National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Northwestern University

Sandia Corporation

The Texas A&M University System

Erik David Spoerke

Leo J Small

Stephen John Percival

Jon Ihlefeld

Harlan James Brown-Shaklee

Eric John Schindelholz

Samuel I Stupp

David R Wheeler

Jaime Christopher Grunlan

Paul Gilbert Clem

Shawn G Anthony

Neil R Sorensen

Krista L Niece

Jill S Wheeler

Martha M Gross

Mark A Rodriguez

Mathias C Celina

Kenneth Miguel Armijo

C Garrett Campbell

Karen Waldrip

Margaret Ellen Gordon

Anthony Martino

Jonathan Anton Bock

Rose Y Lee

Mia Angelica Blea-Kirby

A high-performance electrochemically active sodium molten salt catholyte enables a dramatic reduction in molten sodium battery operating temperature from near 300° C. to less than 120° C. As an example, stable electrochemical cycling was demonstrated in a high voltage (3.65 V) sodium battery comprising a sodium iodide-gallium chloride (NaI—GaCl) molten salt catholyte for over 8 months at 110° C. The combination of high voltage, stable cycling behavior, and practical current densities supported by a molten catholyte enables a new generation of transformative high performance, low temperature molten sodium batteries.

Low temperature sodium battery comprising an electrochemically active molten inorganic catholyte

Nanocomposite anticorrosion coating can be achieved by depositing alternating, multilayers of a cross-linkable polymer and dispersed and aligned inorganic platelets followed by cross-linking of the cross-linkable polymer. The cross-linkable polymer can be an externally cross-linkable polymer that is cross-linked by diffusing a cross-linking agent into the deposited multilayer coating. Alternately, the cross-linkable polymer can be a functionalized cross-linkable polymer that is cross-linked by self-curing, thermal heat curing, or light (e.g., UV) following deposition of the multilayer coating.

Cross-linkable nanocomposite anticorrosion coating

A sodium-ion conducting NaSICON ceramic can be densified via the addition of a solvent to a NaSICON powder and subsequent pressing under high pressure and mild heat. Densification to &#x2dc;90% relative density can be achieved, providing a path toward low-temperature fabrication of Na-ion conductors.

Solution-assisted densification of NaSICON ceramics

The present invention is directed to the modification of sodium electrochemical interfaces to improve performance of NaSICON-type ceramics in a variety of electrochemical applications. Enhanced mating of the separator-sodium interface by means of engineered coatings or other surface modifications results in lower interfacial resistance and higher performance at increased current densities, enabling the effective operation of molten sodium batteries and other electrochemical technologies at low and high temperatures.

Sodium electrochemical interfaces with NaSICON-type ceramics

A molten sodium-based battery comprises a robust, highly Na-ion conductive, zero-crossover separator and a fully inorganic, fully liquid, highly cyclable molten cathode that operates at low temperatures.

Molten inorganic electrolytes for low temperature sodium batteries

Nanostructured polyelectrolyte bilayers deposited by Layer-by-Layer deposition on nanoporous membranes can be selectively crosslinked to modify the polyelectrolyte charge density and control ionic selectivity independent of ionic conductivity. For example, the polyelectrolyte bilayer can comprise a cationic polymer layer, such as poly(ethyleneimine), and an anionic polymer layer, such as poly(acrylic acid). Increasing the number of bilayers increases the cation selectivity when the poly(ethyleneimine) layer is crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Crosslinking the membranes also increases the chemical and mechanical strength of the polyelectrolyte films. This controllable and inexpensive method can be used to create ion-selective and mechanically robust membranes on porous supports for a wide range of applications.

Nanostructured polyelectrolytes for ion-selective membranes

The invention provides an inexpensive, scalable process for coating materials with a film of a refractory metal. As an example, the immersion process can comprise the deposition of a sacrificial zinc coating which is galvanically displaced by the ether-mediated reduction of oxophilic WClto form a complex WOClfilm, and subsequently annealed to crystalline, metallic tungsten. The efficacy of this process was demonstrated on a carbon foam electrode, showing a 50% decrease in electrode resistance and significant gains in electrochemical performance. This process enables voltage efficiency gains for electrodes in batteries, redox flow batteries, and industrial processes where high conductivity and chemical stability are paramount.

Electroless process for depositing refractory metals

Metals across all industries demand anti-corrosion surface treatments and drive a continual need for high-performing and low-cost coatings. Ordered thin films comprising aligned inorganic platelets dispersed in a polyelectrolyte polymer matrix provide a new class of transparent conformal barrier coatings for protection in corrosive atmospheres. For example, films assembled via layer-by-layer deposition, as thin as 90 nm, are shown to reduce copper corrosion rates by &#x3e;1000&#xd7; in an aggressive HS atmosphere. These coatings can provide high-performing anti-corrosion treatment alternatives to costlier, more toxic, and less scalable thin films, such as graphene, hexavalent chromium, or atomic layer deposited metal oxides.

Nanocomposite conformal corrosion barrier coating

Polymer-clay nanocomposites thin film coatings have improved water vapor and oxygen permeability, in addition to improved corrosion resistance, while retaining high transparency, high electrical resistivity, and excellent fire-retardant properties for use as encapsulants for photovoltaic module assemblies and barrier coatings in other photovoltaic applications.

Nanocomposite barrier films for photovoltaic applications

At least partial substitution of zirconium by hafnium in ion-conducting zirconium-based ceramics provides enhanced chemical stability in alkaline and acid environments.

Cation-enhanced chemical stability of ion-conducting zirconium-based ceramics

A method to produce high density, uniform lithium lanthanum tantalate lithium-ion conducting ceramics uses small particles that are sintered in a pressureless crucible that limits loss of LiO.

Method for producing dense lithium lanthanum tantalate lithium-ion conducting ceramics

A purification method that uses ion-selective ceramics to electrochemically filter waste products from a molten salt. The electrochemical method uses ion-conducting ceramics that are selective for the molten salt cations desired in the final purified melt, and selective against any contaminant ions. The method can be integrated into a slightly modified version of the electrochemical framework currently used in pyroprocessing of nuclear wastes.

Electrochemical ion separation in molten salts

A pressure-based chemical etch method is used to shape polymer nanopores into cones. By varying the pressure, the pore tip diameter can be controlled, while the pore base diameter is largely unaffected. The method provides an easy, low-cost approach for conically etching high density nanopores.

Method to fabricate functionalized conical nanopores

The present invention provides a system of self-assembling peptide amphiphiles with an absolute net charge of 3 or greater whose design and function may be patterned after proteins involved in vertebrate mineralization or other tissue forming processes. This molecular system preferably consists of a hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail attached to a relatively hydrophilic peptide sequence. Self-assembly of this peptide amphiphile may be induced through pH variation, divalent ion addition, or dehydration. Variations of structural peptide sequences in the peptide amphiphile may enable the assembled nanofibers to be reversibly cross-linked for more or less structural stability, or may allow for control of the rate of self-assembly.

Charged peptide-amphiphile solutions and self-assembled peptide nanofiber networks formed therefrom

Biocompatible composites comprising peptide amphiphiles and surface modified substrates and related methods for attachment thereon.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Erik David Spoerke