Patents by Inventor Gerald Halpert
Gerald Halpert 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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Publication number: 20020015872Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Applicant: California Institute of TechologyInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, Eugene Vamos, Harvey A. Frank, Gerald Halpert, George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
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Publication number: 20010050230Abstract: Improvements to non acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The platinum and ruthenium are more exactly mixed together. Different materials are substituted for these materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2001Publication date: December 13, 2001Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Subbaroa Surampudi, Harvey A. Frank, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, William Chun, Barbara Jeffries-Nakamura, Andrew Kindler, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 6303244Abstract: Improvements to non acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The platinum and ruthenium are more exactly mixed together. Different materials are substituted for these materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: California institute of TechnologyInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Harvey A. Frank, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, William Chun, Barbara Jeffries-Nakamura, Andrew Kindler, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 6265093Abstract: Improvements to non acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous. Methanol is delivered to the fuel cell through a filter comprising molecular sieves.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1999Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Harvey A. Frank, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, William Chun, Barbara Jeffries-Nakamura, Andrew Kindler, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 6254748Abstract: Improvements to non-acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The platinum and ruthenium are more exactly mixed together. Different materials are substituted for these materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Harvey A. Frank, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, William Chun, Barbara Jeffries-Nakamura, Andrew Kindler, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 6248460Abstract: A liquid organic fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, Eugene Vamos, Harvey A. Frank, Gerald Halpert, George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
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Patent number: 6187471Abstract: A battery has an outer casing, an electrolyte located within the outer casing, an additive located within the outer casing and separated from the electrolyte, and a power mode increasing device located within the outer casing. The battery operates in a low power mode. The power mode increasing device combines the electrolyte and the additive causing the battery to operate in a high power mode. The power generated by the battery operating in the high power mode is greater than the power generated by the battery operating in the low power mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: Zentek CorporationInventors: Patrick McDermott, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 6150047Abstract: An electrolyte membrane for use in a fuel cell can contain sulfonated polyphenylether sulfones. The membrane can contain a first sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone and a second sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone, wherein the first sulfonated polyphenylether and the second sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone have equivalent weights greater than about 560, and the first sulfonated polyphenylether and the second sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone also have different equivalent weights. Also, a membrane for use in a fuel cell can contain a sulfonated polyphenylether sulfone and an unsulfonated polyphenylether sulfone. Methods for manufacturing a membrane electrode assemblies for use in fuel cells can include roughening a membrane surface. Electrodes and methods for fabricating such electrodes for use in a chemical fuel cell can include sintering an electrode. Such membranes and electrodes can be assembled into chemical fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1998Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Shiao-Ping S. Yen, Andrew Kindler, Andre Yavrouian, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 6146781Abstract: Improvements to non-acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The platinum and ruthenium are more exactly mixed together. Different materials are substituted for these materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Harvey A. Frank, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, William Chun, Barbara Jeffries-Nakamura, Andrew Kindler, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 5945231Abstract: An improved direct liquid-feed fuel cell having a solid membrane electrolyte for electrochemical reactions of an organic fuel. Improvements in interfacing of the catalyst layer and the membrane and activating catalyst materials are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1997Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Sekharipuram Narayanan, Subbarao Surampudi, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 5795496Abstract: A polymer, PEEK or SPES is processed to use it as a proton conducting membrane for a fuel cell. Asymmetric properties are formed.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1995Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Shaio-Ping S. Yen, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, Gerald Halpert, Eva Graham, Andre Yavrouian
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Patent number: 5773162Abstract: Improvements to non acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The platinum and ruthenium are more exactly mixed together. Different materials are substituted for these materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1995Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Harvey A. Frank, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, William Chun, Barbara Jeffries-Nakamura, Andrew Kindler, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 5656388Abstract: An at least ternary metal alloy of the formula, AB.sub.(5-Y)X(.sub.y), is claimed. In this formula, A is selected from the rare earth elements, B is selected from the elements of groups 8, 9, and 10 of the periodic table of the elements, and X includes at least one of the following: antimony, arsenic, and bismuth. Ternary or higher-order substitutions, to the base AB.sub.5 alloys, that form strong kinetic interactions with the predominant metals in the base metal hydride are used to form metal alloys with high structural integrity after multiple cycles of hydrogen sorption.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ratnakumar V. Bugga, Gerald Halpert, Brent Fultz, Charles K. Witham, Robert C. Bowman, Adrian Hightower
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Patent number: 5599638Abstract: A liquid organic fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion.TM.. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon.TM.-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion.TM./methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion.TM.. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1993Date of Patent: February 4, 1997Assignees: California Institute of Technology, University of Southern CaliforniaInventors: Subbarao Surampudi, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, Eugene Vamos, Harvey A. Frank, Gerald Halpert, George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
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Patent number: 5573873Abstract: The premature capacity failure of Ni/NiCl.sub.2 secondary cells due to agglomeration of nickel particles on the surface of the NiCl.sub.2 cathode is prevented by addition of a minor amount, such as 10 percent by weight of a transition metal such as Co, Fe or Mn to the cathode. The chlorides of the transition metals have lower potentials than nickel chloride and chlorinate during charge. A uniform dispersion of the transition metals in the cathodes prevents agglomeration of nickel, maintains morphology of the electrode, maintains the electrochemical area of the electrode and thus maintains capacity of the electrode. The additives do not effect sintering. The addition of sulfur to the liquid catholyte is expected to further reduce agglomeration of nickel in the cathode.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1994Date of Patent: November 12, 1996Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Ratnakumar V. Bugga, Subbarao Surampudi, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 5554457Abstract: Power density of a sodium/transition metal halide cell, particularly a Na/NiCl.sub.2 cell is enhanced by forming a high area foil nickel chloride electrode such as a film of sintered nickel chloride deposited on an expanded metal screen and folded or coiled into a compact form and immersed in the aluminate salt catholyte disposed within a beta alumina solid electrolyte tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1995Date of Patent: September 10, 1996Inventors: Ratnakumar V. Bugga, Alan I. Attia, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 5436093Abstract: The method includes steps for forming a carbon electrode composed of graphitic carbon particles adhered by an ethylene propylene diene monomer binder. An effective binder composition is disclosed for achieving a carbon electrode capable of subsequent intercalation by lithium ions. The method also includes steps for reacting the carbon electrode with lithium ions to incorporate lithium ions into graphitic carbon particles of the electrode. An electrical current is repeatedly applied to the carbon electrode to initially cause a surface reaction between the lithium ions and to the carbon and subsequently cause intercalation of the lithium ions into crystalline layers of the graphitic carbon particles. With repeated application of the electrical current, intercalation is achieved to near a theoretical maximum. Two differing multi-stage intercalation processes are disclosed. In the first, a fixed current is reapplied.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1993Date of Patent: July 25, 1995Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Chen-Kuo Huang, Subbarao Surampudi, Alan I. Attia, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 5427872Abstract: Dendrites are prevented from shorting a secondary lithium battery by use of a first porous separator such as porous polypropylene adjacent the lithium anode that is unreactive with lithium and a second porous fluoropolymer separator between the cathode and the first separator such as polytetrafluoroethylene that is reactive with lithium. As the tip of a lithium dendrite contacts the second separator, an exothermic reaction occurs locally between the lithium dendrite and the fluoropolymer separator. This results in the prevention of the dendrite propagation to the cathode.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1993Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: David H. Shen, Subbarao Surampudi, Chen-Kuo Huang, Gerald Halpert
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Patent number: 5360686Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte film for a lithium battery comprising a dispersion of small reinforcing particles such as alumina in a binder rein such as polyethylene oxide. The particles are coated with a compatible lithium salt such as lithium iodide and the alumina particles preferably have a size below 0.5 microns.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Emmanuel Peled, Ganesan Nagasubramanian, Gerald Halpert, Alan I. Attia
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Patent number: 5294503Abstract: An ambient temperature, high density, rechargeable lithium battery includes a Li.sub.x Mg.sub.2 Si anode which intercalates lithium to form a single crystalline phase when x is up to 1.0 and an amorphous phase when x is from 1 to 2.0. The electrode has good reversibility and mechanical strength after cycling.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1992Date of Patent: March 15, 1994Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Chen-Kuo Huang, Subbarao Surampudi, Alan I. Attia, Gerald Halpert