Patents by Inventor Fernand Brochu

Fernand Brochu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200373570
    Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Karim ZAGHIB, Michel Gauthier, Fernand Brochu, Abdelbast GUERFI, Monique Masse, Michel ARMAND
  • Patent number: 10734647
    Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Michel Gauthier, Fernand Brochu, Abdelbast Guerfi, Monique Masse, Michel Armand
  • Patent number: 9559356
    Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Michel Gauthier, Fernand Brochu, Abdelbast Guerfi, Monique Masse, Michel Armand
  • Publication number: 20160372746
    Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim ZAGHIB, Michel GAUTHIER, Fernand BROCHU, Abdelbast GUERFI, Monique MASSE, Michel ARMAND
  • Patent number: 9508983
    Abstract: A method for modifying graphite particles having a prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape characterized by an edge function fe and a basal function fb, said method providing increase of the edge function and lowering of the basal function, wherein the method includes submitting the graphite particles to at least one physical means selected from attrition, jet mill, ball mill, hammer mill, or atomizer mill, in the presence of at least one chemical compound chosen from the group of compounds of the formula MFz, in which M represents an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal and z represents 1 or 2, NaCl and NH4F or a mixture thereof, said compound or compounds being added in solid form, at the beginning of the step using the physical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast Guerfi, Fernand Brochu, Kimio Kinoshita, Karim Zaghib
  • Patent number: 9444092
    Abstract: Modified graphite particles obtained from graphite or based on graphite, the said particles having impurities in their internal structure and having on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast Guerfi, Fernand Brochu, Kimio Kinoshita, Karim Zaghib
  • Patent number: 9412999
    Abstract: Modified graphite particles obtained from graphite or based on graphite, the said particles having impurities in their internal structure and having on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast Guerfi, Fernand Brochu, Kimio Kinoshita, Karim Zaghib
  • Publication number: 20160141603
    Abstract: Modified graphite particles obtained from graphite or based on graphite, the said particles having impurities in their internal structure and having on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: HYDRO QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast GUERFI, Fernand BROCHU, Kimio KINOSHITA, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Patent number: 9312537
    Abstract: A method for modifying graphite particles having a prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape characterized by an edge function fe and a basal function fb, said method providing increase of the edge function and lowering of the basal function, wherein the method includes submitting the graphite particles to at least one physical means selected from attrition, jet mill, ball mill, hammer mill, or atomizer mill, in the presence of at least one chemical compound chosen from the group of compounds of the formula MFz, in which M represents an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal and z represents 1 or 2, NaCl and NH4F or a mixture thereof, said compound or compounds being added in solid form, at the beginning of the step using the physical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast Guerfi, Fernand Brochu, Kimio Kinoshita, Karim Zaghib
  • Publication number: 20160060119
    Abstract: A method for modifying graphite particles having a prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape characterized by an edge function fe and a basal function fb, said method providing increase of the edge function and lowering of the basal function, wherein the method includes submitting the graphite particles to at least one physical means selected from attrition, jet mill, ball mill, hammer mill, or atomizer mill, in the presence of at least one chemical compound chosen from the group of compounds of the formula MFz, in which M represents an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal and z represents 1 or 2, NaCl and NH4F or a mixture thereof, said compound or compounds being added in solid form, at the beginning of the step using the physical means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast GUERFI, Fernand BROCHU, Kimio KINOSHITA, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Patent number: 9184437
    Abstract: Modified graphite particles are obtained from graphite or based on graphite. The particles have impurities in their internal structure and have on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast Guerfi, Fernand Brochu, Kimio Kinoshita, Karim Zaghib
  • Patent number: 9077031
    Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, wherein ? is >0 and ?0.5, ? is a number >0 and ?0.33, Z is a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators. The process may involve the steps of a) preparing a dispersion of a mixture of TiOx—LizY-carbon, wherein x is a number between 1 and 2, z is 1 or 2, and Y is a radical chosen among CO3, OH, O and TiO3 or a mixture thereof; and 2) heating of the dispersion, preferably to a temperature of between about 400° C. and about 1000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Michel Gauthier, Fernand Brochu, Abdelbast Guerfi, Monique Masse, Michel Armand
  • Publication number: 20140356725
    Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim ZAGHIB, Michel GAUTHIER, Fernand BROCHU, Abdelbast GUERFI, Monique MASSE, Michel ARMAND
  • Publication number: 20130323600
    Abstract: Modified graphite particles are obtained from graphite or based on graphite. The particles have impurities in their internal structure and have on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: HYDRO QUEBEC
    Inventors: ABDELBAST GUERFI, FERNAND BROCHU, KIMIO KINOSHITA, KARIM ZAGHIB
  • Publication number: 20130011554
    Abstract: A method for modifying graphite particles having a prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape characterized by an edge function fe and a basal function fb, said method providing increase of the edge function and lowering of the basal function, wherein the method includes submitting the graphite particles to at least one physical means selected from attrition, jet mill, ball mill, hammer mill, or atomizer mill, in the presence of at least one chemical compound chosen from the group of compounds of the formula MFz, in which M represents an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal and z represents 1 or 2, NaCl and NH4F or a mixture thereof, said compound or compounds being added in solid form, at the beginning of the step using the physical means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Hydro Quebec
    Inventors: ABDELBAST GUERFI, Fernand Brochu, Kimio Kinoshita, Karim Zaghib
  • Publication number: 20120135311
    Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Karim ZAGHIB, Michel Gauthier, Fernand Brochu, Abdelbast Guerfi, Monique Massé, Michel Armand
  • Patent number: 8114469
    Abstract: A process for synthesizing particles of an oxide corresponding to a formula selected from: Li4Ti5O12; Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12; and Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, said process including the steps of: a) preparing an intimately dispersed ternary mixture of TiOx—LiZY-carbon, wherein x is a number between 1 and 2, z is 1 or 2, Y is a radical chosen from the group consisting of CO3, OH, O and TiO3 or a mixture thereof, and the carbon is a carbon powder selected from the group consisting of natural or artificial graphite, carbon black, Shawinigan black, Ketjen black and cokes; b) heating the dispersion at a temperature of between 400 and 1,000° C.; and c) if appropriate, adding a source of at least one metal Z to the ternary mixture, wherein the operating conditions are chosen in such a way as to yield a conversion of the initial products respectively into Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12, Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Michel Gauthier, Fernand Brochu, Abdelbast Guerfi, Monique Masse, Michel Armand
  • Patent number: 7993621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the physical or chemical specific purification of natural mineral graphite. This purification is preferably applied to the surface of natural graphite in order to allow the formation of a passivation film during the first electrical discharge or the insertion of lithium in the graphite when the latter is used in a lithium-ion cell. The grinding to a small size before purification allows the optimization of the distribution of the particles, resulting in a more uniform electrode. This grinding is carried out in the presence of the natural impurities of the graphite that play the role of a micro-abrasive and result in a hardness of the graphite that increases its mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Michel Gauthier, Gabrielle Nadeau, Abdelbast Guerfi, Monique Massé, Fernand Brochu, Michel Armand
  • Publication number: 20110108771
    Abstract: A composition for applying a coating on a support at low temperature from a dispersion of at least a component of the coating to be deposited in the composition. The composition includes at least a strong and heavy solvent with a boiling point higher than 150° C. approximately, and a weak solvent with a boiling point less than 100° C. approximately. The solvents forming the composition must constitute a mixture that evaporates at a temperature less than 100° C. The composition is particularly useful for forming electrodes or electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries. The method and the device used for forming the coating use a dispersion spreader and an infrared lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Abdelbast GUERFI, Fernand Brochu, Monique Masse, Karim Zaghib
  • Publication number: 20100092808
    Abstract: Modified graphite particles obtained from graphite or based on graphite, the said particles having impurities in their internal structure and having on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Hydro Quebec
    Inventors: Abdelbast Guerfi, Fernand Brochu, Kimio Kinoshita, Karim Zaghib