Patents by Inventor Vito Di Noto

Vito Di Noto 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: 20220293986
    Abstract: The present invention refers to new membrane-electrode assembly (MBA), methods of producing the same as well as fuel cell comprising said MBA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Angeloclaudio Nale, Yannick Herve Bang, Keti Vezzu', Gioele Pagot
  • Publication number: 20220278346
    Abstract: A zipped ion-exchange membrane (Z-IEM) having at least one cation-exchange polyelectrolyte (CEP) crosslinked with at least one anion-exchange polyelectrolyte (AEP), wherein the CEP has a molar fraction of positive charges (x) so that: (i) when x=0.5, the Z-IEM is a completely neutralized ion-exchange membrane; (ii) when x>0.5, the Z-IEM is a cation-conducting ion-exchange membrane; (iii) when x<0.5, the Z-IEM is an anion-conducting ion-exchange membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Chiara GAMBARO, Laura MEDA, Vito DI NOTO, Keti VEZZU', Chuanyu SUN
  • Patent number: 10811691
    Abstract: The invention relates to electrocatalysts comprising a carbonitride (CN) shell featuring good electrical conductivity, coordinating suitable catalytically active sites. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the aforesaid carbonitride shell coordinates nanoparticles or aggregates of nanoparticles, on which the active sites of the electrocatalyst are located. In a preferred form of the invention, said carbonitride shell covers suitable cores with good electrical conductivity. Said electrocatalysts are obtained through a process involving the pyrolysis of suitable precursors; in one aspect of the invention, the preparation process requires certain further steps. In one preferred aspect, the steps comprise one or more of the following: chemical treatments; electrochemical treatments; further pyrolysis processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: BRETON S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Keti Vezzu′, Federico Bertasi, Graeme Nawn, Luca Toncelli, Stefano Zeggio, Fabio Bassetto
  • Publication number: 20190334179
    Abstract: The invention refers to hierarchical nanocomposites including layered materials supported on suitable carriers. In a preferential aspect of the invention, the layered materials consist of graphene and related materials. In a preferential aspect of the invention, the carrier consists of nanoparticles characterized by a Mohs hardness higher than that of the layered materials included in the hierarchical nanocomposite. These materials, which consist of “core” nanoparticles (the carrier) wrapped by layered systems (the “shell”) such as graphene, graphene oxide and other graphene and related materials (GRMs), are suitable precursors to obtain inks with water. The hierarchical “core-shell” nanocomposites are obtained by a preparation procedure including at least one “in situ” mechanical exfoliation step of the layered materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Antoine Bach Delpeuch, Federico Bertasi, Gioele Pagot, Keti Vezzu'
  • Publication number: 20180254488
    Abstract: The invention relates to electrocatalysts comprising a carbonitride (CN) shell featuring good electrical conductivity, coordinating suitable catalytically active sites. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the aforesaid carbonitride shell coordinates nanoparticles or aggregates of nanoparticles, on which the active sites of the electrocatalyst are located. In a preferred form of the invention, said carbonitride shell covers suitable cores with good electrical conductivity. Said electrocatalysts are obtained through a process involving the pyrolysis of suitable precursors; in one aspect of the invention, the preparation process requires certain further steps. In one preferred aspect, the steps comprise one or more of the following: chemical treatments; electrochemical treatments; further pyrolysis processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: BRETON s.p.a.
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Keti Vezzu', Federico Bertasi, Graeme Nawn, Luca Toncelli, Stefano Zeggio, Fabio Bassetto
  • Patent number: 9680180
    Abstract: The use of particles of at least one crystalline oxide, preferably metal oxide, having an average particle size of less than 500 nm and a fluorine content of between 0.5 and 30% by weight, preferably between 0.5 and 5%, even more preferably between 1.0 and 4%, for the preparation of solid-state electrolytes, is described. Also described is a solid-state electrolyte, containing particles of at least one crystalline oxide, preferably metal oxide, having an average particle size of less than 500 nm, preferably between 10 and 500 nm, even more preferably between 50 and 300 nm; a fluorine content as noted above; an alkali or alkaline-earth metal content of between 0.5 and 10% by weight, preferably between 0.5 and 5%, even more preferably between 1 and 4%. Furthermore an inorganic-organic hybrid electrolyte obtainable by means of reaction of the aforementioned solid-state electrolyte with ionic liquids is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BRETON S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Federico Bertasi, Enrico Negro, Matteo Piga, Mauro Bettiol, Fabio Bassetto
  • Patent number: 9577278
    Abstract: Hybrid membranes based on crystalline titanium dioxide containing fluorine atoms within the crystalline lattice comprising atoms of titanium and oxygen are described; these hybrid membranes are particularly suitable for the production of fuel cells and electrolysers. A process for producing the aforesaid hybrid membranes is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: BRETON SPA
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Nicola Boaretto, Enrico Negro, Mauro Bettiol, Fabio Bassetto
  • Publication number: 20160268632
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte is provided that uses an ionic liquid. The electrolyte generally has a formula of IL-(ZRnXq-n)v(MYm)w, where Z is Al, B, P, Sb, or As; R is an organic radical (alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, phenyl, benzyl, amido); X and Y are halogens (F, Cl, Br, I); M is an alkali or alkaline metal. IL is an ionic liquid that contains an organic cation (e.g. 1-alkyl-3methylimidazolium, 1-alkylpyridinium, N-methyl-N-alkylpyrrolidinium, ammonium salts) and a halide anion (F?, Cl?, Br?, or T).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Federico Bertasi, Chaminda Hettige, Steven G. Greenbaum, Michele Vittadello, Vito Di Noto
  • Publication number: 20160087302
    Abstract: Hybrid membranes based on crystalline titanium dioxide containing fluorine atoms within the crystalline lattice comprising atoms of titanium and oxygen are described; these hybrid membranes are particularly suitable for the production of fuel cells and electrolysers. The titanium dioxide contained in them may be produced by a process comprising the following stages: (a) a titanium ore is reacted with a NH4HF2 aqueous solution of; (b) the aqueous dispersion so obtained is filtered with subsequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution so obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, said hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 6.5-8.0 and a second stage at pH 9-11; the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis at a maximum temperature of approximately 500° C., preferably approximately 450° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Nicola Boaretto, Enrico Negro, Mauro Bettiol, Fabio Bassetto
  • Patent number: 9184460
    Abstract: Hybrid membranes based on crystalline titanium dioxide containing fluorine atoms within the crystalline lattice comprising atoms of titanium and oxygen are described; these hybrid membranes are particularly suitable for the production of fuel cells and electrolyzers. A process for producing the aforesaid hybrid membranes is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: BRETON SPA
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Nicola Boaretto, Enrico Negro, Mauro Bettiol, Fabio Bassetto
  • Publication number: 20140162137
    Abstract: The use of particles of at least one crystalline oxide, preferably metal oxide, having an average particle size of less than 500 nm and a fluorine content of between 0.5 and 30% by weight, preferably between 0.5 and 5%, even more preferably between 1.0 and 4%, for the preparation of solid-state electrolytes, is described. Also described is a solid-state electrolyte, containing particles of at least one crystalline oxide, preferably metal oxide, having an average particle size of less than 500 nm, preferably between 10 and 500 nm, even more preferably between 50 and 300 nm; a fluorine content of between 0.5 and 30% by weight, preferably between 0.5 and 5%, even more preferably between 1 and 4%; an alkali or alkaline-earth metal content of between 0.5 and 10% by weight, preferably between 0.5 and 5%, even more preferably between 1 and 4%. Furthermore an inorganic-organic hybrid electrolyte obtainable by means of reaction of the aforementioned solid-state electrolyte with ionic liquids is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BRETON SPA
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Federico Bertasi, Enrico Negro, Matteo Piga, Mauro Bettiol, Fabio Bassetto
  • Patent number: 8691716
    Abstract: The invention describes the preparation of electrocatalysts, both anodic (aimed at the oxidation of the fuel) and cathodic (aimed at the reduction of the oxygen), based on mono- and plurimetallic carbon nitrides to be used in PEFC (Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells), DMFC (Direct methanol fuel cells) and H2 electrogenerators. The target of the invention is to obtain materials featuring a controlled metal composition based on carbon nitride clusters or on carbon nitride clusters supported on oxide-based ceramic materials. The preparation protocol consists of three steps. In the first the precursor is obtained through reactions of the type: a) sol-gel; b) gel-plastic; c) coagulation-flocculation-precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Breton S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Sandra Lavina, Giuseppe Pace
  • Publication number: 20130196251
    Abstract: Hybrid membranes based on crystalline titanium dioxide containing fluorine atoms within the crystalline lattice comprising atoms of titanium and oxygen are described; these hybrid membranes are particularly suitable for the production of fuel cells and electrolysers. The titanium dioxide contained in them may be produced by a process comprising the following stages: (a) a titanium ore is reacted with a NH4HF2 aqueous solution of; (b) the aqueous dispersion so obtained is filtered with subsequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution so obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, said hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 6.5-8.0 and a second stage at pH 9-11; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis at a maximum temperature of approximately 500° C., preferably approximately 450° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BRETON SPA
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Nicola Boaretto, Enrico Negro, Mauro Bettiol, Fabio Bassetto
  • Publication number: 20120264594
    Abstract: The invention describes the preparation of electrocatalysts, both anodic (aimed at the oxidation of the fuel) and cathodic (aimed at the reduction of the oxygen), based on mono- and plurimetallic carbon nitrides to be used in PEFC (Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells), DMFC (Direct methanol fuel cells) and H2 electrogenerators. The target of the invention is to obtain materials featuring a controlled metal composition based on carbon nitride clusters or on carbon nitride clusters supported on oxide-based ceramic materials. The preparation protocol consists of three steps. In the first the precursor is obtained through reactions of the type: a) sol-gel; b) gel-plastic; c) coagulation-flocculation-precipitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: BRETON S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Sandra Lavina, Giuseppe Pace
  • Patent number: 8158548
    Abstract: The invention describes the preparation of electrocatalysts, both anodic (aimed at the oxidation of the fuel) and cathodic (aimed at the reduction of the oxygen), based on mono- and plurimetallic carbon nitrides to be used in PEFC (Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells), DMFC (Direct methanol fuel cells) and H2 electrogenerators. The target of the invention is to obtain materials featuring a controlled metal composition based on carbon nitride clusters or on carbon nitride clusters supported on oxide-based ceramic materials. The preparation protocol consists of three steps. In the first the precursor is obtained through reactions of the type: a) sol-gel; b) gel-plastic; c) coagulation-flocculation-precipitation. The second step consists of the thermal treatments to decompose the precursors in an inert atmosphere leading to the production of the carbon nitrides. In the last step the chemical and electro-chemical activation of the electrocatalysts is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Breton S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Sandra Lavina, Giuseppe Pace
  • Publication number: 20090111681
    Abstract: The invention describes the preparation of electrocatalysts, both anodic (aimed at the oxidation of the fuel) and cathodic (aimed at the reduction of the oxygen), based on mono- and plurimetallic carbon nitrides to be used in PEFC (Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells), DMFC (Direct methanol fuel cells) and H2 electrogenerators. The target of the invention is to obtain materials featuring a controlled metal composition based on carbon nitride clusters or on carbon nitride clusters supported on oxide-based ceramic materials. The preparation protocol consists of three steps. In the first the precursor is obtained through reactions of the type: a) sol-gel; b) gel-plastic; c) coagulation-flocculation-precipitation. The second step consists of the thermal treatments to decompose the precursors in an inert atmosphere leading to the production of the carbon nitrides. In the last step the chemical and electro-chemical activation of the electrocatalysts is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA
    Inventors: Vito Di Noto, Enrico Negro, Sandra Lavina, Giuseppe Pace
  • Patent number: 7109258
    Abstract: A polymeric material with antistatic properties, characterised by comprising a dispersion of ions within a polymeric matrix containing heteroatoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignees: Cryvet S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gualtiero Valeri, Vito Di Noto