Patents by Inventor Jeffrey W. Elam

Jeffrey W. Elam 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: 10553874
    Abstract: A hybrid protective coating includes an inorganic component and an organic component such that the inorganic component includes at least one of a metal oxide, a metal fluoride, or combination thereof, and the organic component includes at least one metalcone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10537858
    Abstract: A porous membrane provides enhanced filtration of pollutants and particles by coating the membrane with conformal thin films of doped titanium dioxide via atomic layer deposition or, alternatively, sequential infiltration synthesis. The membrane can either be organic or inorganic, and the doping of the membrane, usually with nitrogen, is an important feature that shifts the optical absorption of the TiO2 from the UV range into the visible-light range. This enables the use of lower energy light, including sunlight, to activate the photocatalytic function of the film. The coating described in the present invention is compatible with virtually any porous membrane and allows for precise tuning of the pore size with molecular precision. The present invention presents a new coating process and chemical structure that provides catalytic activity, strongly enhanced by light, to both mitigate fouling and break down various organic pollutants in the process stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Anna Lee, Jeffrey W. Elam, Joseph A. Libera
  • Publication number: 20190382893
    Abstract: Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are deposited as thin layers on a substrate. The TMDs may be grown on oxide substrates and may have a tunable TMD-oxide interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam, Steven Letourneau, Elton Graugnard
  • Publication number: 20190366273
    Abstract: Atomic layer deposition is utilized to deposit a coating on a membrane. The coated membrane exhibits a tightly bound hydration layer upon exposure to water. The resultant coated membrane is oleophobic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Hao-Cheng Yang, Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Lin Chen, Ruben Waldman
  • Publication number: 20190341618
    Abstract: An electrode comprises an electrode core. A composite bilayer coating is conformally disposed on the electrode core. The composite bilayer coating comprises a first layer disposed on at least a portion of the electrode core. The first layer comprises a metal fluoride, a metal oxide or a metal sulfide. A second layer is disposed on the first layer and comprises a metal fluoride, a metal oxide or a metal sulfide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jason R. Croy, Jeffrey W. Elam, Mahalingam Balasubramanian
  • Publication number: 20190318896
    Abstract: The invention provides a gain device having a plurality of channels having a polygonal shape with four or more sides. The invention also provides a method for producing microchannel plates (MCPs) having the steps of providing a pre-polymer; and directing a laser over the pre-polymer into a pre-determined pattern. Also provided is method for efficiently 3D printing an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Wagner, Michael J. Pellin, Howard Nicholson, Lei Xia, Jingbo Wang, Junqi Xie, Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 10439219
    Abstract: A cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery includes a copper-containing current collector, over which an active material layer is disposed. A method of producing the cathode is provided. A lithium-sulfur battery including the cathode provides improved capacity and cycleability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Xiangbo Meng
  • Publication number: 20190279870
    Abstract: Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are deposited by atomic layer deposition as thin layers on a substrate. The TMDs may be grown on oxide substrates and may have a tunable TMD-oxide interface. The TMD may be etched using an atomic layer etching technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 10403464
    Abstract: The invention provides a gain device having a plurality of channels having a polygonal shape with four or more sides. The invention also provides a method for producing microchannel plates (MCPs) having the steps of providing a pre-polymer; and directing a laser over the pre-polymer into a pre-determined pattern. Also provided is method for efficiently 3D printing an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Wagner, Michael J. Pellin, Howard Nicholson, Lei Xia, Jingbo Wang, Junqi Xie, Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 10294564
    Abstract: A method for forming boron (B) containing Al2O3 composite layers includes (a) reacting a substrate surface with an aluminum-containing precursor to form a first monolayer, (b) purging excess aluminum-containing precursor and reaction by-product, (c) reacting the first monolayer with a second precursor, and (d) purging excess second precursor and reaction by-product, such that steps (a) to (d) constitute one cycle, the composite layers being formed after a plurality of cycles, and the resultant composite layers have a chemical formula of BxAl2?xO3, where x varies in the range of 0 and 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Publication number: 20190109320
    Abstract: The fabrication of robust interfaces between transition metal oxides and non-aqueous electrolytes is one of the great challenges of lithium ion batteries. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of aluminum tungsten fluoride (AlWxFy) improves the electrochemical stability of LiCoO2. AlWxFy thin films were deposited by combining trimethylaluminum and tungsten hexafluoride. in-situ quartz crystal microbalance and transmission electron microscopy studies show that the films grow in a layer-by-layer fashion and are amorphous nature. Ultrathin AlWxFy coatings (<10 ?) on LiCoO2 significantly enhance stability relative to bare LiCoO2 when cycled to 4.4 V. The coated LiCoO2 exhibited superior rate capability (up to 400 mA/g) and discharge capacities at a current of 400 mA/g were 51% and 92% of the first cycle capacities for the bare and AlWxFy coated materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam, Joong Sun Park, Jason R. Croy
  • Publication number: 20190109330
    Abstract: An efficient, stable catalyst material having a thin film catalyst supported on a support of metal carbide, nitride, oxide, carbonitride, oxycarbonitride core. The thin film catalyst is covalently bonded to the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Alizera Pezhman Shirvanian, Deborah J. Myers, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Publication number: 20190096623
    Abstract: The invention provides a gain device having a plurality of channels having a polygonal shape with four or more sides. The invention also provides a method for producing microchannel plates (MCPs) having the steps of providing a pre-polymer; and directing a laser over the pre-polymer into a pre-determined pattern. Also provided is method for efficiently 3D printing an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Wagner, Michael J. Pellin, Howard Nicholson, Lei Xia, Jingbo Wang, Junqi Xie, Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Publication number: 20190062912
    Abstract: A temporal Atomic Layer Deposition system and method utilizing precursor pulses applied to a moving substrate. The precursor pulses are self-exhausting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Joseph A. Libera, Angel Yanguas-GiI
  • Publication number: 20190062915
    Abstract: A method for forming boron (B) containing Al2O3 composite layers includes (a) reacting a substrate surface with an aluminum-containing precursor to form a first monolayer, (b) purging excess aluminum-containing precursor and reaction by-product, (c) reacting the first monolayer with a second precursor, and (d) purging excess second precursor and reaction by-product, such that steps (a) to (d) constitute one cycle, the composite layers being formed after a plurality of cycles, and the resultant composite layers have a chemical formula of BxAl2-xO3, where x varies in the range of 0 and 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Anil U. MANE, Jeffrey W. ELAM
  • Publication number: 20190066961
    Abstract: An enhanced electron amplifier structure includes a microporous substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, the microporous substrate including at least one channel extending substantially through the substrate between the front surface and the rear surface, an ion diffusion layer formed on a surface of the channel, the ion diffusion layer comprising a metal oxide, a resistive coating layer formed on the first ion diffusion layer, an emissive coating layer formed on the resistive coating layer, and an optional ion feedback layer formed on the front surface of the structure. The emissive coating produces a secondary electron emission responsive to an interaction with a particle received by the channel. The ion diffusion layer, the resistive coating layer, the emissive coating layer, and the ion feedback layer are independently deposited via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Anil U. MANE, Jeffrey W. ELAM
  • Publication number: 20190054426
    Abstract: Modification of polymeric membranes via SIS to promote membrane resilience, prolong membrane lifetime, and mitigate fouling. Membranes include an inorganic material in the surface and a polymeric core. The polymer may be removed leaving an inorganic material patterned from an initial polymeric membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Seth B. DARLING, Jeffrey W. ELAM, Ruben WALDMAN
  • Publication number: 20190044151
    Abstract: A hybrid protective coating includes an inorganic component and an organic component such that the inorganic component includes at least one of a metal oxide, a metal fluoride, or combination thereof, and the organic component includes at least one metalcone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. ELAM, Lin CHEN
  • Patent number: 10180508
    Abstract: An enhanced electron amplifier structure includes a substrate configured to amplify a signal of an incident particle by causing a cascade of secondary electron emissions and an enhancement layer configured to increase a sensitivity of the substrate to the incident particle. The enhancement layer is provided on an upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 10177365
    Abstract: The fabrication of robust interfaces between transition metal oxides and non-aqueous electrolytes is one of the great challenges of lithium ion batteries. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of aluminum tungsten fluoride (AlWxFy) improves the electrochemical stability of LiCoO2. AlWxFy thin films were deposited by combining trimethylaluminum and tungsten hexafluoride. in-situ quartz crystal microbalance and transmission electron microscopy studies show that the films grow in a layer-by-layer fashion and are amorphous nature. Ultrathin AlWxFy coatings (<10 ?) on LiCoO2 significantly enhance stability relative to bare LiCoO2 when cycled to 4.4 V. The coated LiCoO2 exhibited superior rate capability (up to 400 mA/g) and discharge capacities at a current of 400 mA/g were 51% and 92% of the first cycle capacities for the bare and AlWxFy coated materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam, Joong Sun Park, Jason R. Croy