Energy Environmental Sciences and Materials

Latest Innovations

Air-Fed Microplasma Devices for Water and Surface Disinfection

Dr. J. Gary Eden from the University of Illinois has developed air-fed microplasma devices and arrays that can be used for water and surface disinfection. 


The...

Dr. J. Gary Eden from the University of Illinois has developed air-fed microplasma devices and arrays that can be used for water and surface disinfection. 


The new devices generate spatially uniform plasmas in air and lead to the production of radicals that are lethal to microorganisms, such as E. coli and Giardia. Their biofilm deactivation properties can be used for a variety of water and surface disinfection purposes. 


Previously, devices generating plasmas directly in air needed to use a carrier gas, such as helium or argon, which limited the applicability of that technology to home, hospital, and industrial environments. This new invention uses solely room air, which allows for a reduction of the size and the cost of the system.

Non-Aqueous Li-Air Flow Battery

 
 
Dr. Kenis from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a non-aqueous lithium-air flow battery configuration that allows for...
 
 
Dr. Kenis from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a non-aqueous lithium-air flow battery configuration that allows for efficient removal and storage of discharge products. This technology has applications in energy storage, particularly in the electric vehicle market due to its improved current density and discharge capacity. In comparison to traditional Li-ion batteries, the Li-air battery is lighter and has a higher practical energy density. This technology helps to overcome the buildup of discharge products.
 
Related Publications:

Reduction of CO2 to Valuable Platform Chemicals 
 

Dr. Kenis from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new method and device for reducing CO2 to value added platform chemicals such as carbon...

Dr. Kenis from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new method and device for reducing CO2 to value added platform chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formic acid. This technology will allow CO2 emitters to produce valuable products while reducing the amount of CO2 pollution released into the atmosphere. Dr. Kenis' technology requires less energy input than state of the art CO2 reduction techniques. This makes CO2 reduction more economically feasible and allows for the use of grid electricity (>90% produced from burning fossil fuels) to power the system while still remaining carbon neutral or even carbon negative.

Biphasic Solvent System for the Capture of CO2 (BiCAP) 

Dr. Yongqi Lu from ISGS has developed a novel biphasic system that can be used for the capture of CO2 in a much more cost effective way. This system uses an organic...
Dr. Yongqi Lu from ISGS has developed a novel biphasic system that can be used for the capture of CO2 in a much more cost effective way. This system uses an organic compound for phase regulation. Since phase regulation is not dependent on the amine component, this solvent system is much more efficient for biphasic separation of CO2.

Method for Delaying Frost Growth on Heat Exchangers

A meniscus-...

A meniscus-guided solution coating technique to produce pharmaceutical nanothin films. This is a new way to manufacture personalized multilayer combination drugs, which can be beneficial to types of cancer where mono-chemotherapy is ineffective. This new technology enables a uniform deposition of thin films down to a few nm in thickness, easy alternation of the film morphology (modulation of dissolution rate) and polymorphism (control of bioavailability), and a layer-by-layer production of dosages comprised of multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients. The method is cost-competitive, scalable, and high-throughput.

CF/PDMS Coiled Muscle

Dr. Tawfick from the University of IL has developed a composition of carbon fiber and silicone to create an artificial coiled muscle. This particular composition gives...
Dr. Tawfick from the University of IL has developed a composition of carbon fiber and silicone to create an artificial coiled muscle. This particular composition gives the artificial muscle the ability to lift 12,600 times its own weight when an electrical current is applied to it. This invention could help replace bulky actuators and could be useful in prosthetics as well as other industries.
 
Publications – C Lamuta, S. Tawfick, S. Messelot, Theory of the Tensile Actuation of Fiber Reinforced Coiled Muscles, Smart Materials and Structures, (Apr. 20, 2018).

SolvSEM: New Solid Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries with Improved Performance and Processability

Prof. Andrew Gewirth from the University of Illinois has developed a new technology which improves the safety, stability and processability of solid state batteries....

Prof. Andrew Gewirth from the University of Illinois has developed a new technology which improves the safety, stability and processability of solid state batteries. Commercial liquid electrolytes (LEs) pose a fire and explosion hazard in lithium metal batteries due to the possibility of thermal runaway reactions. Solid electrolytes (SEs) have become a practical option for lithium ion and lithium metal batteries due to their improved safety over commercially available ionic liquids. However, current SE technologies suffer from poor stability and are difficult to process. Prof. Gewirth’s invention enhances the ease of processability of electrolytes for lithium metal batteries, increases the mechanical stability of the electrolyte, reduces the overall cost of the cell, and reduces the overall cell resistance.

SolvSEM has a lower overall cell resistance than its bare pellet counterpart

Stable over 100 cycles | Current density x10 higher than pellet counterpart

Rapid Fabrication of Microvascular Polymers and Composites

Dr. Sottos from the University of IL has developed a method of creating microscopic channels within a gel matrix. The process takes less time...
Dr. Sottos from the University of IL has developed a method of creating microscopic channels within a gel matrix. The process takes less time then conventional methods and operates are temperatures below 180ºC. The invention can be used for transporting fluids for various biological uses. This invention could be used for various medical purposes.

Integrated Rectifier-Generator for Offshore Wind Turbine

Dr. Arijit Banerjee from the University of IL has developed an integrated rectifier-generator system that improves power electronics architecture reducing bulkiness and...

Dr. Arijit Banerjee from the University of IL has developed an integrated rectifier-generator system that improves power electronics architecture reducing bulkiness and weight of mega-watt rated systems. The architecture simplifies hardware and control schemes, improves efficiency of switch voltage ratings, and achieves ac-dc conversion at lower cost than conventional means. This system should be considered for the 2018 Department of Energy to mobilize a project pipeline of 25,434 MW of offshore wind turbine developments.

Improved Condensation of Organic Fluids on Lubricant-infused Surfaces

Dr. Nenad Miljkovic from University of Illinois has developed an invention which improves the condensation of organic fluids. Vapor condensation is an ubiquitous process...

Dr. Nenad Miljkovic from University of Illinois has developed an invention which improves the condensation of organic fluids. Vapor condensation is an ubiquitous process applied in a wide range of industrial processes including power generation, distillation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems and natural gas processing. Over the past several decades, water-repellent or hydrophobic surfaces have been developed for water condensation. However, this approach does not work with low-surface-tension fluids such as alcohols and hydrocarbons. Other approaches, such as omniphobic surfaces, fail for condensation applications. Starting from regular metal tubes (e.g. copper), Dr. Miljkovic and coworkers developed scalable nanostructured lubricant infused surfaces (LIS) that can sustain rigorous condensation conditions.

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