Patents Assigned to QuantumSphere, Inc.
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Publication number: 20110192717Abstract: A device and system useful for highly efficient chemical and electrochemical reactions is described. The device comprises a porous electrode and a plurality of suspended nanoparticles diffused within the void volume of the electrode when used within an electrolyte. The device is suitable within a system having a first and second chamber preferably positioned vertically with respect to each other, and each chamber containing an electrode and electrolyte with suspended nanoparticles therein. When reactive metal particles are diffused into the electrode structure and suspended in electrolyte by gasses, a fluidized bed is established. The reaction efficiency is increased and products can be produced at a higher rate. When an electrolysis device can be operated such that incoming reactants and outgoing products enter and exit from opposite faces of an electrode, reaction rate and efficiency are improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2011Publication date: August 11, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE INC.Inventor: Robert Brian Dopp
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Publication number: 20110190116Abstract: A gas diffusion cathode for electrochemical cells provides higher power capability through the use of nano-particle catalysts. The catalysts comprise nanometer-sized particles of transition metals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, iron, palladium, ruthenium, gold, silver, and lead, as well as alloys thereof, and respective oxides. These catalysts can substantially replace or eliminate platinum as a catalyst for oxygen reduction. Cathodes using such catalysts have applications to metal-air batteries, hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFCs), direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), direct oxidation fuel cells (DOFCs), and other air breathing electrochemical systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: Robert Brian Dopp, Doug Carpenter, Kim McGrath
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Publication number: 20110179908Abstract: Nano-scale particles of materials can be produced by vaporizing material and allowing the material to flow in a non-violently turbulent manner into thermal communication with a cooling fluid, thereby forming small particles of the material that can be in the nano-scale size range. A raw material feeder can be configured to feed raw material toward a heater which vaporizes the raw material. The feeder can include a metering device for controlling the flow of raw material toward the heater. A gas source can also be used to cause gas to flow through a portion of the raw material feeder along with the raw material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: Ed Robinson
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Publication number: 20110171100Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for synthesizing ammonia using nano-size metal or metal alloy catalyst particles. Hydrogen and nitrogen gases are passed through a system comprising, for example, a bed of magnetite supporting nano-size iron or iron alloy catalyst particles having an optional oxide layer that forms the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: R. Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20110165055Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for synthesizing ammonia using nano-size metal or metal alloy catalyst particles. Hydrogen and nitrogen gases are passed through a system comprising, for example, a bed of magnetite supporting nano-size iron or iron alloy catalyst particles having an optional oxide layer that forms the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: R. Douglas Carpenter, Kevin Maloney
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Publication number: 20110155571Abstract: A catalyst member comprising a blended mixture of nano-scale metal particles compressed with larger metal particles and sintered to form a structurally stable member of any desired shape. The catalyst member can be used in one of many different applications; for example, as an electrode in a fuel cell or in an electrolysis device to generate hydrogen and oxygen.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: R. Douglas Carpenter, Robert Brian Dopp, Kimberly McGrath
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Publication number: 20110158889Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for synthesizing ammonia at mid- to low-pressures using nano-size metal or metal alloy catalyst particles. Hydrogen and nitrogen gases are passed through a system comprising, for example, a packed bed of supported nano-size iron or iron alloy catalyst particles having an optional oxide layer that form the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: R. Douglas Carpenter
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Patent number: 7955755Abstract: Cathodes suitable for use in direct methanol fuel cells are disclosed. A cathode can comprise a composition supported on a conductive substrate, where the composition comprises: reactive nano-particles each consisting essentially of a core of metal and/or metal alloy and a shell of an oxide of the metal and/or metal alloy in the core; platinum and/or platinum alloy particles devoid of an oxide shell; and an ionomer. The metal nanoparticles can comprise one or more of palladium, chromium, manganese, nickel, iron, copper, gold, lanthanum, cerium, tin, sulfur, selenium, cobalt, silver, and alloys thereof. Direct methanol fuel cell incorporating these cathodes are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Quantumsphere, Inc.Inventors: Kimberly McGrath, R. Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20110130269Abstract: A composition useful in electrodes provides higher power capability through the use of nanoparticle catalysts present in the composition. Nanoparticles of transition metals are preferred such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron, palladium, ruthenium, gold, silver, and lead, as well as alloys thereof, and respective oxides. These nanoparticle catalysts can substantially replace or eliminate platinum as a catalyst for certain electrochemical reactions. Electrodes, used as anodes, cathodes, or both, using such catalysts have applications relating to metal-air batteries, hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFCs), direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), direct oxidation fuel cells (DOFCs), and other air or oxygen breathing electrochemical systems as well as some liquid diffusion electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: Robert Brian Dopp, Kimberly McGrath, R. Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20110123901Abstract: A catalyst member can comprise nano-scale nickel particles. The catalyst member can be used for a plurality of different uses, for example, electrodes of a fuel cell or an electrolysis device. The nano-scale nickel particles can be sintered or combined in other manners to form the desired shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2011Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: Ray Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20110091796Abstract: A composition useful in electrodes provides higher power capability through the use of nanoparticle catalysts present in the composition. Nanoparticles of transition metals are preferred such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron, palladium, ruthenium, gold, silver, and lead, as well as alloys thereof, and respective oxides. These nanoparticle catalysts can substantially replace or eliminate platinum as a catalyst for certain electrochemical reactions. Electrodes, used as anodes, cathodes, or both, using such catalysts have applications relating to metal-air batteries, hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFCs), direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), direct oxidation fuel cells (DOFCs), and other air or oxygen breathing electrochemical systems as well as some liquid diffusion electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: Robert Brian Dopp, Kimberly McGrath, R. Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20110091831Abstract: Nano-scale particles of materials can be produced by vaporizing the material and allowing the material to flow in a non-violently turbulent manner into thermal communication with a cooling fluid, thereby forming small particles of the material that can be in the nano-scale size range.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20110091787Abstract: A composition of nanoparticles of metal or an alloy or having a metal and alloy core with an oxide shell in admixture with platinum particles is useful as a component for electrodes. More particularly, such composition is useful as an electrode ink for the reduction of oxygen as well as the oxidation of hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel in a direct oxidation fuel cell, such as, but not limited to, the direct methanol fuel cell. These electrodes encompass a catalyst ink containing platinum, the nanoparticles, and a conducting ionomer which may be directly applied to a conductive support, such as woven carbon paper or cloth. This electrode may be directly adhered onto an ion exchange membrane. The nanoparticles comprise nanometer-sized transition metals such as cobalt, iron, nickel, ruthenium, chromium, palladium, silver, gold, and copper. In this invention, these catalytic powders substantially replace platinum as a catalyst in fuel cell electrooxidation and electroreduction reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: Kimberly McGrath, Douglas Carpenter
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Patent number: 7897294Abstract: A catalyst member can comprise nano-scale nickel particles. The catalyst member can be used for a plurality of different uses, for example, electrodes of a fuel cell or an electrolysis device. The nano-scale nickel particles can be sintered or combined in other manners to form the desired shape.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2004Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Quantumsphere, Inc.Inventor: Ray Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20110014310Abstract: Nano-scale particles of materials can be produced by vaporizing material and allowing the material to flow in a non-violently turbulent manner into thermal communication with a cooling fluid, thereby forming small particles of the material that can be in the nano-scale size range. A raw material feeder can be configured to feed raw material toward a heater which vaporizes the raw material. The feeder can include a metering device for controlling the flow of raw material toward the heater. A gas source can also be used to cause gas to flow through a portion of the raw material feeder along with the raw material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: Ray Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20100311571Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for improving efficient catalyst utilization in processes including thermal catalysis using dry nanoparticle promoters, rather than salts of metal promoters in liquid form. Using selected process steps, the nanoparticles are more controllably dispersed on primary support particles, for effective use on secondary supports when it desired to bring reactants into contact with the secondary support. Applications that generally make use of these catalysts can be but are not limited to: emission abatement catalysts, generation of syngas, generation of liquid fuels from syngas, safety systems (hydrogen recombination catalysts in nuclear power plants) and many industrial processes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: Fabrizio Rinaldi
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Patent number: 7803295Abstract: Nano-scale particles of materials can be produced by vaporizing material and allowing the material to flow in a non-violently turbulent manner into thermal communication with a cooling fluid, thereby forming small particles of the material that can be in the nano-scale size range. A raw material feeder can be configured to feed raw material toward a heater which vaporizes the raw material. The feeder can include a metering device for controlling the flow of raw material toward the heater. A gas source can also be used to cause gas to flow through a portion of the raw material feeder along with the raw material.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Quantumsphere, IncInventor: Ray Douglas Carpenter
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Publication number: 20100184588Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for improving efficient catalyst utilization in processes including thermal catalysis using dry nanoparticle promoters, rather than salts of metal promoters in liquid form. Using selected process steps, the nanoparticles are more controllably dispersed on primary support particles, for effective use on secondary supports when it desired to bring reactants into contact with the secondary support. Applications that generally make use of these catalysts can be but are not limited to: emission abatement catalysts, generation of syngas, generation of liquid fuels from syngas, safety systems (hydrogen recombination catalysts in nuclear power plants) and many industrial processes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2010Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventor: Fabrizio RINALDI
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Publication number: 20100183497Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for synthesizing ammonia using nano-size metal or metal alloy catalyst particles. Hydrogen and nitrogen gases are passed through a system comprising, for example, a bed of magnetite supporting nano-size iron or iron alloy catalyst particles having an optional oxide layer that forms the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: R. Douglas CARPENTER, Kevin MALONEY
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Publication number: 20100167175Abstract: A composition useful in electrodes provides higher power capability through the use of nanoparticle catalysts present in the composition. Nanoparticles of transition metals are preferred such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron, palladium, ruthenium, gold, silver, and lead, as well as alloys thereof, and respective oxides. These nanoparticle catalysts can substantially replace or eliminate platinum as a catalyst for certain electrochemical reactions. Electrodes, used as anodes, cathodes, or both, using such catalysts have applications relating to metal-air batteries, hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFCs), direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), direct oxidation fuel cells (DOFCs), and other air or oxygen breathing electrochemical systems as well as some liquid diffusion electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: QUANTUMSPHERE, INC.Inventors: Robert Brian Dopp, Kimberly McGrath, R. Douglas Carpenter