Sandia Corporation

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC

Tina M Nenoff

Dorina Florentina Sava Gallis

Steven G Thoma

James L Krumhansl

Leo J Small

Stephen John Percival

Terry Joseph Garino

May D Nyman

Mara Elizabeth Schindelholz

Scott T Reed

Jeffery A Greathouse

Karena Chapman

Peter Chupas

Marie Vernell Parkes

Carol S Ashley

Zhenyuan Zhang

Michael P Siegal

William Graham Yelton

Daniel E Trudell

Daniel A Christensen

Carlos R Perez

Ratthatrust Leryoskajai

Kyle Chris Klavetter

Nathan S L Volkmann

Ronald G Stone

Dana A Powers

Genoveva Buelna

Mutlu Kartin

Lauren Es Rohwer

Susan Elizabeth Henkelis

Nathan W Ockwig

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

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

We provide an electrochemical sensor in which working microelectrodes are arranged in an array and interconnected in parallel. The working electrodes are arranged so that in use, they are electrochemically coupled to a counter electrode structure through an electrolyte. The sensor also includes a microporous body arranged so that in use, it is situated at a boundary between a gaseous environment and the electrolyte. In another aspect, we provide a method of sensing in which a sample of gas is admitted to a liquid electrolyte maintained by pores of a porous substrate. A voltage is applied to the liquid electrolyte, and an electrical response to the applied voltage is observed, thereby to detect electrochemical evidence of an analyte within the liquid electrolyte.

Electrochemical detection of gas phase chemicals

MOFs are disclosed that can efficiently adsorb oxygen from a gas stream, such as air. Systems and methods are also disclosed that utilize MOFs to separate oxygen from a gas stream. The separated oxygen may be used in a commercial process such as a combustion process.

Compositions, systems and methods using selective porous materials for oxygen separation

The present disclosure is directed to new photoluminescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The newly developed MOFs include either non rare earth element (REE) transition metal atoms or limited concentrations of REE atoms, including: Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Y, Ru, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ir, Pb, Bi, that are located in the MOF framework in site isolated locations, and have emission colors ranging from white to red, depending on the metal concentration levels and/or choice of ligand.

Tunable photoluminescent metal-organic-frameworks and method of making the same

Systems and methods for capturing waste are disclosed. The systems and methods provide for a high level of confinement and long term stability. The systems and methods include adsorbing waste into a metal-organic framework (MOF), and applying pressure to the MOF material's framework to crystallize or make amorphous the MOF material thereby changing the MOF's pore structure and sorption characteristics without collapsing the MOF framework.

Method for the capture and storage of waste

Materials and methods of making densified waste forms for temperature sensitive waste material, such as nuclear waste, formed with low temperature processing using metallic powder that forms the matrix that encapsulates the temperature sensitive waste material. The densified waste form includes a temperature sensitive waste material in a physically densified matrix, the matrix is a compacted metallic powder. The method for forming the densified waste form includes mixing a metallic powder and a temperature sensitive waste material to form a waste form precursor. The waste form precursor is compacted with sufficient pressure to densify the waste precursor and encapsulate the temperature sensitive waste material in a physically densified matrix.

Densified waste form and method for forming

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods that absorb waste into a metal-organic framework (MOF), and applying pressure to the MOF material's framework to crystallize or make amorphous the MOF material thereby changing the MOF's pore structure and sorption characteristics without collapsing the MOF framework.

System and method for the capture and storage of waste

Materials and methods of synthesizing mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine materials, which can be synthesized in the presence of aqueous radioactive iodine species found in caustic solutions (e.g. NaOH or KOH). This technology provides a one-step process for both iodine sequestration and storage from nuclear fuel cycles. It results in materials that will be durable for repository conditions much like those found in Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and estimated for Yucca Mountain (YMP). By controlled reactant concentrations, optimized compositions of these mixed-layered bismuth oxy-iodine inorganic materials are produced that have both a high iodine weight percentage and a low solubility in groundwater environments.

Mixed-layered bismuth&#x2014;oxygen&#x2014;iodine materials for capture and waste disposal of radioactive iodine

Mixed-layered bismuth-oxygen-iodine materials for capture and waste disposal of radioactive iodine

Materials and methods of making low-sintering-temperature glass waste forms that sequester radioactive iodine in a strong and durable structure. First, the iodine is captured by an adsorbant, which forms an iodine-loaded material, e.g., AgI, AgI-zeolite, AgI-mordenite, Ag-silica aerogel, ZnI, CuI, or BiOI. Next, particles of the iodine-loaded material are mixed with powdered frits of low-sintering-temperature glasses (comprising various oxides of Si, B, Bi, Pb, and Zn), and then sintered at a relatively low temperature, ranging from 425&#xb0; C. to 550&#xb0; C. The sintering converts the mixed powders into a solid block of a glassy waste form, having low iodine leaching rates. The vitrified glassy waste form can contain as much as 60 wt % AgI. A preferred glass, having a sintering temperature of 500&#xb0; C. (below the silver iodide sublimation temperature of 500&#xb0; C.) was identified that contains oxides of boron, bismuth, and zinc, while containing essentially no lead or silicon.

Low sintering temperature glass waste forms for sequestering radioactive iodine

A method of forming stable nanoparticles comprising substantially uniform alloys of metals. A high dose of ionizing radiation is used to generate high concentrations of solvated electrons and optionally radical reducing species that rapidly reduce a mixture of metal ion source species to form alloy nanoparticles. The method can make uniform alloy nanoparticles from normally immiscible metals by overcoming the thermodynamic limitations that would preferentially produce core-shell nanoparticles.

Alloy nanoparticle synthesis using ionizing radiation

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Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Tina M Nenoff