National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC

Stephen John Percival

Leo J Small

Erik David Spoerke

Tina M Nenoff

Mara Elizabeth Schindelholz

Martha M Gross

Mark A Rodriguez

Mathias C Celina

Eric John Schindelholz

C Garrett Campbell

Stanley Shihyao Chou

Nathan S L Volkmann

Daniel A Christensen

Ratthatrust Leryoskajai

James Eujin Park

Ivana Gonzales

Susan Elizabeth Henkelis

Rose Y Lee

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

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

Nanocomposite anticorrosion coating can be achieved by depositing alternating, multilayers of a cross-linkable polymer and dispersed and aligned inorganic platelets followed by cross-linking of the cross-linkable polymer. The cross-linkable polymer can be an externally cross-linkable polymer that is cross-linked by diffusing a cross-linking agent into the deposited multilayer coating. Alternately, the cross-linkable polymer can be a functionalized cross-linkable polymer that is cross-linked by self-curing, thermal heat curing, or light (e.g., UV) following deposition of the multilayer coating.

Cross-linkable nanocomposite anticorrosion coating

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

An electrocatalyst comprises a crumpled transition metal dichalcogenide support loaded with catalytic metal nanoparticles through spontaneous reduction reactions. The support can be prepared by hydrothermal conversion of 2D nanosheets to 3D hierarchically crumpled sheets. As an example, using crumpled MoSas a support, highly tunable Ru loadings were obtained using the electrostatic interaction between MoSand RuClin solution. Control over Ru loading was leveraged to produce Ru&#x2014;MoSelectrocatalysts that demonstrate different nitrogen reduction reaction activities, and which show varying resistance to electrochemical sintering and deactivation. Further, these high surface area materials can be utilized for many applications, including electrocatalysts, supercapacitors, and batteries.

Electrocatalyst comprising a crumpled transition metal dichalcogenide support loaded with monodispersed metal nanoparticles

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.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Stephen John Percival