Ut-battelle, Inc.

Ke An

Nancy Johnston Dudney

Beth Louise Armstrong

James O Kiggans, Jr

Edgar Lara-Curzio

Frederick S Baker

Cristian Ion Contescu

Christopher L Wray

Yan Chen

Matthew J Frost

Scott J Curran

Martin L Wissink

An internal combustion engine for neutron diffraction analysis is provided. The engine includes an elongated piston chamber formed from an aluminum alloy to ensure maximum neutron visibility into the combustion chamber. An elongated piston assembly reciprocates within the elongated piston chamber, the piston assembly including an upper piston joined to a lower piston. The upper piston and the lower piston are hollow, thereby reducing the reciprocating mass and increasing neutron access to the combustion chamber. The upper piston is lubricated with a neutron-transparent fluorocarbon lubricant such as perfluoropolyether (PFPE), while the lower piston and the crankcase are lubricated with hydrocarbon lubricant. The engine enables 3D and time-resolved measurements of strain, stress, and temperature, as well as phase transformation, texture, and microstructure.

Neutronic engine

A lightweight, durable lead-acid battery is disclosed. Alternative electrode materials and configurations are used to reduce weight, to increase material utilization and to extend service life. The electrode can include a current collector having a buffer layer in contact with the current collector and an electrochemically active material in contact with the buffer layer. In one form, the buffer layer includes a carbide, and the current collector includes carbon fibers having the buffer layer. The buffer layer can include a carbide and/or a noble metal selected from of gold, silver, tantalum, platinum, palladium and rhodium. When the electrode is to be used in a lead-acid battery, the electrochemically active material is selected from metallic lead (for a negative electrode) or lead peroxide (for a positive electrode).

Lightweight, durable lead-acid batteries

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Ke An