Incumbent Technologies Research Articles

The Social (de)Construction of Technology and the (dys)Functions of Innovation Systems

The functions of innovation systems model provides a useful tool with which to analyze the dynamics of an innovation system, a system which has often only been studied in its static state. The framework presented in this paper combines the functions of innovation systems approach with the social construction of technology (SCOT) literature to emphasize the social dimension of the technology substitution process. The framework outlines the process by which changes in the social construction of both the incumbent and/or the challenger can lead to functions or “dysfunctions” of their respective technological systems. Equal emphasis is placed on the incumbent technology and the challenger technology, providing a framework that focuses on both sides of the substitution equation. The framework highlights that the social construction of technology is an ongoing process that is occurring throughout the innovation process, even though path dependencies may develop due to feedback cycles between the functions of innovation systems

Environmentally improved CdTe photovoltaic recycling through novel technologies and facility location strategies

AbstractPhotovoltaic waste is projected to reach up to 78 million tons across globally dispersed locations through 2050. Current recycling infrastructure is inadequate to process these waste volumes responsibly. This necessitates commercializing novel, environmentally advantageous photovoltaic recycling technologies that improve upon incumbent industrial operations. CdTe photovoltaic recycling is a promising candidate for improvements as 25,000 tons of spent modules are recycled worldwide annually. This paper evaluates the operational performance and compares six novel technologies, the incumbent technology used in industry and one technology which extends the incumbent process across ten environmental impact categories. The tradeoff between incurring a transportation burden (ship or road) to recycle in a large‐scale centralized facility with a higher operational efficiency and avoiding transportation by recycling in a small‐scale decentralized facility with a lower operational efficiency is evaluated. Thermal delamination to eliminate the ethylene vinyl acetate and separate the photovoltaic glass panels is preferable to the incumbent mechanical process across nine environmental impact categories and decreases the climate‐change impact of CdTe photovoltaic recycling by 23%. Bath and probe sonication are ineffective for delamination, and the use of organic solvents is more environmentally burdensome than the incumbent mechanical process. Centralized recycling with shipping is environmentally preferable than with road‐based transportation. For every 100‐km increase in road transportation from the decentralized to the centralized facility, the inventory requirement in the centralized facility should be 6% lower than the decentralized facility for centralized recycling to have a lower climate‐change impact than decentralized recycling. The corresponding value for shipping is 0.4%.

Power Gallium Nitride Technology: The Need for Efficient Power Conversion

The biggest motivation and driver for semiconductor power device innovation is improved efficiency in power conversion. Power gallium nitride (GaN) technology shows the greatest performance benefits against other incumbent technologies, including silicon (Si) technology. A reduction in power losses is the key challenge industries are facing. Pressure from society and government legislation for reduced CO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> emission are all trending toward more efficient power conversion and electrification. Automotive electrification, telecom infrastructure, server storage, and industrial automation using power electronics are the biggest trends in the technology sector. GaN field-effect transistors (FETs) can enable us to achieve the best efficiency with lower system costs while making systems lighter, smaller, and cooler. Electrification in the automotive sector can be the biggest beneficiary of this new power GaN FET technology.

Electricity distribution incumbents' adaptation toward decarbonized and smarter grids: Evidence on the role market, regulatory, investment, and firm-level factors

The transition to a cleaner and smarter electricity system is being spurred by new policy approaches aiming at delivering a decentralized, digital, and decarbonized energy future. This calls for the adaptation of incumbent technologies, policies, and actors, as well as for the introduction of new system components. The changing role of electricity distribution systems, and of distribution system operators, has been a focal aspect of recent market design efforts, given the critical role of network infrastructure and the importance to adjust its operations, and regulatory framework. We build on a novel dataset from 124 DSOs and apply a methodology combining Factor analysis and a Tobit model to evaluate the role of market, regulatory, investment, and firm-level factors on technological, business model, and market design adaptation. Our results indicate that hybrid regulatory models contribute to DSOs adaptation. Investing in smart grids is found to have a positive effect on adaptation. Regarding firm-level characteristics, the results indicate that unbundling does not affect adaptation, however larger DSOs are found to be better able to adapt. These findings provide timely empirical evidence for advancing regulatory and policy approaches toward the adaptation of incumbents in a rapidly changing electricity sector.

Unlocking the smart home: exploring key factors affecting the smart lock adoption intention

PurposeThis study examines the factorial structure of salient user beliefs associated with smart locks. We also examine the predictive value of the identified constructs on the smart lock adoption intention and we evaluate gender differences in the predictive value of the identified constructs.Design/methodology/approachThe study assumes pragmatic epistemological stance and it leverages mixed-methods research design. The research progresses through three stages: belief elicitation, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis within a nomological network. New groups of participants were recruited for each stage of the study.FindingsWe find that while potential adopters express a broad range of perceived benefits and concerns associated with smart locks, only the perceived relative advantage of smart locks vis-à-vis conventional locks in providing safety and security is significantly correlated with adoption intention for both genders. We also find that perceived novel benefits are a significant predictor of the smart lock adoption intention for women, but not for men.Research limitations/implicationsOur results indicate that perceived relative advantage can be the singular critical consideration in the adoption of smart home technologies that replace incumbent solutions. The results also demonstrate that gender-specific models can better capture gender effects that influence technology adoption and use.Practical implicationsSmart home technology vendors would need to convince prospective users that new technology is better than the incumbent solutions on the core affordances of the incumbent technology. Men and women differ in the consideration of novel benefits afforded by novel technologies.Originality/valueThis is among the first studies to examine salient beliefs that affect smart home technology adoption. The findings suggest that the traditional models (TAM, UTAUT) do not capture the key salient beliefs that can influence innovative smart home technology adoption. The study also suggests that gendered models are needed to understand technology adoption in contexts where technology adoption intersects with gender roles.

Tunable Syntheses of Advanced Silicon Anodes Using Cyclohexasilane

The ability to develop fast charging lithium-ion batteries with high-energy density is being pursued intensively due to increasing demands of portable electronics and electric vehicles. Replacing the conventional graphite anode with a silicon-based one offers several advantages, namely the roughly 10 times higher gravimetric capacity and the safer lithium alloying potential. However, full scale realization of replacing graphite with silicon has been hampered due to the large volumetric expansion silicon typically suffers which causes mechanical degradation, low electrical conductivity, and multiple-step syntheses from a traditional silicon precursor which leads to higher cost. Here we present a silicon precursor, cyclohexasilane, that can offer solutions to all three of those limitations. Cyclohexasilane (CHS) exists as a liquid at room temperature and is relatively low boiling (~ 200 °C) relatively facile synthesis of nanostructured silicon materials, significantly reducing the volumetric expansion typically observed. Cyclohexasilane can be readily used to manufacture silicon/carbon composite materials and is readily chemically functionalized allowing the development of tailored materials with improved electrical conductivity. CHS may also be tailored to deliver structures with engineered artificial SEIs during the device fabrication step, offering an efficient and direct route to electrode structures. Moreover, cyclohexasilane is relatively inexpensive and its physical properties allow for roll-to-roll manufacturing with significantly reduced capital costs. Relevant comparisons of this technology compared to incumbent technologies will be given.

5 GHz Band LTE-LAA Signal Selection for Use as the Unintended Signal in ANSI C63.27 Wireless Coexistence Testing.

This article details the experimental work conducted at the Electromagnetic Compatibility and Wireless Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to investigate the use of LAA signals for wireless coexistence testing. A software defined radio platform was deployed to generate realistic LAA signals and measure the wireless coexistence impact on the LAA communication link. The equipment under test (EUT) used IEEE 802.11ac as an example incumbent technology in the 5 GHz band. The standardized radiated anechoic chamber method was used for testing. Results highlight the mutual coexistence impact of LAA in the 5 GHz band and suggest that selecting an LAA signal with the maximum possible channel time occupancy and the highest possible modulation and coding scheme (MCS) yields the most impactful coexistence situation on both the EUT and the LAA system. Additionally, an analysis of the internal LAA system states during coexistence testing is presented to document the inverse relationship between LAA transmit and wait times during coexistence and the adverse impact of challenging coexistence scenarios on successful channel access. Finally, the risk management process of wireless coexistence for medical devices is summarized and associated with coexistence testing.

A critical view on the current application of LCA for new technologies and recommendations for improved practice

LCA is a well-known assessment tool that identifies and provides insights on the environmental impacts of products and services over their lifecycle. The guidance provided by the existing manuals typically applies to modelling and assessing environmental impacts ex-post, meaning that information is available from empirical experience after products have been commercially in use for extended periods of time. This information is not available if LCA is applied in an ex-ante manner before a technology is commercially deployed at scale. We identify the major challenges of applying LCA in an ex-ante manner and propose a route forward in dealing with these challenges that combines intuitions from other disciplinary fields. The first challenge is how to model consistent future foreground systems for the incumbent and new technology systems. Learning curves and scenario approaches are the way forward. The second challenge is how to model future background systems. Here a solution is to transform existing LCI databases towards future contexts, informed by the Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) that provide scenarios in line with the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). Finally, uncertainty in ex-ante LCA is of a different nature as in ex-post LCAs. The main difference with conventional LCA studies is the highly uncertain information for the future. To acknowledge this. considerate attention should be attributed to the discussion on these uncertainties, both in the design of the assessment and the data used. Responsive evaluation can play a supportive role here. This will increase the transparency and efficacy of the results because the relevant stakeholders and experts are involved. In this way technology designers and other stakeholders derive insights on the influence of design choices or contextual factors (that are important, but hard to influence) on the potential environmental impacts of their foreseen technology.

Economically Sustainable Growth of Perovskite Photovoltaics Manufacturing

Summary The significant capital expense of photovoltaics manufacturing has made it difficult for new cell and module technologies to enter the market. We present two technoeconomic models that analyze the sustainable growth of perovskite manufacturing for an R2R single-junction technology and a perovskite-silicon tandem module, focusing on the impacts of economies of scale and average selling price on profitability. We establish a cost range of $3.30/W to $0.53/W for flexible modules manufactured in factory sizes ranging from 0.3 MW/year to 1 GW/year. In addition, we model the cost to manufacture a tandem module consisting of a single-junction perovskite cell stacked in 4-terminal configuration onto a silicon cell and show how an existing manufacturer can grow at a faster rate by co-investing in tandems. Our analyses highlight potential routes to market for perovskite photovoltaics and the possibility to sustainably grow a photovoltaics manufacturing company even in markets with higher labor rates.

Heating systems through the lens of the boiler: Detailed case studies to inform current and future heating system design

Boilers in hydronic heating systems are the norm in the UK. Through case study analysis, covering four houses with gas central heating systems for over one year and utilising novel monitoring of the on-board diagnostic data of the boilers, performance issues were identified in this mature technology. ON/OFF cycling behaviour and oversizing were prevalent with boilers consistently unable to modulate low enough to match the building space heating demand. Cycling behaviour resulted, known to be detrimental to efficiency, with the majority of boiler operations lasting less than 10 min. Targeted case study analysis of incumbent technologies, such as boilers, utilising the latest in data collection techniques and connected appliances provides a cost effective insight to broader issues. Implications for domestic energy demand range from incremental improvements in boiler system efficiency by addressing cycling to the updating of building energy assessment models (e.g. Standard Assessment Procedure) to reflect and reward the benefits of good installation practices. An improved understanding of boiler operation may support improved product design and installation practices and are beneficial to the next generation of domestic heat, such as heat pumps. By undertaking continued in situ analysis of the incumbent technology, a more thorough foundation for the future can be ascertained. Fundamental issues of oversizing and detrimental cycling behaviour are persisting in the industry. Practical steps can be taken immediately to avoid oversizing of boilers. Building an awareness of performance penalties associated with poorly planned heating installations will have added benefit for more dynamically sensitive technologies in the future, such as heat pumps.

Representative resolution analysis for X-ray CT: A Solid oxide fuel cell case study

A requirement to reduce dependency on high-carbon fuels has resulted in the rapid advancement of electrochemical devices. Considerable research has been applied to improve device performance and lifetime in order to compete with incumbent technologies. Of the portfolio of electrochemical conversion technologies, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) offer high fuel versatility and fast reaction kinetics without the requirement of expensive catalysts. However, degradation due to high temperature operation limits cell performance and lifetime, impeding widespread commercialisation. Due to the inherent link between microstructure and electrochemical performance, many three-dimensional (3D) characterisation techniques have been employed in the pursuit of the mitigation of degradation through rational electrode design. Instruments such as lab-based X-ray microscopes are now capable of imaging across multiple length scales, where the highest resolutions (i.e. smallest voxel lengths) are comparable to specialist synchrotron facilities. A widely used metric to describe electrode microstructure is the triple-phase boundary (TPB); the location where reactions occur within the SOFC electrode. The total TPB length is a vital metric in assessing the quality of an SOFC material, and thus many efforts have been made to determine accurate values. In order to map the TPB locations in 3D, the three constituent phases: metal, ceramic, and pore, need to be distinguished and segmented, requiring high resolutions. Although TPB values have been reported and compared extensively in the literature, the influence of the microscopic roughness is yet to be investigated. Using X-ray computed tomography (CT), here, for the first time, the effect of resolution is inspected for several key microstructural parameters. Moreover, the study is extended through the use of multiple instruments for a variety of sample structures. This work introduces the importance of the fractal properties of structures characterised using X-ray CT, which we expect to be influential across a broad range of materials. The choice of resolution when characterising a structure is important and determined by a variety of factors: instrument, feature size, image quality, etc., and should ultimately be chosen in order to efficaciously expose the features under investigation, in addition to this, metrics extracted should only be directly compared at the same resolution and, if possible, should be inspected for fractal properties via a representative resolution analysis. These conclusions are not restricted to SOFCs but should be applied to all fields of microstructural analysis.

The Price of Substitute Technologies

BackgroundOnly a small share of new drugs is truly innovative; 85% to 90% of all new health technologies have little or no advantage over existing therapeutic alternatives. Health economic evaluations can be used to induce acceptable prices for new technologies through threshold pricing. ObjectiveThis work discusses a cost-effectiveness threshold (λ) to be applied to the price regulation of substitute technologies. MethodsConsidering that substitute technologies add only small marginal benefits in terms of innovation or ethical considerations to the system, it does not make sense to allow a loss of efficiency to list them. It has been postulated that the threshold calculated from opportunity costs (κ) represents its maximum possible value and that there must be a threshold (β) that maximizes consumer surplus. For a substitute technology to be listed, the cost of treatment associated with it must be lower than the cost of treatment of the incumbent technology added to the difference in effectiveness priced at the threshold. ResultsThere is no reason for us to believe that the oligopolistic pharmaceutical market is currently charging prices at the cost of production. That way, the cost-effectiveness ratio of the incumbent technology, when lower than κ, is shown through a deductive process to be a plausible estimate for λ that fulfills the objective of maximizing consumer benefit, granting producers a part of the combined surplus to stimulate research and development; that is, it would be between β and κ. ConclusionIn conclusion, the price of substitute technologies should be limited by the cost-effectiveness ratio of the incumbent technology.

AEM Electrolysis Testing Update and Industrial Device Requirements

Membrane (PEM)-based electrolysis provides an ideal near-term technology to address the growing energy storage demands as intermittent renewable energy becomes more prevalent. While proton exchange membrane (PEM) systems are often viewed as preferred solutions to legacy KOH systems due to the lack of corrosive electrolyte, small footprint, dynamic operating range and ability to generate hydrogen at differential pressure, they still present capital cost challenges. In particular, the platinum group metal catalysts and valve metals for separator and flow field construction required for stability in the acidic environment become a significant cost driver at scale. Alkaline exchange membrane (AEM)-based electrolysis is therefore viewed as a potential replacement to the current PEM systems as a means of driving down the high capital cost. This cost reduction is accomplished by replacing the typical high cost catalyst and materials of cell construction with lower cost metals that would corrode in the acidic PEM environments, but are stable in the alkaline chemistries. In theory, this approach is highly promising, but testing of the current state-of the art has shown the technology gaps between the two platforms in terms of stability, durability, and operating electrical efficiency. Modeling has shown that savings realized in capital cost are typically off-set by an increase in operating expense resulting from the lower activity of the non-PGM catalysts and poor conductivity of the AEM. Additionally, thermal instability of the AEMs require stacks to be operated at lower temperatures than a typical PEM system, impacting conductivity further and slowing kinetics. Recent activities have looked at improving the mechanical properties, through the addition of mechanical reinforcements, to support pressurized operation, while operating temperature and varied concentrations of liquid electrolyte to the water feed have been explored to operationally evaluate the impact on performance and durability. The latter of these operating parameters have been shown by some groups to be effective in reducing cell operating potentials and providing overall voltage stability. However, this solution adds management and additional maintenance of handling the caustics typically used. Efforts at Proton continue to show improvements in short duration operational tests under milder conditions and potential pathways to achieve targets required to compete with incumbent technology. In this talk, some of the advancements achieved and how these have impacted the cost of the hydrogen will be discussed, as well as the longer-term targets that need to be reached in order to be a viable commercial application. Additionally, cost models will be compared along with sensitivity analysis to show how the impact of operating parameters, with regard to the capital and operational expense for the AEM electrolysis technology cost, show the critical areas to focus on to establish equivalence with current PEM systems and what is required to go beyond. Figure 1

A Comparison of ""Sustainable"" vs ""Traditional"" Technology Substitution

Technology substitution, whereby polluting incumbent technologies exit the economy to be replaced by more sustainable alternatives, will play an important role in solving many of the environmental ...

Wireless Coexistence Testing in the 5 GHz Band with LTE-LAA Signals.

Exploiting unlicensed spectrum bands for cellular communication is a rapidly embraced trend by industry stakeholders. Accordingly, the specifications of Long Term Evolution (LTE) were extended in Release 13 to allow unlicensed spectrum operation, also known as LTE-Licensed Assisted Access (LAA). LTE is widely adopted, and there is a potential for significant coexistence impact of LTE-LAA on users of unlicensed spectrum including wireless medical devices, whether adopters of the new technology or incumbents. Therefore, work was initiated to revise and update the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C63.27 standard for evaluation of wireless coexistence. This paper details the experimental work conducted at the Electromagnetic Compatibility and Wireless Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to investigate the use of LAA signals for wireless coexistence testing. A software defined radio platform was deployed to generate realistic LAA signals and measure the wireless coexistence impact on the LAA communication link. The equipment under test (EUT) used IEEE 802.11ac as an example incumbent technology in the 5 GHz band. The standardized radiated anechoic chamber method was used for testing. Results highlight the mutual coexistence impact of LAA in the 5 GHz band and suggest that selecting an LAA signal with the maximum possible channel time occupancy and the highest possible modulation and coding scheme (MCS) yields the most impactful coexistence situation on both the EUT and the LAA system.

Tunable Syntheses of Advanced Silicon Anodes Using Cyclohexasilane

The ability to develop fast charging lithium-ion batteries with high-energy density is being pursued intensively due to increasing demands of portable electronics and electric vehicles. Replacing the conventional graphite anode with a silicon-based one offers several advantages, namely the roughly 10 times higher gravimetric capacity and the safer lithium alloying potential. However, full scale realization of replacing graphite with silicon has been hampered due to the large volumetric expansion silicon typically suffers which causes mechanical degradation, low electrical conductivity, and multiple-step syntheses from a traditional silicon precursor which leads to higher cost. Here we present a silicon precursor, cyclohexasilane, that can offer solutions to all three of those limitations. Cyclohexasilane (CHS) exists as a liquid at room temperature and is relatively low boiling (~ 200 °C) relatively facile synthesis of nanostructured silicon materials, significantly reducing the volumetric expansion typically observed. Cyclohexasilane can be readily used to manufacture silicon/carbon composite materials and is readily chemically functionalized allowing the development of tailored materials with improved electrical conductivity. CHS may also be tailored to deliver structures with engineered artificial SEIs during the device fabrication step, offering an efficient and direct route to electrode structures. Additional advantages of CHS include the ability to readily synthesize silicon nanoparticles of well-defined size and morphology, depending on the deposition conditions and the ability to produce materials with heteroatom doping, including silicon nitrides. Moreover, cyclohexasilane is relatively inexpensive and its physical properties allow for roll-to-roll manufacturing with significantly reduced capital costs. Relevant comparisons of this technology compared to incumbent technologies will be given.

The effect of critical material prices on the competitiveness of clean energy technologies

Clean energy technologies are widely recognized as a part of the solution for a sustainable future. Unfortunately, these technologies often rely on materials that are considered critical because of their importance to the technology and their potential for supply disruptions, which often lead to drastic and unexpected price spikes. With many clean energy technologies still struggling to compete economically with incumbent technologies, it is uncertain if such material price changes could have a significant economic impact on overall clean energy technology costs. In this paper, we first estimate material intensity of critical materials for three case study clean energy technologies: proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets in direct drive wind turbines, and Li-ion batteries in battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Using these data, as well as material price information, we analyze technology-level costs under potential material price spike scenarios. By benchmarking against target costs at which each technology is expected to become economically competitive relative to incumbent energy systems, we evaluate the impact of price spikes on marketplace competitiveness. For the three case studies, technological costs could increase by between 13 and 41% if recent historical price events were to recur at current material intensities. By analyzing the economic impact of material price changes on technology-level costs, we demonstrate the need for stakeholders to push for various supply risk reduction measures, which are also summarized in this paper.

(Invited) Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Enabled through the U.S. Department of Energy

Today the technology around generating efficient and sustainable energy is rapidly evolving and hydrogen and fuel cells are emerging, versatile examples within a portfolio of options. Through the dedication and contributions of numerous researchers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) in collaboration with the private sector, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are now a commercial reality. This presentation will cover the history of DOE’s efforts along with examples of breakthroughs by leading contributors in electrochemistry. This is an exciting time in the fuel cell industry with over ten thousand commercial fuel cell vehicles sold or leased, hundreds of fueling stations worldwide, and more than a quarter of a million stationary fuel cells providing clean, reliable power. DOE’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) addresses key technical barriers faced by hydrogen and fuel cells through a comprehensive portfolio of early-stage research and development (R&D) with the potential to meet technical and cost targets that enable competitiveness with incumbent technologies in the market, aligned with national priorities. The presentation will cover technology status versus targets as well as an overview of the global landscape in hydrogen and fuel cells. International government collaborations through partnerships such as the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) are contributing to progress and can enable large-scale deployment worldwide. The talk will cover the broad context of hydrogen within the energy system – the DOE’s H2@Scale initiative which will enable innovations to generate cost-competitive hydrogen as an energy carrier, coupling renewables, as well as baseload power generation, enhancing resiliency and avoiding curtailment. Hydrogen can be stored, distributed and used as a fuel or feedstock in transportation, stationary or back-up power and multiple industrial sectors, while creating an additional revenue stream for existing baseload and variable generation assets. The presentation will also provide an overview of national and regional efforts within the United States related to hydrogen and fuel cells and potential opportunities within the region.

Tunable Syntheses of Advanced Silicon Anodes Using Cyclohexasilane

The ability to develop fast charging lithium-ion batteries with high-energy density is being pursued intensively due to increasing demands of portable electronics and electric vehicles. Replacing the conventional graphite anode with a silicon-based one offers several advantages, namely the roughly 10 times higher gravimetric capacity and the safer lithium alloying potential. However, full scale realization of replacing graphite with silicon has been hampered due to the large volumetric expansion silicon typically suffers which causes mechanical degradation, low electrical conductivity, and multiple-step syntheses from a traditional silicon precursor which leads to higher cost. Here we present a silicon precursor, cyclohexasilane, that can offer solutions to all three of those limitations. Cyclohexasilane (CHS) exists as a liquid at room temperature and is relatively low boiling (~ 200 °C) relatively facile synthesis of nanostructured silicon materials, significantly reducing the volumetric expansion typically observed. Cyclohexasilane can be readily used to manufacture silicon/carbon composite materials and is readily chemically functionalized allowing the development of tailored materials with improved electrical conductivity. CHS may also be tailored to deliver structures with engineered artificial SEIs during the device fabrication step, offering an efficient and direct route to electrode structures. Moreover, cyclohexasilane is relatively inexpensive and its physical properties allow for roll-to-roll manufacturing with significantly reduced capital costs. Relevant comparisons of this technology compared to incumbent technologies will be given.

Novel Ionic Grafts That Enhance Arsenic Removal via Forward Osmosis.

Current forward osmosis (FO) membranes are unsuitable for arsenic removal from water because of their poor arsenic selectivity. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of novel imidazolium-based ionic liquids via one-step quaternization reactions and grafted these novel compounds on to conventional thin-film composite FO membranes for treatment of arsenic-containing water. The newly developed ionic membranes contained a functionalized selective polyamide layer grafted with either carboxylic acid/carboxylate or sulfonate groups that drastically enhanced membrane hydrophilicity and thus FO water permeation. Ionic membranes modified with sodium 1-ethanesulfonate-3-(3-aminopropyl) imidazolium bromide (NH2-IM-(CH2)2-SO3Na) outperformed pristine membranes with higher water recovery efficiency. Exceptional performance was achieved with this ionic membrane in FO arsenic removal with a water flux of 11.0 LMH and a rejection higher than 99.5% when 1000 ppm arsenic (HAsO42-) as the feed with a dilute NaCl solution (0.5 M) as the draw solution under the FO mode. Ionic membranes developed in this work facilitated FO for the treatment of arsenic-containing water while demonstrating its superiority over incumbent technologies with more efficient arsenic removal.