Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC

Patrick A Ward

Ragaiy Zidan

Xin Xiao

Donald L Anton

John T Bobbitt, Iii

Christopher S McWhorter

Anthony B Thompson

Zachary Duca

Martin P Sulic

Judith G Ward

A sputtering apparatus includes a substrate holder assembly configured to support a plurality of elongated substrates relative to a sputtering source. Each elongated substrate of the plurality of elongated substrates extends along a respective substrate axis. The sputtering apparatus also includes a holder drive assembly that is configured to rotate the substrate holder assembly about a holder axis. Each respective substrate axis is oriented non-parallel relative to the holder axis. Further, the sputtering apparatus includes a substrate drive assembly that is configured to individually rotate each elongated substrate about its respective substrate axis. The sputtered material is configured to be deposited onto the plurality of elongated substrates as the substrate holder assembly is being rotated about the holder rotational axis simultaneous with the rotation of each elongated substrate about its respective substrate axis.

Sputtering apparatus and related systems and methods for sputtering substrates

In one aspect, a system for collecting light directed through an architectural opening includes a plurality of optical fibers positioned within the architectural opening. A portion of light from a light source is absorbed by the plurality of optical fibers. One or more optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers are configured to transmit the absorbed light to one or more light collection elements.

Systems and related methods for collecting light transmitted through an architectural opening

Disclosed are high enthalpy thermochemical energy storage materials that exhibit high thermal conductivity and stability at high temperature reaction conditions. Disclosed materials include hydride-based alloys that can undergo high temperature reversible hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions without phase change of any metal or metalloid components of the alloy. The materials undergo a reversible exothermic hydrogenation reaction to form a metal hydride and a ternary alloy that includes a high thermal conductivity metal that, in its pure state, would exhibit a phase change at the hydrogenation reaction conditions.

High temperature thermochemical energy storage materials

Methods for forming alane are described. The method includes addition of toluene at a temperature above the crystallization temperature of alane to a lower temperature solution that includes alane adduct, ether, and toluene. Upon the addition, a crystallization mixture is formed that is at or near the crystallization temperature of alane. The alane of the mixture crystallizes over a period of time to form a high purity alane polymorph.

Formation of high quality alane

Highly efficient and universal biomass conversion methods are described. Methods utilize a base-catalyzed decarboxylation reaction in a conversion process carried out in the presence of excess base to overcome carbonate formation from CO. Methods can efficiently convert all components of a biomass feedstock to liquid hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide byproduct. The process has several versions: hydrolysis and alcoholysis, etc. The chemical process can be carried out with nearly 100% conversion for any type of biomass feedstock and requires no expensive or complicated pretreatment. The conversion reactions can be carried out at moderate temperatures of 170-300&#xb0; C. and form a product that can include a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons, including alcohols and phenol derivatives.

Conversion of biomass by efficient base-catalyzed decarboxylation reaction

Methods for forming alane are described. The method drives the alane producing chemical reaction by a mechanical energy source such as a ball mill and includes stabilization of the product with solvent. At least one of the reactants is insoluble in the solvent. Thus, the product is both stabilized and phase-separated from the reactant(s) immediately upon formation. The method can be used to form &#x3b1;-alane, for instance for use in hydrogen storage.

Growing community of inventors

Aiken, SC, United States of America

Patrick A Ward