Patents Assigned to Department of Energy
  • Patent number: 11981565
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to compositions, method of using and methods of producing a gas mixture. The method includes supplying a composition LaxSryCozMwO3, where x ranges from 0.5 to 1, y ranges 0.0 to 1-x, z ranges from 0.1 to 1.0, and M is a dopant or dopants where w ranges from 0.0 to 1-z; and energizing the composition directly using electromagnetic energy to heat the composition to a temperature above 700° C. The method further includes contacting the composition with a reactant gas mixture comprising methane and an oxidant forming a product gaseous mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Douglas R Kauffman, Jonathan W Lekse, Christopher Mark Marin, Eric J Popczun
  • Patent number: 11975303
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods for enhancing chemical conversions. One or more embodiments relate to a method for enhancing a multi-step chemical conversion reaction. The method includes providing a reactant mixture comprising one or more reacting specie(s); and providing a catalyst or sorbent comprising one or more support materials and one or more deposited catalytically active materials. The method further includes applying an electromagnetic field with a prescribed power, frequency, and pulsing strategy specific to interactions of reactant species and an electromagnetic field with at least one of the support materials, sorbent, and catalytically active materials in a particular chemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Dushyant Shekhawat, David A Berry, Mark W Smith, Christina Wildfire, Victor Abdelsayed
  • Patent number: 11898960
    Abstract: A method for rapid detection of actinides including the steps of having a support including a colorimetric complexation, placing the support in communication with a sample through urinalysis, and receiving a visual indicator from the colorimetric complexation. The sample having an unknown concentration of at least one actinide within it. The colorimetric complexation is configured to activate when contacted by a threshold concentration of an actinide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Catherine Riddle, Rick L. Demmer
  • Patent number: 11899080
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for measuring the magnetic field of an electromagnetic component having the steps of: instrumenting one or more portions of an electromagnetic component by placing an optical fiber in electromagnetic communication with the one or more portions of said electromagnetic component; energizing the electromagnetic component; interrogating the optical fiber using light and an optical detector; and determining changes in the magnetic field incident on the optical fiber based on the detected changes in the light received by the optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Paul Ohodnicki, Derek Lau, Jagannath Devkota, Michael McHenry, Alex Leary, Richard Beddingfield, Michael Buric
  • Patent number: 11885746
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a method of growing ultrasmooth and high quantum efficiency CsTe photocathodes. The method includes exposing a substrate of Cs using an alkali source such as an effusion cell; and controlling co-evaporating growth and co-deposition forming a CsTe growth. The method further includes monitoring a stoichiometry of the CsTe growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Dustin McIntyre, Daniel Hartzler
  • Patent number: 11850571
    Abstract: This disclosure provides polyamine sorbent compositions for the separation of metals from aqueous solutions. The polyamine sorbent compositions comprise a silica support, an aminosilane bound to the silica support, an epoxysilane bound to the silica support, and a polyamine where the polyamine is chemically tethered onto a solid silica support through via the epoxysilane. The polyamine may be further stabilized within the bulk sorbent through hydrogen bonding interactions with the aminosilane. The sorbent compositions resist leaching by H2O in an aqueous stream containing heavy oxyanion-based (and other) metals and demonstrate stability over a pH range of 2-14. The sorbent compositions are useful for the separation of metals from aqueous solutions. The cationic heavy metals are captured by the co-existing amine groups (—NH2, —NH, —N) from the polymeric network while additional metal capture capacity is derived from the introduction of a secondary silane linker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: McMahan L Gray, Brian W. Kail, Walter Christopher Wilfong, Qiuming Wang, Fan Shi
  • Patent number: 11839168
    Abstract: A system and method for storing information in a quantum computer using a quantum storage ring. The method comprises cooling ions in the quantum storage ring to a low temperature; and binding the ions into a lattice structure, forming an ion Coulomb crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Kevin Brown, Thomas Roser
  • Patent number: 11814700
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a process for extracting Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from REE-bearing underclays, claystones, shales, coal-mining waste, and waste coal. In at least one embodiment the process includes contacting the REE-bearing underclays, claystones, shales, coal-mining waste, and waste coal with an Organic Acid Solution (OAS) comprising at least one organic acid and at least one ionic salt at a predetermined ambient temperature and predetermined pH; and separating the REE from the REE-bearing underclays, claystones, shales, coal-mining waste, and waste coal, forming REE+Yttrium (REY) concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Circe Verba, Mark L. McKoy, Thomas J. Tarka, Scott Montross, Jonathan Yang
  • Publication number: 20230296445
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stacked thick film device including a substrate, a first active element, a second active element, and an insulating dielectric layer separating the first active element and the second active element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Randall N. Odell
  • Patent number: 11738328
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to method for generating CHEFS having the steps of generating the CHEFS from a dope. One or more embodiments relates to a method for generating CHEFS having amine functional groups having the steps of generating a dope containing a BIAS with amine groups, at least one polymer, and at least one solvent; and forming CHEFS from the dope, wherein the generated CHEFS have no more than 30% amine loss compared to the BIAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: McMahan L. Gray, Fan Shi, Shouliang Yi, Walter Chris Wilfong, Qiuming Wang
  • Patent number: 11726047
    Abstract: Materials, methods of making, and methods of sensing liquid droplets with high spatial resolution as a signature of the on-set of corrosion using a hierarchical sensor network A hierarchical sensor network for sensing liquid droplets with high spatial resolution as a signature of the on-set of corrosion, including an interrogation system; and an intermediate sensor array layer in communication with the interrogation system. The network includes an interrogation system and an intermediate sensor array layer in communication with the interrogation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Paul R Ohodnicki, Jr., Ping Lu, Ruishu Wright, Jagannath Devkota
  • Publication number: 20230251220
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for crack measurement, including the steps of placing a plurality of sense leads on a surface of an object, passing a current through the object, sensing a change in electric potential in the interior of the object, and forming a crack profile of the interior of the object based on the sensed change in electric potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Joshua T. Larimer
  • Patent number: 11721550
    Abstract: A method for depositing III-V alloys on substrates and compositions therefrom. A first layer comprises a Group III element. A second layer comprises a silica. A substrate has a surface. The second layer is deposited onto a first layer. The depositing is performed by a sol-gel method. The second layer is exposed to a precursor that comprises a Group V element. At least one of the precursor or the Group V element diffuse through the silica. The first layer is transformed into a solid layer comprising a III-V alloy, wherein at least a portion of the first layer to a liquid. The silica retains the liquified first layer, enabling at least one of the precursor or the Group V element to diffuse into the liquid, resulting in the forming of the III-V alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Emily Lowell Warren, Jeramy David Zimmerman, Olivia Dean Schneble
  • Patent number: 11723296
    Abstract: A system and method for storing information in a quantum computer using a quantum storage ring. The method comprises cooling ions in the quantum storage ring to a low temperature; and binding the ions into a lattice structure, forming an ion Coulomb crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Kevin Brown, Thomas Roser
  • Patent number: 11643066
    Abstract: Methods and systems of power management in a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. A control system of the hybrid vehicle obtains battery temperature and catalyst temperature. The control system determines (a) whether the battery temperature is within an optimal battery temperature range and (b) whether the catalyst temperature is within an optimal catalyst temperature range. The control system determines a power split ratio (PSR) based on the determination of (a) and (b). The control system controls the engine and the motor-generator based on the determined PSR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Kesavan Ramakrishnan, Vaidehi Y. Hoshing
  • Patent number: 11545929
    Abstract: A method of installing on a horizontal or near-horizontal support surface a solar panel array including multiple solar panels may include, at the deployment site, fabricating from metal coil stock longitudinally continuous rack channels each having upstanding legs of different heights, locating the channels in parallel rows with a spacing determined by a width of the solar panels with interior spaces of the channels facing upwardly, weighing the channels down on the support surface by placing ballast in the channel spaces, and positioning the solar panels each with an edge supported by a high leg of one channel of the channels and an opposite edge supported by a low leg of an adjacent channel of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Donald S. Scipione, Rob Martens
  • Publication number: 20220403838
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow device including an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of fluid flow paths hydraulically connected in parallel to the inlet and the outlet, wherein the plurality of fluid flow paths forms a first ring of fluid flow paths circumferentially arranged at a first radial distance from a centerline of the fluid flow device a second ring of fluid flow patch circumferentially arranged at a second radial distance from the centerline of the fluid flow device, each of the plurality of fluid flow paths has a first hydraulic resistance in a forward flow direction and a second hydraulic resistance in a reverse flow direction, and the second hydraulic resistance is greater than the first hydraulic resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Brett W. Siebert
  • Patent number: 11525581
    Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a portable, personal device for providing cooking and power and adapted for use with a burner, the device including a plurality of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) coupled together; a microelectronic control circuit connected to at least the MS-SOFCs; a light source coupled to at least the microelectronic control circuit; and at least one USB port coupled to at least the microelectronic control circuit; whereby the device is able to simultaneously provide light and power a personal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: U. S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Michael C Tucker
  • Patent number: 11513100
    Abstract: A gas sensor (100,200) includes at least one sensor device including a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device (110) or a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) device (210), and a layer of metal organic framework (MOF) material (120,220) disposed on each of the at least one sensor device. The at least one sensor device is structured to sense a change in mass of the MOF material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Christopher E. Wilmer, Jenna Gustafson, Paul R. Ohodnicki, Jagannath Devkota
  • Patent number: 11478570
    Abstract: The invention provides medical devices comprising high-strength alloys which degrade over time in the body of a human or animal, at controlled degradation rates, without generating emboli and which have enhanced degradation due to the presence of a halogen component. In one embodiment the alloy is formed into a bone fixation device such as an anchor, screw, plate, support or rod. In another embodiment the alloy is formed into a tissue fastening device such as staple. In yet another embodiment, the alloy is formed into a dental implant or a stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Bio DG, Inc., U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Herbert Radisch, Paul Jablonski