New ORNL Inventions
System and Method of Needling of Veiled AS4 Fabric Tape
202405574 // Manufacturing // Materials
The technologies provide a system and method of needling of veiled AS4 fabric tape.
Polarization-Frequency Controlled-NOT Gate
202405772 // IT and Communications
Photonic hyperentanglement, or the simultaneous entanglement across multiple degrees of freedom (DoFs), has the potential to significantly increase information capacity and enhance noise resilience in quantum networks. However, the lack of controlled operations between these DoFs has limited its practical applications.
This invention provides a solution by enabling high-fidelity quantum operations between polarization and frequency DoFs using a novel CNOT gate design. This development paves the way for advanced quantum communication protocols, such as hyperentanglement-assisted entanglement distillation, which can improve the quality of quantum information transmitted over fiber-optic networks. The approach holds promise for enhancing the scalability and efficiency of quantum networks as they evolve toward real-world deployment.
Thermoelectric Integrated Evaporator for Cooling at Two Distinct Temperatures and Energy Storage
202405783 // Energy and Utilities // Health Care and Biology
This innovation introduces a refrigerator that combines a thermoelectric (TE) cooler with a traditional vapor compression (VC) refrigeration system. The TE cooler specifically regulates the temperature within the freezer compartment. Meanwhile, the VC evaporator drives an antifreeze coolant loop that stores cooling energy, helping to maintain the temperatures in both the freezer and fresh food compartments during off-peak electricity hours. During peak electricity hours, the TE cooler, which is readily battery-powered, maintains the freezer compartment temperature while releasing heat to the antifreeze coolant storage. This design reduces compressor cyclic loss by extending the compressor's off time.
Nanoprecipitate Strengthened High Strength Low Activation V alloys
202405786 // Energy and Utilities
V-Cr-Ti alloys have been proposed as candidate structural materials in fusion reactor blanket concepts with operation temperatures greater than that for reduced activation ferritic martensitic steels (RAFMs). However, the upper operating temperature of the leading candidate V-4Cr-4Ti (V44) alloy severely limits its design envelope. These V44 alloys are also susceptible to irradiation hardening and embrittlement. This technology is designed to address these challenges by developing nanoprecipitate strengthened V alloys (NPV) with dramatically improved high temperature strength and irradiation stability.
Low-Cost Micro-Silicon Anode and Fluorinated Binder for Sulfide Solid-State Batteries
202405793 // Energy and Utilities // Materials
This is a novel approach to enhance the performance and durability of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) by focusing on two primary components: the Si anode and the thin electrolyte integration. An innovative fabrication process for low-cost micro-silicon anodes aimed at improving their structural integrity and electrochemical performance has been developed. This process is designed to be compatible with existing battery manufacturing techniques, particularly the traditional slurry-casting method.
In parallel, a protocol for integrating these advanced silicon anodes with thin, sheet-like sulfide solid-state electrolyte has been established. This integration is complemented by the use of a cathode, creating a battery system that leverages the mechanical and chemical stability of these components to enhance overall battery performance.
Recovery of High-Value Ruthenium from Used Nuclear Fuel
202505861 // Chemicals
Ruthenium is recovered from used nuclear fuel in an oxidizing environment by depositing the volatile RuO4 species onto a polymeric substrate. Such removal of ruthenium has the benefit of recovering a critical material from used nuclear fuel for use in the electronic and radiotherapeutic industries.
Long Lasting Contact Tip for Additive Manufacturing
202205262 // Manufacturing
In wire-arc additive manufacturing and hot-wire laser additive manufacturing, wire is fed into a melt pool and melted through the arc or laser process. A critical part of this wire feed is a copper contact tip that makes electrical contact with the wire, while simultaneously providing a consistent wire feed position. Over time the wire running through the tip wears the tip and creates an oblong exit hole.The tip wear makes the wire position unreliable, leading to unexpected melt pool location/shape. Consequently, tips are replaced frequently (usually every half hour) to avoid this issue. Because most prints are far longer than this, regular print interruption is necessary to replace tips. These interruptions can cause problems such as interlaminar defects, cold joints and increased residual stress. Longer lasting tips avoid this regular replacement of tips, and the consequent print interruptions and defects.
Critical Rare Earth Free Magnets
202305282 // Manufacturing // Materials
A novel approach has been developed for fabricating bonded magnets using Samarium Iron Nitride in a polymer matrix, achieving superior magnetic properties and stability. This innovation addresses challenges in producing high-performance, rare-earth magnets for industrial applications, particularly where thermal stability and corrosion resistance are critical.
Graded SiC
202305292 // Materials // Security and Defense
The technology provides a solution approach for faster chemical processing and carbon functional grading from silicon carbide to MC to provide a tougher carbon and ceramic matrix composite structure.
Flat and Level Analysis Tool
202305305 // Energy and Utilities // Manufacturing
The Flat and Level Analysis Tool (FLAT) is an advanced software platform designed to assess the quality of foundations in real-time during construction. By leveraging laser scanning technology and advanced analytics, FLAT enhances the speed and accuracy of foundation evaluations, ensuring critical components like concrete slabs meet structural requirements efficiently.
High Salt Concentrated Solid Electrolyte Containing Plastic Crystal
202305335 // Energy and Utilities // Transportation
The proposed solid electrolyte can solve the problem of manufacturing solid electrolyte when heating and densifying the solid electrolyte powder.
Stacked-Die-Cap Packaging for Power Modules
202305404 // Transportation // IT and Communications
A novel integrated 3D half-bridge power module package has been developed to address performance challenges in power electronics. By minimizing parasitic inductance and resistance, the design enables improved electrical performance for wide bandgap devices. This innovation is particularly valuable for applications where size, weight, and efficiency are critical, such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and portable electronics.
In Situ Tool Wear Monitoring Process
202305523 // Manufacturing // Detectors and Sensors
Quantifying tool wear is historically challenging task due to variable human interpretation. This capture system will allow for an entire side and the complete end of the cutting tool to be analyzed. All of these measurements can also be taken in the machine either before or after the cut has been taken. This does not require the tool to be removed from the machine. Furthermore, this system will allow for measurable and recordable results to be acquired for tool wear analysis.
Comamonas Enzymes
202405703 // Healthcare and Biology // Chemicals
This is a comprehensive muti-technique approach for systematic investigation of enzymes generated by wastewater Comamonas species with hitherto unknown functionality to wards the depolymerization of plastics into bioaccessible products for bacterial metabolism.
Metalized Polymer Current Collector for High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries
202405706 // Energy and Utilities // Manufacturing
We developed and incorporated two innovative mPET/Cu and mPET/Al foils as current collectors in LIBs to enhance cell energy density under XFC conditions. These novel collectors facilitate a substantial reduction in weight, thickness, and cost relative to traditional metal foil counterparts.
Operando X-ray characterization
202405778 // Manufacturing // Materials
The lack of real-time insights into how materials evolve during laser powder bed fusion has limited the adoption by inhibiting part qualification. The developed approach provides key data needed to fabricate born qualified parts.
Methods for O2 Removal from a CO2 Stream
202405804 // Energy and Utilities // Chemicals
The invention discloses methods of using a reducing agent for catalytic oxygen reduction from CO2 streams, enabling the treated CO2 streams to meet the pipeline specifications.
Novel Extractants for Rare Earth Chelation and Separation
202405820 // Chemicals // Materials
This invention describes a new class of amphiphilic chelators (extractants) that can selectively separate large, light rare earth elements from heavy, small rare earth elements in solvent extraction schemes.
Additively Manufactured Thermal Protection System
202405822 // Materials
This technology builds on ORNL’s leadership in thermoset additive manufacturing to develop an innovative improvement to existing technology used by spacecraft reentering Earth's atmosphere: a set of novel ablative thermal protection system materials made suitable for deposition by additive manufacturing, allowing for automated deposition of ablative TPS onto large and complex surfaces.
An Intelligent Metasurface-Based WPT System
202405823 // Transportation // Energy and Utilities
This technology can help to increase number of application areas of Wireless Power Transfer systems. It can be applied to a range of industries, including consumer electronics, defense, and automotive.
A Sustainable Al-based AlFeMgSi Alloy with High Ductility
202405831 // Materials // Transportation
The invented alloys are a new family of Al-Mg alloys. This new family of Al-based alloys demonstrate an excellent ductility, despite the high content of impurities commonly observed in recycled aluminum. Compared to the existing Al-Mg alloys which only accommodate one of the two impurities, our new Al-based alloys can accommodate impurity content without compromising ductility in as-cast state.
To learn more about these technologies, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call
865-574-1051.
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