Patents by Inventor Krishna Gunugunuri

Krishna Gunugunuri 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: 11834579
    Abstract: A copper oxide coated pigment including a particle having an outer surface, and a layer of copper oxide on the outer surface. The pigment has a reflectivity of electromagnetic radiation in a visible spectrum less than or equal to 5%, and a reflectivity of electromagnetic radiation in a near-IR and LiDAR spectrum greater than or equal to 5%. The particle is cobalt oxide or carbon black. A method for forming copper oxide coated particles includes combining a precipitating agent with a solution of copper nitrate and particles, forming coated particles. The particles are cobalt oxide or carbon black. Washing the particles, obtaining washed coated particles, and filtering the washed coated particles, obtaining filtered coated particles. Drying the filtered coated particles, obtaining dried coated particles, and calcining the dried coated particles to form the copper oxide coated particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Songtao Wu, Krishna Gunugunuri, Debasish Banerjee
  • Patent number: 11559792
    Abstract: An oxygen storage material (OSM) includes a zinc manganese iron oxide (ZMF) and an alkali metal base on the ZMF surface. The ZMF has a spinel structure. The alkali metal containing ZMF can be formed to have a weight percent of alkali metal up to about two percent. The alkali metal carbonate is retained on the ZMF surface upon heating to a temperature greater than 1,000° C. and stabilizes the ZMF to the cycling of an oxygen rich and oxygen lean atmosphere. The OSM additionally catalyzes the oxidation of hydrocarbons and CO and catalyzes the reduction of NOx for use in catalytic converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Torin C. Peck, Benjamin A. Grayson, Blake A. Graham, Charles Alexander Roberts, Krishna Gunugunuri
  • Patent number: 11541373
    Abstract: Catalyst material composed of a sodium incorporated cerium-zirconium based mixed oxide catalyst material, such as Ce—Zr/Al2O3, for oxygen storage capacity applications. The sodium incorporated cerium-zirconium based mixed oxide catalyst material is synthesized by co-precipitation techniques using sodium carbonate as the precipitating agent and exhibits a high oxygen storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles A. Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20220396495
    Abstract: A copper oxide crystallite having an average particle size that is greater than or equal to 5 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm, a ratio of (?111)/(111) greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.5, and a blackness My greater than or equal to 130 and less than or equal to 170. The copper oxide crystallite has a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Songtao Wu, Debasish Banerjee, Krishna Gunugunuri
  • Patent number: 11471873
    Abstract: Methods of making an iron based catalyst using microwave hydrothermal synthesis are provided. The methods include dissolving iron(III) nitrate, Fe(NO3)3, in an organic solvent to form a solution. Once dissolved, the methods include a step of neutralizing the solution with an alkaline mineralizing agent to obtain a precipitate. The solution with the precipitate is then subjected to microwave radiation to cause a temperature gradient and a hydrothermal crystallization process to form a synthesized product. The synthesized product is subsequently separated from the mineralizing agent. The method includes washing and drying the synthesized product to obtain particles of sodium iron oxide (NaFeO2) catalyst that can be used as a composition for a passive NOx adsorber. A two-stage NOx abatement device for removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream during a cold start operation of an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles Alexander Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20220297097
    Abstract: An oxygen storage material (OSM) includes a zinc manganese iron oxide (ZMF) and an alkali metal base on the ZMF surface. The ZMF has a spinel structure. The alkali metal containing ZMF can be formed to have a weight percent of alkali metal up to about two percent. The alkali metal carbonate is retained on the ZMF surface upon heating to a temperature greater than 1,000° C. and stabilizes the ZMF to the cycling of an oxygen rich and oxygen lean atmosphere. The OSM additionally catalyzes the oxidation of hydrocarbons and CO and catalyzes the reduction of NOx for use in catalytic converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Torin C. Peck, Benjamin A. Grayson, Blake A. Graham, Charles Alexander Roberts, Krishna Gunugunuri
  • Publication number: 20220195201
    Abstract: A copper oxide coated pigment including a particle having an outer surface, and a layer of copper oxide on the outer surface. The pigment has a reflectivity of electromagnetic radiation in a visible spectrum less than or equal to 5%, and a reflectivity of electromagnetic radiation in a near-IR and LiDAR spectrum greater than or equal to 5%. The particle is cobalt oxide or carbon black. A method for forming copper oxide coated particles includes combining a precipitating agent with a solution of copper nitrate and particles, forming coated particles. The particles are cobalt oxide or carbon black. Washing the particles, obtaining washed coated particles, and filtering the washed coated particles, obtaining filtered coated particles. Drying the filtered coated particles, obtaining dried coated particles, and calcining the dried coated particles to form the copper oxide coated particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Songtao Wu, Krishna Gunugunuri, Debasish Banerjee
  • Patent number: 11278871
    Abstract: An improved catalyst system is provided for the direct decomposition removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream at temperatures between about 350° C. and about 600° C. that employs an (amorphous CuOx)/Co3O4 catalyst. The catalyst has an amorphous CuOx deposit on the surfaces of particles of Co3O4 spinel oxide. The catalyst is configured to reduce NOx to N2 without the presence of a reductant. The (amorphous CuOx)/Co3O4 catalyst is formed by the precipitation of the deposit from solution onto a suspension of Co3O4 spinel oxide particles. The catalyst system can be employed in a catalytic converter for the direct decomposition removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream flowing at a temperature of less than or equal to about 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles Alexander Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20220017379
    Abstract: A black IR reflective or transmissive pigment from which LiDAR responsive black coatings can be formed where the pigment displays a Blackness My value similar to non-IR reflective carbon black. The CuO particles display small crystallites of less than 18 nm and an (?111)/(111) reflectance intensity ratio of less than 1.2. A method of forming the CuO particles includes precipitation of CuCO3 or CuCO3/Cu(OH)2 using an alkali carbonate as a precipitant and calcining the precipitate at about 300° C. to about 400° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Songtao Wu, Debasish Banerjee, Krishna Gunugunuri
  • Patent number: 11208928
    Abstract: NOx abatement compositions include cobalt oxide (Co3O4) doped with cerium, and have an overall formula Co3-xCe-O4, with cerium occupying tetrahedral and/or octahedral sites in the spinel structure. The NOx abatement compositions possess NOx storage and NOx direct decomposition activity. Dual stage NOx abatement devices include an upstream portion having the NOx abatement composition to adsorb and store NOx at low temperature, and then release the NOx at higher temperature to a downstream catalytic conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles Alexander Roberts, Torin C. Peck, Naoto Nagata
  • Patent number: 11154816
    Abstract: Passive NOx adsorption (PNA) compositions have a formula Pd—NiFe2O4 wherein Pd represents a palladium component, such as palladium oxide, that is adsorbed on surfaces of the nickel ferrite. Such compositions can be synthesized by wet impregnation of nickel ferrite with a palladium salt, and exhibit efficient NOx adsorption at low temperature, with NOx desorption occurring predominantly at high temperature. Two-stage NOx abatement catalysts, effective under engine cold start conditions, include a PNA composition upstream from an NOx conversion catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Torin C. Peck, Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles Alexander Roberts
  • Publication number: 20210308654
    Abstract: Catalysts for passive NOx absorber to remove NOx from exhaust gas system during engine cold start operation having high storage capacity and ideal desorption properties. The catalysts may include a system having an alumina supported Pt/Ce—Zr mixed oxide catalysts material synthesized by deposition co-precipitation using a precipitation agent selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), ammonium carbonate ((NH4)2CO3), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles A. Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20210283584
    Abstract: An improved catalyst system is provided for the direct decomposition removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream at temperatures between about 350° C. and about 600° C. that employs an (amorphous CuOx)/Co3O4 catalyst. The catalyst has an amorphous CuOx deposit on the surfaces of particles of Co3O4 spinel oxide. The catalyst is configured to reduce NOx to N2 without the presence of a reductant. The (amorphous CuOx)/Co3O4 catalyst is formed by the precipitation of the deposit from solution onto a suspension of Co3O4 spinel oxide particles. The catalyst system can be employed in a catalytic converter for the direct decomposition removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream flowing at a temperature of less than or equal to about 500° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles Alexander Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Patent number: 11110432
    Abstract: Catalysts including multi-transition metal doped copper-cobalt spinel mixed oxide catalyst materials for direct NOx decomposition with selectivity to N2 from combustion engine exhaust, while minimizing formation of the N2O product. In one example, the catalyst may include a ternary zinc-doped copper-cobalt spinel material or a quaternary manganese+zinc doped copper-cobalt spinel material. The catalysts are effective for reducing NO to N2 at suitable temperatures of 350-500° C., with and without excess O2 presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Torin C. Peck, Ying Zhang, Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles A. Roberts, Chen Ling
  • Publication number: 20210170365
    Abstract: Catalysts including multi-transition metal doped copper-cobalt spinel mixed oxide catalyst materials for direct NOx decomposition with selectivity to N2 from combustion engine exhaust, while minimizing formation of the N2O product. In one example, the catalyst may include a ternary zinc-doped copper-cobalt spinel material or a quaternary manganese+zinc doped copper-cobalt spinel material. The catalysts are effective for reducing NO to N2 at suitable temperatures of 350-500° C., with and without excess O2 presence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Torin C. Peck, Ying Zhang, Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles A. Roberts, Chen Ling
  • Publication number: 20210146338
    Abstract: Catalyst material composed of a sodium incorporated cerium-zirconium based mixed oxide catalyst material, such as Ce—Zr/Al2O3, for oxygen storage capacity applications. The sodium incorporated cerium-zirconium based mixed oxide catalyst material is synthesized by co-precipitation techniques using sodium carbonate as the precipitating agent and exhibits a high oxygen storage capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles A. Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20210146340
    Abstract: Catalyst for passive NOx absorber to remove NOx from exhaust gas system during engine cold start operation having high storage capacity and ideal desorption properties. The catalyst may include a mixed oxide catalyst system having a Pt promoted Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 catalyst material synthesized by co-precipitation using ammonium carbonate as a precipitation agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles A. Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20210129081
    Abstract: Catalyst material comprising a ternary spinel mixed oxide for treatment of an exhaust gas stream via direct decomposition removal of NOx to N2 and O2. The low temperature (from about 400° C. to about 650° C.), direct decomposition is accomplished without the need of a reductant molecule. In one example, Mn may be incorporated into metal oxide, such as CuyCo3-yO4 spinel oxide, synthesized using co-precipitation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles A. Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20210023546
    Abstract: Methods of making an iron based catalyst using microwave hydrothermal synthesis are provided. The methods include dissolving iron(III) nitrate, Fe(NO3)3, in an organic solvent to form a solution. Once dissolved, the methods include a step of neutralizing the solution with an alkaline mineralizing agent to obtain a precipitate. The solution with the precipitate is then subjected to microwave radiation to cause a temperature gradient and a hydrothermal crystallization process to form a synthesized product. The synthesized product is subsequently separated from the mineralizing agent. The method includes washing and drying the synthesized product to obtain particles of sodium iron oxide (NaFeO2) catalyst that can be used as a composition for a passive NOx adsorber. A two-stage NOx abatement device for removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream during a cold start operation of an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles Alexander Roberts, Torin C. Peck
  • Publication number: 20200376433
    Abstract: Passive NOx adsorption (PNA) compositions have a formula Pd—NiFe2O4 wherein Pd represents a palladium component, such as palladium oxide, that is adsorbed on surfaces of the nickel ferrite. Such compositions can be synthesized by wet impregnation of nickel ferrite with a palladium salt, and exhibit efficient NOx adsorption at low temperature, with NOx desorption occurring predominantly at high temperature. Two-stage NOx abatement catalysts, effective under engine cold start conditions, include a PNA composition upstream from an NOx conversion catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Torin C. Peck, Krishna Gunugunuri, Charles Alexander Roberts