The present invention provides a photolytic converter for converting reactant molecules in a fluid sample into product molecules by photolytic dissociation with electromagnetic radiation. The converter has a reaction chamber in communication with one or more electromagnetic radiation sources, an inflow conduit for conveying the fluid sample into the reaction chamber, and an outflow conduit for conveying the fluid sample out of the reaction chamber into a receptacle, wherein at least one of the first and outflow conduits extends into the reaction chamber. The receptacle can comprise detection means for generating a signal indicative of a concentration of product molecules in the processed fluid sample.

Disclosed is a nanocatalyst-type nanoscale composition including a nanoparticle semiconductor, plasmonic metal nanoparticles and an organic photosensitiser of the carbo-mer type. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a nano-catalyst. Also disclosed is use of the nanocatalyst for photoelectrolysis, in particular, for the photoelectrolysis of water, as well as to a power source including the nanocatalyst.

An apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions is provided. The apparatus comprises a first reactor/reaction zone for carrying out a first chemical reaction and a second reactor/reaction zone for carrying out a second chemical reaction. Each reactor/reaction zone comprises: a) an inner surface and an outer surface which are spaced apart from each other to define a reaction volume configured such that, in use, a respective chemical reaction takes place in the reaction volume, and wherein the inner surface and outer surface are configured for relative rotation with respect to each other, (b) an inlet for introduction of a reagent to the reaction volume, and (b) an outlet through which a reaction product can leave the reaction volume. The reaction products of the first reactor/reaction zone comprise reagents of the second reactor/reaction zone.

The present invention relates to a device for the photocatalytic reduction of a substance with a structured reaction plate and/or a structured housing, wherein the reaction plate has, at least in some regions, a surface which contains a material with negative electron affinity and which can be electronically excited with radiation having a wavelength of ≥180 nm.

A solar concentrator reactor system and method of use for high temperature thermochemical processes. In one embodiment, the solar concentrator reactor system produces a thermochemical reaction of irradiated particles within an enclosed vessel volume of a solar concentrator reactor. In one aspect, the solar concentrator reactor system uses a solar concentrator to irradiate particles of a particle stream within an enclosed vessel volume of a solar concentrator reactor. The thermochemical reaction yields a chemical change of the feedstock and/or phase transition of the feedstock such as the production of a molten reacted material from a solid particulate feed. In one embodiment, the particles are a lunar regolith and the thermochemical reaction yields oxygen.

A solar reactor useful in reaction processes, more particularly, useful in endothermic reaction processes, such as a catalyzed process or an adsorption-desorption process. The reactor comprises a reaction pathway defined by an exterior wall and an interior wall, the exterior wall comprising a solar radiation receiver capable of converting solar radiation into heat and transmitting the heat to the reaction pathway. The reaction pathway has disposed therein, in alternating fashion, a plurality of reactive elements comprised of a catalyst or a sorbent and a plurality of heat transfer elements.

The mantle peridotite based-activated carbon nanosheet is a catalyst for cathode oxygen reduction of seawater to generate hydrogen when exposed to sunlight (photocatalytic water splitting). The catalyst is placed in the top surface of seawater and when exposed to sunlight begins to generate hydrogen (H.sup.+). The catalyst mantle peridotite based-activated carbon nanosheet and the sunlight combine generate electricity, mix with seawater splits the seawater significantly generates hydrogen (H.sup.+) from the seawater. The hydrogen is collected and stored in the cathode. From the cathode the collected gas is transferred to the hydrogen storage tank.

A vertically oriented solar concentrator reactor system and method of use for high temperature thermochemical processes and/or electrical power generation. In one embodiment, the vertically oriented solar concentrator reactor system produces a thermochemical reaction of a stream of irradiated particles arranged concentrically with a concentrated light cone. In one aspect, the vertically oriented solar concentrator reactor system collects an irradiated particle stream within a hot particle containment vessel which communicates thermal energy to a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger in turn driving an electrical power generator. In one embodiment, the particles are a lunar regolith.

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide plasmonic structures, methods of making plasmonic structures, and the like.