Abstract: High surface area electrodes formed using sol-gel derived monoliths as electrode substrates or electrode templates, and methods for making high surface area electrodes are described. The high surface area electrodes may have tunable pore sizes and well-controlled pore size distributions. The high surface area electrodes may be used as electrodes in a variety of energy storage devices and systems such as capacitors, electric double layer capacitors, batteries, and fuel cells.

Abstract: High surface area energy chips that can be used to make high surface area electrodes and methods for making high surface area energy chips are described. The energy chips comprise a monolithic conductive material comprising an open network of pores having an average pore diameter between about 0.3 nm and 30 nm. The conductive material forms a thin chip having a thickness of about 300 microns or less, and the thickness across different portions of the chip varies by less than 10% of the thickness. The high surface area energy chips may be used as electrodes in a variety of energy storage devices and systems such as capacitors, electric double layer capacitors, batteries, and fuel cells.

Abstract: A mold for casting sol-gel wafers is provided. The mold may be formed of multiple low-friction layers, for example, layers made of polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon™). The layers may alternate between solid layers and well layers, with a gel formulation placed in wells of each well layer. A force may be applied to the layers during the gelling process to produce a solid, but wet and porous gel in the shape of the wells of the mold. The gel may be further processed to produce sol-gel derived monoliths having desired surface characteristics.

Abstract: Nanoporous sol-gel derived monoliths and methods for making nanoporous sol-gel derived monoliths are provided. The methods enable fine control over pore size and pore size distribution, e.g., so that pore sizes can be predetermined and precisely tuned over a range from 0.3 nm to about 30 nm, or over a range from about 0.3 nm to about 10 nm. The monoliths may be derived from any suitable sol-gel, but in some instances they are derived from silica sol-gels. The sol-gel derived monoliths with finely tunable pore sizes and narrow pore size distributions may be used for a variety of applications, e.g., as substrates or templates for high surface area electrodes, as substrates for high surface area sensor, or as a component in a filtration apparatus.

Abstract: Nanoporous sol-gel derived monoliths and methods for making nanoporous sol-gel derived monoliths are provided. The methods enable fine control over pore size and pore size distribution, e.g., so that pore sizes can be predetermined and precisely tuned over a range from 0.3 nm to about 30 nm, or over a range from about 0.3 nm to about 10 nm. The monoliths may be derived from any suitable sol-gel, but in some instances they are derived from silica sol-gels. The sol-gel derived monoliths with finely tunable pore sizes and narrow pore size distributions may be used for a variety of applications, e.g., as substrates or templates for high surface area electrodes, as substrates for high surface area sensor, or as a component in a filtration apparatus.

Abstract: High surface area electrodes formed using sol-gel derived monoliths as electrode substrates or electrode templates, and methods for making high surface area electrodes are described. The high surface area electrodes may have tunable pore sizes and well-controlled pore size distributions. The high surface area electrodes may be used as electrodes in a variety of energy storage devices and systems such as capacitors, electric double layer capacitors, batteries, and fuel cells.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solution for forming a doped gel monolith includes providing a first substance including a metal alkoxide. The method further includes providing a second substance including a catalyst. The method further includes providing a chemical including a dopant. The method further includes forming a solution including the dopant, said forming including mixing the first substance and the second substance together. The method further includes cooling the solution to a mixture temperature which is at or below zero degrees Celsius, wherein the solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature than at room temperature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a xerogel monolith having a pore diameter distribution includes preparing a first solution comprising metal alkoxide and preparing a second solution comprising a catalyst. A third solution is prepared by mixing the first solution and the second solution together. At least one of the first, second, and third solutions is cooled to achieve a mixture temperature for the third solution which is substantially below room temperature, wherein the third solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature as compared to a room temperature gelation time for the third solution. The method further includes allowing the third solution to gel, thereby forming a wet gel monolith. The method further includes forming the xerogel monolith by drying the wet gel monolith.

Abstract: A method of forming a gel monolith includes preparing a first solution comprising metal alkoxide and preparing a second solution comprising a catalyst. A third solution is prepared by mixing the first solution and the second solution together. At least one of the first, second, and third solutions is cooled to achieve a mixture temperature for the third solution which is substantially below room temperature, wherein the third solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature as compared to a room temperature gelation time for the third solution. The method further includes allowing the third solution to gel, thereby forming the gel monolith.

Abstract: A mold is configured to form a gel monolith including a first gel portion and a second gel portion. The mold includes a base including a first hydrophobic surface. The mold further includes a tubular outer wall including a second hydrophobic surface, and the outer wall is coupled to the base. The mold further includes a removable tubular insert including an inner surface and an outer hydrophobic surface. The insert is removably coupled to the base.

Abstract: A method processes a gel monolith comprising pores filled with liquid, an inner region, and an outer region. The method includes removing a portion of the liquid from the pores of the gel monolith while both the inner and outer regions of the gel monolith remain wet. The method further includes shrinking the volume of the gel monolith during the removal of a portion of the liquid, with the gel monolith becoming correspondingly more dense. The method further includes subsequently removing substantially all of the remaining liquid from the pores of the gel monolith. Subsequently removing substantially all of the remaining liquid includes modulating a temperature gradient between the outer region and the inner region.

Abstract: A method forms an optical fiber preform. The method includes forming a sol-gel-derived rod having a first diameter. Forming the sol-gel-derived rod includes preparing a sol-gel solution including at least 3 mole % of a catalyst. The sol-gel solution is allowed to undergo gelation to form a wet gel monolith. The wet gel monolith is dried and shrunk by exposing the wet gel monolith to a temporal temperature profile, thereby forming a xerogel monolith. The xerogel monolith is consolidated, thereby forming the sol-gel-derived rod. The method further includes drawing the sol-gel-derived rod to substantially reduce its diameter, thereby forming a drawn rod having a second diameter less than the first diameter.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a xerogel monolith having a pore diameter distribution includes preparing a first solution comprising metal alkoxide and preparing a second solution comprising a catalyst. A third solution is prepared by mixing the first solution and the second solution together. At least one of the first, second, and third solutions is cooled to achieve a mixture temperature for the third solution which is substantially below room temperature, wherein the third solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature as compared to a room temperature gelation time for the third solution. The method further includes allowing the third solution to gel, thereby forming a wet gel monolith. The method further includes forming the xerogel monolith by drying the wet gel monolith.

Abstract: A method processes a gel monolith comprising pores filled with liquid, an inner region, and an outer region. The method includes removing a portion of the liquid from the pores of the gel monolith while both the inner and outer regions of the gel monolith remain wet. The method further includes shrinking the volume of the gel monolith during the removal of a portion of the liquid, with the gel monolith becoming correspondingly more dense. The method further includes subsequently removing substantially all of the remaining liquid from the pores of the gel monolith. Subsequently removing substantially all of the remaining liquid includes modulating a temperature gradient between the outer region and the inner region.

Abstract: A mold is configured to form a gel monolith including a first gel portion and a second gel portion. The mold includes a base including a first hydrophobic surface. The mold further includes a tubular outer wall including a second hydrophobic surface, and the outer wall is coupled to the base. The mold further includes a removable tubular insert including an inner surface and an outer hydrophobic surface. The insert is removably coupled to the base.

Abstract: A method forms an optical fiber preform. The method includes forming a sol-gel-derived rod having a first diameter. Forming the sol-gel-derived rod includes preparing a sol-gel solution including at least 3 mole % of a catalyst. The sol-gel solution is allowed to undergo gelation to form a wet gel monolith. The wet gel monolith is dried and shrunk by exposing the wet gel monolith to a temporal temperature profile, thereby forming a xerogel monolith. The xerogel monolith is consolidated, thereby forming the sol-gel-derived rod. The method further includes drawing the sol-gel-derived rod to substantially reduce its diameter, thereby forming a drawn rod having a second diameter less than the first diameter.

Abstract: An optical preform includes plural material components including a core material and a cladding material. A component of the optical preform is manufactured by a process of preparing a sol-gel solution comprising at least 3 mole % of a catalyst. The process further includes forming a wet gel monolith by allowing the sol-gel solution to undergo gelation. The process further includes drying and shrinking the wet gel monolith by exposing the wet gel monolith to a temporal temperature profile.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solution for forming a doped gel monolith includes providing a first substance including a metal alkoxide. The method further includes providing a second substance including a catalyst. The method further includes providing a chemical including a dopant. The method further includes forming a solution including the dopant, said forming including mixing the first substance and the second substance together. The method further includes cooling the solution to a mixture temperature which is at or below zero degrees Celsius, wherein the solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature than at room temperature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a xerogel monolith having a pore diameter distribution includes preparing a first solution comprising metal alkoxide and preparing a second solution comprising a catalyst. A third solution is prepared by mixing the first solution and the second solution together. At least one of the first, second, and third solutions is cooled to achieve a mixture temperature for the third solution which is substantially below room temperature, wherein the third solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature as compared to a room temperature gelation time for the third solution. The method further includes allowing the third solution to gel, thereby forming a wet gel monolith. The method further includes forming the xerogel monolith by drying the wet gel monolith.

Abstract: A method of forming a gel monolith includes preparing a first solution comprising metal alkoxide and preparing a second solution comprising a catalyst. A third solution is prepared by mixing the first solution and the second solution together. At least one of the first, second, and third solutions is cooled to achieve a mixture temperature for the third solution which is substantially below room temperature, wherein the third solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature as compared to a room temperature gelation time for the third solution. The method further includes allowing the third solution to gel, thereby forming the gel monolith.