Patents by Inventor Yushan Yan

Yushan Yan 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: 20170149080
    Abstract: A compound including a cation of the following structure is provided (1), wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of polymer residues and substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, and R is H or a polymer residue. A membrane including the above cation, and electrochemical devices employing this membrane, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Yushan YAN, Bingzi ZHANG, Shuang GU
  • Patent number: 9640826
    Abstract: A redox flow battery is provided. The redox flow battery involves multiple-membrane (at least one cation exchange membrane and at least one anion exchange membrane), multiple-electrolyte (one electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode, one electrolyte in contact with the positive electrode, and at least one electrolyte disposed between the two membranes) as the basic characteristic, such as a double-membrane, triple electrolyte (DMTE) configuration or a triple-membrane, quadruple electrolyte (TMQE) configuration. The cation exchange membrane is used to separate the negative or positive electrolyte and the middle electrolyte, and the anion exchange membrane is used to separate the middle electrolyte and the positive or negative electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Shuang Gu, Ke Gong
  • Patent number: 9273405
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to cathodes used to produce chlorine gas from gaseous hydrogen chloride. The cathode comprises a cathode electrolyte comprising Fe(II) compounds and Fe(III) compounds in contact with an electron conductor. A reactor comprises a reactor solution comprising an oxidant in fluid contact with the cathode electrolyte. The fluid contact of the reactor solution with the cathode electrolyte allows the cathode electrolyte rich in Fe(II) compounds to be transferred to the reactor and combined with the reactor solution and the reactor solution rich in Fe(III) compounds to be transferred from the reactor to the cathode electrolyte after the oxidant of the reactor solution reacts with the electrolyte rich in Fe(II) compounds to form the reactor solution rich in Fe(III) compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Yun Zhao
  • Patent number: 9263757
    Abstract: This invention provides a family of functionalized polymers capable of forming membranes having exceptional OH? ionic conductivity as well as advantageous mechanical properties. The invention also provides membranes including the provided polymers and AEMFC/HEMFC fuel cells including such membranes. In a preferred embodiment, preferred function groups include a quaternary phosphonium, and in a more preferred embodiment the provided polymer is (tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine)3 functionalized phosphonium polysulfone hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Shuang Gu, Rui Cai
  • Publication number: 20140326611
    Abstract: Oxygen reduction catalysts for fuel cells are provided. The catalyst can be based on platinum-coated palladium nanotubes, or multiple twinned, crystalline silver nanowires. Also provided is a method of removing carbon dioxide using a membrane having basic functional groups, and a method of water electrolysis using a membrane having basic functional groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Christopher Lew, Qian Xu, Feng Wang, Shuang Gu, Wenchao Sheng, Shaun Alia, Laj Xiong
  • Publication number: 20140221509
    Abstract: This invention provides a family of functionalized polymers capable of forming membranes having exceptional OH? ionic conductivity as well as advantageous mechanical properties. The invention also provides membranes including the provided polymers and AEMFC/HEMFC fuel cells including such membranes. In a preferred embodiment, preferred function groups include a quaternary phosphonium, and in a more preferred embodiment the provided polymer is (tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine)3 functionalized phosphonium polysulfone hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Rui Cai, Shuang Gu
  • Publication number: 20140107237
    Abstract: This invention provides a family of cation-strung polymers capable of forming membranes having exceptional hydroxide ionic conductivity as well as low water uptake and methods of making the same. The invention also provides for using these cation-strung polymers to manufacture membranes useful in HEMFC fuel cells and other devices such as electrolysis, solar hydrogen generation, redox flow battery, dialysis, reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, pervaporation, ion exchange, sensor, and gas separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Yushan YAN, Junhua Wang, Shuang Gu
  • Patent number: 8641949
    Abstract: This invention provides a family of functionalized polymers capable of forming membranes having exceptional OH? ionic conductivity as well as advantageous mechanical properties. The invention also provides membranes including the provided polymers and AEMFC/HEMFC fuel cells including such membranes. In a preferred embodiment, preferred function groups include a quaternary phosphonium, and in a more preferred embodiment the provided polymer is (tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl) phosphine)3 functionalized phosphonium polysulfone hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Shuang Gu, Rui Cai
  • Publication number: 20140004403
    Abstract: A redox flow battery is provided. The redox flow battery involves multiple-membrane (at least one cation exchange membrane and at least one anion exchange membrane), multiple-electrolyte (one electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode, one electrolyte in contact with the positive electrode, and at least one electrolyte disposed between the two membranes) as the basic characteristic, such as a double-membrane, triple electrolyte (DMTE) configuration or a triple-membrane, quadruple electrolyte (TMQE) configuration. The cation exchange membrane is used to separate the negative or positive electrolyte and the middle electrolyte, and the anion exchange membrane is used to separate the middle electrolyte and the positive or negative electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Yushan YAN, Shuang GU, Ke GONG
  • Publication number: 20140004402
    Abstract: A novel design has been invented for redox flow batteries. Different from the single-membrane, double-electrolyte redox flow battery as a basic structure, the design of the present invention involves double-membrane (one cation exchange membrane and one anion exchange membrane), triple-electrolyte (one electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode, one electrolyte in contact with the positive electrode, and one electrolyte positioned between and in contact with the two membranes) as the basic characteristic. The cation exchange membrane is used to separate the negative or positive electrolyte and the middle electrolyte, and the anion exchange membrane is used to separate the middle electrolyte and the positive or negative electrolyte. This particular design physically isolates, but ionically connects, the negative electrolyte and positive electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Shuang Gu, Ke Gong
  • Publication number: 20130260282
    Abstract: Metal nanotubes are provided comprising a composition having formula (M1)NT: wherein M1=Pt, Pd, or Au; wherein the nanotubes have: a wall thickness of from 2 to 12 nm; an outer diameter of from 30 to 100 nm; and a length of from 5 to 30 ?m. Metal nanowires are also provided comprising a composition having formula (M2)NW: wherein M2=Ag or Cu; wherein when M2=Ag, the nanowires have a diameter of from 25 to 60 nm and a length of from 1 to 10 ?m; and when M2=Cu, the nanowires have a diameter of from 50 to 100 nm and a length of from 10 to 50 ?m. In other embodiments, fuel cells are also described having at least one anode; at least one cathode; an electrolyte membrane between the at least one anode and at least one cathode; and a catalyst comprising either of the above described metal nanotubes or nanowires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Shaun Alia
  • Patent number: 8535586
    Abstract: A family of functionalized polymers is provided capable of forming membranes having exceptional OH? ionic conductivity as well as advantageous mechanical properties, which may be applied to membranes including such polymers for use in, e.g., AEMFC/HEMFC fuel cells. Preferred functional groups include a quaternary phosphonium, and the polymer may specifically be (tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl) phosphine)3 functionalized phosphonium polysulfone hydroxide, ECL-PVBC-QPOH, or QPOH based on any of the commercial polumers including polycarbonate (PC), poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO), polyetherimine (PEI), poly(ether sulfone) (PES), poly(phenylene sulfoxide) PPS, poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), or polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC). An ionomer membrane may include polysulfone based TPQPOH, ECL-PVBC-QPOH, and/or PPO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Shuang Gu, Feng Wang
  • Publication number: 20130164652
    Abstract: Novel proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells with nanostructured components are configured with higher precious metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost. To form a catalyst, platinum or platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles are deposited onto carbon-based materials, for example, single-walled, dual-walled, multi-walled and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. The deposition process includes an ethylene glycol reduction method. Aligned arrays of these carbon nanomaterials are prepared by filtering the nanomaterials with ethanol. A membrane electrode assembly is formed by sandwiching the catalyst between a proton exchange membrane and a diffusion layer that form a first electrode. The second electrode may be formed using a conventional catalyst. The several layers of the MEA are hot pressed to form an integrated unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Xin Wang, Wenzhen Li, Mahesh Waje, Zhongwei Chen, William Goddard, Wei-Qiao Deng
  • Patent number: 8324415
    Abstract: A suite of polymer/zeolite nanocomposite membranes. The polymer backbone is preferably a film forming fluorinated sulfonic acid containing copolymer, such as a Teflon type polymer, a perfluorinated polymer, or a perfluorinated polymer with sulfonic groups. The zeolites formed in accordance with the present invention and which are used in the membranes are plain, phenethyl functionalized and acid functionalized zeolite FAU(Y) and BEA nanocrystals. The zeolite nanocrystals are incorporated into polymer matrices for membrane separation applications like gas separations, and in polymer-exchange-membrane fuel cells. For the purpose of developing zeolite-polymer nanocomposite membranes, the zeolite nanocrystals are size-adjustable to match the polymer-network dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Brett Holmberg, Xin Wang
  • Patent number: 8247136
    Abstract: Novel proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells with nanostructured components are configured with higher precious metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost. To form a catalyst, platinum or platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles are deposited onto carbon-based materials, for example, single-walled, dual-walled, multi-walled and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. The deposition process includes an ethylene glycol reduction method. Aligned arrays of these carbon nanomaterials are prepared by filtering the nanomaterials with ethanol. A membrane electrode assembly is formed by sandwiching the catalyst between a proton exchange membrane and a diffusion layer that form a first electrode. The second electrode may be formed using a conventional catalyst. The several layers of the MEA are hot pressed to form an integrated unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Xin Wang, Wenzhen Li, Mahesh Waje, Zhongwei Chen, William Goddard, Wei-Qiao Deng
  • Publication number: 20120119410
    Abstract: A family of functionalized polymers is provided capable of forming membranes having exceptional OH? ionic conductivity as well as advantageous mechanical properties, which may be applied to membranes including such polymers for use in, e.g., AEMFC/HEMFC fuel cells. Preferred functional groups include a quaternary phosphonium, and the polymer may specifically be (tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl) phosphine)3 functionalized phosphonium polysulfone hydroxide, ECL-PVBC-QPOH, or QPOH based on any of the commercial polumers including polycarbonate (PC), poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO), polyetherimine (PEI), poly(ether sulfone) (PES), poly(phenylene sulfoxide) PPS, poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), or polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC). An ionomer membrane may include polysulfone based TPQPOH, ECL-PVBC-QPOH, and/or PPO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan YAN, Shuang GU, Feng WANG
  • Publication number: 20110300718
    Abstract: An on-wafer crystallization method of spin-coating a silicon wafer with a low-k dielectric zeolite material which includes the steps of forming a synthesis solution; generating a nucleated precursor solution; spin-coating the nucleated precursor onto a substrate as a precursor film; and annealing the precursor film into a zeolite film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan YAN, Junlan Wang, Yan Liu, Rui Cai
  • Publication number: 20110237690
    Abstract: This invention provides a family of functionalized polymers capable of forming membranes having exceptional OH? ionic conductivity as well as advantageous mechanical properties. The invention also provides membranes including the provided polymers and AEMFC/HEMFC fuel cells including such membranes. In a preferred embodiment, preferred function groups include a quaternary phosphonium, and in a more preferred embodiment the provided polymer is (tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl) phosphine)3 functionalized phosphonium polysulfone hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Shuang Gu, Rui Cai
  • Publication number: 20110129925
    Abstract: The disclosure provides biocompatible metal compositions, methods of making such compositions and uses thereof, including a method of synthesizing zeolite coatings. The disclosure further provides the zeolite-hydroxyapatite composite coatings and methods of making them, which includes forming a base zeolite layer, forming a hydroxyapatite layer on the base zeolite layer, and interlocking the hydroxyapatite layer with an outer zeolite layer. The composite can be formed on a metal substrate for bioimplants, such as titanium alloy and/or stainless steel, which is used for bioimplants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Rajwant Singh Bedi
  • Publication number: 20110118492
    Abstract: A suite of polymer/zeolite nanocomposite membranes. The polymer backbone is preferably a film forming fluorinated sulfonic acid containing copolymer, such as a Teflon type polymer, a perfluorinated polymer, or a perfluorinated polymer with sulfonic groups. The zeolites formed in accordance with the present invention and which are used in the membranes are plain, phenethyl functionalized and acid functionalized zeolite FAU(Y) and BEA nanocrystals. The zeolite nanocrystals are incorporated into polymer matrices for membrane separation applications like gas separations, and in polymer-exchange-membrane fuel cells. For the purpose of developing zeolite-polymer nanocomposite membranes, the zeolite nanocrystals are size-adjustable to match the polymer-network dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Brett Holmberg, Xin Wang