Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

Itn Energy Systems, Inc.

Lin Jay Simpson

Chaiwat Engtrakul

Michael F Schwartz

Joseph H Armstrong

Brian Spencer Berland

William G Barker

Described herein are materials and methods useful in the field of insulation, including building materials, refrigeration, cryogenics, and shipping, amongst others. Advantageously, the provided materials and method provide low thermal conductivities and increased mechanical strength, allowing for efficient insulating in a diverse range of applications. The provided materials and methods include individual particles connected by a polymer network that links individual particles and may include hollow or evacuated capsules and various strengthening agents.

Crosslinking of loose insulating powders

An insulation useful in the field of building materials, refrigeration, cryogenics, and shipping. The insulation has reduced radiative heat transfer by applying coating to the insulation material in order to alter the emissivity, including the infrared electromagnetic spectrum.

Conductive polymers with reduced radiative transport and emissivity for insulating materials

Transparent and insulating materials having evacuated capsules are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a method includes forming evacuated capsules within a solution, and dispersing and suspending the evacuated capsules within the solution such that a packing density of the evacuated capsules within the solution is greater than 30%, and a visible light transmission of the solution including the evacuated capsules is greater than 75%. According to another aspect of the invention, a layer includes a plurality of evacuated capsules distributed within a dried sol-gel. A thermal conductivity of the layer is between 0.02 W/m-K and 0.001 W/m-K, and the layer has a visible light transmission of greater than 30%.

Transparent and insulating materials having evacuated capsules

Thin film electronic devices (or stacks integrated with a substrate) that include a permeation barrier formed of a thin layer of metal that provides a light transmitting and electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrical conductive layer is formed on a surface of the substrate or device layer such as a transparent conducting material layer with pin holes or defects caused by manufacturing and the thin layer of metal is deposited on the conductive layer and formed from a self-healing metal that forms self-terminating oxides. A permeation plug or block is formed in or adjacent to the thin film of metal at or proximate to the pin holes to block further permeation of contaminants through the pin holes.

Thin film electronic devices with conductive and transparent gas and moisture permeation barriers

A thin film stack () is provided for use in electronic devices such as photovoltaic devices. The stack () may be integrated with a substrate () such as a light transmitting/transmissive layer. An electrical conductor layer () is formed on a surface of the substrate () or device layer such as a transparent conducting (TC) material layer () with pin holes or defects () caused by manufacturing. The stack () includes a thin film () of metal that acts as a barrier for environmental contaminants (). The metal thin film () is deposited on the conductor layer () and formed from a self-healing metal such as a metal that forms self-terminating oxides. A permeation plug or block () is formed in or adjacent to the thin film () of metal at or proximate to the pin holes () to block further permeation of contaminants through the pin holes ().

An energy storage device () providing high storage densities via hydrogen storage. The device () includes a counter electrode (), a storage electrode (), and an ion conducting membrane () positioned between the counter electrode () and the storage electrode (). The counter electrode () is formed of one or more materials with an affinity for hydrogen and includes an exchange matrix for elements/materials selected from the non-noble materials that have an affinity for hydrogen. The storage electrode () is loaded with hydrogen such as atomic or mono-hydrogen that is adsorbed by a hydrogen storage material such that the hydrogen () may be stored with low chemical bonding. The hydrogen storage material is typically formed of a lightweight material such as carbon or boron with a network of passage-ways or intercalants for storing and conducting mono-hydrogen, protons, or the like. The hydrogen storage material may store at least ten percent by weight hydrogen () at ambient temperature and pressure.

Hydrogen-based electrochemical energy storage

The present invention relates to the design and manufacture of single cell units for planar, thin-film, ceramic electrochemical devices such as solid oxide fuel cells, electrochemical oxygen generators, gas separation membranes, and membrane modules and stacks and the fabrication of multi-cell stacks and modules of the single cell units. The design is based upon a single cell wherein manufacturing all layers of the device into an integral unit produces a monolithic structure. The design produces a gas-tight single cell that is easily assembled into multi-cell stacks and modules without external seals or sealing mechanisms. The design may use standard ceramic and metallurgical production techniques. The design of the present invention enhances device performance since the single cell units are inherently sealed for gas tightness and have reduced interfacial electrical resistances. All these features of the novel monolithically integrated unit cell design result in lower manufacturing costs for ceramic electrochemical devices.

Growing community of inventors

Lakewood, CO, United States of America

Lin Jay Simpson