Methods for the photoreduction of molecules are provided, the methods comprising illuminating an amino-terminated diamond surface comprising amino groups covalently bound to the surface of diamond with light comprising a wavelength sufficient to excite an electronic transition defined by the energy band structure of the amino-terminated diamond, thereby inducing the emission of electrons from the amino-terminated diamond surface into a sample comprising molecules to be reduced, wherein the emitted electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product; and collecting the reduction product.

A method of determining degradation of a thermoplastic when exposed to light and heat includes illuminating the thermoplastic with a desired wavelength of light at a desired irradiance while maintaining the ambient air surrounding the thermoplastic at a desired temperature. The method is useful to measure the discoloration rate of transparent, translucent and opaque thermoplastics such as polycarbonates, the discoloration rate being determined by transmission or reflectance spectra of transmitted or reflected white light through or from the thermoplastic.

Methods and systems are described for processing cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials into useful intermediates and products, such as energy and fuels. For example, conveying systems and methods, such as highly efficient vibratory conveyors, are described for the processing of the cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials.

Technologies are generally described for forming a nanofluid coolant and structures including a nanofluid coolant. In an example, a method of forming a nanofluid coolant may comprise combining a compound with an acid and with purified water to form a solution. The compound may include manganese. The method may further include heating the solution and, after heating the solution, cooling the solution effective to form at least one precipitate that includes manganese and oxygen. The method may further include filtering the at least one precipitate to form a powder that includes manganese oxide nanotubes. The method may further include functionalizing the nanotubes by irradiating them with UV radiation. The method may further include combining the functionalized manganese oxide nanotubes with a polar solvent to form the nanofluid coolant.

The disclosure provides conductive membranes for water splitting and solar fuel generation. The membranes comprise an embedded semiconductive/photoactive material and an oxygen or hydrogen evolution catalyst. Also provided are chassis and cassettes containing the membranes for use in fuel generation.

An ionic liquid functionalized reduced graphite oxide (IL-RGO)/TiO.sub.2 nanocomposite was synthesized and used to reduce CO.sub.2 to a hydrocarbon in the presence of H.sub.2O vapor.

A substance is treated using a device having: (a) a volute or cyclone head, (b) a throat connected to the volute or cyclone head, (c) a parabolic reflector connected to the throat, (d) a first wave energy source comprising a first electrode within the volute or cyclone head that extends through the outlet into the opening of the throat along the central axis, and a second electrode extending into the parabolic reflector and spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode, and (e) a second wave energy source disposed inside the throat, embedded within the throat or disposed around the throat. The substance is directed to the inlet of the volute or cyclone head and irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the first and second wave energy sources as the substance passes through the device.

A liquid processing system has: processing units of n stages in which each processing unit includes one or a plurality of processing lines, each processing line includes an ultraviolet ray irradiating unit, and the number of processing lines of an m-th stage processing unit is larger than the number of processing lines of an m+1-th stage processing unit; and adjusting section which adjusts an output of an ultraviolet ray irradiating unit provided to a processing unit of a predetermined stage. An output of an ultraviolet ray irradiating unit provided to a processing unit of a stage other than the predetermined stage is each fixed, and the adjusting section adjusts the output of the let ray irradiating unit provided to the processing unit of the predetermined stage such that a liquid processed in an n-th stage processing unit of a final stage is in a desired processing state.

An apparatus includes an illumination assembly. The illumination assembly includes a plurality of light sources arranged in a two-dimensional array. The light sources are positioned within the array to provide overlapping illumination fields. The plurality of light sources provide illumination within a UV-A spectrum of wavelengths to thereby provide photocleaving within a fluid containment assembly.

The present disclosure relates to a photoreactor and method of use thereof. In an aspect, the photoreactor can be configured as a solar panel comprising a channel containing a heterogeneous photocatalyst. When water or another hydrogen-containing liquid is pumped through the photoreactor, it contacts the photocatalyst in the presence of UV or visible irradiation, simultaneously releasing hydrogen and separating the hydrogen via a gas-permeable membrane. In an aspect, the photoreactor can be used in a method for continuous production of high-purity H.sub.2 gas, the method comprising dehydrogenating tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) to form quinoline under visible light using a Rh/TiO.sub.2 heterogeneous photocatalyst. In another aspect, the catalyst includes Rh particles photodeposited on TiO.sub.2 microparticles. In a further aspect, the method can include regenerating THQ from quinoline using a water gas shift (WGS) reaction.