Synthetic materials set new world record for greatest amount of surface area:
The researchers believe their work may lead to yet further advances in MOF research and they aim to eventually exceed double the current surface area of the NU-109 and NU-110 materials. In order for this to happen, the design of MOFs will require altering on the molecular level: MOFs are composed of organic linkers held together by metal atoms, and this results in a molecular cage-like structure. Therefore, the team propose to use more space efficient linker types in the material’s design.
A paper describing the findings titled “Metal-organic Framework Materials with Ultrahigh Surface Areas: Is the Sky the Limit?” was published August 20 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and the new MOF-designing and synthesizing tech is currently being commercialized by NuMat Technologies.
ORNL roof-and-attic system keeps houses cool in summer, warm in winter:
The ORNL team says computer simulations show that poorly sealed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts that leak conditioned air into an attic typically cost homeowners US$100 to $300 per year. Sealing the attic with spray foam can save over $460 a year, but the initial cost is around $8,000.
In comparison, ORNL claims retrofitting the new roof-and-attic design to an existing house could save homeowners around $100 a year, but for an initial cost of about $2,000. While the yearly savings aren’t as high, the significantly lower initial cost would result in close to the same number of payback years for both approaches.
Just think of the jobs this would create very quickly in the US. For relatively little investment, it would give a significant boost to the economy, while also taking a major step to energy security.
NASA proposes Water Walls to replace mechanical life support systems:
NASA has already experimented with some aspects of the Water Walls system aboard the International Space Station, using a device known as theForward Osmosis Bag to convert astronaut’s urine into a sports drink.
This is fascinating.
Filed under: innovation, science & technology Tagged: astronauts, Attic, cosmonauts, energy conservation, HVAC, innovation, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Metal-organic framework, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, space, surface area, Technology
