Ut-battelle, Inc.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC

Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC

Jane Y Howe

Roland D Seals

Paul A Menchhofer

Wei Wang

Nancy Johnston Dudney

Chengdu Liang

David L Wood, Iii

Beth Louise Armstrong

Claus Daniel

Zengcai Liu

Adam Justin Rondinone

Adrian Stefan Sabau

Zhan Lin

Edward Andrew Payzant

Susan J Babinec

James O Kiggans, Jr

Lonnie Curt Maxey

Sergiy Kalnaus

Ralph B Dinwiddie

Cristian Ion Contescu

Sang Young Yoon

Harry M Meyer, Iii

Patrick L Hagans

Nicole S Nembhard

Wujun Fu

Nidia C Gallego

Matthew R Denlinger

Wunjun Fu

Danny J King

Methods of producing a nano-catalyst material including forming a plurality of nano-scale features on a surface of a substrate material. The nano-catalyst material may be used for forming anchored nanostructure materials by heating the nano-catalyst material under a protective atmosphere to a temperature ranging from about 450&#xb0; C. to about 1500&#xb0; C. and exposing the heated nano-catalyst to an organic vapor to affix a separate nanostructure to each of the plurality of nano-scale features. The nano-scale features may be formed on the surface of the substrate material by mechanical or thermal processes.

Methods of forming nano-catalyst material for fabrication of anchored nanostructure materials

A fluffy nano-material and method of manufacture are described. At 2000&#xd7; magnification the fluffy nanomaterial has the appearance of raw, uncarded wool, with individual fiber lengths ranging from approximately four microns to twenty microns. Powder-based nanocatalysts are dispersed in the fluffy nanomaterial. The production of fluffy nanomaterial typically involves flowing about 125 cc/min of organic vapor at a pressure of about 400 torr over powder-based nano-catalysts for a period of time that may range from approximately thirty minutes to twenty-four hours.

Nano-material

Methods of fabricating nano-catalysts are described. In some embodiments the nano-catalyst is formed from a powder-based substrate material and is some embodiments the nano-catalyst is formed from a solid-based substrate material. In some embodiments the substrate material may include metal, ceramic, or silicon or another metalloid. The nano-catalysts typically have metal nanoparticles disposed adjacent the surface of the substrate material. The methods typically include functionalizing the surface of the substrate material with a chelating agent, such as a chemical having dissociated carboxyl functional groups (&#x2014;COO), that provides an enhanced affinity for metal ions. The functionalized substrate surface may then be exposed to a chemical solution that contains metal ions. The metal ions are then bound to the substrate material and may then be reduced, such as by a stream of gas that includes hydrogen, to form metal nanoparticles adjacent the surface of the substrate.

Method of producing catalytic material for fabricating nanostructures

The invention is directed in a first aspect to a sulfur-carbon composite material comprising: (i) a bimodal porous carbon component containing therein a first mode of pores which are mesopores, and a second mode of pores which are micropores; and (ii) elemental sulfur contained in at least a portion of said micropores. The invention is also directed to the aforesaid sulfur-carbon composite as a layer on a current collector material; a lithium ion battery containing the sulfur-carbon composite in a cathode therein; as well as a method for preparing the sulfur-composite material.

Sulfur-carbon nanocomposites and their application as cathode materials in lithium-sulfur batteries

A system and a method for characterizing a dielectric material are provided. The system and method generally include applying an excitation signal to electrodes on opposing sides of the dielectric material to evaluate a property of the dielectric material. The method can further include measuring the capacitive impedance across the dielectric material, and determining a variation in the capacitive impedance with respect to either or both of a time domain and a frequency domain. The measured property can include pore size and surface imperfections. The method can still further include modifying a processing parameter as the dielectric material is formed in response to the detected variations in the capacitive impedance, which can correspond to a non-uniformity in the dielectric material.

Characterization of dielectric materials

A method of drying casted slurries that includes calculating drying conditions from an experimental model for a cast slurry and forming a cast film. An infrared heating probe is positioned on one side of the casted slurry and a thermal probe is positioned on an opposing side of the casted slurry. The infrared heating probe may control the temperature of the casted slurry during drying. The casted slurry may be observed with an optical microscope, while applying the drying conditions from the experimental model. Observing the casted slurry includes detecting the incidence of micro-structural changes in the casted slurry during drying to determine if the drying conditions from the experimental model are optimal.

Method and apparatus for in-situ drying investigation and optimization of slurry drying methodology

A method of forming nano-structure composite materials that have a binder material and a nanostructure fiber material is described. A precursor material may be formed using a mixture of at least one metal powder and anchored nanostructure materials. The metal powder mixture may be (a) Ni powder and (b) NiAl powder. The anchored nanostructure materials may comprise (i) NiAl powder as a support material and (ii) carbon nanotubes attached to nanoparticles adjacent to a surface of the support material. The process of forming nano-structure composite materials typically involves sintering the mixture under vacuum in a die. When Ni and NiAl are used in the metal powder mixture NiAl may form as the binder material after sintering. The mixture is sintered until it consolidates to form the nano-structure composite material.

Composite materials formed with anchored nanostructures

Nano-material and method of fabrication

Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of &#x3b2;-LiPSor LiPS. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (LiS), a first shell of &#x3b2;-LiPSor LiPS, and a second shell including one of &#x3b2;-LiPSor LiPSand carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

Lithium sulfide compositions for battery electrolyte and battery electrode coatings

The invention provides a method of making a battery anode in which a quantity of graphite powder is provided. The temperature of the graphite powder is raised from a starting temperature to a first temperature between 1000 and 2000&#xb0; C. during a first heating period. The graphite powder is then cooled to a final temperature during a cool down period. The graphite powder is contacted with a forming gas during at least one of the first heating period and the cool down period. The forming gas includes Hand an inert gas.

Forming gas treatment of lithium ion battery anode graphite powders

Methods for fabricating anchored nanostructure materials are described. The methods include heating a nano-catalyst under a protective atmosphere to a temperature ranging from about 450&#xb0; C. to about 1500&#xb0; C. and contacting the heated nano-catalysts with an organic vapor to affix carbon nanostructures to the nano-catalysts and form the anchored nanostructure material.

Method of fabrication of anchored nanostructure materials

Method of producing catalytic materials for fabricating nanostructures

Anchored nanostructure materials and methods for their fabrication are described. The anchored nanostructure materials may utilize nano-catalysts that include powder-based or solid-based support materials. The support material may comprise metal, such as NiAl, ceramic, a cermet, or silicon or other metalloid. Typically, nanoparticles are disposed adjacent a surface of the support material. Nanostructures may be formed as anchored to nanoparticles that are adjacent the surface of the support material by heating the nano-catalysts and then exposing the nano-catalysts to an organic vapor. The nanostructures are typically single wall or multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

Anchored nanostructure materials and method of fabrication

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Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

Jane Y Howe