Devices and methods for reducing the specific energy required to reform or pyrolyze reactants in plasmas operating at high flow rates and high pressures are presented. These systems and methods include 1) introducing electrons and/or easily ionized materials to a plasma reactor, 2) increasing turbulence and swirl velocity of the flows of feed gases to have improved mixing in a plasma reactor, and 3) reducing slippage from a plasma reactor system. Such plasma systems may allow plasma reactors to operate at lower temperatures, higher pressure, with improved plasma ignition, increased throughput and improved energy efficiency. In preferred embodiments, the plasma reactors are used to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon, or carbon monoxide through reforming and pyrolysis reactions. Preferred feedstocks include methane, carbon dioxide, and other hydrocarbons.

Nature is capable of storing solar energy in chemical bonds via photosynthesis through a series of C—C, C—O and C—N bond-forming reactions starting from CO.sub.2 and light. Direct capture of solar energy for organic synthesis is a promising approach. Lead (Pb)-halide perovskite solar cells reach 24.2% power conversion efficiency, rendering perovskite a unique type material for solar energy capture. We show that photophysical properties of perovskites is useful in photoredox organic synthesis. Because the key aspects of these two applications are both relying on charge separation and transfer. Here we demonstrated that perovskites nanocrystals are exceptional candidates as photocatalysts for fundamental organic reactions, i.e. C—C, C—N and C—O bond-formations. Stability of CsPbBr.sub.3 in organic solvents and ease-of-tuning their bandedges garner perovskite a wider scope of organic substrate activations.

A method for producing plasmonic nanomaterials that are catalytically or photocatalytically active by fabricating plasmonic nanostructures on substrates using electrodeposition into a nano-template structure and forming a plurality of nanorods in an array, wherein the nanorods are made from materials chosen from the group consisting of materials that are plasmonic and/or catalytic, and materials that are catalytically activated by depositing pure elemental metals, alloys, or alternating layers of different metals or alloys, and producing catalytic plasmonic nanomaterials. Catalytic plasmonic nanomaterials made from the above method. An optical reactor device that utilizes catalytic nanomaterials for photocatalytic synthesis of methanol or ammonia. A method of photocatalytic synthesis of methanol and ammonia by using catalytic plasmonic nanomaterial to convert CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 to methanol and N.sub.2 and H.sub.2 to ammonia using optical power. A hybrid plasma-plasmonic reactor for the utilization of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 to produce methanol, ethylene, and acetic acid.

A variety of particles forming microencapsulated thermochromic materials are provided. The particles can include a thermochromic core and a metal oxide shell encapsulating the thermochromic core. The thermochromic core can include one or both of an organic thermochromic material and an inorganic salt thermochromic material. In some aspects, the particles include a dye selected from a crystal violet lactone dye, a fluoran dye, and a combination thereof. In still further aspects, the particles include a color developer selected from a hydroxybenzoate, a 4, 4′-dihydroxydiphenyl propane, a hydroxycoumarin derivative, a lauryl gallate, and a combination thereof. In some aspects, the metal oxide shell is a TiO.sub.2 shell. The particles can be used in cements and paints and for a variety of building materials. Methods of making the particles and building materials and methods of use, for example, for removing a volatile organic carbon from a building material, are also provided.

Embodiments relate to generating non-thermal plasma to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material, a precursor material, and a plasma promoter material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material, the precursor material, and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a micro-plasma. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the micro-plasma. The exposure of the precursor material to the micro-plasma and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.

A UV reactor comprises a main chamber extending in a generally longitudinal direction. The main chamber may comprise a UV-LED and a reflective wall located at opposing longitudinal ends of the main chamber. Fluid enters main chamber through a fluid inlet and exits main chamber through a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet may be located at the reflective wall end of the main chamber. The fluid outlet may be located at the UV-LED end of the main chamber.

A process comprises feeding a stream of reactant compounds to a reactor and discharging a liquid plasma into the reactant stream in the reactor, wherein the plasma initiates or accelerates a reaction of the reactant compounds to form a product composition. The reactor can comprise one or more chambers, a high-voltage electrode positioned at a first portion of the one or more chambers, a ground electrode positioned at a second portion of the one or more chambers, and a dielectric plate between the ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode that comprises openings through which the reactant stream can pass from the first portion to the second portion or from the second portion to the first portion. Discharging the plasma can include supplying electrical power to the high-voltage electrode such that plasma is discharged where the reactant stream flows through the openings.

A reactor for carrying out an endothermic reaction, in particular a high-temperature reaction, in which a product gas is obtained from a feed gas, wherein: the reactor surrounds a reactor interior; the reactor is configured to provide a reactor bed in a reaction zone of the reactor interior, which reactor bed comprises a large number of solid material particles; the reactor is also configured to guide the feed gas into the reaction zone; in order to heat the feed gas, the reactor is designed to heat the solid material particles in the reaction zone such that, by transferring heat from the solid material particles to the feed gas, the feed gas in the reaction zone can be heated to a reaction temperature in order to participate as a starting product in the endothermic reaction for producing the product gas.

A method and system for reforming CO.sub.2 rich natural gases is disclosed which comprises: a cold plasma unit configured to convert CO.sub.2 rich natural gases into a plasma state; and a gas reforming reactor configured to reform said CO.sub.2 rich gas mixture at said plasma state into a syngas. The catalytic reforming reactor is separate and different from the DBD cold plasma unit. Means for latent heat of condensation, endothermic/exothermic reactions, and convection currents is used to achieve energy efficiency.

A method for operating a food processing device includes an irradiation step. The food processing device includes a reaction vessel and a catalyst reactor. The reaction vessel receives a mixture in a liquid form including a raw material for a food product and water. The catalyst reactor is disposed in the reaction vessel. The catalyst reactor includes a reaction tube and a light source disposed in the reaction tube. The reaction tube has an outer surface on which a photocatalyst is provided, and transmits light emitted from the light source. The method for operating the food processing device includes the irradiation step of performing irradiation with light from the light source while water is in contact with the outer surface of the reaction tube in a period after a reaction product is removed from the reaction vessel and before a raw material is subsequently introduced into the reaction vessel.