Abstract: Nano-composite films and methods for their fabrication. The nano-composite films include a polymer matrix (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like) and a filler capable of exfoliation such as graphene or hexagonal boron nitride (e.g., TrGO). The filler provides reinforcement, increasing tensile strength, Young's modulus, or both for the resulting nano-composite film, as compared to what it would be without the filler. The nano-composite film may have a specific tensile strength that is greater than 1 GPa/g/cm3, a specific Young's modulus that is greater than 100 GPa/g/cm3, or both. Tensile strength and modulus values of up to 3.7 GPa/g/cm3 and 125 GPa/g/cm3, respectively, have been demonstrated. The film may be formed by combining powdered filler and polymer matrix powder in a solvent (e.g., decalin), high-shear extruding the resulting solution to disentangle the polymer chains and exfoliate the filler, freezing the solution to form a solid film, and then drawing the film.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the low-temperature desalination of high-salinity water such as seawater or high-salt groundwater. In one embodiment, one or more of the ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([emim][Tf2N]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide ([bmim][Tf2N]), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tosy late ([emim][TsO]), tetrabutylphosphonium tosylate ([P4444][TsO]), tetrabutylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide ([P4444][Tf2N]), trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide ([P66614][Tf2N]), tributyloctylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide ([P4448][Tf2N]).

Abstract: A membrane for use in gas separation may contain a polymer having at least one of either polyimide poly[(naphthalene-1,5-diamine)-alt-(biphenyl-3,3?:4,4?-tetracarboxylic dianhydride)] or poly[isophoronediamine-alt-(biphenyl-3,3?,4,4?-tetracarboxylic anhydride)]. These polyimides were predicted to exhibit above-threshold performance for separating multiple gas pairs for use in industrial applications, such as air separation (O2/N2) and hydrogen separations (H2/CH4, H2/N2), based on a novel graph neural network machine learning model. Performance may be predicted by analyzing polymer properties and structure and comparing against labeled or known performance data for other known polymers. The performance of the polymers for use in gas membranes may then be experimentally verified.

Abstract: Nano-composite films and methods for their fabrication. The nano-composite films include a polymer matrix (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like) and a filler capable of exfoliation such as graphene or hexagonal boron nitride (e.g., TrGO). The filler provides reinforcement, increasing tensile strength, Young's modulus, or both for the resulting nano-composite film, as compared to what it would be without the filler. The nano-composite film may have a specific tensile strength that is greater than 1 GPa/g/cm3, a specific Young's modulus that is greater than 100 GPa/g/ccm3, or both. Tensile strength and modulus values of up to 3.7 GPa/g/cm3 and 125 GPa/g/cm3, respectively, have been demonstrated. The film may be formed by combining powdered filler and polymer matrix powder in a solvent (e.g., decalin), high-shear extruding the resulting solution to disentangle the polymer chains and exfoliate the filler, freezing the solution to form a solid film, and then drawing the film.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for depositing particles on a substrate, the method comprising generating a thermal bubble on a surface of a substrate submerged in a medium having suspended particles such that the thermal bubble deposits the particles on the substrate; and deflating the thermal bubble such that the deposited particles are pulled toward a central position to form an island of particles.

Abstract: Nano-composite films and methods for their fabrication. The nano-composite films include a polymer matrix (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like) and a filler capable of exfoliation such as graphene or hexagonal boron nitride (e.g., TrGO). The filler provides reinforcement, increasing tensile strength, Young's modulus, or both for the resulting nano-composite film, as compared to what it would be without the filler. The nano-composite film may have a specific tensile strength that is greater than 1 GPa/g/cm3, a specific Young's modulus that is greater than 100 GPa/g/ccm3, or both. Tensile strength and modulus values of up to 3.7 GPa/g/cm3 and 125 GPa/g/cm3, respectively, have been demonstrated. The film maybe formed by combining powdered filler and polymer matrix powder in a solvent (e.g.,decalin), high-shear extruding the resulting solution to disentangle the polymer chains and exfoliate the filler, freezing the solution to form a solid film, and then drawing the film.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electricity from low grade heat. The system and method may be a closed loop. When a liquid mixture of salt, water, and an ion-stripping liquid is heated using the low grade heat, water dissolves more readily into the ISL, due to the increased solubility of the water in the ISL, at the increased temperature. The salt remains in a high-salinity aqueous phase that separates from the ISL phase. Upon cooling of the ISL phase, a nearly pure water phase can be separated therefrom. This low salinity water phase and the high salinity water phase can be fed to any of various processes for generating electricity from a salinity gradient, such as pressure retarded osmosis or reverse electro-dialysis. Low and high salinity water exiting the power generating portion of the process can be recycled, to reform the original liquid stream, upon recombination with the ISL.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electricity from low grade heat. The system and method may be a closed loop. When a liquid mixture of salt, water, and an ion-stripping liquid is heated using the low grade heat, water dissolves more readily into the ISL, due to the increased solubility of the water in the ISL, at the increased temperature. The salt remains in a high-salinity aqueous phase that separates from the ISL phase. Upon cooling of the ISL phase, a nearly pure water phase can be separated therefrom. This low salinity water phase and the high salinity water phase can be fed to any of various processes for generating electricity from a salinity gradient, such as pressure retarded osmosis or reverse electro-dialysis. Low and high salinity water exiting the power generating portion of the process can be recycled, to reform the original liquid stream, upon recombination with the ISL.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage structure includes a plurality of graphene sheets arranged to form a stack with a plurality of spacers between adjacent graphene sheets in the stack. In one embodiment, the spacers are arranged to provide a distance ranging between 5 ? and 20 ? between adjacent graphene sheets. In one embodiment, the spacers are formed as graphene spheres having a diameter that ranges from 5 ? to 15 ?. In another embodiment, the spacers are formed as graphene single-walled nanontubes having a length that ranges from 5 ? to 20 ?. In a further embodiment, the spacers are formed as graphene sheets having a thickness that ranges from 5 ? to 20 ?. In one embodiment, the plurality of graphene sheets is doped with lithium. In one embodiment, the lithium doping concentration is a ratio of one lithium atom per three carbon atoms.