Abstract: An electrochemical device and method can include techniques involving bipolar membrane electrolysis to transform an input product into an output product. Some embodiments can include a gas-diffusion electrode as a cathode, a bipolar membrane configured to facilitate autodissociation, and an anode that can be configured as a liquid-electrolyte style electrode or a gas-diffusion electrode. In some embodiments the electrochemical device can be configured as a CO2 electrolyzer that is designed to utilize input product including carbon dioxide gas and water to generate output products that can include gaseous carbon monoxide or other reduction products of carbon dioxide and gaseous oxygen or the oxidation products of a depolarizer such as hydrogen, methane, or methanol. Embodiments can be utilized in the production of fuels or feedstocks for fuels and carbon-containing chemicals, in air purification systems, flue gas treatment devices, and other machines and facilities.

Abstract: An electrochemical device and method can include techniques involving bipolar membrane electrolysis to transform an input product into an output product. Some embodiments can include a gas-diffusion electrode as a cathode, a bipolar membrane configured to facilitate autodissociation, and an anode that can be configured as a liquid-electrolyte style electrode or a gas-diffusion electrode. In some embodiments the electrochemical device can be configured as a CO2 electrolyzer that is designed to utilize input product including carbon dioxide gas and water to generate output products that can include gaseous carbon monoxide or other reduction products of carbon dioxide and gaseous oxygen or the oxidation products of a depolarizer such as hydrogen, methane, or methanol. Embodiments can be utilized in the production of fuels or feedstocks for fuels and carbon-containing chemicals, in air purification systems, flue gas treatment devices, and other machines and facilities.

Abstract: Systems and processes for producing hydrogen using bacteria are described. One detailed process for producing hydrogen uses a system for producing hydrogen as described herein, the system including a reactor. Anodophilic bacteria are disposed within the interior of the reactor and an organic material oxidizable by an oxidizing activity of the anodophilic bacteria is introduced and incubated under oxidizing reactions conditions such that electrons are produced and transferred to the anode. A power source is activated to increase a potential between the anode and the cathode, such that electrons and protons combine to produce hydrogen gas. In one system for producing hydrogen is provided which includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reactor and an exterior of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Systems and processes for producing hydrogen using bacteria are described. One detailed process for producing hydrogen uses a system for producing hydrogen as described herein, the system including a reactor. Anodophilic bacteria are disposed within the interior of the reactor and an organic material oxidizable by an oxidizing activity of the anodophilic bacteria is introduced and incubated under oxidizing reactions conditions such that electrons are produced and transferred to the anode. A power source is activated to increase a potential between the anode and the cathode, such that electrons and protons combine to produce hydrogen gas. In one system for producing hydrogen is provided which includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reactor and an exterior of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A microstructure includes a catalyst region, and a non-catalyst region proximate to the catalyst region. The catalyst region induces a chemical reaction of a fluid component when the microstructure is located within a fluid medium containing the fluid component. The chemical reaction induces relative motion between the fluid medium and the microstructure, which can be used to provide, for example, autonomous directional movement, rotation of microgears, microfluidic devices, and novel sensor configurations. In one example, a palladium catalyst is used, and the fluid medium is an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Systems and processes for producing hydrogen using bacteria are described. One detailed process for producing hydrogen uses a system for producing hydrogen as described herein, the system including a reactor. Anodophilic bacteria are disposed within the interior of the reactor and an organic material oxidizable by an oxidizing activity of the anodophilic bacteria is introduced and incubated under oxidizing reactions conditions such that electrons are produced and transferred to the anode. A power source is activated to increase a potential between the anode and the cathode, such that electrons and protons combine to produce hydrogen gas. One system for producing hydrogen includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reactor and an exterior of the reaction chamber. An anode is provided which is at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber and a cathode is also provided which is at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Freestanding particles comprising a plurality of segments, wherein the particle length is from 20 nm to 50 ?m and the particle width is form 5 nm to 50 ?m.

Abstract: Synthetic methods for the manufacture of segmented nanoparticles are described.

Abstract: A novel process and apparatus to combinatorially screen a large number of discrete compositions for electrocatalytic activity have been developed. The apparatus contains a cell body adjacent to a fluid permeable catalyst array support supporting multiple solids. A catalyst mask having holes that are in alignment with the multiple locations for supporting solids is placed over the catalyst array support, masking the solids. A cell cover is positioned adjacent to the catalyst array support, with the cell cover having a passage for monitoring the solids through the mask. A detector may be in alignment with the passage of the cell cover.

Abstract: A method for assembling arrays of materials where each array contains different materials on or within a particle and the location of each particle at a spatially identifiable location in the array determines the material associated with that particle, has been developed. Assembling of the arrays begins with the delivery, of a particle and a component to a first isolated location in first region. A second isolated location on the first region also receives another particle and component to form at least two particle-component pairs in the first region. At least one of the particle-component pairs is selectively transferred to an isolated location in a second region where the particle-component pair receive an additional component thereby producing a first material associated with the first particle-component pair and a second material associated with the second particle-component pair.

Abstract: Freestanding particles comprising a plurality of segments, wherein the particle length is from 10 nm to 50 &mgr;m and the particle width is form 5 nm to 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Synthetic methods for the manufacture of segmented nanoparticles are described.

Abstract: Segmented nanoparticles are manufactured according to different methods and in various apparatuses.

Abstract: The invention provides novel environmental remediants and methods for remediating contaminated soils, earth, ground, or groundwater, particularly subsurface sites. The environmental remediants comprise a chemically or biologically active material, in the form of a particles which are on average less than about one micron, and a carrier which is interactive with an environmentally acceptable solvent. The carrier is capable of maintaining the particles in a persistent suspension which can permeate soil pores due to it small size, thereby delivering the remediant to the subsurface contamination. Significant advantages over prior art methods, particularly for metallic nanoparticles, are avoiding agglomeration, ease of application, and delivery to subsurface sites.

Abstract: A novel process and apparatus to combinatorially screen a large number of discrete compositions for electrocatalytic activity have been developed. The apparatus contains a cell body adjacent to a fluid permeable catalyst array support supporting multiple solids. A catalyst mask having holes that are in alignment with the multiple locations for supporting solids is placed over the catalyst array support, masking the solids. A cell cover is positioned adjacent to the catalyst array support, with the cell cover having a passage for monitoring the solids through the mask. A detector may be in alignment with the passage of the cell cover.

Abstract: Compositions for use as catalysts in electrochemical reactions are described. The compositions are alloys prepared from two or more elemental metals selected from platinum, molybdenum, osmium, ruthenium, rhodium, and iridium. Also described are electrode compositions including such alloys and electrochemical reaction devices including such catalysts.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a composite material for use in recovery of radionuclides, metals, and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media. The material has very high surface area, and includes nanometer sized, zero-valent iron on a support. The material can be used to remediate aqueous media which have contaminants such as radionuclides, metals and halogenated hydrocarbons from aqueous media.

Abstract: A hybrid electrolyte system for fuel cells and other electrochemical reactors comprising an acid electrolyte, a base electrolyte, and a proton permeable dense phase separating the acid electrolyte from the base electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention involves processes for producing zeolite catalyst with an exclusively internal surface platinum coating. In one embodiment, the process of the present invention comprises initially equilibrating zeolite (preferably in powder form) with an organic solution (e.g., dichloromethane) of a neutral organo-platinum compound preferably platinum acetylacetonate. The equilibrated zeolite is then washed to remove externally associated organo-platinum compound. In the preferred procedure here, the solvent is then removed from the washed zeolite. Next, organo-platinum compound contained in the washed zeolite is decomposed, preferably by heating to between about 200.degree. C. and about 300.degree. C. Finally, internally-contained decomposed organo-platinum compound is reduced, preferably by hydrogenolysis, to produce zeolite with an exclusively internal surface platinum coating.Another process for producing internally platinized zeolite catalyst is also part of the present invention.