A method and apparatus are provided for implementing Bragg-diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses using MicroElectroMechanical systems (MEMS) based diffractive optics. An oscillating crystalline MEMS device generates a controllable time-window for diffraction of the incident X-ray radiation. The Bragg-diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses includes isolating a particular pulse, spatially separating individual pulses, and spreading a single pulse from an X-ray pulse-train.

A system and method for forming graphene layers on a substrate. The system and methods include direct growth of graphene on diamond and low temperature growth of graphene using a solid carbon source.

Technologies:

GRAPHENE LAYER FORMATION AT LOW SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURE ON A METAL AND CARBON BASED SUBSTRATE (IN-11-055) View patent details.

GRAPHENE LAYER FORMATION ON A CARBON BASED SUBSTRATE (IN-11-055B) View patent details.

GRAPHINE LAYER FORMATION AT LOW SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURE ON A METAL AND CARBON BASED SUBSTRATE (IN-11-055C) View patent details.

The present invention provides for an electrostatic microelectromechanical (MEMS) device comprising a dielectric layer separating a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor is moveable towards the second conductor, when a voltage is applied to the MEMS device. The dielectric layer recovers from dielectric charging failure almost immediately upon removal of the voltage from the MEMS device.

Technology: RF MEMS Capacitive Switches with High Reliability (IN-09-053) View patent details.

A reliable long life RF-MEMS capacitive switch is provided with a dielectric layer comprising a ​“fast discharge diamond dielectric layer” and enabling rapid switch recovery, dielectric layer charging and discharging that is efficient and effective to enable RF-MEMS switch operation to greater than or equal to 100 billion cycles.

Technology: RF-MEMS capacitive switches with high reliability View patent details.

The Invention

A ​“smart” frequency-based charge controller (FBCC) system for electric vehicles and a method for implementing demand response and regulation services to power grids.

As plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles become more popular, they create additional demand for electricity. Their emergence also raises a host of issues regarding how, where and when car batteries should be charged—and the resulting load on the power grid.

Electric utilities strive to avoid large fluctuations in the power supply and keep the system’s frequency stable at 60 Hz. In this way, they maintain balance in supply and demand and avoid severe imbalances that could lead to a system blackout. Large numbers of cars needing a charge at the same time could potentially tax the power grid unduly.

To counter these challenges, Argonne’s system uses frequency-sensing charge controllers that provide automatic demand response and regulation service to the grid by reducing or turning the charging load completely off if the system frequency falls below given threshold, and turning it back on after the balance of supply and demand has been restored. The system minimizes the burden on the power grid and provides significant benefits to electric utilities by providing a frequency-responsive load.

Current systems that regulate electric power lie almost exclusively on the supply side, requiring utilities to constantly adjust the power output of their generating units to match consumer demand. By contrast, the Argonne-developed system operates from the demand side, relying on a highly responsive frequency-sensing charge controller. The controller continuously monitors power grid frequency and compares it to a predefined tolerance band, then applies it to a programmable logic controller. A charge controller and a switch connected to a battery charger receive respective identified control actions for managing the charger. The controller responds automatically to large drops in grid frequency by shedding the vehicle’s charging load, and resumes charging once the grid disturbance has passed. In this way, it turns the charging load of electric vehicles into a frequency-responsive load which helps regulate system frequency from the demand side and reduces the need for under-frequency shedding of other consumer loads.

Benefits

• Small, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install
• Can be installed on a vehicle or its battery charger
• Requires no maintenance
• Operates automatically; does not need signals from the utility dispatch center 
• Permits better integration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the power grid by quickly compensating for their variability 
• Safe: not vulnerable to cyber attack or terrorist threat 
• Increases the reliability and security of the power supply and reduces the risks of power outages 

Applications and Industries 

• Power industry 
• Automotive industry 

Developmental Stage 

Ready for commercialization 

The Pt-cluster based catalysts outperformed the very best reported ODHP catalyst in both activity (by up to two orders of magnitude higher turn-over frequencies) and in selectivity. The results clearly demonstrate that highly dispersed ultra-small Pt clusters precisely localized on high-surface area supports can lead to affordable new catalysts for highly efficient and economic propene production, including considerably simplified separation of the final product. The combined GISAXS-mass spectrometry provides an excellent tool to monitor the evolution of size and shape of nanocatalyst at action under realistic conditions. Also provided are sub-nanometer gold and sub-nanometer to few nm size-selected silver catalysts which possess size dependent tunable catalytic properties in the epoxidation of alkenes.

Invented size-selected cluster deposition provides a unique tool to tune material properties by atom-by-atom fashion, which can be stabilized by protective overcoats.

Subnanometer and nanometer catalysts, method for preparing size-selected catalysts (ANL-IN-07-067)

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Presented here is a novel application of size-preselected metal-containing clusters under realistic high temperature catalytic conditions. More specifically, the invention produces and utilizes size selected sub-nanometer metal cluster-based catalysts and up to several nm size-selected nanoparticles for chemical conversions such as epoxidation and dehydrogenation.

Subnanometer and nanometer catalysts, method for preparing size-selected catalysts (ANL-IN-07-067B)

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The invention provides a catalytic electrode for converting molecules, the electrode comprising a predetermined number of single catalytic sites supported on a substrate. Also provided is a method for oxidizing water comprising contacting the water with size selected catalyst clusters. The invention also provides a method for reducing an oxidized moiety, the method comprising contacting the moiety with size selected catalyst clusters at a predetermined voltage potential.