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: 10131991
    Abstract: A method of preparing light transmitting conducting metal oxide (TCO) films using atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a metal precursor multiple oxidizing reactants. The multiple metal oxidizing reactants may be selected to enhance growth of the TCO film. In a particular embodiment, an indium oxide TCO film is prepared using a cyclopentadienyl indium precursor and a combination of water and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Joseph A. Libera
  • Patent number: 10121642
    Abstract: Scalable electron amplifier devices and methods of fabricating the devices an atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) fabrication process are described. The ALD fabrication process allows for large area (e.g., eight inches by eight inches) electron amplifier devices to be produced at reduced costs compared to current fabrication processes. The ALD fabrication process allows for nanostructure functional coatings, to impart a desired electrical conductivity and electron emissivity onto low cost borosilicate glass micro-capillary arrays to form the electron amplifier devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 10062555
    Abstract: Scalable electron amplifier devices and methods of fabricating the devices an atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) fabrication process are described. The ALD fabrication process allows for large area (e.g., eight inches by eight inches) electron amplifier devices to be produced at reduced costs compared to current fabrication processes. The ALD fabrication process allows for nanostructure functional coatings, to impart a desired electrical conductivity and electron emissivity onto low cost borosilicate glass micro-capillary arrays to form the electron amplifier devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Publication number: 20180233339
    Abstract: Scalable electron amplifier devices and methods of fabricating the devices an atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) fabrication process are described. The ALD fabrication process allows for large area (e.g., eight inches by eight inches) electron amplifier devices to be produced at reduced costs compared to current fabrication processes. The ALD fabrication process allows for nanostructure functional coatings, to impart a desired electrical conductivity and electron emissivity onto low cost borosilicate glass micro-capillary arrays to form the electron amplifier devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 9951291
    Abstract: A lubricant composition includes an oil including a plurality of long-chain hydrocarbon molecules. A quantity of a catalytically active metal-organic additive is mixed with the oil. The metal-organic additive is formulated to fragment the long-chain hydrocarbon molecules of the oil into at least one of dimers and trimers under the influence of at least one of a mechanical loading and a thermal loading. In some embodiments, the metal-organic additive includes a compound of formula II: where: X is Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Ds, Rg or Cn, and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are alkyl or alkyl halide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Erdemir, Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam, Giovanni Ramirez, Osman Eryilmaz
  • Patent number: 9937490
    Abstract: A high surface area catalyst with a mesoporous support structure and a thin conformal coating over the surface of the support structure. The high surface area catalyst support is adapted for carrying out a reaction in a reaction environment where the thin conformal coating protects the support structure within the reaction environment. In various embodiments, the support structure is a mesoporous silica catalytic support and the thin conformal coating comprises a layer of metal oxide resistant to the reaction environment which may be a hydrothermal environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Christopher L. Marshall, Joseph A. Libera, James A. Dumesic, Yomaira J. Pagan-Torres
  • Publication number: 20180094352
    Abstract: A method for creating a thin film. A barrier layer is applied to a substrate and a metal layer deposited on the thin film. The barrier layer may comprise a tungsten composition and the metal layer may comprise pure tungsten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Anil U. Mane, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Patent number: 9917295
    Abstract: A method for using atomic layer deposition to produce a film configured for use in an anode, cathode, or solid state electrolyte of a lithium-ion battery or a lithium-sulfur battery. The method includes repeating a cycle for a predetermined number of times in an inert atmosphere. The cycle includes exposing a substrate to a first precursor, purging the substrate with inert gas, exposing the substrate to a second precursor, and purging the substrate with inert gas. The film is a metal sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Xiangbo Meng
  • Publication number: 20180010248
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an foam includes providing a foam comprising a base material. The base material is coated with an inorganic material using at least one of an atomic layer deposition (ALD), a molecular layer deposition (MLD), or sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process. The SIS process includes at least one cycle of exposing the foam to a first metal precursor for a first predetermined time and a first partial pressure. The first metal precursor infiltrates at least a portion of the base material and binds with the base material. The foam is exposed to a second co-reactant precursor for a second predetermined time and a second partial pressure. The second co-reactant precursor reacts with the first metal precursor, thereby forming the inorganic material on the base material. The inorganic material infiltrating at least the portion of the base material. The inorganic material is functionalized with a material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Seth B. DARLING, Jeffrey W. ELAM, Anil U. MANE, Seth W. SNYDER
  • Patent number: 9856563
    Abstract: The invention is directed to QCM measurements in monitoring ALD processes. Previously, significant barriers remain in the ALD processes and accurate execution. To turn this exclusively dedicated in situ technique into a routine characterization method, an integral QCM fixture was developed. This new design is easily implemented on a variety of ALD tools, allows rapid sample exchange, prevents backside deposition, and minimizes both the footprint and flow disturbance. Unlike previous QCM designs, the fast thermal equilibration enables tasks such as temperature-dependent studies and ex situ sample exchange, further highlighting the feasibility of this QCM design for day-to-day use. Finally, the in situ mapping of thin film growth rates across the ALD reactor was demonstrated in a popular commercial tool operating in both continuous and quasi-static ALD modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Alex B. F. Martinson, Joseph A. Libera, Jeffrey W. Elam, Shannon C. Riha
  • Publication number: 20170343896
    Abstract: Simplified methods of multiple-patterning photolithography using sequential infiltration synthesis to modify the photoresist such that it withstands plasma etching better than unmodified resist and replaces one or more hard masks and/or a freezing step in MPL processes including litho-etch-litho-etch photolithography or litho-freeze-litho-etch photolithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Seth B. DARLING, Jeffrey W. ELAM, Yu-Chih TSENG
  • Patent number: 9786511
    Abstract: A plasma etch resist material modified by an inorganic protective component via sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) and methods of preparing the modified resist material. The modified resist material is characterized by an improved resistance to a plasma etching or related process relative to the unmodified resist material, thereby allowing formation of patterned features into a substrate material, which may be high-aspect ratio features. The SIS process forms the protective component within the bulk resist material through a plurality of alternating exposures to gas phase precursors which infiltrate the resist material. The plasma etch resist material may be initially patterned using photolithography, electron-beam lithography or a block copolymer self-assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng
  • Publication number: 20170227678
    Abstract: Selective receiver coatings provide high performance for concentrated solar power applications. The coating provides high solar absorptivity (90% or greater) with low IR emissivity (0.1 or less) while maintaining stability at temperatures greater than 700° C. The coating comprises a composite of nanoparticles forming mesoporous with a conformal coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane, Angel Yanguas-Gil, Joseph A. Libera
  • Publication number: 20170229593
    Abstract: Selective receiver coatings provide high performance for concentrated solar power applications. The coating provides high solar absorptivity (90% or greater) with low IR emissivity (0.1 or less) while maintaining stability at temperatures greater than 700° C. The coating comprises a composite of a mesoporous photonic matrix with a conformal optical coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane, Angel Yanguas-Gil, Joseph A. Libera
  • Patent number: 9727672
    Abstract: Transport and surface chemistry of certain deposition techniques is modeled. Methods provide a model of the transport inside nanostructures as a single-particle discrete Markov chain process. This approach decouples the complexity of the surface chemistry from the transport model, thus allowing its application under general surface chemistry conditions, including atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Methods provide for determination of determine statistical information of the trajectory of individual molecules, such as the average interaction time or the number of wall collisions for molecules entering the nanostructures as well as to track the relative contributions to thin-film growth of different independent reaction pathways at each point of the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Angel Yanguas-Gil, Jeffrey W. Elam
  • Publication number: 20170203258
    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: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Anna Lee, Jeffrey W. Elam, Joseph A. Libera
  • Patent number: 9684234
    Abstract: Simplified methods of multiple-patterning photolithography using sequential infiltration synthesis to modify the photoresist such that it withstands plasma etching better than unmodified resist and replaces one or more hard masks and/or a freezing step in MPL processes including litho-etch-litho-etch photolithography or litho-freeze-litho-etch photolithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng
  • Publication number: 20170166456
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an oleophilic foam includes providing a foam comprising a base material. The base material is coated with an inorganic material using at least one of an atomic layer deposition (ALD), a molecular layer deposition (MLD) or sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) process. The SIS process includes at least one cycle of exposing the foam to a first metal precursor for a first predetermined time and a first partial pressure. The first metal precursor infiltrates at least a portion of the base material and binds with the base material. The foam is exposed to a second co-reactant precursor for a second predetermined time and a second partial pressure. The second co-reactant precursor reacts with the first metal precursor, thereby forming the inorganic material on the base material. The inorganic material infiltrating at least the portion of the base material. The inorganic material is functionalized with an oleophilic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Anil U. Mane
  • Publication number: 20170145565
    Abstract: A system and method for continuous atomic layer deposition. The system and method includes a housing, a moving bed which passes through the housing, a plurality of precursor gases and associated input ports and the amount of precursor gases, position of the input ports, and relative velocity of the moving bed and carrier gases enabling exhaustion of the precursor gases at available reaction sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Angel Yanguas-Gil, Joseph A. Libera
  • Publication number: 20170137577
    Abstract: A method of preparing tunable inorganic patterned nanofeatures by infiltration of a block copolymer scaffold having a plurality of self-assembled periodic polymer microdomains. The method may be used sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS), related to atomic layer deposition (ALD). The method includes selecting a metal precursor that is configured to selectively react with the copolymer unit defining the microdomain but is substantially non-reactive with another polymer unit of the copolymer. A tunable inorganic features is selectively formed on the microdomain to form a hybrid organic/inorganic composite material of the metal precursor and a co-reactant. The organic component may be optionally removed to obtain an inorganic feature s with patterned nanostructures defined by the configuration of the microdomain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Jeffrey W. Elam, Yu-Chih Tseng, Qing Peng