Patents by Inventor Ionel C. Stefan

Ionel C. Stefan 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: 10490817
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nanostructured materials (including nanowires) for use in batteries. Exemplary materials include carbon-comprising, Si-based nanostructures, nanostructured materials disposed on carbon-based substrates, and nanostructures comprising nanoscale scaffolds. The present invention also provides methods of preparing battery electrodes, and batteries, using the nanostructured materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: OneD Material LLC
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Jason Hartlove, Hans Jurgen Hofler, Baixin Qian, Vijendra Sahi, Ionel C. Stefan, David P. Stumbo
  • Patent number: 9040208
    Abstract: A catalyst layer for a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of agglomerates, adjacent ones of the plurality of agglomerates contacting with each other with pores provided between said adjacent ones of the plurality of agglomerates, each of the plurality of agglomerates being formed by packing a plurality of catalysts each consisting of noble metal fine particles supported on a fiber-like support material, adjacent ones of the plurality of catalysts contacting with each other with pores provided between said adjacent ones of the plurality of catalysts, and each of the plurality of catalysts contacting with a plurality of catalysts other than said each catalyst at a plurality of contact points. This allows providing a catalyst layer, a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell, each of which has compact size and excellent power generation performance, and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: OneD Material LLC, Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Muraoka, Kohtaroh Saitoh, Hirotaka Mizuhata, Takenori Onishi, Yimin Zhu, Ionel C. Stefan, Baixin Qian, Jay Goldman
  • Patent number: 9006133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochemical catalyst particles, including nanoparticles, which can be used membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides electrochemical catalysts supported by various materials. Suitably the catalysts have an atomic ratio of oxygen to a metal in the nanoparticle of about 3 to about 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: OneD Material LLC, Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Baixin Qian, Ionel C. Stefan, Mutsuko Komoda, Hirotaka Mizuhata, Takenori Onishi
  • Patent number: 8278011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Nanosys, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Baixin Qian, Ionel C. Stefan
  • Publication number: 20120021331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: NANOSYS, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin ZHU, Jay L. GOLDMAN, Baixin QIAN, Ionel C. STEFAN
  • Publication number: 20110275005
    Abstract: The present invention relates to interfacial layers for use m membrane electrode assemblies that comprise nanowire-supported catalysts, and fuel cells comprising such membrane electrode assemblies. The present invention also relates to methods of preparing membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cells comprising interfacial layers and nanowire-supported catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Nanosys, Inc
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Baixin Qian, Ionel C. Stefan, Masashi Muraoka, Takenori Onishi, Kohtaroh Saitoh, Hirotaka Mizuhata
  • Publication number: 20110275011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochemical catalyst particles, including nanoparticles, which can be used membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides electrochemical catalysts supported by various materials. Suitably the catalysts have an atomic ratio of oxygen to a metal in the nanoparticle of about 3 to about 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Nanosys, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Baixin Qian, Ionel C. Stefan, Mutsuko Komoda, Hirotaka Mizuhata, Takenori Onishi
  • Publication number: 20110008707
    Abstract: A catalyst layer for a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of agglomerates, adjacent ones of the plurality of agglomerates contacting with each other with pores provided between said adjacent ones of the plurality of agglomerates, each of the plurality of agglomerates being formed by packing a plurality of catalysts each consisting of noble metal fine particles supported on a fiber-like support material, adjacent ones of the plurality of catalysts contacting with each other with pores provided between said adjacent ones of the plurality of catalysts, and each of the plurality of catalysts contacting with a plurality of catalysts other than said each catalyst at a plurality of contact points. This allows providing a catalyst layer, a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell, each of which has compact size and excellent power generation performance, and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: NANOSYS, Inc., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi MURAOKA, Kohtaroh Saitoh, Hirotaka Mizuhata, Takenori Onishi, Yimin Zhu, Ionel C. Stefan, Baixin Qian, Jay L. Goldman
  • Publication number: 20100297502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nanostructured materials (including nanowires) for use in batteries. Exemplary materials include carbon-comprising, Si-based nanostructures, nanostructured materials disposed on carbon-based substrates, and nanostructures comprising nanoscale scaffolds. The present invention also provides methods of preparing battery electrodes, and batteries, using the nanostructured materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: NANOSYS, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin ZHU, Jay L. GOLDMAN, Jason HARTLOVE, Hans Jurgen HOFLER, Baixin QIAN, Vijendra SAHI, Ionel C. STEFAN, David P. STUMBO
  • Patent number: RE45703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: OneD Material LLC
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Baixin Qian, Ionel C. Stefan
  • Patent number: RE46921
    Abstract: The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: OneD Material LLC
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Baixin Qian, Ionel C. Stefan
  • Patent number: RE48084
    Abstract: The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ONED MATERIAL LLC
    Inventors: Yimin Zhu, Jay L. Goldman, Baixin Qian, Ionel C. Stefan