Patents by Inventor Avram Zallen

Avram Zallen 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: 7799296
    Abstract: A method for converting nickel into a nickel salt solution. Nickel is dissolved and reacted in an oxygen-enriched acidic solution to produce a nickel salt solution as illustrated in the following chemical equation, wherein X is a conjugate base: Ni+H2X+½O2->NiX+H2O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Cristian Fierro, Avram Zallen, Tim Hicks
  • Patent number: 7364717
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a process for making nickel sulfate by converting nickel metal into nickel sulfate, which may be converted to nickel hydroxide. Nickel metal is dissolved in sulfuric acid and oxygen containing gas is introduced to produce a nickel sulfate solution having nickel sulfate and water as illustrated in the following chemical equation. Ni+H2SO4+½O2?NiSO4+H2O The nickel sulfate is filtered and sulfuric acid is continually added to maintain stoichiometry within a reactor until the nickel metal is dissolved. The sulfuric acid, oxygen containing gas and nickel metal may be heated to facilitate the desired reaction. Then, the nickel sulfate may be utilized to produce nickel hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Gabriel E. Benet, Avram Zallen, Tim Hicks, Michael A. Fetcenko
  • Patent number: 7261970
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries and methods for making the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries having a precharge in the negative electrode sufficient for oxidation prevention in the negative electrode. The present invention discloses a nickel metal hydride battery, wherein the precharge of the negative electrode may be supplied by a variety of sources. The positive active material of the positive electrode may have positive active particles, such as nickel hydroxide, having a precursor coating that incorporates cobalt material capable of forming a conductive network. Sources other than cobalt-containing materials in the positive electrode include hydrogen gas provided directly to the negative active material, nickel aluminum mixed with the negative active material, the etching of the negative active material with an alkaline solution and borohydride chemically charging the negative active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kwo Young, Cristian Fierro, Benjamin Reichman, Michael A. Fetcenko, John Koch, Avram Zallen
  • Publication number: 20060252635
    Abstract: A method for making a catalyst having catalytically active material supported on a carrier matrix. The catalytically active material may be a mixed-valence, nanoclustered oxide(s), an organometallic material or a combination thereof. In one method, a metal salt solution is combined with a metal complexing agent to form a metal complex. The metal complex is then combined with a suspension that includes a carrier matrix and the system is subjected to ultrasonic agitation. A base is then added to induce a controlled crystallization of a catalytic nanocluster metal material onto the carrier matrix. The supported catalytic material is particularly useful for catalyzing oxygen reduction in a fuel cell, such as an alkaline fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Stanford Ovshinsky, Cristian Fierro, Benjamin Reichman, William Mays, James Strebe, Michael Fetcenko, Avram Zallen, Tim Hicks
  • Patent number: 7097933
    Abstract: A catalyst having catalytically active material supported on a carrier matrix. The catalytically active material may be a mixed-valence, nanoclustered oxide(s), an organometallic material or a combination thereof. The supported catalytic material is particularly useful for catalyzing oxygen reduction in a fuel cell, such as an alkaline fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Cristian Fierro, Benjamin Reichman, William Mays, James Strebe, Michael A. Fetcenko, Avram Zallen, Tim Hicks
  • Publication number: 20060067874
    Abstract: A method for converting nickel into a nickel salt solution. Nickel is dissolved and reacted in an oxygen-enriched acidic solution to produce a nickel salt solution as illustrated in the following chemical equation, wherein X is a conjugate base: Ni+H2X+½O2->NiX+H2O.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Fetcenko, Cristian Fierro, Avram Zallen, Tim Hicks
  • Publication number: 20050238959
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries and methods for making the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries having a precharge in the negative electrode sufficient for oxidation prevention in the negative electrode. The present invention discloses a nickel metal hydride battery, wherein the precharge of the negative electrode may be supplied by a variety of sources. The positive active material of the positive electrode may have positive active particles, such as nickel hydroxide, having a precursor coating that incorporates cobalt material capable of forming a conductive network. Sources other than cobalt-containing materials in the positive electrode include hydrogen gas provided directly to the negative active material, nickel aluminum mixed with the negative active material, the etching of the negative active material with an alkaline solution and borohydride chemically charging the negative active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Kwo Young, Cristian Fierro, Benjamin Reichman, Michael Fetcenko, John Koch, Avram Zallen
  • Publication number: 20050153204
    Abstract: A nickel hydroxide material for use as an active material in positive electrodes for electrochemical cells. The nickel hydroxide material includes one or more modifiers which provide for a small crystallite size and high capacity without adversely affecting performance of the nickel hydroxide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael Fetcenko, Avram Zallen
  • Publication number: 20050123469
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a process for making nickel sulfate by converting nickel metal into nickel sulfate, which may be converted to nickel hydroxide. Nickel metal is dissolved in sulfuric acid and oxygen containing gas is introduced to produce a nickel sulfate solution having nickel sulfate and water as illustrated in the following chemical equation. Ni+H2SO4+½O2?NiSO4+H2O The nickel sulfate is filtered and sulfuric acid is continually added to maintain stoichiometry within a reactor until the nickel metal is dissolved. The sulfuric acid, oxygen containing gas and nickel metal may be heated to facilitate the desired reaction. Then, the nickel sulfate may be utilized to produce nickel hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Gabriel Benet, Avram Zallen, Tim Hicks, Michael Fetcenko
  • Publication number: 20040247988
    Abstract: A catalyst having catalytically active material supported on a carrier matrix. The catalytically active material may be a mixed-valence, nanoclustered oxide(s), an organometallic material or a combination thereof. The supported catalytic material is particularly useful for catalyzing oxygen reduction in a fuel cell, such as an alkaline fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Cristian Fierro, Benjamin Reichman, William Mays, James Strebe, Michael A. Fetcenko, Avram Zallen, Tim Hicks
  • Patent number: 6444363
    Abstract: A process for making a positive battery electrode material using a secondary metal. The secondary metal is preferably treated using an non-electrolytic process and formed into an active, positive battery electrode material by a precipitation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Benet, Charles T. Walker, Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Beth Sommers, Avram Zallen
  • Patent number: 6432580
    Abstract: A process for making a nickel hydroxide material without the necessity of a preamine reactor. The process includes the steps of providing a metal and forming the metal into an active positive electrode material. The process for making a nickel hydroxide material may also include one or more blending steps. The step for forming may include concurrently combining the metal with ammonium ions and hydroxide ions. The step for forming may also include a continuously stirred precipitation reaction of metal ions. In a preferred aspect of the process hereof, the metal may be a secondary nickel source, such as a spent or virgin electrolyte solution from a nickel electrorefining process, nickel electroless plating process or nickel electroplating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Beth Sommers, Avram Zallen
  • Patent number: 6416903
    Abstract: A nickel hydroxide particle having a first active nickel hydroxide material and a second active nickel hydroxide material disposed about the first material, wherein the second active nickel hydroxide material has a mass at least 10% of the total particle mass. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the first active material and the second active material have a compositional difference of 1 to 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Dennis A. Corrigan, Beth Sommers, Avram Zallen