Patents by Inventor Bor Z. Jang

Bor Z. Jang 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: 12357043
    Abstract: Provided is filtration member for use in a filtration device, said filtration member comprising a layer of woven or nonwoven fabric having two primary surfaces and a layer of chemically functionalized graphite flakes deposited on at least one of the two primary surfaces or embedded in the layer of woven or nonwoven fabric, wherein said graphite flakes comprise chemical function contain 1%-50% by weight of a non-carbon element selected from O, N, H, F, Cl, Br, I, or a combination thereof. Also provided is a face mask comprising: (a) a mask body configured to cover at least wearer's mouth and nose; and (b) a fastener to hold the mask in place on the wearer's face; wherein the mask body includes (i) an air-permeable outer layer, (ii) an inner layer located on a wearer's side when the mask is worn, and (iii) the filtration member comprising graphite flakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20250206618
    Abstract: A composition of matter comprising a) a catalyst content of between about 0.1 to 20 percent by weight; b) a biochar particulate content of between 65 and 99.8 percent by weight, having a biochar particulate size less than 1 mm; and c) a graphene content of between about 0 and 30 percent by weight (if the catalyst is uniformly coated on the surfaces of biochar particulates) or a graphene content of between about 0.1 and 30 percent by weight; wherein the catalyst comprises a metal, a metal compound, B, P, Sn, or a combination thereof; and the graphene sheets comprise single-layer or few-layer graphene selected from pristine graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, halogenated graphene, nitrogenated graphene, hydrogenated graphene, doped graphene, chemically functionalized graphene, or a combination thereof. Also provided is a method of producing graphite or graphite-based anode materials from this feedstock composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Applicant: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12341195
    Abstract: Provided is conducting network polymer-encapsulated phosphorus-based anode particulate or multiple particulates for a lithium or sodium ion battery, the particulate comprising: (A) a core comprising one or a plurality of phosphorus material particles or coating (e.g. on surfaces of graphitic material particles) having a diameter or thickness from 0.5 nm to 10 ?m and is selected from red phosphorus, black phosphorus (including phosphorene), violet phosphorus, a metal phosphide, MPy, or a combination thereof, wherein M=Mn, V, Sn, Ni, Cu, Fe, Co, Zn, Ge, Se, Mo, Ga, In, or an alloy thereof, and y=1-4; and (B) an encapsulating shell that embraces or encapsulates the core, wherein the encapsulating shell comprises an electron- and/or ion-conducting network (cross-linked) polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventors: Sheng-Yi Lu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20250174632
    Abstract: A method of producing a bipolar battery pack, comprising: (a) providing a first set of multiple bipolar electrodes and at least one or multiple ion-permeable separator layers, wherein the bipolar electrode comprises (i) a current collector; (ii) a positive electrode layer disposed on a first primary surface; and (iii) an optional negative electrode layer deposited on the opposing primary surface; (b) stacking the bipolar electrodes alternately with the ion-permeable separator layers for connecting the multiple bipolar electrodes in series to form a stack in such a manner that a separator is disposed between the negative electrode layer of a bipolar electrode and the positive electrode layer of a neighboring bipolar electrode; (c) applying a pressure and/or heat to the stack for a period of time to consolidate the stack for forming a battery module; and (d) optionally encasing the module with a protective housing to form a pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Applicant: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20250174707
    Abstract: A lithium battery pack, comprising one or more than one battery module wherein each module comprises a plurality of unit cells that are internally connected in series and wherein each unit cell comprises a positive electrode (PE), a negative electrode (NE), an ion-conducting separator layer (SL) disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The modules are made by stacking and connecting PE, SL, and NE layers to form a stack in a layer-by-layer, electrode-separator-electrode, or unit cell-by-unit cell manner. Preferably, a pressure and/or heat is applied to the stack for a period of time to consolidate the stack for forming the modules, which may be encased by a protective housing member to obtain a pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Applicant: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventors: Kailash Patil, Xingang Zhao, Hao-Hsun Chang, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20250140940
    Abstract: A lithium battery comprising an anode, a cathode, a solid-state electrolyte, an interface enhancer composition in ionic communication with the anode and the cathode, wherein (a) the electrolyte comprises a solid polymer, a polymer gel, an inorganic solid-state, or a polymer/inorganic composite electrolyte; (b) the interface enhancer composition comprises a lithium salt, a liquid solution comprising an organic solvent or ionic liquid and a lithium salt dissolved therein, a polymer containing a lithium salt dissolved or dispersed therein, or a combination thereof; (c) the cathode comprises a cathode active layer comprising particles of a cathode active material, a conductive additive, an optional binder, and pores occupying 1% to 40% by volume of the cathode active layer and the interface enhancer resides in 30% to 100% of the pores; and (d) the interface enhancer is present between the solid-state electrolyte and the cathode and between the solid-state electrolyte and the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Applicant: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventors: Kailash Patil, Song-Hai Chai, Hao-Hsun Chang, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12288883
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the cycle-life of a lithium metal secondary battery. The method comprises implementing an anode-protecting layer between an anode active material layer and a porous separator/electrolyte, wherein the anode-protecting layer or cathode-protecting layer comprises a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite having from 0.01% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm when measured at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12278371
    Abstract: A composite particulate for a lithium battery, wherein the composite particulate has a diameter from 10 nm to 50 ?m and comprises one or more than one anode active material particles that are dispersed in a high-elasticity polymer matrix or encapsulated by a high-elasticity polymer shell, wherein said high-elasticity polymer matrix or shell has a recoverable elastic tensile strain no less than 5%, when measured without an additive or reinforcement dispersed therein, and a lithium ion conductivity no less than 10?8 S/cm at room temperature and wherein the high-elasticity polymer comprises a crosslinked polymer network of chains derived from a phosphazene compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12272791
    Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery comprising an anode, a cathode, and a hybrid electrolyte in ionic communication with the anode and the cathode, wherein: (a) the hybrid electrolyte comprises a mixture of a polymer and particles of an inorganic solid electrolyte; (b) the polymer is a polymerization or crosslinking product of a reactive additive, wherein the reactive additive comprises (i) a first liquid solvent that is polymerizable, (ii) an initiator or curing agent, and (iii) a lithium salt; (c) the polymer is present in the anode, the cathode, the separator, between the anode and the separator, or between the cathode and the separator; and (d) the hybrid electrolyte forms a contiguous phase in the cathode or in the anode, and occupies from 3% to 40% by volume of the cathode or from 3% to 40% by volume of the anode. Also provided is a process for producing the lithium cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12264072
    Abstract: Provided is a process for manufacturing a graphene material, the process comprising (a) injecting a rust stock into a first end of a continuous reactor having a toroidal vortex flow, wherein the first stock comprises graphite and a non-oxidizing liquid (or, alternatively, graphite, an acid, and an optional oxidizer) and the continuous flow reactor is configured to produce the toroidal vortex flow, enabling the formation of a reaction product suspension or slurry at the second end, downstream from the first end, of the continuous reactor; and (b) introducing the reaction product suspension/slurry from the second end back to enter the continuous reactor at or near the first end, allowing the reaction product suspension/slurry to form a toroidal vortex flow and move down to or near the second end to produce a graphene suspension or graphene oxide slurry. The process may further comprise repeating step (b) for at least one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-jun Lin, Hsuan-Wen Lee, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20250095926
    Abstract: Provided is a supercapacitor comprising an anode, a cathode, an ion-permeable separator disposed between said anode and said cathode, and an electrolyte in ionic contact with said anode and said cathode, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode comprises 0.001% to 95% by weight of multiple graphene sheets spaced by or dispersed in cement and said multiple graphene sheets, when measured alone without cement, have a specific surface area from 50 to 3,300 m2/g. The electrode may further comprise a carbon or graphite material selected from natural graphite, artificial graphite, expanded graphite, meso-phase carbon, meso-phase pitch, meso-carbon micro-bead, soft carbon, hard carbon, coke, carbon fiber, carbon nano-fiber, carbon nano-tube, activated carbon, carbon black, acetylene black, or a combination thereof. Also provided is such a supercapacitor electrode (anode or cathode) and a process for producing an electrode for such a supercapacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments Group, LLC
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20250087786
    Abstract: Provided is a battery assembly having a distributed cooling and fire protection system, the battery assembly comprising: (a) a plurality of battery cells; (b) a case configured to hold the plurality of battery cells; and (c) a cooling liquid distribution system, having a cooling liquid reservoir and/or pipes that are in proximity to at least a subset of the plurality of the cells and configured to deliver, on demand, a desired amount of the first cooling liquid on a cell or multiple cells in the vicinity of the cell when a temperature of the cell exceeds a threshold temperature; wherein the first cooling liquid comprises a fire protection or fire suppression substance which, on contact with the cell, prevents, retards, or extinguishes a cell fire and prevents a propagation or cell-to-cell cascading reactions of a thermal runaway or fire event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12246967
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing an integral graphene film, comprising: (a) preparing a graphene dispersion having chemically functionalized graphene sheets dispersed in a fluid medium wherein the graphene sheets contain chemical functional groups attached thereto; (b) dispensing and depositing a wet film of the graphene dispersion onto a supporting substrate, wherein the dispensing and depositing procedure includes mechanical shear stress-induced alignment of the graphene sheets along a film planar direction, and partially or completely removing the fluid medium to form a relatively dried film comprising aligned chemically functionally graphene sheets; and (c) using heat, electromagnetic waves, UV light, or high-energy radiation to induce chemical reactions or chemical bonding between chemical functional groups attached to adjacent chemically functionalized graphene sheets to form the integral graphene film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12243974
    Abstract: Provided is a method of improving a cycle-life of a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell, the method comprising implementing an electronically non-conducting anode-protecting layer between an anode active material layer and a cathode active material without using a porous separator in the cell, wherein the anode-protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprises an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000%, a lithium ion or sodium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electronic conductivity less than 10?4 S/cm when measured at room temperature. This battery exhibits an excellent combination of high sulfur content, high sulfur utilization efficiency, high energy density, no known dendrite issue, no dead lithium or dead sodium issue, and a long cycle life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12244014
    Abstract: Provided is method of producing a porous anode material structure for a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising (A) providing an integral 3D graphene-carbon hybrid foam comprising multiple pores, having a pore volume Vp, and pore walls; and (B) impregnating or infiltrating the pores with a fluid for forming a coating of an anode active material, having a coating volume Vc, deposited on or bonded to surfaces of the pore walls; wherein the pore walls contain single-layer or few-layer graphene sheets chemically bonded by a carbon material having a carbon material-to-graphene weight ratio from 1/200 to 1/2, and wherein the volume ratio Vp/Vc is from 0.1/1.0 to 10/1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12230790
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing multi-functional particulates of graphene-protected conducting polymer gel network-encapsulated anode particles for a lithium battery, said method comprising: a) Dispersing a plurality of primary particles of an anode active material, having a diameter or thickness from 0.5 nm to 20 ?m, and multiple graphene sheets into a precursor to a conducting polymer gel network to form a suspension; and b) Forming said suspension into micro-droplets and, concurrently or sequentially, polymerizing and/or crosslinking said precursor to form said multi-functional particulates. The conducting polymer gel network comprises a polyaniline hydrogel, polypyrrole hydrogel, or polythiophene hydrogel in a dehydrated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z Jang
  • Patent number: 12224080
    Abstract: An optically transparent and electrically conductive film composed of metal nanowires or carbon nanotubes combined with pristine graphene with a metal nanowire-to-graphene or carbon nanotube-to-graphene weight ratio from 1/99 to 99/1, wherein the pristine graphene is single-crystalline and contains no oxygen and no hydrogen, and the film exhibits an optical transparence no less than 80% and sheet resistance no higher than 300 ohm/square. This film can be used as a transparent conductive electrode in an electro-optic device, such as a photovoltaic or solar cell, light-emitting diode, photo-detector, touch screen, electro-wetting display, liquid crystal display, plasma display, LED display, a TV screen, a computer screen, or a mobile phone screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-jun Lin, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20250046859
    Abstract: The disclosure provides composite particulates for a lithium battery, at least one of the composite particulates comprises (a) a polymer electrolyte comprising a first polymer and a precursor to a second polymer, comprising from 0% to 50% by weight of a lithium salt dissolved or dispersed in the polymer electrolyte, wherein the second polymer precursor comprises a polymerizable, polymerizing, cross-linkable, and/or cross-linking liquid comprising a monomer, an oligomer, an initiator, and/or a cross-linking agent; (b) a plurality of particles of an anode or cathode active material (5-98%) embedded, dispersed in, encapsulated, or bonded by the polymer electrolyte having a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 to 5×10?2 S/cm; (c) particles of an inorganic material (0-30%); and (d) an electron-conducting additive (0-30%). These composite particulates are building blocks for an anode or cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 12218346
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the cycle-life of a lithium metal secondary battery. The method comprises implementing an anode-protecting layer between an anode active material layer and a porous separator/electrolyte, wherein the anode-protecting layer or cathode-protecting layer comprises a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite having from 0.01% to 40% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material and from 0.01% to 40% by weight of an electrochemically stable inorganic filler dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm when measured at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventors: Hui He, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20240429388
    Abstract: A method of producing graphitic or carbonaceous particles from activated carbon, the method comprising (a) providing particles of activated carbon having pores, wherein the pores have a volume fraction from 20% to 99.9% (preferably from 50% to 95%); (b) impregnating or infiltrating the pores with a carbon precursor to form composite particles comprising activated carbon particles having pores partially or fully filled with the carbon precursor; and (c) heat-treating the composite particles to convert the carbon precursor to a carbonaceous material or a graphitic material that reside in the pores or merged with a structure (e.g., pore walls) of the activated carbon. The activated carbon particles are preferably obtained by heat-treating a biomass feedstock and activating the heat treated biomass (e.g., biochar). The biomass heat-treating and the activation procedures can be conducted sequentially or concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Honeycomb Battery Company
    Inventors: Song-Hai Chai, Bor Z. Jang