Patents by Inventor Chengxiang Xiang

Chengxiang Xiang 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).

  • Publication number: 20240133051
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electrochemical hydrogen looping cells are described. Generating a pH swing can expedite carbon dioxide capture from oceanwater. Many embodiments implement electrochemical hydrogen looping cells that simultaneously produce acid via anodic hydrogen oxidation and base via cathodic hydrogen evolution to generate a pH change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Zachary Schiffer, Chengxiang Xiang, Shane Ardo
  • Publication number: 20240024823
    Abstract: Systems and methods for catalyzed asymmetric bipolar membranes are described. Catalyzed asymmetric bipolar membranes can sustain desired current densities under low operational voltage for prolonged time periods. Catalyzed asymmetric bipolar membranes can be implemented in electrodialysis cells for various applications such as carbon capture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Eowyn Lucas, Harry A. Atwater, Chengxiang Xiang
  • Publication number: 20230107163
    Abstract: Systems and methods of gas-liquid contactors for direct ocean capture and/or direct air capture are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Shane Ardo, Leanna Schulte, Harry A. Atwater, Zejie Chen, Anastasiya Bender, Ibadillah A. Digdaya
  • Patent number: 11377747
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20220144673
    Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical systems that include an electrodialyzer and a vapor-fed CO2 reduction (CO2R) cell to capture and convert CO2 from ocean water. The electrodialyzer includes a stack of bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPMED) cells between end electrodes. The electrodialzyer incorporates monovalent cation exchange membranes (M-CEMs) that prevent the transfer of multivalent cations between adjacent cell compartments, allowing continuous recirculation of electrolytes and solutions, and thus providing a safer and more scaling-free electrodialysis system. In some embodiments, the electrodialyzer may be configured to replace the water-splitting reaction at end electrodes with one-electron, reversible redox couples in solution at the electrodes. As a result, in the entire electrodialyzer stack, there is no bond-making, bond-breaking reactions and there is no gas generation, which significantly simplifies the cell design and improves operational safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Harry A. Atwater, Ibadillah A. Digdaya
  • Publication number: 20200378016
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10787749
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10598644
    Abstract: Various samples are generated on a substrate. The samples each includes or consists of one or more analytes. In some instances, the samples are generated through the use of gels or through vapor deposition techniques. The samples are used in an instrument for screening large numbers of analytes by locating the samples between a working electrode and a counter electrode assembly. The instrument also includes one or more light sources for illuminating each of the samples. The instrument is configured to measure the photocurrent formed through a sample as a result of the illumination of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: John M. Gregoire, Jian Jin, Kevin S. Kan, Martin R. Marcin, Slobodan Mitrovic, Paul F. Newhouse, Santosh K. Suram, Chengxiang Xiang, Lan Zhou
  • Publication number: 20190264338
    Abstract: A solar fuels generation system includes a first reactor that contains a first solution in which a charge carrier is reduced to a reduced charge carrier. The system also includes a second reactor that contains a second solution in which the reduced charge carrier reduces protons so as to generate hydrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Christoph D. Karp, Alec S. Ho, Xinghao Zhou, Chengxiang Xiang, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10242806
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Spurgeon, William C. West, Chengxiang Xiang
  • Publication number: 20180269003
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Spurgeon, William C. West, Chengxiang Xiang
  • Publication number: 20180251903
    Abstract: A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Chengxiang Xiang, Xinghao Zhou, Ke Sun, Ryan J. Jones, Nathan S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10026560
    Abstract: The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Sprugeon, William C. West, Chengxiang Xiang
  • Publication number: 20180059078
    Abstract: Various samples are generated on a substrate. The samples each includes or consists of one or more analytes. In some instances, the samples are generated through the use of gels or through vapor deposition techniques. The samples are used in an instrument for screening large numbers of analytes by locating the samples between a working electrode and a counter electrode assembly. The instrument also includes one or more light sources for illuminating each of the samples. The instrument is configured to measure the photocurrent formed through a sample as a result of the illumination of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: John M. Gregoire, Jian Jin, Kevin S. Kan, Martin R. Marcin, Slobodan Mitrovic, Paul F. Newhouse, Santosh K. Suram, Chengxiang Xiang, Lan Zhou
  • Patent number: 9778234
    Abstract: Various samples are generated on a substrate. The samples each includes or consists of one or more analytes. In some instances, the samples are generated through the use of gels or through vapor deposition techniques. The samples are used in an instrument for screening large numbers of analytes by locating the samples between a working electrode and a counter electrode assembly. The instrument also includes one or more light sources for illuminating each of the samples. The instrument is configured to measure the photocurrent formed through a sample as a result of the illumination of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: California Institute Of Technology, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: John M. Gregoire, Jian Jin, Kevin S. Kan, Martin R. Marcin, Slobodan Mitrovic, Paul F. Newhouse, Santosh K. Suram, Chengxiang Xiang, Lan Zhou
  • Patent number: 9645108
    Abstract: Electrochemical experiments are performed on a collection of samples by suspending a drop of electrolyte solution between an electrochemical experiment probe and one of the samples that serves as a test sample. During the electrochemical experiment, the electrolyte solution is added to the drop and an output solution is removed from the drop. The probe and collection of samples can be moved relative to one another so the probe can be scanned across the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Inventors: Jian Jin, Chengxiang Xiang, John Gregoire
  • Patent number: 9645109
    Abstract: Electrochemical or electrochemical and photochemical experiments are performed on a collection of samples by suspending a drop of electrolyte solution between an electrochemical experiment probe and one of the samples that serves as a test sample. During the electrochemical experiment, the electrolyte solution is added to the drop and an output solution is removed from the drop. The probe and collection of samples can be moved relative to one another so the probe can be scanned across the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Inventors: Jian Jin, Chengxiang Xiang, John M. Gregoire, Aniketa A. Shinde, Dan W. Guevarra, Ryan J. Jones, Martin R. Marcin, Slobodan Mitrovic
  • Patent number: 9435043
    Abstract: An Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalyst includes a metal oxide that includes oxygen, cerium, and one or more second metals. In some instances, the cerium is 10 to 80 molar % of the metals in the metal oxide and/or the catalyst includes two or more second metals. The OER catalyst can be included in or on an electrode. The electrode can be arranged in an oxygen evolution system such that the Oxygen Evolution Reaction occurs at the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joel A. Haber, Jian Jin, Chengxiang Xiang, John M. Gregoire, Ryan J. Jones, Dan W. Guevarra, Aniketa A. Shinde
  • Publication number: 20150292095
    Abstract: An Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalyst includes a metal oxide that includes oxygen, cerium, and one or more second metals. In some instances, the cerium is 10 to 80 molar % of the metals in the metal oxide and/or the catalyst includes two or more second metals. The OER catalyst can be included in or on an electrode. The electrode can be arranged in an oxygen evolution system such that the Oxygen Evolution Reaction occurs at the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Joel A. Haber, Jian Jin, Chengxiang Xiang, John M. Gregoire, Ryan J. Jones, Dan W. Guevarra, Aniketa A. Shinde
  • Publication number: 20150212036
    Abstract: Electrochemical or electrochemical and photochemical experiments are performed on a collection of samples by suspending a drop of electrolyte solution between an electrochemical experiment probe and one of the samples that serves as a test sample. During the electrochemical experiment, the electrolyte solution is added to the drop and an output solution is removed from the drop. The probe and collection of samples can be moved relative to one another so the probe can be scanned across the samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jian Jin, Chengxiang Xiang, John M. Gregoire, Aniketa A. Shinde, Dan W. Guevarra, Ryan J. Jones, Martin R. Marcin, Slobodan Mitrovic