Patents by Inventor Rangachary Mukundan
Rangachary Mukundan 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).
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Patent number: 12009525Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode includes a coaxial nanowire electrode. In some embodiments, the coaxial nanowire electrode comprises a plurality of ionomer nanowires, and a catalyst coating that coats at least part of the ionomer nanowires. Moreover, in some embodiments, a nanowire of the plurality of ionomer nanowires and a section of the catalyst coating that coats the nanowire form two coaxial cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Triad National Security, LLCInventors: Siddharth Komini Babu, Jacob Schatz Spendelow, Rangachary Mukundan
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Publication number: 20210135248Abstract: Ionomer membranes for fuel cells and related devices are described. An ionomer membrane may be configured with a plurality of anode-side protrusions and/or a plurality of cathode-side protrusions. A filler material(s) may be deposited into voids of an ionomer membrane. Example filler materials include, but are not limited to, platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), gold (Au), silver (Ag), iridium (Ir), etc., and their alloys on carbon supports.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Siddharth Komini Babu, Jacob Schatz Spendelow, Rangachary Mukundan, Rodney L. Borup
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Patent number: 10826076Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a patterned electrode comprising regions of catalyst and segregating regions that separate the regions of catalyst. The segregating regions may be regions of non-catalytic material. The catalyst regions may correspond to the channels of a flow field. The electrode provides improved fuel cell performance, particularly at high current densities. The electrode may be for all suitable applications, such as in a membrane electrode assembly and/or a fuel cell. Also disclosed is a method for making the patterned electrode. The method may comprise using masks to apply the catalyst and non-catalyst material to a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Triad National Security, LLCInventors: Natalia Macauley, Siddharth Komini Babu, Rangachary Mukundan, Mahlon S. Wilson, Rodney L. Borup, Stephen Grot
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Publication number: 20200321626Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode includes a coaxial nanowire electrode. In some embodiments, the coaxial nanowire electrode comprises a plurality of ionomer nanowires, and a catalyst coating that coats at least part of the ionomer nanowires. Moreover, in some embodiments, a nanowire of the plurality of ionomer nanowires and a section of the catalyst coating that coats the nanowire form two coaxial cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Triad National Security, LLCInventors: Siddharth Komini Babu, Jacob Schatz Spendelow, Rangachary Mukundan
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Patent number: 10490833Abstract: A fuel quality analyzer for detecting contaminants in a fuel supply includes an anode flow field plate defining a first fuel flow field channel and a fuel inlet port, a cathode flow field plate defining a second fuel flow field channel and a fuel outlet port, a polymer electrolyte membrane between the anode and cathode flow field plates, a first electrode between the anode flow field plate and the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a second electrode between the cathode flow field plate and the polymer electrolyte membrane. The second electrode has a higher platinum loading than the first electrode. A reservoir volume is defined by the anode and cathode flow field plates. At least a portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane extends into the reservoir volume. The reservoir volume is configured to retain water to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: Eric L. Brosha, Tommy Rockward, Christopher J. Romero, Mahlon S. Wilson, Cortney R. Kreller, Rangachary Mukundan
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Patent number: 7736547Abstract: A method of producing a proton conducting material, comprising adding a pyrophosphate salt to a solvent to produce a dissolved pyrophosphate salt; adding an inorganic acid salt to a solvent to produce a dissolved inorganic acid salt; adding the dissolved inorganic acid salt to the dissolved pyrophosphate salt to produce a mixture; substantially evaporating the solvent from the mixture to produce a precipitate; and calcining the precipitate at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 1200° C.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Fernando Henry Garzon, Melinda Lou Einsla, Rangachary Mukundan
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Publication number: 20090230365Abstract: A method of producing a proton conducting material, comprising adding a pyrophosphate salt to a solvent to produce a dissolved pyrophosphate salt; adding an inorganic acid salt to a solvent to produce a dissolved inorganic acid salt; adding the dissolved inorganic acid salt to the dissolved pyrophosphate salt to produce a mixture; substantially evaporating the solvent from the mixture to produce a precipitate; and calcining the precipitate at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 1200° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventors: Fernando Henry Garzon, Melinda Lou Einsla, Rangachary Mukundan
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Patent number: 7575709Abstract: A method of making electrochemical sensors in which an electrolyte material is cast into a tape. Prefabricated electrodes are then partially embedded between two wet layers of the electrolyte tape to form a green sensor, and the green sensor is then heated to sinter the electrolyte tape around the electrodes. The resulting sensors can be used in applications such as, but not limited to, combustion control, environmental monitoring, and explosive detection. A electrochemical sensor formed by the tape-casting method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2005Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando H. Garzon
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Publication number: 20080006532Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical gas sensor for measuring gas concentrations of chemical species. More particularly, the invention relates to an electrochemical sensor that measures ammonia and total nitrogen oxides.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric Brosha, Fernando Garzon
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Patent number: 7264700Abstract: A mixed potential sensor for oxidizable or reducible gases and a method of making. A substrate is provided and two electrodes are formed on a first surface of the substrate, each electrode being formed of a different catalytic material selected to produce a differential voltage between the electrodes from electrochemical reactions of the gases catalyzed by the electrode materials. An electrolytic layer of an electrolyte is formed over the electrodes to cover a first portion of the electrodes from direct exposure to the gases with a second portion of the electrodes uncovered for direct exposure to the gases.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2004Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Fernando H. Garzon, Eric L. Brosha, Rangachary Mukundan
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Publication number: 20070193883Abstract: A mixed potential sensor for oxidizable or reducible gases and a method of making. A substrate is provided and two electrodes are formed on a first surface of the substrate, each electrode being formed of a different catalytic material selected to produce a differential voltage between the electrodes from electrochemical reactions of the gases catalyzed by the electrode materials. An electrolytic layer of an electrolyte is formed over the electrodes to cover a first portion of the electrodes from direct exposure to the gases with a second portion of the electrodes uncovered for direct exposure to the gases.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2004Publication date: August 23, 2007Inventors: Fernando Garzon, Eric Brosha, Rangachary Mukundan
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Patent number: 7214333Abstract: A mixed potential electrochemical sensor for the detection of gases has a ceria-based electrolyte with a surface for exposing to the gases to be detected, and with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode extending through the surface and fixed within the electrolyte as the electrolyte is compressed and sintered. The electrochemical sensor is formed by placing a wire reference electrode and a wire sensing electrode in a die, where each electrode has a first compressed planar section and a second section depending from the first section with the second section of each electrode extending axially within the die. The die is filled with an oxide-electrolyte powder and the powder is pressed within the die with the wire electrodes. The wire-electrodes and the pressed oxide-electrolyte powder are sintered to form a ceramic electrolyte base with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode depending therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando Garzon
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Publication number: 20060231987Abstract: A method of making electrochemical sensors in which an electrolyte material is cast into a tape. Prefabricated electrodes are then partially embedded between two wet layers of the electrolyte tape to form a green sensor, and the green sensor is then heated to sinter the electrolyte tape around the electrodes. The resulting sensors can be used in applications such as, but not limited to, combustion control, environmental monitoring, and explosive detection. A electrochemical sensor formed by the tape-casting method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2005Publication date: October 19, 2006Inventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric Brosha, Fernando Garzon
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Publication number: 20060231420Abstract: A solid state electrochemical gas sensor for detecting trace amounts of explosive materials and a method of detecting such explosives. The sensor has at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes include a first catalytic electrode and a second catalytic electrode that are dissimilar and an electrolyte disposed between the first catalytic electrode and the second catalytic electrode. The sensor detects at least one gaseous specie emitted by the explosive material. At least one of a potential difference and a current flow is generated by at least one of catalytic and electrochemical reactions of the gaseous species emitted by the explosive material on one of the first catalytic electrode, second catalytic electrode, and the electrolyte. An explosive detection system that incorporates such sensors and methods is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2005Publication date: October 19, 2006Inventors: Fernando Garzon, Eric Brosha, Rangachary Mukundan
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Publication number: 20040112744Abstract: A hydrocarbon sensor is formed with an electrolyte body having a first electrolyte surface with a reference electrode depending therefrom and a metal oxide electrode body contained within the electrolyte body and having a first electrode surface coplanar with the first electrolyte surface. The sensor was formed by forming a sintered metal-oxide electrode body and placing the metal-oxide electrode body within an electrolyte powder. The electrolyte powder with the metal-oxide electrode body was pressed to form a pressed electrolyte body containing the metal-oxide electrode body. The electrolyte was removed from an electrolyte surface above the metal-oxide electrode body to expose a metal-oxide electrode surface that is coplanar with the electrolyte surface. The electrolyte body and the metal-oxide electrode body were then sintered to form the hydrocarbon sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando Garzon
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Publication number: 20040016104Abstract: A mixed potential electrochemical sensor for the detection of gases has a ceria-based electrolyte with a surface for exposing to the gases to be detected, and with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode extending through the surface and fixed within the electrolyte as the electrolyte is compressed and sintered. The electrochemical sensor is formed by placing a wire reference electrode and a wire sensing electrode in a die, where each electrode has a first compressed planar section and a second section depending from the first section with the second section of each electrode extending axially within the die. The die is filled with an oxide-electrolyte powder and the powder is pressed within the die with the wire electrodes. The wire-electrodes and the pressed oxide-electrolyte powder are sintered to form a ceramic electrolyte base with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode depending therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando Garzon
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Patent number: 6656336Abstract: A hydrocarbon sensor is formed with an electrolyte body having a first electrolyte surface with a reference electrode depending therefrom and a metal oxide electrode body contained within the electrolyte body and having a first electrode surface coplanar with the first electrolyte surface. The sensor was formed by forming a sintered metal-oxide electrode body and placing the metal-oxide electrode body within an electrolyte powder. The electrolyte powder with the metal-oxide electrode body was pressed to form a pressed electrolyte body containing the metal-oxide electrode body. The electrolyte was removed from an electrolyte surface above the metal-oxide electrode body to expose a metal-oxide electrode surface that is coplanar with the electrolyte surface. The electrolyte body and the metal-oxide electrode body were then sintered to form the hydrocarbon sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando Garzon
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Patent number: 6605202Abstract: A mixed potential electrochemical sensor for the detection of gases has a ceria-based electrolyte with a surface for exposing to the gases to be detected, and with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode extending through the surface and fixed within the electrolyte as the electrolyte is compressed and sintered. The electrochemical sensor is formed by placing a wire reference electrode and a wire sensing electrode in a die, where each electrode has a first compressed planar section and a second section depending from the first section with the second section of each electrode extending axially within the die. The die is filled with an oxide-electrolyte powder and the powder is pressed within the die with the wire electrodes. The wire-electrodes and the pressed oxide-electrolyte powder are sintered to form a ceramic electrolyte base with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode depending therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando Garzon
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Publication number: 20020185376Abstract: A hydrocarbon sensor is formed with an electrolyte body having a first electrolyte surface with a reference electrode depending therefrom and a metal oxide electrode body contained within the electrolyte body and having a first electrode surface coplanar with the first electrolyte surface. The sensor was formed by forming a sintered metal-oxide electrode body and placing the metal-oxide electrode body within an electrolyte powder. The electrolyte powder with the metal-oxide electrode body was pressed to form a pressed electrolyte body containing the metal-oxide electrode body. The electrolyte was removed from an electrolyte surface above the metal-oxide electrode body to expose a metal-oxide electrode surface that is coplanar with the electrolyte surface. The electrolyte body and the metal-oxide electrode body were then sintered to form the hydrocarbon sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando Garzon