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).

  • Patent number: 10724142
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200030787
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu
  • Patent number: 10428432
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz, Syed Dawar Sajjad
  • Patent number: 10396329
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20190127863
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20190109310
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20190085471
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20190071788
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz, Syed Dawar Sajjad
  • Patent number: 10170750
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Nancy J. Dudney, Zhan Lin, Zengcai Liu
  • Patent number: 10147974
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20180316063
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Patent number: 9982353
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Patent number: 9957624
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Brian Rosen
  • Patent number: 9945040
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz, Syed Dawar Sajjad
  • Patent number: 9849450
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Yan Gao, Zengcai Liu, Qingmei Chen
  • Publication number: 20170233881
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20170128930
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Yan Gao, Zengcai Liu, Qingmei Chen
  • Patent number: 9580824
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Qingmei Chen, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz
  • Publication number: 20170022618
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Brian Rosen
  • Publication number: 20170005326
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: CHENGDU LIANG, NANCY J. DUDNEY, ZHAN LIN, ZENGCAI LIU