Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solar thermal osmosis desalination system comprising a forward osmosis subsystem and a reverse osmosis subsystem where the forward osmosis subsystem is configured to receive solar thermal heat and generate power that can be used to operate the reverse osmosis subsystem.

Abstract: A breathing system for removing harmful contaminants, such as microbes and volatile organic compounds, is provided. The breathing system includes a face mask, an inhalation limb, and a plasmonic device. As a contaminated gas flows through an internal chamber of the plasmonic device, the contaminates are oxidized. Specifically, the internal chamber includes a source of photons spaced apart from the nanostructure. The nanostructure is coated in a plasmonic layer, including noble metal nanoparticles. The plasmonic layer is protected from oxidation through a photocatalyst layer disposed thereon.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a phase change material is encapsulated by forming a phase change material pellet, coating the pellet with flexible material, heating the coated pellet to melt the phase change material, wherein the phase change materials expands and air within the pellet diffuses out through the flexible material, and cooling the coated pellet to solidify the phase change material.

Abstract: A fluid flow conditioning apparatus having self-adjusting tab members that reduce flow losses within a conduit. A plurality of tabular members is affixed to an insertion plate-type flow conditioner. Tabular members are cojoined in pairs at their leading edges. When the cojoined pair of the first tabular member and the second tabular member are placed into a fluid flow, an angle between the first tabular member and the second tabular member is configured to decrease in response to static and dynamic pressure exerted onto the outer surfaces of the tabular members by the fluid flow. The tabular members may be made of a hyperplastic material configured to undergo an elastic deformation and exhibit flapping due to the dynamic pressure of the fluid flow. Tabular members maybe cojoined by a hinge configured to partially close in response to pressure exerted by the fluid flow, decreasing the angle between the tabular members.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a metal-plated polymer object includes a polymer surface, a first metal layer that has been applied to the polymer surface to render it electrically conductive, and a second metal layer that has been deposited on the first metal layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chromatic device includes a transparent conductive substrate, an active layer provided on the conductive substrate, the active layer comprising a conducting polymer, an electrolyte layer in contact with the conductive substrate and the active layer, the electrolyte comprising an oxidant and a salt but not comprising an acid, and a metal element configured to be selectively placed in and out of direct electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer has a color that blocks light when the metal element is not in electrical contact with the conductive substrate but changes to a translucent color that transmits light when the metal element is placed in electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer changes color without applying external energy to the active layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chromatic device includes a transparent conductive substrate, an active layer provided on the conductive substrate, the active layer comprising a conducting polymer, an electrolyte layer in contact with the conductive substrate and the active layer, the electrolyte comprising an oxidant and a salt but not comprising an acid, and a metal element configured to be selectively placed in and out of direct electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer has a color that blocks light when the metal element is not in electrical contact with the conductive substrate but changes to a translucent color that transmits light when the metal element is placed in electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer changes color without applying external energy to the active layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a concentrated solar power system includes a solar tower, multiple solar receivers mounted to the solar tower at different vertical elevations, and a plurality of heliostats provided on the ground within a heliostat field, wherein each heliostat is configured to concentrate solar radiation on any of the solar receivers mounted to the solar tower.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chromatic device includes a transparent conductive substrate, an active layer provided on the conductive substrate, the active layer comprising a conducting polymer, an electrolyte layer in contact with the conductive substrate and the active layer, the electrolyte comprising an oxidant and a salt but not comprising an acid, and a metal element configured to be selectively placed in and out of direct electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer has a color that blocks light when the metal element is not in electrical contact with the conductive substrate but changes to a translucent color that transmits light when the metal element is placed in electrical contact with the conductive substrate or the active layer, wherein the active layer changes color without applying external energy to the active layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid touchchromic device. The solid touchchromic device may include a conducting polymer or a conducting polymer composite film, a conducting plate, and a solid layer of a polymer-based electrolyte, the conducting plate being at least partially coated by the conducting polymer or the conducting polymer composite film. The solid touchchromic device may further include an oxidant, a salt, an acid, or a metal. Also included are methods of producing a solid touchchromic device and articles including a solid touchchromic device.

Abstract: A breathing system for removing harmful contaminants, such as microbes and volatile organic compounds, is provided. The breathing system includes a face mask, an inhalation limb, and a plasmonic device. As a contaminated gas flows through an internal chamber of the plasmonic device, the contaminates are oxidized. Specifically, the internal chamber includes a source of photons spaced apart from the nanostructure. The nanostructure is coated in a plasmonic layer, including noble metal nanoparticles. The plasmonic layer is protected from oxidation through a photocatalyst layer disposed thereon.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to color changeable, film materials comprising a metal substrate layer; a conducting polymer or conducting polymer composite layer; and an electrolyte layer. The conducting polymer or conducting polymer composite layer of the film material is capable of exhibiting changes in one or more optical properties when the film material is in contact with a metal. The subject invention also pertains to methods of preparing conducting polymer films capable of exhibiting changes in optical properties.

Abstract: Photocatalysis is a promising technique for remediation of indoor air pollution. The present invention focuses on the enhancement of the effectiveness of the photocatalytic process by the introduction of artificial roughness on the interior reactor surface. Artificial roughness elements on the catalytic surface enhance the turbulence intensity close to the catalytic surface. The enhanced turbulence intensity translates to an increase in the mass transfer of airborne contaminants to the catalyst surface, improving the efficiency of photocatalysis.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a conducting film includes depositing a base layer of a conducting polymer on a substrate, the polymer forming only a weak bond with the substrate, depositing a top layer of a conducting material on the base layer, applying adhesive tape to the top layer, and peeling the tape off of the substrate, removing the top layer along with the tape.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid touchchromic device. The solid touchchromic device may include a conducting polymer or a conducting polymer composite film, a conducting plate, and a solid layer of a polymer-based electrolyte, the conducting plate being at least partially coated by the conducting polymer or the conducting polymer composite film. The solid touchchromic device may further include an oxidant, a salt, an acid, or a metal. Also included are methods of producing a solid touchchromic device and articles including a solid touchchromic device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid touchchromic device. The solid touchchromic device may include a conducting polymer or a conducting polymer composite film, a conducting plate, and a solid layer of a polymer-based electrolyte, the conducting plate being at least partially coated by the conducting polymer or the conducting polymer composite film. The solid touchchromic device may further include an oxidant, a salt, an acid, or a metal. Also included are methods of producing a solid touchchromic device and articles including a solid touchchromic device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a thermodynamic system includes multiple types of thermodynamic cycles and multiple types of solar thermal fields that provide thermal energy to the thermodynamic cycles.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a metal-plated polymer object includes a polymer surface, a first metal layer that has been applied to the polymer surface to render it electrically conductive, and a second metal layer that has been deposited on the first metal layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing metal on a polymer surface, the method includes coating the polymer surface with a binding metal to render the polymer surface solvophillic and/or hydrophilic and depositing a further metal on the binding metal-coated polymer surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a ceramic phase change material capsule includes forming a solid phase change material pellet, coating the pellet with a green ceramic material, and sintering the green ceramic material while on the pellet to form a ceramic outer shell of the capsule.