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Dr. Nenad Miljkovic along with graduate students, Kalyan Boyina and Shreyas Chavan from the University of IL have developed a special Superhydrophobic conformal coating useful in many industrial applications, such as reducing frost on heat exchangers, preventing frost formation, and heat transfer capabilities.

Dr. Lopez and Zhao from the University of Illinois have developed a method to recycle lead-acid batteries without dismantling the device. The method relies on using chelator molecules to remove desired molecules, and then introducing new active material at the electrodes. This method will make lead-acid recycling cheaper.

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.

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.

Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a new technique for rapidly fabricating elastomeric materials, namely 1,4-polybutadiene and co-polymers of 1,4-polybutadiene, with minimal energy inputs. The technique employs frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization, an exothermic reaction, to fabricate high-quality materials that are similar or indistinguishable from those used to fabricate tires, tubes, belts, gaskets, etc. This technology also allows for the rapid fabrication of elastomeric and semi-elastomeric materials with shape memory properties.

Dr. Lili Cai and her team at the University of Illinois have developed a new nanoporous composite material for passive cooling applications. This composite has solar reflectivity of 96.2%, infrared emissivity greater than 90%, and can generate a cooling power of 85 W/m2 to reduce subambient temperature by up to 6.1°C without any energy inputs. The material is inexpensive, easier to fabricate than state-of-the-art passive cooling materials, and can retain its properties even after thermal processing or 3D printing.

Inventors from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign have developed a novel, single-step process to recover transition metal oxides (TMOs) via electrodissolution. This electrochemical approach is particularly relevant to recycling lithium-ion battery cathodes and obviates the use of many toxic chemicals traditionally used to recycle lithium-ion batteries. The inventors have also demonstrated regeneration of high-quality lithium-ion battery cathodes from the same bath used for dissolution, indicating promise for this approach as part of a full-cycle recycling approach.

Researchers at Colorado State University and NOAA have designed a sensor based on Photoacoustic Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy (PARS) that can detect Hydrogen gas (H2) at trace levels, including down to parts per billion (ppb) levels. This sensor can allow accurate and sensitive detection of H2 in air with fast time response in a relatively robust and compact package.

Hydrogen is a desired form of energy as it does not release harmful emissions, however massive storage of hydrogen is still a challenge. The disclosed technology establishes a unique method of storing a large amount of hydrogen without high temperatures or pressure. This invention can be used for the storage and release of hydrogen while meeting requirements for transportation or utility use.

Use of a genetically modified anaerobic microbe to increase methane production from anaerobic digestion.

Our researchers have developed methods of wet torrefaction with optimized reaction conditions so that the process can be completed in 1-5 minutes. This is a significant improvement to the conventional method which may take several hours. Wet torrefaction is the process of treating biomass with hot compressed water in an inert atmosphere, also known as hydrothermal pretreatment or carbonization, where gas, water solubles, and a carbonized solid product or biochar (also known as hydrochar) are produced. The produced biochar can be used directly as fuel or can be formed into pellets for easier transportation and handling. The biomass is reacted in a reaction chamber with an inert atmosphere, such as purged with a non-reactive gas such as nitrogen, where the chamber maintains an optimal temperature and pressure to keep the water at a condensed state and to increase the energy density of the biomass.

Engineers in Prof. Arunava Majumdar's laboratory have formulated high-entropy phase-change materials that can split water to produce hydrogen at moderate temperatures using a scalable, carbon-free process. The hydrogen is produced through a two-step solar-powered thermochemical redox reaction. Then it can be harnessed to reduce carbon dioxide and produce chemicals such as plastics, syngas or transportation fuel.

Stanford researchers in the Benson Lab have developed CCSNet, an open source software platform for modeling CO2 storage reservoirs based on machine learning neural networks. As compared to current standards, this software is 10,000 to 100,000 times faster and more accurate. Traditional simulators for carbon geological storage are computationally expensive and time consuming. Trained with a large numerical simulation data set, CCSNet provides numerous outputs for carbon dioxide storage projects including but not limited to CO2 gas saturation, pressure buildup, and mass balance.

A method of biomass gasification using solar energy produces a higher yield of syngas when compared to traditional combustion methods. The solar-powered biomass gasifier forgoes the traditional method of combusting biomass or fossil fuels and instead uses solar energy to obtain the necessary energy from heat. Using the biomass feedstock as the source of energy to drive the gasification reaction typically consumes 20% to 30% of the original energy content making the gasifier much less efficient. Contrasted against traditional non-solar gasification systems, the solar-powered gasifier produces a 30-50% high yield of fuel per unit feedstock. This new device also outperforms other solar-powered gasifiers by being able to operate at lower temperatures and obtain higher efficiency. The new reactor also has the capability to perform continuously at night. This method of gasification lowers dependency on fossil fuels and produces a more sustainable biofuel.