiments, resorcinol-formaldehyde gels are produced from resorcinol and formaldehyde without additives, catalysts, buffers, initiators or other species. In certain embodiments, ionizing ?-type radiation from 60Co is used as a radiation source in the gel crosslinking process. Different compositions of resorcinol/formaldehyde and a wide range of irradiation doses were examined. Various techniques are used to characterize the outcome product, either the gels or their derived carbon gels or activated carbon.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a gel may include dissolving resorcinol and formaldehyde to form a homogenous medium. The method may also include subjecting the medium to nitrogen gas flow. The method may further include subjecting the medium to a vacuum procedure at a room temperature. Thus, the medium is subjected to the melting temperature of resorcinol. In addition, the method may include cooling the gel and subjecting the formed gel to the vacuum procedure at the temperature lower than the melting temperature of resorcinol.

Abstract: The method for low temperature microencapsulation of phase change materials or other components includes the following steps: (a) preparing a phase change emulsion including droplets of at least one active phase-change material in water with a surfactant; (b) adding a monomer of at least one encapsulating agent; (c) introducing the phase change emulsion into a UV reactor while stirring the emulsion; and (d) initiating the photo polymerization of monomers using at least one UV lamp inside the UV reactor for photo polymerization until the phase change material is encapsulated within a polymeric shell to form microcapsules. The microcapsules obtained by this process may have a diameter between about 0.5 to about 2 ?m. Other sizes can also be obtained by changing stirring speed of the emulsion.

Abstract: Provided are multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with nanospheres of carbon, methods of preparing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with nanospheres of carbon, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The method for low temperature microencapsulation of phase change materials or other components includes the following steps: (a) preparing a phase change emulsion including droplets of at least one active phase-change material in water with a surfactant; (b) adding a monomer of at least one encapsulating agent; (c) introducing the phase change emulsion into a UV reactor while stirring the emulsion; and (d) initiating the photo polymerization of monomers using at least one UV lamp inside the UV reactor for photo polymerization until the phase change material is encapsulated within a polymeric shell to form microcapsules. The microcapsules obtained by this process may have a diameter between about 0.5 to about 2 ?m. Other sizes can also be obtained by changing stirring speed of the emulsion.

Abstract: The method of synthesizing carbon nanorods (CNRs) and carbon nanowires (CNWs) involves carbonization of a resorcinol-formaldehyde cross-linked precursor gel. The first stage is the synthesis of resorcinol-formaldehyde cross-linked precursor gel. The second stage is carbonization of the gel by heating the gel in a furnace under the flow of nitrogen gas at 500° C. for three hours. The third stage involves activating the carbon by heating the carbon gel in a furnace under the flow of carbon dioxide gas for one hour at 700° C. to form the CNRs and CNWs.

Abstract: The sol-gel templating with the infusion of gas bubbles provides a process for synthesizing polymeric or gel materials while being templated with slow bubbling of various gases into the reacting media upon the polymerization or gelation stage. The process uses a source of gas, which is delivered at a desired rate and pressure via at least one inert tube directly into the reacting solution while the gel is being formed by sol-gel process. The tube(s) have a diameter selected to produce bubbles that result in the desired pore size and the number and placement of the tubes is selected to produce the desired pore structure and surface area in the gel template. The gel may be any gel capable of being formed by sol-gel process. The gas may be selected from carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen, helium, argon, oxygen, hydrogen, propane, ethane, propylene, ethylene, air, and n-butane and other inert gases.

Abstract: The sol-gel templating with the infusion of gas bubbles provides a process for synthesizing polymeric or gel materials while being templated with slow bubbling of various gases into the reacting media upon the polymerization or gelation stage. The process uses a source of gas, which is delivered at a desired rate and pressure via at least one inert tube directly into the reacting solution while the gel is being formed by sol-gel process. The tube(s) have a diameter selected to produce bubbles that result in the desired pore size and the number and placement of the tubes is selected to produce the desired pore structure and surface area in the gel template. The gel may be any gel capable of being formed by sol-gel process. The gas may be selected from carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen, helium, argon, oxygen, hydrogen, propane, ethane, propylene, ethylene, air, and n-butane and other inert gases.

Abstract: The method of synthesizing carbon nanorods (CNRs) and carbon nanowires (CNWs) involves carbonization of a resorcinol-formaldehyde cross-linked precursor gel. The first stage is the synthesis of resorcinol-formaldehyde cross-linked precursor gel. The second stage is carbonization of the gel by heating the gel in a furnace under the flow of nitrogen gas at 500° C. for three hours. The third stage involves activating the carbon by heating the carbon gel in a furnace under the flow of carbon dioxide gas for one hour at 700° C. to form the CNRs and CNWs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the electrochemical polymerization process for preparation of cross-linked gel. The process includes mixing a hydroxylated benzene and aldehyde in an aqueous media in an inert container to form a hydroxylated benzene and aldehyde mixture. Furthermore, the process includes introducing electrodes into the inert container. Further, the electrochemical polymerization process includes supplying electric current to the hydroxylated benzene and aldehyde mixtures in the inert container through the electrodes. The resultant products of electrochemical polymerization process either gels or activated carbon gels have unique characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical polymerization process for preparation of crosslinked gel. The process includes mixing a hydroxylated benzene and aldehyde in an aqueous media in an inert container to form a hydroxylated benzene and aldehyde mixture. Furthermore, the process includes introducing electrodes into the inert container. Further, the electrochemical polymerization process includes supplying electric current to the hydroxylated benzene and aldehyde mixtures in the inert container through the electrodes. The resultant products of electrochemical polymerization process either gels or activated carbon gels have unique characteristics.