Abstract: Electroplating results can be improved by dynamically controlling the pressure in different parts of an electroplating apparatus. For example, a number of plating problems can be avoided by ensuring that the pressure in an anode chamber always remains slightly above the pressure in an ionically resistive element manifold, both during electroplating and during non-electroplating operations. This pressure differential prevents the membrane from stretching downward into the anode chamber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 12, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 1, 2020
Assignee:
Lam Research Corporation
Inventors:
Stephen J. Banik, II, Bryan L. Buckalew, Frederick Dean Wilmot, Robert Rash
Abstract: The present invention relates to an oxygen generator integrated with an ozone removal filter such that an ozone removal filter is provided in an oxygen discharge opening communicating with an oxygen discharge hole of a water electrolytic cell constituting an apparatus for producing oxygen by using mineral water among generally used water, for filtering ozone generated with oxygen during electrolysis of water and ozone compounds, in which ozone is combined with various organic and inorganic materials contained in mineral water, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and silicon (Si), and thus the oxygen generator allows only high purity oxygen to pass through and to be discharged through the oxygen discharge hole.
Abstract: An electrolytic cell includes a housing, a first diaphragm, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first discharge port. The housing held an electrolyte solution. The first diaphragm partitions the interior of the housing into a first cell and a second cell. The first electrode is provided inside the first cell. The first electrode includes a first surface facing the first diaphragm, a second surface different from the first surface, and a first hole. The second electrode is provided inside the second cell adjacent to the first diaphragm. The second electrode includes a third surface adjacent to the first diaphragm, a fourth surface different from the third surface, and a second hole. The first discharge port discharges the electrolyte solution from the second cell. The first cell is configured to supply the electrolyte solution supplied therein to the third surface side of the second cell.
Abstract: The present invention provides a chlorine dioxide manufacturing device that can accurately control the amount of chlorine dioxide produced. The present invention provides a chlorine dioxide gas manufacturing device comprising an electrolysis chamber, a liquid surface level measuring chamber, and a bubbling gas feeding device. The electrolysis chamber and the liquid surface level measuring chamber each comprises an electrolytic solution and a gas and the electrolysis chamber and the liquid surface level measuring chamber are joined to each other above each liquid surface via a gas piping and joined to each other below each liquid surface via an electrolytic solution piping so that the height of the electrolytic solutions contained in each chamber are substantially equal.
Abstract: The present invention provides a photo-electrochemical (PEC) cell electrode having a surface portion and a bulk portion composed of the same material, wherein at least one of the bulk portion and the surface portion of the electrode is doped with at least one dopant, and wherein said doping is non-uniform along an axis perpendicular to the surface portion. The non-uniform doping can include different concentrations and/or types of the dopants in the bulk portion and in the surface portion of the electrode. There is further provided a PEC cell comprising said electrode and an electrolyte, wherein the surface portion of the electrode faces the electrolyte.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 5, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 18, 2020
Assignee:
TECHNION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LIMITED
Abstract: The invention relates to an anode for use in electroplating applications for highly alkaline electroplating electrolytes based on sodium hydroxide for depositing zinc and zinc alloys onto steel substrates and die-cast zinc substrates.
Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and an electrolyser using said assemblies/structures, wherein the electrode assembly comprises an anode structure and a cathode structure, each of said anode structure and cathode structure comprising an outlet header for evolved gas and spent liquid, wherein each of said anode structure and cathode structure comprising an outlet header for evolved gas and spent liquid, wherein the outlet header on the anode structure has a total internal volume of VA cm3 and the outlet header on the cathode structure has a total volume of VC cm3 wherein VA is less than VC, and/or i) the outlet header on the anode structure has an internal volume, VA cm3, an internal cross sectional area at the exit end of the header of AA cm2 and an internal length LA cm, and ii) the outlet header on the cathode structure has an internal volume, VC cm3, an internal cross sectional area at the exit end of the header of AC cm2 and an internal length LC cm, and one or both of the ratios VA/
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 12, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2020
Assignee:
INEOS TECHNOLOGIES SA
Inventors:
Gary Martin Shannon, Brian Kenneth Revill
Abstract: Plating bath and well structures and methods are described to stop the organic compounds present in plating reservoir wells or bath solution from rising, i.e., climbing up the reservoir wall. An electroplating apparatus includes a vessel holding a liquid solution including metal plating material and an organic species, and a method of operating an electroplating apparatus. The apparatus is designed with plating bath and structures and methods to stop the organic compounds present in plating reservoir wells or bath solution from rising, i.e., climbing or wicking up the inner surfaces of reservoir walls, and to wash them back down on a continuous or cyclical basis in order to maintain a concentration of organic compounds in the plating solution within upper and lower specification limits.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 17, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 21, 2020
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Charles L. Arvin, Glen N. Biggs, Phillip W. Palmatier, Joseph C. Sorbello, Tracy A. Tong, Freddie Torres
Abstract: The present invention relates to a graphite electrode and manufacturing process thereof, and a carbon dioxide generator, wherein the graphite electrode comprises the following in weight percentage: graphite powder 50%-90%; adhesive 10%-40%; first additive 1%-30%; second additive 0.1%-10%; wherein the adhesive comprises at least one of phenolic resin, bisphenol A epoxy resin and urea formaldehyde resin; the first additive is selected from at least one of the following: polylactic acid, carbonate, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide and polymethacrylates; the second additive is selected from at least one of the following: carbon black, carbon nanotubes, silicon carbide, boron nitride, silicon oxide, aluminium oxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, stearic acid, zinc stearate and calcium stearate. The carbon dioxide concentration of the gas obtained by the electrolysis of the present invention reaches 10 v % or more, and the gas produced is stable in quantity.
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a photoelectrode including a catalyst retaining layer, a method of preparing the same, and a photoelectrochemical cell including the photoelectrode.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 16, 2018
Date of Patent:
June 30, 2020
Assignee:
KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Abstract: A method for optimizing stability in an electrolysis cell of the Hall-Héroult type where the cell has suspended prebaked anodes and a cathode panel. The panel comprises several cathode blocks or cathode block sections. A metal pad and an electrolytic bath are located between said anodes and the cathode panel. The force field acting on the metal pad is calculated and monitored in a computer based model of the cell, whereby the local current paths and correspondingly the local forces in the metal above the cathode panel are modified by influencing selectively the current distribution in individual cathode blocks or block sections in the computer based model. At least one modification is implemented in the cell. The invention also relates to a correspondingly modified cell.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2015
Date of Patent:
June 23, 2020
Assignee:
NORSK HYDRO ASA
Inventors:
Jørund Hop, Anders Lilleby, Asgeir Bardal, Nils-Håvard Giskeødegård, Sipke Paulides, Robert Jørgensen
Abstract: A disposable, single-use wipe that can be used deodorize, disinfect, and/or sterilize an object. A wipe includes a flexible membrane or cloth-like element that may apply, distribute, and/or remove a treatment agent to, over, or from a surface of the object. A treatment agent, such as micron-, or nano-sized particles of a disinfectant or sterilant chemical, Ozone, negative ions, Hydroxyl radicals, or alcohol, etc., may be applied to the surface by the wipe or another applicator. An additional treatment agent (e.g., Triclosan, Chlorine dioxide, Hydroxyl radicals, etc.), may be associated with a wipe to enhance biocidal activity. The wipe may be used alone, in combination with a holder, or in combination with an applicator of energized treatment agent. An applicator and/or a holder may be used to energize one or more treatment agent to improve its efficacy.
Abstract: An electrolytic cells for refining metals, and more particularly components, assemblies and methods making use of conductive elements configured to enhance distribution of electrical current.
Abstract: Provided are an electrolyzer having excellent durability against reverse current. The electrolyzer 300 includes an anode 314, an anode chamber 310 housing the anode 314, a cathode 330, a cathode chamber 320 housing the cathode 330, and a diaphragm that separates the anode chamber 310 and the cathode chamber 320, wherein a reverse current absorption body 334 formed of a sintered compact containing nickel is disposed in at least one of an inside of the cathode chamber 320 and an inside of the anode chamber 310, and the reverse current absorption body 334 is not directly coupled to the cathode 330 and the anode 314 but is electrically connected to at least one of the cathode 330 and the anode 314.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 27, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 2, 2020
Assignee:
DE NORA PERMELEC LTD
Inventors:
Suguru Takahashi, Akihiro Madono, Takamichi Kishi, Osamu Arimoto
Abstract: Methods and apparatus for electroplating material onto a substrate are provided. In many cases the material is metal and the substrate is a semiconductor wafer, though the embodiments are no so limited. Typically, the embodiments herein utilize a porous ionically resistive plate positioned near the substrate, the plate having a plurality of interconnecting 3D channels and creating a cross flow manifold defined on the bottom by the plate, on the top by the substrate, and on the sides by a cross flow confinement ring. During plating, fluid enters the cross flow manifold both upward through channels in the plate, and laterally through a cross flow side inlet positioned on one side of the cross flow confinement ring. The flow paths combine in the cross flow manifold and exit at the cross flow exit, which is positioned opposite the cross flow inlet. These combined flow paths result in improved plating uniformity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 31, 2017
Date of Patent:
May 26, 2020
Assignee:
Novellus Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Steven T. Mayer, Bryan L. Buckalew, Haiying Fu, Thomas Ponnuswamy, Hilton Diaz Camilo, Robert Rash, David W. Porter
Abstract: A method for generating hydrocarbons using a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and a Fischer-Tropsch unit in a single microtubular reactor is described. This method can directly synthesize hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water. The method integrates high temperature co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2 and low temperature Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process in a single microtubular reactor by designation of a temperature gradient along the axial length of the microtubular reactor. In practice, methods disclosed herein can provide direct conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons for use as feedstock or energy storage.
Abstract: An electroplating apparatus includes an electrode at the bottom of a chamber, an ionically resistive element with through holes arranged horizontally at the top of the chamber, with a membrane in the middle. One or more panels extend vertically and parallelly from the membrane to the element and extend linearly across the chamber, forming a plurality of regions between the membrane and the element. A substrate with a protuberance extending along a chord of the substrate and contacting a top surface of the element is arranged above a first region. An electrolyte flowed between the substrate and the element descends into the first region via the through holes on a first side of the protuberance and ascends from the first region via the through holes on a second side of the protuberance, forcing air bubbles out from a portion of the element associated with the first region.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 1, 2018
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2020
Assignee:
LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
Inventors:
Stephen J. Banik, Bryan L. Buckalew, Gabriel Hay Graham, Alfred Bostick, Sean Wilbur, John Floyd Ostrowski
Abstract: An insulation assembly is provided, including: a body of an insulating material with a lower surface configured to contact a sidewall an electrolysis cell; an upper surface generally opposed to the lower surface; and a perimetrical sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface to surround the remainder of the body, the perimetrical sidewall including: an inner portion configured to face an anode surface of the electrolysis cell and provide a gap between the body and the anode surface of the electrolysis cell; wherein the body is configured to extend from the sidewall towards the anode surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 26, 2017
Date of Patent:
May 12, 2020
Assignee:
ELYSIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Inventors:
Leroy E. D'Astolfo, Steven A. Czekaj, Yimin Ruan
Abstract: The invention relates to a process that allows electrolytic copper cathodes to be produced, using the pregnant leach solution (PLS) directly in the electrowinning, avoiding the step of mineral concentration by solvent extraction. Furthermore, this process has a modular structure and the full process can be mobilised depending on the requirements of the process itself. The invention also relates to the system that operates with the previously described process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 28, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 28, 2020
Assignees:
Proter S.p.A., Ewtech Investigaciín Desarrollo e Innovación S.p.A.