National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Sandia Corporation

Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC

Leo J Small

Erik David Spoerke

Stephen John Percival

Tina M Nenoff

Mara Elizabeth Schindelholz

David R Wheeler

Paul Gilbert Clem

Jon Ihlefeld

Harlan James Brown-Shaklee

Martha M Gross

Jill S Wheeler

Mark A Rodriguez

Travis Mark Anderson

Harry Pratt

Ratthatrust Leryoskajai

Karen Waldrip

Daniel A Christensen

Nathan S L Volkmann

Melissa Lynn Meyerson

Rose Y Lee

Susan Elizabeth Henkelis

Jonathan Anton Bock

The invention is directed to a chemically robust, highly-selective, low power sensor that can be used for the direct electrical detection of mixed gases. In particular, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer exceptional chemical and structural tunability as mixed-gas capture materials. As an example of the invention, the influence of interfering gases on trace NOdetection in a simulated flue gas stream was investigated. The unique interaction of NOwith the MOF's metal center leads to orders of magnitude decrease in MOF resistance. More broadly, the coadsorption of specific gases (e.g., HO, SO) can be beneficial to the electrical detection of the target gas (e.g., NO), and careful electrical measurements can discern their presence independent of the target gas.

Low power mixed gas sensor

The invention is directed to a mediated metal-sulfur flow battery. This battery format that is readily scalable to grid-scale levels at low cost, while maintaining battery safety by physically separating the anode and cathode. As an example, the marriage of a redox-targeting scheme to an engineered Li solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) enables a scalable, high efficiency, membrane-less Li—S redox flow battery. Redox mediators can be sued to kick-start the initial reduction of solid S into soluble polysulfides on the cathode side and final reduction of polysulfides into solid LiS, precluding the need for conductive carbons. On the anode side, a LiI and LiNOpretreatment and additive strategy encourages a stable SEI and lessens capacity fade, avoiding the need for ion-selective separators.

Mediated metal-sulfur flow battery for grid-scale energy storage

A sensor discriminator for detecting a gaseous substance includes a power source, a discrimination module, a sensor simulator that simulates a metal organic framework under at least one simulation condition, a simulation circuitry electrically coupling the sensor simulator to the power source and the discrimination module, and a discriminator circuitry that electrically couples the power source and the discrimination module to a gas capture probe. The discrimination module compares a discrimination pulse and a simulation pulse from the power source after the discrimination pulse passes through a metal organic framework of the gas capture sensor and the simulation pulse passes through a simulation component of the sensor simulator. The discrimination module causes a discriminator output that includes the comparison of the discrimination pulse to the simulation pulse. An electrical property of the discrimination pulse depends on an electrical parameter of the metal organic framework that is augmented by the gaseous substance.

Sensor discriminators and methods for detecting electrical property changes in a metal organic framework

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

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

Detection and capture of toxic nitrogen oxides (NO) is important for emissions control of exhaust gases and general public health. The low power sensor provides direct electrically detection of trace (0.5-5 ppm) NOat relatively low temperatures (50&#xb0; C.) via changes in the electrical properties of nitrogen-oxide-capture active materials. For example, the high impedance of MOF-74 enables applications requiring a near-zero power sensor or dosimeter, such as for smart industrial systems and the internet of things, with 0.8 mg MOF-74 active material drawing &#x3c;15 pW for a macroscale sensor 35 mmarea.

Low power sensor for NOdetection

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

Nonaqueous redox flow batteries (RFB) hold the potential for high energy density grid scale storage, though are often limited by the solubility of the redox-active species in their electrolytes. A systematic approach enables an increase the concentration of redox-active species in electrolytes for nonaqueous RFB, starting from a metal-coordination-cation-based ionic liquid. As an example, starting with an ionic liquid consisting of a metal coordination cation (MetIL), ferrocene-containing ligands and iodide anions can be substituted into the original MetIL structure, enabling a nearly 4&#xd7; increase in capacity compared to original MetIL structure. Application of this strategy to other chemistries, optimizing electrolyte melting point and conductivity could yield &#x3e;10 M redox-active electrons.

Nonaqueous redox flow battery electrolyte comprising an ionic liquid with a metal cation coordinated to redox-active ligands

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

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 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.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Leo J Small