Patents by Inventor Zengcai Liu
Zengcai Liu 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: 10724142Abstract: Water electrolyzers employs base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane with an area specific resistance at 60° C. in 1 M KOH below 0.037 ohm-cm2. Preferably, the membrane comprising a polymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and possibly vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —OH, and a reaction product between an —OH or —Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20200030787Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises vinylbenzyl-Rs vinylbenzyl-Rx and styrene-Rt. Rs is a positively charged amine or phosphine group. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is greater than 15% of the total weight of the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu
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Patent number: 10428432Abstract: A catalyst layer for an electrochemical device comprises a catalytically active element and an ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting polymer comprises positively charged cyclic amine groups. The ion conducting polymer comprises at least one of an imidazolium, a pyridinium, a pyrazolium, a pyrrolidinium, a pyrrolium, a pyrimidium, a piperidinium, an indolium, a triazinium, and polymers thereof. The catalytically active element comprises at least one of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Al, Si, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Sb, Te, U, Sm, Tb, La, Ce and Nd. In an electrolyzer comprising the present catalyst layer, the feed to the electrolyzer comprises at least one of CO2 and H2O.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz, Syed Dawar Sajjad
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Patent number: 10396329Abstract: A battery comprises a separator membrane comprising an ion-conducting polymeric composition comprising a copolymer of Ra-Rs and Rb. Ra and Rb are each selected from the group consisting of linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, aryls, heteroaryls, alkylaryls, and heteroalkylaryls. Rs is a positively charged amine group or a positively charged phosphene group. The copolymer comprises at least 3% of each Ra and Rb by weight. Ra and Rb are different chemical constituents, and Ra-Rs is not vinylpyridine.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20190127863Abstract: Water electrolyzers employs base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane with an area specific resistance at 60° C. in 1 M KOH below 0.037 ohm-cm2. Preferably, the membrane comprising a polymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and possibly vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —OH, and a reaction product between an —OH or —Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20190109310Abstract: A battery comprises a separator membrane comprising an ion-conducting polymeric composition comprising a copolymer of Ra-Rs and Rb. Ra and Rb are each selected from the group consisting of linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, aryls, heteroaryls, alkylaryls, and heteroalkylaryls. Rs is a positively charged amine group or a positively charged phosphene group. The copolymer comprises at least 3% of each Ra and Rb by weight. Ra and Rb are different chemical constituents, and Ra-Rs is not vinylpyridine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20190085471Abstract: Water electrolyzers comprises an anode comprising a quantity of anode catalyst, a cathode comprising a quantity of cathode catalyst with an inlet for introducing a cathode reactant thereto, an anion-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between said anode and said cathode, and a source of electrical energy that applies a voltage between the anode and cathode. At least one of said anode catalyst or said cathode catalyst comprises a metal or metal alloy having a surface area of at least 12 m2/gm. Water electrolyzers preferably employ base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane with a resistance below 0.3 ohm-cm2 and a base metal catalyst with a surface area of at least 12 m2/mg.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20190071788Abstract: A catalyst layer for an electrochemical device comprises a catalytically active element and an ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting polymer comprises positively charged cyclic amine groups. The ion conducting polymer comprises at least one of an imidazolium, a pyridinium, a pyrazolium, a pyrrolidinium, a pyrrolium, a pyrimidium, a piperidinium, an indolium, a triazinium, and polymers thereof. The catalytically active element comprises at least one of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Al, Si, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Sb, Te, U, Sm, Tb, La, Ce and Nd. In an electrolyzer comprising the present catalyst layer, the feed to the electrolyzer comprises at least one of CO2 and H2O.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz, Syed Dawar Sajjad
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Patent number: 10170750Abstract: A lithium sulfur cell has a cathode including Li3PS4+n (0<n<9), an electrolyte, and an anode comprising lithium. A cathode for a lithium sulfur cell is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLCInventors: Chengdu Liang, Nancy J. Dudney, Zhan Lin, Zengcai Liu
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Patent number: 10147974Abstract: A battery comprises an ion-conducting polymeric composition comprising a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs, where Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can be in the form of a membrane. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can comprise a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx, in which Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group, Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of Cl, OH, and a reaction product between an OH or a Cl and a species other than a cyclic amine or a simple amine, the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 1% of the total weight of the membrane, and the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is 15% or more of the total weight of the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Dioxide Materials, IncInventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20180316063Abstract: A battery comprises an ion-conducting polymeric composition comprising a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs, where Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can be in the form of a membrane. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can comprise a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx, in which Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group, Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of Cl, OH, and a reaction product between an OH or a Cl and a species other than a cyclic amine or a simple amine, the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 1% of the total weight of the membrane, and the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is 15% or more of the total weight of the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Patent number: 9982353Abstract: Water electrolyzers employs base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprising a polymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and possibly vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —OH, and a reaction product between an —OH or —Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Patent number: 9957624Abstract: Electrochemical devices comprising electrocatalyst mixtures include at least one Catalytically Active Element and, as a separate constituent, one Helper Catalyst. The electrocatalysts can be used to increase the rate, modify the selectivity or lower the overpotential of chemical reactions. These electrocatalysts are useful for a variety of chemical reactions including, in particular, the electrochemical conversion of CO2. Chemical processes employing these catalysts produce CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCOO)?, HCOOH, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, or (COO?)2. Devices using the electrocatalysts include, for example, a CO2 sensor and a CO2 electrolyzer.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Brian Rosen
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Patent number: 9945040Abstract: A catalyst layer for an electrochemical device comprises a catalytically active element and an ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting polymer comprises positively charged cyclic amine groups. The ion conducting polymer comprises at least one of an imidazolium, a pyridinium, a pyrazolium, a pyrrolidinium, a pyrrolium, a pyrimidium, a piperidinium, an indolium, a triazinium, and polymers thereof. The catalytically active element comprises at least one of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Al, Si, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Sb, Te, U, Sm, Tb, La, Ce and Nd. In an electrolyzer comprising the present catalyst layer, the feed to the electrolyzer comprises at least one of CO2 and H2O.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz, Syed Dawar Sajjad
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Patent number: 9849450Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting Cl, OH and a reaction product between an OH or Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 0.3% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Yan Gao, Zengcai Liu, Qingmei Chen
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Publication number: 20170233881Abstract: Water electrolyzers employs base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprising a polymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and possibly vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —OH, and a reaction product between an —OH or —Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
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Publication number: 20170128930Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting Cl, OH and a reaction product between an OH or Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 0.3% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Yan Gao, Zengcai Liu, Qingmei Chen
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Patent number: 9580824Abstract: An ion conducting polymeric composition mixture comprises a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs. Rs is selected from the group consisting of imidazoliums, pyridiniums, pyrazoliums, pyrrolidiniums, pyrroliums, pyrimidiums, piperidiniums, indoliums, and triaziniums. The composition contains 10%-90% by weight of vinylbenzyl-Rs. The composition can further comprise a polyolefin comprising substituted polyolefins, a polymer comprising cyclic amine groups, a polymer comprising at least one of a phenylene group and a phenyl group, a polyamide, and/or the reaction product of a constituent having two carbon-carbon double bonds. The composition can be in the form of a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
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Publication number: 20170022618Abstract: Electrochemical devices comprising electrocatalyst mixtures include at least one Catalytically Active Element and, as a separate constituent, one Helper Catalyst. The electrocatalysts can be used to increase the rate, modify the selectivity or lower the overpotential of chemical reactions. These electrocatalysts are useful for a variety of chemical reactions including, in particular, the electrochemical conversion of CO2. Chemical processes employing these catalysts produce CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCO2)?, H2CO2, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, or (COO?)2. Devices using the electrocatalysts include, for example, a CO2 sensor and a CO2 electrolyzer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Brian Rosen
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Publication number: 20170005326Abstract: A lithium sulfur cell has a cathode including Li3PS4+n(0<n<9), an electrolyte, and an anode comprising lithium. A cathode for a lithium sulfur cell is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: CHENGDU LIANG, NANCY J. DUDNEY, ZHAN LIN, ZENGCAI LIU