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Latest Innovations
Ultra-scalable and Resilient Etched Metal Enhancements for Enhanced Refrigerant-Side Heat Transfer in HVAC Equipment Dr. Miljkovic has developed microstructured aluminum (Al) tubes with increased heat transfer rates of 240% during refrigerant flow boiling. Highly conformal are generated... Read More Dr. Miljkovic has developed microstructured aluminum (Al) tubes with increased heat transfer rates of 240% during refrigerant flow boiling. Highly conformal are generated by a scalable etching technique. The cost-effective techniques used to create etched-Al microstructures stand to significantly reduce manufacturing cost and time required for current enhancement approaches such as extrusion, drawing, and welding. At the same time increased performance is ensured on the thermal side. In addition, the fabricated etched structures are highly durable due to structure formation based on the base metal, and therefore do not suffer from thermal expansion coefficient mismatch issues, as is the case with other enhancements.
Electrochemical Recycling of Homogeneous Catalysts Professor Xiao Su and colleagues have developed an electrochemical system for the separation and reutilization of homogenous catalysts including Pt and Pd-cross coupling... Read More Professor Xiao Su and colleagues have developed an electrochemical system for the separation and reutilization of homogenous catalysts including Pt and Pd-cross coupling catalysts and many other noble metal homogenous catalysts. This catalyst recycling system allows for the direct capture of a homogenous catalysts from a reaction mixture, the captured catalyst can then be desorbed into a new reaction mixture. Notably, this catalyst capture and release system operates without chemically altering the catalyst species thus this system maintains the original catalyst activity. This electrochemical system utilizes redox polymer electrodes allowing for the >99% catalyst adsorption within a 5-minute period. The adsorption properties of this system can be easily adjusted by modifying the applied current and electrode dimensions. Furthermore, >99% of the catalyst adsorbed can be released from the redox electrodes resulting in a highly efficient catalyst recycling system.
Nanoporous PMC for Passive Radiative Cooling 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... Read More 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.
Flow Channel Design for Optimal Performance Kyle Smith has improved current flow channel designs by integrating the flow channel inside of the electrode. This enables his design to improve current electrode... Read More Kyle Smith has improved current flow channel designs by integrating the flow channel inside of the electrode. This enables his design to improve current electrode performance by a factor of 1000. Furthermore, Dr. Smith has improved the shape and arrangement of his flow channels by arranging them in a hierarchical fashion and creating a cube-root shape. This results in an optimized and improved flow channel that makes the electrodes much more permeable than current designs. Effectively, these electrodes can now have a flow with very low amounts of pressure required.
An Ultra-Thin Hydrophobic Coating for Efficient Heat Transfer Hydrophobic coatings are water-resistant and can be used to condense steam for efficient heat-transfer. Certain applications require ultra-thin coating, which the current... Read More Hydrophobic coatings are water-resistant and can be used to condense steam for efficient heat-transfer. Certain applications require ultra-thin coating, which the current coats are prone to delamination upon surface damage. In a collaborative effort between the Evans and Miljkovic lab, a new ultra-thin hydrophobic coating has been developed. This coating can be easily applied to existing materials to protect surfaces against water damage. Unlike previous coatings, this invention is capable of self-heal, thus enhancing its durability and lifetime. Pictured below: top row is previous coatings, bottom row is this invention.
Method to form a thin film depositions Inventors from the University of Illinois have developed a method to form thin film depositions from a variety of sources, using Vacuum UV light. This low... Read More Inventors from the University of Illinois have developed a method to form thin film depositions from a variety of sources, using Vacuum UV light. This low temperature method is fast and allows for a low defect and uniform film deposition on almost any surface. Moreover it is capable of forming films from vapor, solid and liquid precursors. Applications include mioelectronics, optoelectronics, semiconductor surface and metals passivation, coating of materials with low melting point, dielectric materials, and potentially hydraulic rams to prevent oxidation of materials.
Thermally Adaptive Radiative Cooling Smart Textile for Energy-Free Thermal Control and Comfort Heat waves can have profound negative impacts on human morbidity and mortality, both directly (e.g., heatstroke) and by exacerbating existing health conditions.... Read More Heat waves can have profound negative impacts on human morbidity and mortality, both directly (e.g., heatstroke) and by exacerbating existing health conditions. The most obvious way to avoid these heat-related stresses--avoiding physical exertion and staying in an air-conditioned space--is not realistic for many whose occupations require exposure to hot weather. Rising energy and home improvement (e.g., to better insulate a dwelling or to repair/replace an HVAC unit) costs make escaping the heat even more difficult for lower-income people. A low-cost solution is needed to help people better adapt to hot weather without relying on energy-intensive cooling infrastructure. Researchers have developed a thermally adaptive smart textile (TAST) which enables passive outdoor radiative cooling by 6-10 degrees Celsius compared to normal fabrics, while maintaining good mechanical strength, breathability and washability. Succinctly, TAST is a fabric that can be used to make clothes that keep the wearer cooler while requiring NO energy inputs. TAST can not only detect changes in physiological signals in the human body but can adapt its thermoregulation function in response to changes in the ambient temperature and perspiration level. TAST does not require electrical wiring or external energy input. The researchers have also invented a scalable manufacturing platform for further exploration of multifunctional fibers such as TAST that can offer a new paradigm for the advancement of smart wearables. Benefits Passive cooling (no energy inputs required) Durable Made from low-cost materials Scalable manufacturing Applications Fabric Clothing Personal cooling Publication Radiative Cooling Smart Textiles with Integrated Sensing for Adaptive Thermoregulation.Yoon Young Choi, Kai Zhou, Ho Kun Woo, Diya Patel, Md Salauddin, and Lili Cai. ACS Materials Letters 2024 6 (10), 4624-4631 DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.4c01624
Visibly Transparent IR Reflective Coating Heat management technologies have been integrated into fabrics and textiles for decades, dating back at least to NASA's use of reflective aluminum-coated nylon to keep... Read More Heat management technologies have been integrated into fabrics and textiles for decades, dating back at least to NASA's use of reflective aluminum-coated nylon to keep astronauts warm in their spacesuits. This material, however, and the various analogues that have been introduced to date, feature limited optical and aesthetic variability: all have incorporated a telltale shiny metallic surface that reflects not only the infrared wavelengths relevant to heat management, but optical wavelengths as well. This limitation is an unwelcome constraint in the apparal industry, where aesthetic control is paramount, and is even more problematic for applications that include both visual and thermal shielding (e.g., camouflage). Researchers have developed a visibly transparent, IR-reflective coating suitable for application to textiles. This coating allows for passive heat (IR) management in two modes: (1) cooling, by reflecting heat away from an object/wearer when the coating is oriented toward the environment; and, (2) heat retention, by reflecting heat back toward an object/wearer when the coating is oriented toward the object/wearer. The optical transparency of this metallic, nanostructured layer confers unprecedented flexibility in the aesthetic and useful visual properties (e.g., fluorescent safety colors, camouflage colors/patterns) of materials. Benefits Visibly transparent Passive operation (no energy input required) Made from low-cost materials Durable Reversible, allowing for both heating and cooling functions Applications High-performance, reversible clothing IR-resistant, camouflaged tarpaulins for military equipment and facilities IR-resistant uniforms and tactical gear Publication https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202201432

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