Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

Vedasri Vedharathinam

Jessica Louis Baker Rivest

Divyaraj Desai

Saroj Kumar Sahu

Gabriel Iftime

Craig Eldershaw

Martin Sheridan

David Eric Schwartz

Ranjeet Balakrishna Rao

Clinton J Smith

Yong Zhang

Armin R Volkel

Sean Roark Garner

Richard J Steele

Ashutosh Kole

David Mathew Johnson

Ashish V Pattekar

Christopher A Paulson

Bhaskar Saha

Jianer Bao

Rajesh Kumar Padmarajan

Richard Steele

Martin J Sheridan

Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes. The methods include forming a reaction mixture by combining a first solution with a second solution, wherein the first solution comprises polymer-coated metal nanoparticles comprising metallic nanoparticles coated with a polymer, and wherein the second solution comprises carbon nanotubes. The methods also include heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the polymer for a time sufficient to cause the polymer-coated metal nanoparticles to bind to the carbon nanotubes forming the metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes.

Metal nanoparticle-decorated nanotubes for gas sensing

Disclosed herein are embodiments of compositions for gas sensing and sensors utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a composition comprises carbon nanotubes and polymer-coated metal nanoparticles bound to the carbon nanotubes.

A method for transporting nitride (N) ions in an electrochemical cell includes providing nitrogen to a first side of a solid electrolyte membrane to form nitride ions and transporting the nitride ions across the solid electrolyte membrane. The solid electrolyte membrane includes a metal nitride. The method may be used for ionically-mediated separation and/or compression of nitrogen or to form ammonia.

Method for transporting nitride ions in an electrochemical cell

Disclosed herein are embodiments of compositions for gas sensing and sensors utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a composition comprises carbon nanotubes and and polymer-coated metal nanoparticles bound to the carbon nanotubes.

An electrochemical metal alloy identification device employing electrolytes to measure and identify different potentials of alloys is presented. This includes physical structure, disposables, electrical systems, control circuitry, and algorithms to identify alloys.

Alloy identification device

A flowing electrolyte fuel cell system design (DHCFC-Flow) is provided. The use of a flowing oxygen-saturated electrolyte in a fuel cell offers a significant enhancement in the cell performance characteristics. The mass transfer and reaction kinetics of the superoxide/peroxide/oxide ion (mobile oxygen ion species) in the fuel cell are enhanced by recirculating an oxidizing gas-saturated electrolyte. Recirculating oxygen-saturated electrolyte through a liquid channel enhances the maximal current observed in a fuel cell. The use of a oxygen saturated electrolyte ensures that the reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction are fast and the use of convection ameliorates concentration gradients and the diffusion-limited maximum current density. The superoxide ion is generated in situ by the reduction of the oxygen dissolved in the gaseous electrolyte. Also, a dual porosity membrane allows the uniform flow of fuel (e.g., methane) on the fuel side, without allowing phase mixing. The capillary pressure for liquid intrusion into the gas phase and vice versa is quite large, estimated to be 1-10 psi. This makes it easier to control the fluctuations in gas/liquid velocity which might otherwise lead to phase mixing and the loss of fuel cell performance. In one variation, a dual-porosity membrane structure is incorporated in the system to allow uniform flow of fuel and prevent mixing of fuel with a liquid electrolyte.

Flowing electrolyte fuel cell with improved performance and stability

Disclosed is an electrochemical probe system and an electrical excitation method, used to identify the composition of metals and alloys.

Electrochemical metal and alloy detector and method

Disclosed is an electrochemical probe system and an electrical excitation method, configured in a handheld sorting system, and used to identify the composition of metals and alloys.

Systems for electrochemical sorting of metals and alloys

Disclosed is an electrochemical probe system and an electrical excitation method, configured in a bulk sorting system, and used to identify the composition of metals and alloys.

An energy storage system employing a reversible salination-desalination process includes an electrochemical desalination battery (EDB) unit including an anode and a cathode. The EDB unit runs a salination process while storing energy from a direct current power supply unit, and runs a desalination process while releasing energy to an electrical load. The energy storage system can store power from a variable output electrical power supply unit such as solar cells and wind turbines while running a salination process, and release energy, e.g., during peak energy demand hours while running a desalination process. Combined with a capacitive deionization (CD) unit, the energy storage system can generate fresh water by running desalination processes in the EDB unit and the CD unit while releasing stored energy from the EDB unit. The energy storage unit can function as a dual purpose device for energy storage and fresh water generation.

Redox desalination system for clean water production and energy storage

An energy storage system employing a reversible salination-desalination process includes an electrochemical desalination battery (EDB) unit including an anode and a cathode. The EDB unit runs a salination process while storing energy from a direct current power supply unit, and runs a desalination process while releasing energy to an electrical load. The energy storage system can store power from a variable output electrical power supply unit such as solar cells and wind turbines while running a salination process, and release energy, e.g., during peak energy demand hours while running a desalination process. Combined with a capacitive deionization (CD) unit, the energy storage system can generate fresh water by running desalination processes in the EDB unit and the CD unit while releasing stored energy from the EDB unit. The energy storage unit can function as a dual purpose device for energy storage (load shifting) and fresh water generation.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Vedasri Vedharathinam