New ORNL inventions

Efficient Tc Management with Guanidine-based Aqueous Complexant
202305429 // Chemicals // Energy and Utilities
Technetium is a radioactive isotope that is a byproduct of nuclear processing; there are currently limited mechanisms to capture technetium when uranium is recycled, hindering the efficient recycling of spent nuclear fuel. A novel approach, utilizing a guanidine-based aqueous complexant for selective and efficient technetium capture, promises to be both inexpensive and widely accessible.

Process for Synthesizing Alkenes Solely from 2,3-butanediol via Dioxolane Synthons
202305488 // Chemicals // Manufacturing
The diol compound derived from fermentation broth, 2,3-butanediol (BDO), can be used as a feedstock for sustainable liquid fuel generation. This ORNL team previously submitted a patent application for recovering BDO from fermentation broth via reactive separation with an aldehyde to form dioxolanes. They've developed a new process that does not require continuous aldehyde input by generating an aldehyde during the procedure, enabling a more sustainable procedure for the overall BDO-to-alkenes reaction network. These alkenes can be further upgraded to generate renewable fuels including sustainable aviation fuels.

Continuous Composite Forming
202405640 // Manufacturing // Energy and Utilities
This technology will be able to make continuous parts with a variable cross section and shape that are larger than the technology itself at a fraction of the cost, time and labor.

Process for Synthesizing Renewable C4+ Oxygenates from Butanediol Isomers via Dioxolane Synthons
202405649 // Chemicals // Manufacturing
This technology allows for the utilization of butanediol isomers to form a range of C4 oxygenated compounds as renewably sourced feedstocks for fuels and chemicals production in a range of industrial applications.

Membrane Contactor for Energy-Efficient CO2 Capture from Point Sources with Physical Solvents
202105015 // Chemicals // Materials
The escalating concern over greenhouse gas emissions and their role in climate change has intensified the need for effective CO2 separation techniques. Traditional methods like absorption in aqueous amines demand high energy and pose operational challenges due to solvent loss and high volatility. Deep eutectic solvents emerge as promising alternatives, combining low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and high CO2 absorption capacity.

Photochemically Controlled Direct Air Capture of CO2 with a Guanidine Photobase
202405590 // Chemicals // Energy and Utilities
Atmospheric carbon dioxide is captured with an aqueous solution containing a guanidine photobase and a small peptide, using a UV-light stimulus, and subsequently released when the light stimulus is removed. In this approach, we take advantage of a new photobase that becomes more basic after exposure to UV light. The pH swing of this photobase during photoirradiation facilitates a proton transfer event, which activates a small peptide for CO2 capture. Removing the solution from UV light initiates the release of CO2. The process can be cycled between capture and release states multiple times with minimal loss in efficiency.

Spool-Pinch Hybrid Valve
202405615 // Analytical Instrumentation // Chemicals
A valve solution that prevents cross contamination while allowing for blocking multiple channels at once using only one actuator.

Bio-based Flame Retardants
202405623 // Materials // Chemicals
The incorporation of low embodied carbon building materials in the enclosure is increasing the fuel load for fire, increasing the demand for fire/flame retardants. The objective is to leverage more environmentally friendly materials to synthesize chemistries to improve the fire resistance of low embodied carbon building materials.

A New Highly Wear-resistant Nanostructured Bainitic Steel for Wind Turbine Gearbox Applications
202405685 // Materials // Manufacturing
A new nanostructured bainitic steel with accelerated kinetics for bainite formation at 200 C was designed using a coupled CALPHAD, machine learning, and data mining approach. The designed steel has a 7x faster kinetics for bainite start and a 2x faster kinetics for complete transformation. The steel has a nanoscale ferrite and austenite (approx. 50 nm) dual-phase structure, with wear properties under dry sliding superior to the current state of the art AISI 52100/100Cr6 steel.

Baseplate Design to Counteract Vertical Distortion During Additive Manufacturing
202405692 // Manufacturing
Distortion generated during additive manufacturing of metallic components affect the build as well as the baseplate geometries. These distortions are significant enough to disqualify components for functional purposes. The technology described herein uses tailor made compliant geometries in the baseplate that counteracts the distortion generated during deposition.

Lanthanide Separation Using Non-rigid Ligand
202405696 // Manufacturing // Chemicals
The increasing demand for high-purity lanthanides, essential for advanced technologies such as electronics, renewable energy, and medical applications, presents a significant challenge because of their similar chemical properties. Traditional separation methods are often inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful. This invention addresses these problems by introducing a novel approach that significantly improves the selectivity and efficiency of lanthanide separation. By modifying the donor group configuration within a specialized ligand and altering the solvation environment, this method achieves peak selectivity for light, medium, or heavy lanthanides. This innovation enhances the purity of the separated lanthanides and reduces the environmental impact and cost associated with traditional methods. The ability to efficiently and selectively separate lanthanides is crucial for maximizing resource utilization and supporting technological advancements.

Polyalkenamers as Drop-in Additives for Polymer Synthesis
202405734 // Materials // Manufacturing
This technology provides additives for polymer synthesis.

Method for Loading X-ray Powder Diffraction Holders in an Automated Workflow
202305478 // Analytical Instrumentation // Materials
Standard stages for X-ray diffraction are designed to carry holders that are relatively large. This imposes a significant space constraint that can reduce the number of samples analyzed. By developing a smaller insert that can be removed and replaced, a greater density of sample holders can be prepared with samples and measured. In this invention, a small plastic holder compatible with larger X-ray holders is demonstrated that is beneficial for automated workflows in next generation robotic or self-driving laboratories.

Method for Separation of Bulky Solids from Powder in an Automated Workflow
202305480 // Chemicals // Materials
Method for separating bulky solids from powders in an automated fashion. Powders are particularly challenging to work with in an automated workflow employing robots for chemical manipulation. Where powders should be mixed, this will involve agitation of a powder mixture, with or without media to enhance the mixing. Where media are used (e.g., balls), it is typically required to remove the media before further processing of the powder. In this invention, a design of filter for separating media from powder is demonstrated that is compatible with automated workflows in next generation robotic or self-driving laboratories.

Multi-capability Platform for Testing Materials in High Temperature and Pressure Hydrogen
202405657 // Energy and Utilities // Materials
Test facilities to evaluate materials compatibility in hydrogen are abundant for high pressure and low temperature (<100 C). However, there are no capabilities to allow testing in high pressure and high temperature (>300 C).The invention combines multiple capabilities to test structural materials in high pressure and high temperature flowing hydrogen and hydrogen combustion atmospheres (e.g., gas mixtures with steam, SO2, nitrogen). This test platform allows environmental testing in various flowing hydrogen containing gas mixtures for temperatures up to 1200 C while the mechanical test capability caters to tensile, creep and fatigue testing for temperatures up to 1000 C and pressures up to 500 bar in flowing gas mixtures.

Microwave-assisted Regeneration of Liquid Sorbent-blended Silica Carbon Capture Particles
202405681 // Materials // Manufacturing
The hybrid powder-encapsulated solvent over comes carbon capture challenges by providing a solution for easy handling of a non-toxic solid that is non-volatile and stable upon alternative energy regeneration methods. The powder shows high capture efficiency and kinetics for selective carbon dioxide capture, where the powdered coating provides a hydrophobic yet porous-like geometries to repel water and polar volatiles found in air and flue gas emissions. The ionic liquid solvent is readily activated by electromagnetic energy, such as microwave, which has shown lower energy requirement than thermal heat use, allowing for cost efficient use of renewable energy resources as well as reducing degradation of materials.

Jet Impingement Based Cooling for Power Modules and Manifold Design
202305502 // Transportation // Energy and Utilities
A new, simpler power module and manifold design shows lower weight and volume, which allows higher power density compared with current state of the art.

Combustion Synthesis of DRX Cathodes
202305505 // Transportation // Energy and Utilities
This invention describes a new combustion synthesis route to produce high purity, high performance DRX cathodes for next-generation Li-ion batteries. Unlike present-day Li-ion cathodes (e.g., LCO, NCA, and NMC) which rely heavily on Co/Ni, DRX cathodes can attain similar energy densities while utilizing earth-abundant resources (e.g, Mn). Most prior work on DRX cathodes utilizes solid-state reaction routes which are limited to gram-scale quantities and provide little control over the powder's morphology. On the other hand, materials produced through combustion routes can be readily scaled to kg+ batches while maintaining outstanding electrochemical performance.

To learn more about these technologies, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call
865-574-1051.