Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080292789 | ONE-DIMENSIONAL METAL AND METAL OXIDE NANOSTRUCTURES - Metal powder (such as tin, titanium, or tungsten powder) is heated in a flowing stream of an inert gas, such as argon, containing a small abundance of oxygen at a temperature to produce metal vapor. The metal reacts with the oxygen to form and deposit one-dimensional nanostructures of oxygen-containing metal on the metal powder (in the case of Ti and W) or on a suitable nearby substrate in the case of the lower melting tin. The metal oxides are not necessarily stoichiometric compounds. Water may be introduced into the flowing inert gas to increase or control the oxygen content. Sulfur vapor or a carbon source may be introduced to dope the nanostructures with sulfur or carbon. Reaction conditions may be modified to vary the shapes of the one-dimensional nanostructures. | 11-27-2008 |
20090004552 | NANOWIRE SUPPORTED CATALYSTS FOR FUEL CELL ELECTRODES - Metal oxide nanowires and carbon-coated metal nanowires are effective as supports for particles of an expensive catalyst material, such as platinum metal group catalyst. Such supported catalysts are useful when included in an electrode on, for example, a proton exchange membrane in a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell. For example, tin oxide nanowires are formed on carbon fibers of carbon paper and platinum nanoparticles are deposited on the tin oxide nanowires. The nanowires provide good surfaces for effective utilization of the platinum material. | 01-01-2009 |
20090142640 | CARBON-TITANIUM OXIDE ELECTROCATALYST SUPPORTS FOR OXYGEN REDUCTION IN PEM FUEL CELLS - A high surface area support material is formed of an intimate mixture of carbon clusters and titanium oxide clusters. A catalytic metal, such as platinum, is deposited on the support particles and the catalyzed material us as an electrocatalyst in an electrochemical cell such as a PEM fuel cell. The composite material is prepared by thermal decomposition and oxidation of an intimate mixture of a precursor carbon polymer, a titanium alkoxide and a surfactant that serves as a molecular template for the mixed precursors. | 06-04-2009 |
20090312181 | MESOPOROUS ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE METAL OXIDE CATALYST SUPPORTS - A catalyst support material comprising TiO | 12-17-2009 |
20100021366 | Making mesoporous carbon with tunable pore size - Carbon with mesopores (about two to fifteen nanometers in average pore size) is made using sucrose as a source of carbon, and silica and phosphoric acid as templates for the mesopore structure in the carbon. A silica sol is prepared in a water/ethanol medium and sucrose is dispersed in the sol. Phosphoric acid may be added to the sol to control pore size in the mesopore size range. The sol is dried, carbonized, and the silica and phosphate materials removed by leaching. The residue is a mesoporous carbon mass having utility as a catalyst support, gas absorbent, and the like. | 01-28-2010 |
20100130351 | SYNTHESIS OF RARE EARTH ELEMENT-CONTAINING ALUMINA NANOWIRES - Rare earth element(s) doped alumina nanowires are formed by a thermal evaporation method in which vapor from aluminum powder and vapor from a rare earth element compound (such as an halide) are reacted in an oxygen-containing inert gas stream to form alumina which deposits as alumina nanowires and as a rare earth element and oxygen-containing material that deposits with and/or on the alumina nanowires. Where the RE-doped alumina nanowires are to be used as catalyst supports, a catalyst material, such as platinum, may be deposited as small particles on the nanowires. | 05-27-2010 |
20100160153 | MAKING ELECTROCATALYST SUPPORTS FOR FUEL CELLS - Titanium oxide (usually titanium dioxide) catalyst support particles are doped for electronic conductivity and formed with surface area-enhancing pores for use, for example, in electro-catalyzed electrodes on proton exchange membrane electrodes in hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells. Suitable compounds of titanium and a dopant are dispersed with pore-forming particles in a liquid medium. The compounds are deposited as a precipitate or sol on the pore-forming particles and heated to transform the deposit into crystals of dopant-containing titanium dioxide. If the heating has not decomposed the pore-forming particles, they are chemically removed from the, now pore-enhanced, the titanium dioxide particles | 06-24-2010 |
20100230292 | INTEGRATED SOLAR-POWERED HIGH-PRESSURE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION AND BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM - One embodiment of the invention includes a photovoltaic system that provides both electricity and low-grade heat, together with many options of utilizing the energy. The electricity may efficiently be used to drive a high-pressure electrolyzer that produces hydrogen. The hydrogen pressure may be boosted to a final compression of at least 700 bar. In one embodiment the pressure may be boosted using a metal-hydride compressor and stored. The stored high pressure hydrogen may be used to fill fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) tanks. The electricity can also be used to efficiently charge the batteries in an extended range electric vehicle (EREV). | 09-16-2010 |
20100316873 | ONE-DIMENSIONAL METAL NANOSTRUCTURES - Tin powder is heated in a flowing stream of an inert gas, such as argon, containing a small concentration of carbon-containing gas, at a temperature to produce metal vapor. The tin deposits as liquid on a substrate, and reacts with the carbon-containing gas to form carbon nanotubes in the liquid tin. Upon cooling and solidification, a composite of tin nanowires bearing coatings of carbon nanotubes is formed. | 12-16-2010 |
20110081600 | CARBON-TITANIUM OXIDE ELECTROCATALYST SUPPORTS FOR OXYGEN REDUCTION IN PEM FUEL CELLS - A high surface area support material is formed of an intimate mixture of carbon clusters and titanium oxide clusters. A catalytic metal, such as platinum, is deposited on the support particles and the catalyzed material used as an electrocatalyst in an electrochemical cell such as a PEM fuel cell. The composite material is prepared by thermal decomposition and oxidation of an intimate mixture of a precursor carbon polymer, a titanium alkoxide and a surfactant that serves as a molecular template for the mixed precursors. | 04-07-2011 |
20110197710 | Making metal and bimetal nanostructures with controlled morphology - A method of making metal nanostructures having a nanometer size in at least one dimension includes preparing an aqueous solution comprising a cation of a first metal and an anion, and mixing commercial elemental powder particles of an elemental second metal having a greater reduction potential than the first metal with the aqueous solution in an amount that reacts and dissolves all of the second metal and precipitates the first metal as metal nanostructures. The temperature and concentration of the aqueous solution and the selection of the anions and the second metal are chosen to produce metal nanostructures of a desired shape, for example ribbons, wires, flowers, rods, spheres, hollow spheres, scrolls, tubes, sheets, hexagonal sheets, rice, cones, dendrites, or particles. | 08-18-2011 |
20120001354 | MAKING NANOSTRUCTURED POROUS HOLLOW SPHERES WITH TUNABLE STRUCTURE - Hollow, porous, spherical metal-carbon composite particles, having nanostructures, are prepared from suitable precursor solutions containing metal-organic ligand coordination complexes with template. Such precursors may be made for each elemental metal to be in the spherical particles. The precursor solution is atomized as an aerosol in an inert gas stream and the aerosol stream heated to decompose the organic ligand portion of the precursor leaving the spherical metal-carbon composite or metal alloy-carbon composite particles. The organic ligand serves as a structure directing agent in the shaping of the spherical particles after the ligand has been removed. Other materials may also be used as permanent or removed templates. The morphology of the particles may be altered for an application by varying the preparation and composition of the metal precursor material, and the optional use of a template. | 01-05-2012 |
20120001357 | MAKING NANOCRYSTALLINE MESOPOROUS SPHERICAL PARTICLES - Spherical particles of one or more elemental metals and carbon are prepared from a precursor in the form of a metal oleate. The metal oleate precursor is dispersed in a liquid vehicle and aerosol droplets of the dispersed precursor are formed in a stream of an inert gas. The aerosol droplets are heated in the stream to decompose the oleate ligand portion of the precursor and form spherical particles that have a mesoporous nanocrystalline structure. The open mesopores of the spherical particles provide a high surface area for contact with fluids in many applications. For example, the mesopores can be infiltrated with a hydrogen absorbing material, such as magnesium hydride, in order to increase the hydrogen storage capacity of the particles. | 01-05-2012 |
20120003563 | POROUS DENDRITIC PLATINUM TUBES AS FUEL CELL ELECTROCATALYSTS - Platinum particles have been formed as porous, hollow tubular dendrites by using silver dendrite particles in a galvanic replacement reaction conducted in an aqueous solution of a platinum compound. The dendritic platinum particles have been found useful as catalysts and particularly useful as a hydrogen-oxidation electrocatalyst and/or an oxygen-reduction catalyst in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. | 01-05-2012 |
20120241192 | MICROFIBER SUPPORTED METAL SILICIDE NANOWIRES - An arrangement of elongated nanowires that include titanium silicide or tungsten silicide may be grown on the exterior surfaces of many individual electrically conductive microfibers of much larger diameter. Each of the nanowires is structurally defined by an elongated, centralized titanium silicide or tungsten silicide nanocore that terminates in a distally spaced gold particle and which is co-axially surrounded by a removable amorphous nanoshell. A gold-directed catalytic growth mechanism initiated during a low pressure chemical vapor deposition process is used to grow the nanowires uniformly along the entire length and circumference of the electrically conductive microfibers where growth is intended. The titanium silicide- or tungsten silicide-based nanowires can be used in a variety electrical, electrochemical, and semiconductor applications. | 09-27-2012 |
20120300364 | HIERARCHIALLY POROUS CARBON PARTICLES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL APPLICATIONS - Hierarchically porous graphitic carbon particles are prepared by an aerosol process using a aqueous solution of a carbon precursor compound in which different sized particles or clusters of silicon oxide species are dispersed. The aerosol is heated to evaporate the solvent. The solid residue is carbonized and non-carbon species removed to obtain small porous particles of graphitic carbon. The interconnected, different size pores in the small carbon particles make them very useful as electrode materials in electrochemical devices, such as supercapcitors, in which efficient ion transport through the pores or the particles is required. | 11-29-2012 |
20120308818 | ONE-DIMENSIONAL METAL NANOSTRUCTURES - Tin powder is heated in a flowing stream of an inert gas, such as argon, containing a small concentration of carbon-containing gas, at a temperature to produce metal vapor. The tin deposits as liquid on a substrate, and reacts with the carbon-containing gas to form carbon nanotubes in the liquid tin. Upon cooling and solidification, a composite of tin nanowires bearing coatings of carbon nanotubes is formed. | 12-06-2012 |
20130323595 | LITHIUM ION BATTERY ELECTRODE MATERIALS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - An example of a lithium ion battery electrode material includes a substrate, and a substantially graphitic carbon layer completely encapsulating the substrate. The substantially graphitic carbon layer is free of voids. Methods for making electrode materials are also disclosed herein. | 12-05-2013 |
20140076743 | METAL HYDRIDES WITH EMBEDDED METAL STRUCTURES FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE - One illustrative embodiment includes materials and devices including an integrated hydrogen storage structure including a plurality of continuously connected thermally conductive elongated members, the elongated members including continuously connected openings between the elongated members; and, a metal hydride material contacting the elongated members and disposed within the connected openings and surrounding the elongated members. | 03-20-2014 |
20140080694 | SYNTHESIS OF NANOSIZED METAL CARBIDES ON GRAPHITIZED CARBON AS SUPPORTING MATERIALS FOR ELECTROCATALYSTS - Particles of a macro-porous ion exchange resin are dispersed in a solution of a transition metal compound, such as a compound of molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadium. The resin may be composed for anion exchange or cation ion exchange and, correspondingly, anions or cations of the metal are exchanged onto active ion exchange sites on the molecular chains of the resin. The resin is then carbonized and graphitized to form nanometer-size particles of transition metal carbide on particles of graphite. The composite metal carbide and graphite particles are electrically conductive and serve well as support particles for later deposited particles of a platinum group metal or other catalyst material in, for example, a catalytic electrode member in an electrochemical cell. | 03-20-2014 |
20140255603 | SURFACE COATING METHOD AND A METHOD FOR REDUCING IRREVERSIBLE CAPACITY LOSS OF A LITHIUM RICH TRANSITIONAL OXIDE ELECTRODE - A surface coating method and a method for reducing irreversible capacity loss of a lithium rich transitional oxide electrode are disclosed herein. In an example of the surface coating method, a dispersion of a lithium rich transitional oxide powder and an oxide precursor or a phosphate precursor in a liquid is formed. The liquid is evaporated. The forming and evaporating steps are carried out in the absence of air to prevent precipitation of the oxide precursor or the phosphate precursor. Hydrolyzation of the oxide precursor or the phosphate precursor is controlled under predetermined conditions, and an intermediate product is formed. The intermediate product is annealed to form an oxide coated lithium rich transitional oxide powder or the phosphate coated lithium rich transitional oxide powder. | 09-11-2014 |
20140265557 | SINGLE-LITHIUM ION CONDUCTOR AS BINDER IN LITHIUM-SULFUR OR SILICON-SULFUR BATTERY - A sulfur-containing electrode has a binder comprising a single-lithium ion conductor. The electrode may be used a cathode in a lithium-sulfur or silicon-sulfur battery. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272558 | ELECTRODE FOR A LITHIUM-BASED SECONDARY ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME - An electrode for a lithium-based secondary electrochemical device includes a current collector. The current collector includes a substrate having a surface defining a plurality of pores therein, and a lithium powder disposed within each of the plurality of pores. In addition, the electrode includes a cured film disposed on the current collector and formed from an electrically-conductive material. A lithium-based secondary electrochemical device including the electrode, and a method of forming the electrode are also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272569 | COATING FOR SEPARATOR OR CATHODE OF LITHIUM-SULFUR OR SILICON-SULFUR BATTERY - A battery with a sulfur-containing cathode, an anode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode has a coating comprising a single-lithium ion conductor on at least one of the cathode or the separator. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272573 | ANODES INCLUDING MESOPOROUS HOLLOW SILICON PARTICLES AND A METHOD FOR SYNTHESIZING MESOPOROUS HOLLOW SILICON PARTICLES - Anodes including mesoporous hollow silicon particles are disclosed herein. A method for synthesizing the mesoporous hollow silicon particles is also disclosed herein. In one example of the method, a silicon dioxide sphere having a silicon dioxide solid core and a silicon dioxide mesoporous shell is formed. The silicon dioxide mesoporous shell is converted to a silicon mesoporous shell using magnesium vapor. The silicon dioxide solid core, any residual silicon dioxide, and any magnesium-containing by-products are removed to form the mesoporous, hollow silicon particle. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272584 | METHOD FOR PRE-LITHIATION OF THE NEGATIVE ELECTRODE IN LITHIUM ION BATTERIES - A Li-ion battery is disclosed, the Li-ion battery including an anode, a cathode, a lithium donor formed from a Li-containing material, and an electrolyte in communication with the anode, the cathode, and the lithium donor. The lithium donor may be incorporated into the anode, incorporated into the cathode, a layer formed on either an anode side or a cathode side of a separator of the battery. The lithium donor is formed from Li-containing material insensitive to oxygen and aqueous moisture. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272603 | ELECTROLYTE ADDITIVES FOR LITHIUM SULFUR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - An electrolyte solution for a lithium sulfur battery contains a lithium oxalatoborate compound in a 0.05-2 M solution in conventional lithium sulfur battery electrolyte solvents, optionally with other lithium compounds. Examples of solvents include dimethoxyethane (DME), dioxolane, and triethyleneglycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME). Electrochemical cells contain a lithium anode, a sulfur-containing cathode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing the lithium oxalatoborate compound. Lithium sulfur batteries contain a casing enclosing a plurality of the cells. | 09-18-2014 |
20140290283 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A NATURAL GAS TANK - A thermal management system for a natural gas tank includes a container, and a cooling mechanism operatively positioned to selectively cool the container. A method for minimizing a loss of natural gas storage during refueling is also disclosed herein. In an example of the method, a cooling mechanism, which is operatively positioned to selectively cool a container of a natural gas storage tank, is initiated prior to a refueling event. This cools the container to a predetermined temperature. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290611 | NATURAL GAS STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMPROVING EFFICIENCY THEREOF - A natural gas storage system includes a container, a natural gas adsorbent positioned in the container, and a heating mechanism operatively positioned to selectively thermally activate the adsorbent. A method for improving efficiency of the natural gas storage system is also disclosed. A predetermined percentage of a capacity of the container for natural gas remaining in the container is identified. In response, a heating mechanism operatively positioned to selectively thermally activate the adsorbent is initiated. The adsorbent is heated and buffer adsorbed gas is released from the adsorbent. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290751 | METHOD OF STORING AND USING NATURAL GAS IN A VEHICLE - A method of storing and using natural gas (NG) in a vehicle includes selecting a vehicle having an NG tank for fueling an engine of the vehicle. The tank service pressure rating is 3600 psi (pounds per square inch) and an NG adsorbent is in the tank. A first quantity of NG is transferred into the tank from a first source having a first source pressure less than 725 psi. The adsorbent adsorbs a portion of the NG. After transferring the first quantity of NG, the engine is operated until NG is desorbed and consumed by the engine. NG is transferred into the tank from a second source to fill the tank to a second tank pressure of about 3600 psi. The adsorbent adsorbs some of the NG. After transferring the second quantity of the NG, the engine is operated until NG is desorbed and consumed by the engine. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290789 | METHOD OF INCREASING STORAGE CAPACITY OF NATURAL GAS TANK - A method for increasing capacity of a natural gas (NG) tank. The method includes selecting a container with a service pressure rating of about 3,000 or 3,600 psi. An NG adsorbent is in the container. The container has a maximum fill capacity. The method further includes cooling the adsorbent by Joule-Thomson cooling during filling of the container with NG from a filling source at greater than 3,600 psi. The container is filled to the maximum fill capacity at a fill rate to prevent a bulk temperature of the adsorbent from rising more than about 5° C. above an ambient temperature. A rate of heat transfer from the tank is less than a rate of heating from compression of the NG and adsorption during the filling. The NG adsorbent adsorbs a higher amount of NG than it would at higher than 5° C. above ambient. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291048 | TANK FOR STORING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS - A tank for storing compressed natural gas (CNG) for fueling an automotive vehicle engine. The tank includes a container body for containing the CNG at a service pressure rating from about 20 MPa (megapascals) to about 30 MPa, the container body being formed from a single piece. The container body includes a head end region, a terminal end region distal to the head end region, and an intermediate region extending therebetween. The terminal end region and the head end region define an axial length of the container body. The container body is formed from an aluminum alloy. A valve member is operatively connected to, and in fluid communication with the container body via an opening defined in a wall of the container body. The container body wall has a thickness ranging from about 3 mm to about 10 mm. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291331 | FLUID STORAGE TANK - A fluid storage tank includes a plurality of tank sub-units disposed in an array. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units has an aperture defined in at least one wall overlapping with another aperture defined in at least one adjacent tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single outlet port for selectively extracting a stored fluid from the tank. Each of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single fluid fill port. | 10-02-2014 |
20150021801 | MAKING NANOCRYSTALLINE MESOPOROUS SPHERICAL PARTICLES - Spherical particles of one or more elemental metals and elemental carbon are prepared from a precursor in the form of a metal oleate. The metal oleate precursor is dispersed in a liquid vehicle and aerosol droplets of the dispersed precursor are formed in a stream of an inert gas. The aerosol droplets are heated in the stream to decompose the oleate ligand portion of the precursor and form spherical particles that have a mesoporous nanocrystalline structure. The open mesopores of the spherical particles provide a high surface area for contact with fluids in many applications. For example, the mesopores can be infiltrated with a hydrogen absorbing material, such as magnesium hydride, in order to increase the hydrogen storage capacity of the particles. | 01-22-2015 |
20150053675 | FLUID STORAGE TANK - A fluid storage tank includes a plurality of tank sub-units disposed in an array. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units has an aperture defined in at least one wall overlapping with another aperture defined in at least one adjacent tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units. Each tank sub-unit of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single outlet port for selectively extracting a stored fluid from the tank. Each of the plurality of tank sub-units is in fluid communication with a single fluid fill port. The array of tank sub-units is tessellated into a three-dimensional volume. A shell is disposed in contact with a plurality of the tank sub-units to envelop the array. The single outlet port and the single fluid fill port pass through the shell. | 02-26-2015 |
20150056387 | METHODS FOR MAKING COATED POROUS SEPARATORS AND COATED ELECTRODES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES - In an example of a method for coating a lithium battery component, the lithium battery component is provided. The lithium battery component is selected from the group consisting of an uncoated or untreated porous polymer membrane or an uncoated or untreated electrode including a lithium and manganese based active material. A laser arc plasma deposition process, a cathodic arc deposition process, or a pulsed laser deposition process is used to deposit a carbon nanocomposite structure, a metal oxide nanocomposite structure, or a mixed carbon and metal oxide nanocomposite structure i) on a surface of the lithium battery component, or ii) in pores of the lithium battery component, or iii) combinations of i and ii. | 02-26-2015 |
20150056493 | COATED POROUS SEPARATORS AND COATED ELECTRODES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES - An example of a porous separator includes an untreated porous polymer membrane, and a nanocomposite structure i) formed on a surface of the porous polymer membrane, or ii) dispersed in pores of the porous polymer membrane, or iii) combinations of i and ii. The nanocomposite structure is selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanocomposite structure, a metal oxide nanocomposite structure, and a mixed carbon and metal oxide nanocomposite structure. | 02-26-2015 |
20150056507 | LITHIUM-BASED BATTERY ELECTRODES - An example of a positive electrode includes sulfur based active material particles, a carbon coating encapsulating the sulfur based active material particles, and a structure coating formed on a surface of the carbon coating. The structure coating is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide composite structure, a mixed carbon and metal oxide composite structure, and a polymeric structure coating. | 02-26-2015 |
20150056517 | FLEXIBLE MEMBRANES AND COATED ELECTRODES FOR LITHIUM BASED BATTERIES - An example of a flexible membrane includes a porous membrane and a solid electrolyte coating formed on at least a portion of a surface of the porous membrane, in pores of the porous membrane, or both on the surface and in the pores. The solid electrolyte coating includes i) a polymer chain or ii) an inorganic ionically conductive material. The polymer chain or the inorganic material includes a group to interact or react with a polysulfide through covalent bonding or supramolecular interaction. | 02-26-2015 |