Patents by Inventor Gabor A. Somorjai
Gabor A. Somorjai 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).
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Patent number: 10686195Abstract: Described herein are bimetallic nanoframes and methods for producing bimetallic nanoframes. A method may include providing a solution including a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in a solvent, and exposing the solution to oxygen to convert the plurality of nanoparticles into a plurality of nanoframes.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Peidong Yang, Vojislav Stamenkovic, Gabor A. Somorjai, Nenad Markovic, Chen Chen, Yijin Kang, Nigel H. Becknell
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Patent number: 9312342Abstract: A new composition of matter is disclosed wherein oxygen vacancies in a semiconducting transition metal oxide such as titanium dioxide are filled with a halogen such as Fluorine, whereby the conductivity of the composition is greatly enhanced, while at the same time the chemical stability of the composition is greatly improved. Stoichiometric titanium dioxide having less than 3 % oxygen vacancies is subject to fluorine insertion such that oxygen vacancies are filled, limited amounts of fluorine replace additional oxygen atoms and fluorine interstitially inserts into the body of the TiO2 composition.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: L. Robert Baker, Hyungtak Seo, Antoine Hervier, Gabor A. Somorjai
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Publication number: 20150236355Abstract: Described herein are bimetallic nanoframes and methods for producing bimetallic nanoframes. A method may include providing a solution including a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in a solvent, and exposing the solution to oxygen to convert the plurality of nanoparticles into a plurality of nanoframes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Peidong Yang, Vojislav Stamenkovic, Gabor A. Somorjai, Nenad Markovic, Chen Chen, Yijin Kang, Nigel H. Becknell
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Patent number: 8893309Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) reactor includes a pressure vessel, an STM assembly, and three spring coupling objects. The pressure vessel includes a sealable port, an interior, and an exterior. An embodiment of an STM system includes a vacuum chamber, an STM reactor, and three springs. The three springs couple the STM reactor to the vacuum chamber and are operable to suspend the scanning tunneling microscope reactor within the interior of the vacuum chamber during operation of the STM reactor. An embodiment of an STM assembly includes a coarse displacement arrangement, a piezoelectric fine displacement scanning tube coupled to the coarse displacement arrangement, and a receiver. The piezoelectric fine displacement scanning tube is coupled to the coarse displacement arrangement. The receiver is coupled to the piezoelectric scanning tube and is operable to receive a tip holder, and the tip holder is operable to receive a tip.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Feng Tao, Miquel Salmeron, Gabor A. Somorjai
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Publication number: 20140306215Abstract: A new composition of matter is disclosed wherein oxygen vacancies in a semiconducting transition metal oxide such as titanium dioxide are filled with a halogen such as Fluorine, whereby the conductivity of the composition is greatly enhanced, while at the same time the chemical stability of the composition is greatly improved. Stoichiometric titanium dioxide having less than 3% oxygen vacancies is subject to fluorine insertion such that oxygen vacancies are filled, limited amounts of fluorine replace additional oxygen atoms and fluorine interstitially inserts into the body of the TiO2 composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: The Regents of the Unviersity of CaliforniaInventors: L. Robert Baker, Hyungtak Seo, Antoine Hervier, Gabor A. Somorjai
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Patent number: 8859455Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocrystal tandem catalyst comprising at least two metal-metal oxide interfaces for the catalysis of sequential reactions. One embodiment utilizes a nanocrystal bilayer structure formed by assembling sub-10 nm platinum and cerium oxide nanocube monolayers on a silica substrate. The two distinct metal-metal oxide interfaces, CeO2—Pt and Pt—SiO2, can be used to catalyze two distinct sequential reactions. The CeO2—Pt interface catalyzed methanol decomposition to produce CO and H2, which were then subsequently used for ethylene hydroformylation catalyzed by the nearby Pt—SiO2 interface. Consequently, propanal was selectively produced on this nanocrystal bilayer tandem catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Peidong Yang, Gabor Somorjai, Yusuke Yamada, Chia-Kuang Tsung, Wenyu Huang
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Patent number: 8486287Abstract: Fabrication methods disclosed herein provide for a nanoscale structure or a pattern comprising a plurality of nanostructures of specific predetermined position, shape and composition, including nanostructure arrays having large area at high throughput necessary for industrial production. The resultant nanostracture patterns are useful for nanostructure arrays, specifically sensor and catalytic arrays.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Ji Zhu, Jeff Grunes, Yang-Kyu Choi, Jeffrey Bokor, Gabor Somorjai
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Publication number: 20120302437Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocrystal tandem catalyst comprising at least two metal-metal oxide interfaces for the catalysis of sequential reactions. One embodiment utilizes a nanocrystal bilayer structure formed by assembling sub-10 nm platinum and cerium oxide nanocube monolayers on a silica substrate. The two distinct metal-metal oxide interfaces, CeO2—Pt and Pt—SiO2, can be used to catalyze two distinct sequential reactions. The CeO2—Pt interface catalyzed methanol decomposition to produce CO and H2, which were then subsequently used for ethylene hydroformylation catalyzed by the nearby Pt—SiO2 interface. Consequently, propanal was selectively produced on this nanocrystal bilayer tandem catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Peidong Yang, Gabor Somorjai, Yusuke Yamada, Chia-Kuang Tsung, Wenyu Huang
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Publication number: 20120244038Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) reactor includes a pressure vessel, an STM assembly, and three spring coupling objects. The pressure vessel includes a sealable port, an interior, and an exterior. An embodiment of an STM system includes a vacuum chamber, an STM reactor, and three springs. The three springs couple the STM reactor to the vacuum chamber and are operable to suspend the scanning tunneling microscope reactor within the interior of the vacuum chamber during operation of the STM reactor. An embodiment of an STM assembly includes a coarse displacement arrangement, a piezoelectric fine displacement scanning tube coupled to the coarse displacement arrangement, and a receiver. The piezoelectric fine displacement scanning tube is coupled to the coarse displacement arrangement. The receiver is coupled to the piezoelectric scanning tube and is operable to receive a tip holder, and the tip holder is operable to receive a tip.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Feng Tao, Miquel Salmeron, Gabor A. Somorjai
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Publication number: 20110250122Abstract: The present invention provides a core-shell nanoparticle that includes a metal-oxide shell and a nanoparticle. Pores extend from an outer surface to an inner surface of the shell. The inner surface of the shell forms a void, which is filled by the nanoparticle. The pores allow gas to transfer from outside the shell to a surface of the nanoparticle. The present invention also provides a method of making a core-shell nanoparticle includes forming a metal-oxide shell on a colloidal nanoparticle, which forms a precursor core-shell nanoparticle. A capping agent is removed from the precursor core-shell nanoparticle, which produces the core-shell nanoparticle. The present invention also provides a method of using a nanocatalyst of the present invention includes providing the nanocatalyst, which is the core-shell nanoparticle. Reactants are introduced in a vicinity of the nanocatalyst, which produces a reaction that is facilitated or enhanced by the nanocatalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2009Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Sang Hoon Joo, Jeong Young Park, Chia-Kuang Tsung, Peidong Yang, Gabor A. Somorjai
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Patent number: 7875351Abstract: Described herein are nanoreactors having various shapes that can be produced by a simple chemical process. The nanoreactors described herein may have a shell as thin as 0.5 nm and outside diameters that can be controlled by the process of making and have a nanoparticle enclosed therein. The nanoreactors have catalytic activity and may be used to catalyze a variety of chemical reactions.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2005Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: A. Paul Alivisatos, Yadong Yin, Robert M. Rioux, Gabor A. Somorjai
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Publication number: 20080226934Abstract: Described herein are nanoreactors having various shapes that can be produced by a simple chemical process. The nanoreactors described herein may have a shell as thin as 0.5 nm and outside diameters that can be controlled by the process of making and have a nanoparticle enclosed therein. The nanoreactors have catalytic activity and may be used to catalyze a variety of chemical reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2005Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: A. Paul Alivisatos, Yadong Yin, Robert M. Rioux, Gabor A. Somorjai
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Publication number: 20070215960Abstract: Fabrication methods disclosed herein provide for a nanoscale structure or a pattern comprising a plurality of nanostructures of specific predetermined position, shape and composition, including nanostructure arrays having large area at high throughput necessary for industrial production. The resultant nanostracture patterns are useful for nanostructure arrays, specifically sensor and catalytic arrays.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2004Publication date: September 20, 2007Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Ji Zhu, Jeff Grunes, Yang-Kyu Choi, Jeffrey Bokor, Gabor Somorjai
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Patent number: 4533608Abstract: Chemical compounds can be dissociated by contacting the same with a p/n type semi-conductor photochemical diode having visible light as its sole source of energy. The photochemical diode consists of low cost, readily available materials, specifically polycrystalline iron oxide doped with silicon in the case of the n-type semi-conductor electrode, and polycrystalline iron oxide doped with magnesium in the case of the p-type electrode. So long as the light source has an energy greater than 2.2 electron volts, no added energy source is needed to achieve dissociation.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1984Date of Patent: August 6, 1985Assignee: The Regents of The University of CaliforniaInventors: Gabor A. Somorjai, Christofer H. Leygraf
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Patent number: 4532230Abstract: A ThO.sub.2 catalyst having a high surface area of about 80-125 m.sup.2 /g is synthesized. The compound is synthesized by simultaneously mixing an aqueous solution of ThNO.sub.3 (NO.sub.3).sub.4.4H.sub.2 O with an aqueous solution of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3.H.sub.2 O, to produce a solution and solid ThOCO.sub.3. The solid ThOCO.sub.3 is separated from the solution, and then calcined at a temperature of about 225.degree.-300.degree. C. for about 40-55 hours to produce ThO.sub.2. The ThO.sub.2 catalyst produced includes Na present as a substitutional cation in an amount equal to about 5-10 atom percent.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1983Date of Patent: July 30, 1985Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Carlos A. Colmenares, Gabor A. Somorjai, Joseph J. Maj
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Patent number: 4460443Abstract: Chemical compounds can be dissociated by contacting the same with a p/n type semi-conductor diode having visible light as its sole source of energy. The diode consists of low cost, readily available materials, specifically polycrystalline iron oxide doped with silicon in the case of the n-type semi-conductor electrode, and polycrystalline iron oxide doped with magnesium in the case of the p-type electrode. So long as the light source has an energy greater than 2.2 electron volts, no added energy source is needed to achieve dissociation.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1982Date of Patent: July 17, 1984Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Gabor A. Somorjai, Christofer H. Leygraf
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Patent number: 4390345Abstract: Gasoline compositions and additive mixtures containing compounds having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 are each independently selected from hydrogen or hydrocarbyl radicals in an amount sufficient to reduce exhaust hydrocarbon emissions from an internal combustion engine being operated on gasoline containing a cyclopentadienyl manganese antiknock. Preferred hydrocarbon exhaust emission reducing compounds are 1,3-dioxolane and the lower alkyl and alkenyl substituted derivatives thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1980Date of Patent: June 28, 1983Inventor: Gabor A. Somorjai