The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a conductor, and a lithium secondary battery including a conductor manufactured using the manufacturing method, and the method for manufacturing a conductor includes removing metal impurities in a conductor by irradiating microwave on the conductor including the metal impurities and converting the metal impurities into metal oxides. A conductor manufactured using the manufacturing method converts metal impurities included in the conductor to metal oxides that are inactive at a battery operating voltage and not eluted in an electrolyte liquid, and therefore, is capable of enhancing battery performance properties, particularly, capacity and lifespan properties without concern of metal impurity elution and a defect occurrence under a low pressure caused therefrom.

A reaction chamber contains catalytic material(s). Tunable microwave source(s) each emit microwave radiation at corresponding time-varying microwave frequency(ies) or at simultaneous multiple different microwave frequencies. Microwave transmission element(s) irradiate the interior volume of the reaction chamber with the microwave radiation, emitted by the microwave source(s), that propagates along the transmission element(s) into the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is characterized by a maximum temperature variation of a fixed-frequency, steady-state temperature spatial profile that results from irradiation of the reaction chamber by microwave radiation at a substantially fixed microwave frequency and at a reference microwave power level. Irradiation of the reaction chamber at the reference microwave power level by the microwave radiation with the time-varying microwave frequency(ies), or the simultaneous multiple different microwave frequencies, results in a multi-frequency temperature spatial profile having a maximum temperature variation less than the maximum temperature variation of the fixed-frequency, steady-state temperature spatial profile.

A modular photochemical reactor system having a plurality of fluidic modules each having i) a central planar process fluid layer and ii) two outer planar thermal control fluid layers for containing flowing thermal control fluid and a plurality of illumination modules, the illumination modules of the plurality each having a planar form with first and second major surfaces and each having at least a first array of semiconductor emitters, the emitters positioned to emit from or through the first major surface, wherein the first array of semiconductor emitters has at least a first emitter and a second emitter, the first emitter capable of emitting at a first center wavelength and the second emitter capable of emitting at a second center wavelength, the first and second center wavelengths differing from each other.

A microwave device includes a microwave generator generating a microwave and outputting the microwave, a waveguide guiding the microwave output from the microwave generator, a cavity resonator, and a flow tube. In some embodiments, the cavity resonator has an irradiation chamber as a quadrangular prism cavity into which the microwave guided by the waveguide is introduced, resonates the microwave in the irradiation chamber, and generates an electric field in TM110 mode along a direction of a center axis through centers of top and bottom faces of the irradiation chamber. The flow tube is installed in the irradiation chamber and formed in a helical fashion by winding and extending around the center axis, and causes a liquid to be treated to flow in a direction crossing the electric field generated in the irradiation chamber. The center axis is a location where the electric field is the strongest in the irradiation chamber.

A method of producing metal nanoparticles includes: dissolving an organic metal compound in a non-polar solvent, and mixing a polar solvent with the non-polar solvent to prepare a mixed liquid such that the polar solvent accounts for 5 volume % to 67 volume % of all solvents contained in the mixed liquid; and decomposing the organic metal compound by irradiating the prepared mixed liquid with a microwave, to produce metal nanoparticles. The organic metal compound includes: a non-polar group that is transparent to the microwave and that makes the organic metal compound soluble in the non-polar solvent; and a polar group that is disposed on a site of the organic metal compound, where a metal atom is present, and that absorbs the microwave.

A method for conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide comprises: introducing a flow of a dehumidified gaseous source of carbon dioxide into a reaction vessel; and irradiating dried, solid carbonaceous material in the reaction vessel with microwave energy. Heating of the irradiated carbonaceous material drives an endothermic reaction of carbon dioxide and carbon that produces carbon monoxide. At least a portion of heat required to maintain a temperature within the reaction vessel is supplied by the microwave energy. Carbon monoxide thus produced is allowed to flow out of the reaction vessel.

A method for controlling a microwave-assisted treatment including: injecting an initial substance into a cavity; propagating microwaves into the cavity, thereby obtaining a treated substance; extracting the treated substance; injecting part of the extracted substance into the cavity; measuring a complex reflection coefficient; comparing the measured complex reflection coefficient to a target value; when the measured complex reflection coefficient is different from the target value, measuring operation parameters; comparing the measured operation parameters to given operation parameters; when the measured operation parameters correspond to the given operation parameters: removing a contaminant from the treated substance prior to injection into the microwave cavity; and/or varying a quantity of a given element within the microwave cavity, the given element comprising a catalyst, a microwave receptor, a reagent or an additive.

Systems and methods for eliminating carbon dioxide and capturing solid carbon are disclosed. By eliminating carbon dioxide gas, e.g., from an effluent exhaust stream of a fossil fuel fired electric power production facility, the inventive concepts presented herein represent an environmentally-clean solution that permanently eliminates greenhouse gases while at the same time producing captured solid carbon products that are useful in various applications including advanced composite material synthesis (e.g., carbon fiber, 3D graphene) and energy storage (e.g., battery technology). Capture of solid carbon during the disclosed process for eliminating greenhouse gasses avoids the inefficiencies and risks associated with conventional carbon dioxide sequestration. Colocation of the disclosed reactor with a fossil fuel fired power production facility brings to bear an environmentally beneficial, and financially viable approach for permanently capturing vast amounts of solid carbon from carbon dioxide gas and other greenhouse gases that would otherwise be released into Earth's biosphere.

A method for conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide comprises: introducing a flow of a dehumidified gaseous source of carbon dioxide into a reaction vessel; and irradiating dried, solid carbonaceous material in the reaction vessel with microwave energy. Heating of the irradiated carbonaceous material drives an endothermic reaction of carbon dioxide and carbon that produces carbon monoxide. At least a portion of heat required to maintain a temperature within the reaction vessel is supplied by the microwave energy. Carbon monoxide thus produced is allowed to flow out of the reaction vessel.

A method of bonding two or more components of a free flowing powder composition is described herein. At least a first component, such as for example, a metal effect pigment, and at least a second component, such as for example, an organic material is provided, and one or both components are heated by variable frequency microwave radiation to bond or fuse the components together. Coating compositions and coated articles made by the described method are also provided.