Batteries operate by polarizing and transferring ions through liquid or molecular solvents. Recent developments have made use of organic cation salts in plastic crystalline states as solvents, in which lithium salts can be dissolved. These lithium salts are known as electrolytes. Unfortunately, they are associated with low conductivity. Other electrolytes...

Efficient integration of wind energy in power grids is challenging due to the variability of wind energy. The uncertainty of wind impacts various system level considerations, such as the reliability and operational planning of power grids. Mischaracterizing these uncertainties can lead to significant loss of the wind generation. Accurate wind generation...

The demand for electric automobiles is driving research to find new rechargeable battery options. Current lithium ion batteries are very heavy and require large amounts of space. Additionally, these batteries have the potential to overheat during charging and cause fires. Lithium ion batteries are used because they can be recharged, but the charging...

As electronics become more compact, the issue of electromigration, the accumulation of atoms at the anode of an electronic circuit due to an uneven distribution of current, becomes more prevalent. Devices that undergo electromigration experience physical changes often resulting in short or open circuit failures specifically at the soldering joints....

Water vapor condensation is an essential aspect of many technologies in energy generation, desalination, and air conditioning. An increased heat transfer rate during water vapor condensation could lead to considerable economic savings as well as environmental benefits. Hydrophobization improves heat transfer by switching the condensation mode from filmwise...

Ion exchange is widely used within industry and public infrastructure to remove metallic, organic, or inorganic particles from water. Ion exchange filters contain activated carbon or spongy polymer beads, called resin, which have been tailored to remove a specific group of contaminants with similar chemistry. Hybrid ion exchange resins are capable of...

The demand for rechargeable batteries is rapidly rising due to increased sales of consumer electronics, electric and hybrid automobiles, and the need for grid-based energy storage systems. Currently, the most widely used rechargeable batteries are manufactured with lithium-ion and liquid electrolyte materials. Unfortunately, as these batteries are charged...