Abstract: A method for full spectrum solar thermal energy harvesting and collection includes storing a first heat in a phase change material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, harvesting a second heat from the phase change material in the presence of solar radiation, storing molecular energy in a molecular storage material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, transferring the second heat from the phase change material to the molecular storage material in the absence of solar radiation, and harvesting the molecular energy released by the molecular storage material.

Abstract: A system configured to capture CO2 and able to be washed of the captured CO2 includes a material including an ionic liquid configured to capture CO2 in response to exposure to a gas comprising CO2 and to a thermal energy source and an aerogel holding the ionic liquid therein. The system may also include a washing solution configured to wash the captured CO2 from the material.

Abstract: A system configured to capture CO2 and able to be washed of the captured CO2 includes a material including an ionic liquid configured to capture CO2 in response to exposure to a gas comprising CO2 and to a thermal energy source and an aerogel holding the ionic liquid therein. The system may also include a washing solution configured to wash the captured CO2 from the material.

Abstract: A method of capturing CO2 and converting the captured CO2 into useful byproducts includes providing a material including a material matrix holding an ionic liquid, exposing the material to a source of thermal energy to capture CO2 within the material, removing the material from exposure to the source of thermal energy, and washing the material with a solution to convert the captured CO2 and wash the converted, captured CO2 from the material as filtrate. Materials and systems for capturing CO2 and converting the captured CO2 into useful byproducts are also provided.

Abstract: A method for full spectrum solar thermal energy harvesting and collection includes storing a first heat in a phase change material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, harvesting a second heat from the phase change material in the presence of solar radiation, storing molecular energy in a molecular storage material in the presence of solar radiation based on absorbing full spectrum solar radiation, transferring the second heat from the phase change material to the molecular storage material in the absence of solar radiation, and harvesting the molecular energy released by the molecular storage material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a strategy to synthesize antimony- and zinc-doped tin oxide particles with tunable band gap characteristics. The methods yield stable and monodispersed particles with great control on uniformity of shape and size. The methods produce undoped and antimony and zinc-doped tin oxide stand-alone and core-shell particles, both nanoparticles and microparticles, as well as antimony and zinc-doped tin oxide shells for coating particles, including plasmonic core particles.

Abstract: A method of capturing CO2 and converting the captured CO2 into useful byproducts includes providing a material including a material matrix holding an ionic liquid, exposing the material to a source of thermal energy to capture CO2 within the material, removing the material from exposure to the source of thermal energy, and washing the material with a solution to convert the captured CO2 and wash the converted, captured CO2 from the material as filtrate. Materials and systems for capturing CO2 and converting the captured CO2 into useful byproducts are also provided.

Abstract: Novel tridentate-, bidentate-, and monodentate-based aromatic adsorbates including self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), especially, mixed multi-component SAMs, where the adsorbates comprise an aromatic ring including one head group or a plurality of dentate head groups and one tunable tail group or a plurality of tail groups and methods for making the same, and methods for using same, their use in the preparation of homogeneously mixed multi-component self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The adsorbants and SAMs derived therefrom are ideally suited for biosensing, biosensing diagnostics, biological interfacial mimics, surface protections for nanoparticles, inert coatings for artificial implants, and corrosion-resistant coatings for microelectronics components.

Abstract: Nano-structures are disclosed that are ideally suited for microelectronics, medical treatment, drug-delivery systems, targeted thermal absorption media, or other similar applications, where the nano-particles include metal oxide nano-particles and metallic nano-particles including a metallic nano-shell or metallic nano-rods deposited on the surface of the nano-particles or nano-shell nano-particles including metallic nano-rods deposited on the surface of the nano-particles and where the nano-structures have a plasmon resonance. For in vivo medical applications, the plasmon resonance is tuned to a tissue-transparent frequency range. Hydrogel-coated nanostructures are also disclosed, which are capable of transitioning between a non-collapsed hydrogel and a collapsed hydrogel via thermal activation induced by electromagnetic irradiation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses hydrogen bond stabilized surface modifying agents having a fluorinated or semi-fluorinated carbon-containing tail group, an internal moiety capable of intermolecular hydrogen bonding or related acid-base interactions and a head group capable of reacting or interacting with surfaces such as metal, non-metallic, ceramic, other inorganic oxide or organic surfaces. The present invention also discloses cost effective method for making the agents, methods for treating surfaces therewith, the treated surfaces and devices made therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention discloses fluorocarbon-containing surface modifying agents having an .omega.-fluorocarbon-containing tail group and a head group for reacting or interacting with surfaces such as metal, non-metallic, ceramic, other inorganic oxide or organic surfaces, cost effective method for making the agents, methods for treating surfaces therewith, the treated surfaces and devices made therefrom.