Patents by Inventor Ashwin Sankaran

Ashwin Sankaran 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: 12350643
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for removing impurities from a non-aqueous electrolyte used in an electrochemical cell. The apparatus includes a vessel having one or more chambers with an inlet and an outlet configured to allow the flow of the electrolyte through the one or more chambers; and an inorganic scavenging agent located within the one or more chambers. The inorganic scavenging agent includes one or more types of zeolite particles, at least one type of absorbent filler particles, or a combination of the zeolite and absorbent filler particles. The inorganic scavenging agent absorbs one or more of moisture, free transition metal ions, or hydrogen fluoride (HF) that is present as impurities in the non-aqueous electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery Lachapelle, David Shepard, Ashwin Sankaran, Wei Wu, Yunkui Li
  • Publication number: 20250179332
    Abstract: A formulation that is an aqueous dispersion of abrasive particles and a surfactant configured to polish an external surface of plastic ophthalmic lens is provided along with a method of using such formulation to polish such lens. This formulation has a viscosity of about 1 cP to about 25 cP with a total solids content in the range of about 15 wt. % to about 40 wt. %. The abrasive particles are a mixture of crystallized alpha alumina and theta alumina; wherein the alpha alumina is present in an amount ranging from 50 wt. % to 80 wt. % and the theta alumina is present in an amount ranging from 50 wt. % to 20 wt. % relative to the overall weight of the abrasive particles. The formulation is configured to remove plastic material at a rate of at least 8 mg/min when measured in a conventional lens polisher with an uncut plastic ophthalmic lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Peter Bushong, David Shepard, Ashwin Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20250118862
    Abstract: A cell for use in an electrochemical cell, that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator in the form of a zeolite-based material comprising one or more naturally occurring or synthetically synthesized zeolites applied directly to at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode configured so that non-reactive metal ions are reversibly extracted there from and inserted therein. The negative electrode configured to reversibly accept and release the non-reactive metal ions. The electrolyte positioned between and in contact with the negative electrode and the positive electrode, such that the electrolyte supports a reversible flow of the non-reactive metal ions between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator being configured to electrically isolate the positive electrode from the negative electrode, while being permeable to the reversible flow of the non-reactive metal ions there through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Bing Tan, Wei Wu, David Shepard, Ashwin Sankaran, Yunkui Li
  • Publication number: 20240047823
    Abstract: A separator for use in an electrochemical cell, such as a lithium-ion secondary battery, that includes a plurality of first inorganic particles, one or more second inorganic particles, a polymeric binder, wherein the weight ratio of the first inorganic particles to the second inorganic particles is in the range from 1:99 to 99:1 and the weight ratio of the combined first and second inorganic particles to the polymeric binder is in the range from 50:50 to 99:1. The inorganic particles being a type of Li-exchanged zeolite having a lithium (Li) concentration in the range of 0.1 wt. % to 20 wt. % and a sodium (Na) concentration that is lower than 5 wt. %, based on the overall weight of the Li-exchanged zeolite. The second inorganic particles being different in composition than the first inorganic particles and having a sodium (Na) concentration in the range of 0.005 wt. % to 1.0 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Shuang Gao, Yunkui Li, David Shepard, Ashwin Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20230031405
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell, such as a secondary cell of a lithium-ion battery, that includes a positive electrode with an active material that acts as a cathode; a negative electrode with an active material that acts as an anode; a non-aqueous electrolyte; and a separator placed between the positive electrode and negative electrode. The separator including an inorganic material. This inorganic material includes a mixture of a first inorganic particle and one or more second inorganic particles; wherein the inorganic material absorbs one or more of moisture, free transition metal ions, or hydrogen fluoride (HF) that become present in the electrochemical cell. One or more of the cells may be combined in a housing to form a lithium-ion secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Shuang Gao, David Shepard, Yunkui Li, Ashwin Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20220379284
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for removing impurities from a non-aqueous electrolyte used in an electrochemical cell. The apparatus includes a vessel having one or more chambers with an inlet and an outlet configured to allow the flow of the electrolyte through the one or more chambers; and an inorganic scavenging agent located within the one or more chambers. The inorganic scavenging agent includes one or more types of zeolite particles, at least one type of absorbent filler particles, or a combination of the zeolite and absorbent filler particles. The inorganic scavenging agent absorbs one or more of moisture, free transition metal ions, or hydrogen fluoride (HF) that is present as impurities in the non-aqueous electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffery Lachapelle, David Shepard, Ashwin Sankaran, Wei Wu, Yunkui Li
  • Publication number: 20220216468
    Abstract: A cell for use in an electrochemical cell, e.g., a lithium-ion secondary battery, that includes a positive electrode with an active material acting as a cathode and a current collector; a negative electrode with an active material acting as an anode and a current collector; a non-aqueous electrolyte; and a separator placed between the electrodes. At least one of the cathode and anode includes an inorganic additive in the form of a zeolite having a Si:Al ratio ranging from 2-50 that absorbs one or more of moisture, free transition metal ions, or hydrogen fluoride that become present in the cell. Multiple cells may be combined in a housing to form a lithium-ion secondary battery. The inorganic additive may be incorporated as part of the positive electrode, the negative electrode, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Shuang Gao, Yunkui Li, David Shepard, Ashwin Sankaran
  • Patent number: 11192793
    Abstract: A method for modifying the surface of a molecular sieve, comprising reacting a molecular sieve with an aminosilane, wherein the reaction is carried out in an aqueous solvent. A modified molecular sieve obtained by the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: John Kilmartin, Ashwin Sankaran, David Thompsett
  • Publication number: 20200172405
    Abstract: A method for modifying the surface of a molecular sieve, comprising reacting a molecular sieve with an aminosilane, wherein the reaction is carried out in an aqueous solvent. A modified molecular sieve obtained by the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: John Kilmartin, Ashwin Sankaran, David Thompsett