Provided is a process for producing fluorinated alkenes by providing a microwave plasma in a reactor chamber, introducing a protective gas feed into the reactor chamber, and contacting a conversion feed comprising at least one fluorinated linear or branched alkane with the plasma. Also provided are an apparatus and the use of the process and the apparatus.

Presented in the present disclosure are nanocomposites and rechargeable batteries which are resistant to thermal runaway and are safe, reliable, and stable electrode materials for rechargeable batteries operated at high temperature and high pressure. The nanocomposites include a plurality of transition metal oxide nanoparticles, a plurality of ultrathin sheets of a first two-dimensional (2D) material, and a plurality of ultrathin sheets of a different 2D material, which act in synergy to provide an improved thermal stability, an increased surface area, and enhanced electrochemical properties to the nanocomposites. For example, rechargeable batteries that include the nanocomposites as an electrode material have an enhanced performance and stability over a broad temperature range from room temperature to high temperatures. These batteries fill an important need by providing a safe and reliable power source for devices operated at high temperatures and pressures such as downhole equipment used in the oil industry.

Presented in the present disclosure are nanocomposites and rechargeable batteries which are resistant to thermal runaway and are safe, reliable, and stable electrode materials for rechargeable batteries operated at high temperature and high pressure. The nanocomposites include a plurality of transition metal oxide nanoparticles, a plurality of ultrathin sheets of a first two-dimensional (2D) material, and a plurality of ultrathin sheets of a different 2D material, which act in synergy to provide an improved thermal stability, an increased surface area, and enhanced electrochemical properties to the nanocomposites. For example, rechargeable batteries that include the nanocomposites as an electrode material have an enhanced performance and stability over a broad temperature range from room temperature to high temperatures. These batteries fill an important need by providing a safe and reliable power source for devices operated at high temperatures and pressures such as downhole equipment used in the oil industry.

Presented in the present disclosure are nanocomposites and batteries which are resistant to thermal runaway and may be used as cathode materials in batteries that tolerate operation at high temperatures. The nanocomposites include a nonconducting polymer and a carbon filler which includes a plurality of ultrathin sheets of a porous carbon material. The nonconducting polymer and carbon filler act in synergy to provide improved thermal stability, increased surface area, and enhanced electrochemical properties to the nanocomposite. For example, a battery that includes the nanocomposite as a cathode material was shown to have an enhanced performance and stability over a broad temperature range from room temperature to high temperatures (for example, of 100? C. or more). These batteries fill an important need by providing a safe and reliable power source for devices that are operated at high temperatures such as the downhole equipment used in the oil industry.

A method of hyperpolarizing diamond particles includes applying a laser to a sample of the diamond particles, irradiating the diamond particles with a sweeping microwave to cause diamond polarization, shuttling the diamond particles through a magnetic field to detect .sup.13C nuclei in the diamond particles, and relaying the diamond polarization to nuclear spins to one of a surrounding solid or fluid.

A method and system for utilizing electromagnetic energy of a frequency, and/or multiple frequencies, and higher harmonics of those frequencies to disrupt the normal bonding of the fluid molecules and that of mineral structures within the body of the fluid is disclosed. Electromagnetic signals at a frequency, frequencies, and higher harmonics related to the energy absorption/emission profile of the fluid being treated are directed into the fluid through direct or indirect injection and/or induced coupling. The frequency, frequencies, and higher harmonics of the treatment signal, preferably between 0.1 KHz and 1000 MHz, may be changed if the absorption/emission profile of the fluid changes during treatment.

A method and system for utilizing electromagnetic energy of a frequency, and/or multiple frequencies, and higher harmonics of those frequencies to disrupt the normal bonding of the fluid molecules and that of mineral structures within the body of the fluid is disclosed. Electromagnetic signals at a frequency, frequencies, and higher harmonics related to the energy absorption/emission profile of the fluid being treated are directed into the fluid through direct or indirect injection and/or induced coupling. The frequency, frequencies, and higher harmonics of the treatment signal, preferably between 0.1 KHz and 1000 MHz, may be changed if the absorption/emission profile of the fluid changes during treatment.

Provided are methods for preparing hydrogen and solid carbon. Illustrative methods comprise providing a feedstock comprising gaseous hydrocarbons to a microwave-inert reaction vessel and/or a radio wave-inert reaction vessel. The reaction vessel has solid carbon, about 0% water and about 0% molecular oxygen inside the reaction vessel and the carbon inside the reaction vessel is operable to heat the feedstock comprising gaseous hydrocarbons. The carbon is then exposed to microwaves and/or radio waves until the solid carbon is at a temperature of at least 1200 Kelvin, thereby forming hydrogen and solid carbon. Once formed, the hydrogen and solid carbon are separated.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for converting waste plastics into value-added products, the method including the steps of (a) contacting the waste plastics with a catalyst to form a reaction mixture and (b) applying microwave irradiation to the reaction mixture. In another aspect, disclosed herein are value-added products including, but not limited to, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons produced by the process disclosed herein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A non-thermal plasma is generated to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material and a precursor material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material and the precursor material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a non-thermal plasma including formation of one or more streamers. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the non-thermal plasma including exposing the precursor material to the one or more streamers. The exposure of the precursor material to the streamers and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.