Patents by Inventor Kuochih Hong

Kuochih Hong 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).

  • Publication number: 20010012586
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method to make a positive electrode and the nickel hydride battery using same. The positive electrode at least comprises a nickel hydroxide plus 1-15 wt. % of fine additive powders selected from the group consisting of Co/CoO, Ni, Cu, Zn, ZnO, C, Mg, Al, Mn, silver oxide, hydride, conductive polymer, and combinations thereof. Said positive electrode further comprises one, two or more additives, 0.01-10 wt. %, selected from the group of MgCl2, CaCl2, SrCl2, SrF2, BaCl2, BaF2, MgF2, and other fluorides/chlorides of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Al, Y, Sn, Sb, Ag, transition metals, rare earth metals, and composite metal oxide/halide to improve the performance of said positive electrode at high temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Kuochih Hong, Yee-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 5766799
    Abstract: This invention provides a method to reduce the internal pressure of a hydride battery, particularly a sealed type. The battery, according to this invention, is composed of a container, a positive electrode, a negative electrode suitable for various temperatures comprising at least two hydrogen storage electrode materials and/or their hydrides, a separator positioned between the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrolyte in the container and in contact with the positive and negative electrodes and the separator. The negative electrode is a hydrogen storage hydride electrode which is composed of at least two hydrogen storage electrode alloys having compositions represented by A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c. . . and A'.sub.a,B'.sub.b C'.sub.c, . . . respectively; where the set of elements: A, B, C, . . . and the set of elements: A', B', C', . . . both consist of 6 to 80 at. % of nickel, preferably 24-55 at.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Kuochih Hong
  • Patent number: 5733680
    Abstract: This invention provides a method to make a hydrogen storage hydride electrode and a hydride battery, particularly a sealed type, suitable for various temperatures. The battery, according to this invention, is composed of a container, a positive electrode, a negative electrode suitable for various temperatures comprising of at least two hydrogen storage electrode materials and/or their hydrides, a separator positioned between the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrolyte in the container and in contact with the positive and negative electrodes and the separator. The negative electrode is a hydrogen storage hydride electrode which is composed of at least two hydrogen storage electrode alloys having compositions represented by A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c . . . and A'.sub.a' B'.sub.b' C'.sub.c' . . . respectively; where the set of elements: A, B, C, . . . and the set of elements: A', B', C', . . . , both are consisting of 6 to 80 at. % of nickel, preferably 24-55 at.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Kuochih Hong
  • Patent number: 5721066
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method to make a light-weight and flexible electrode for electrochemical application especially for nickel hydride batteries. The method uses a conductive polymer as the substrate of an electrode. The conductive polymer can be an acidic or a basic type polymer. In the preparation of an electrode, the monomers of the conductive polymer can be used as the starting material. The electrode of this invention has about 20% more capacity than the electrode using nickel metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventors: Kuochih Hong, Kuoshiu Hong, Huiyim Hong
  • Patent number: 5695530
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to make a high rate, fast oxygen recombination and long life rechargeable metal oxide-hydride batteries, and in particular, rechargeable nickel-hydride batteries. The battery, according to this invention, is composed of a high rate, fast oxygen recombination and long life hydrogen storage electrode as a negative electrode. The hydrogen storage material is prepared to have a thin oxide top surface layer and a metal-rich subsurface layer, especially a nickel-rich subsurface layer. In the microstructure, it is preferable that it consists of a nickel-rich composition in one type of the grains and/or in grain boundaries. The hydride electrode made has an electrochemical capacity from 1.15 to 2.40 AH/cc. Before or after cell assembly, sealing, and/or using, the hydrogen storage electrode is chemically or electrochemically precharged to a state having a half-cell open circuit potential of -0.790 to -0.905 V vs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Kuochih Hong, Kuoshiu Hong, Huiyim Hong
  • Patent number: 5556719
    Abstract: This invention disclosures a method to make an improved hydrogen/hydride electrode for electro-chemical applications. The method comprises the steps of: (1) preparing the slurry of hydrogen storage material; (2) pasting the slurry onto and/or into a substrate current collector to make a wet pasted electrode; (3) drying the wet pasted electrode; and (4) sintering the pasted electrode. The aforementioned method is very useful for the hydrogen storage alloy comprising of Ti, 2-70 at. %; Zr, 2-70 at. % and Ni, 5-80 at. %. It is also useful for a pseudo AB.sub.5 - or AB.sub.2 -type alloy. In particular, a high capacity hydrogen storage electrode comprising a multicomponent hydrogen storage alloy having composition represented by the formula: Ti.sub.a Zr.sub.b Ni.sub.c Nb.sub.y R.sub.z M.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventors: Kuochih Hong, Kuoshiu Hong, Huiyim Hong
  • Patent number: 5552246
    Abstract: The present invention discloses four main groups of hydrogen storage/hydride electrode materials for electrochemical applications as the active material of the negative electrode of a hydride battery. The compositions of these four groups are represented by the formulas: (1) Ti.sub.a Nb.sub.b Ni.sub.c R.sub.x D.sub.y Q.sub.p, (2) Ti.sub.a Hf.sub.b Ni.sub.c R.sub.x D.sub.y Q.sub.p, (3) Ti.sub.a Ta.sub.b Ni.sub.c R.sub.x D.sub.y Q.sub.p, (4) Ti.sub.a V.sub.b Ni.sub.c R.sub.x D.sub.y Q.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: Kuochih Hong
  • Patent number: 5541017
    Abstract: A method to make new improved high capacity rechargeable hydride batteries comprising steps of (1) preparing an improved hydrogen storage material represented by the composition formula: A.sub.a B.sub.b Ni.sub.c D.sub.y M.sub.x R.sub.z, where A is one or more element chosen from the group of Ti, Zr, Mg; B is one or more elements chosen from the group of Al, V, Mn, Nb, Si, Pd, and Ag; D is one or more elements chosen from the group of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, W and Sn; R is one or more elements chosen from the group of C, B, Ca, Sb, Bi, Y, Hf, Ta, N, O, Ge, Ga and Mm, where Mm is mischmetal; M is one or more elements chosen from the group of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, P and S; and where a, b, c, y, x and z are defined by: 0.10.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.85, 0.01.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.65, 0.02.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.75, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.30, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.30, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.30 and a+b+c+y+x+z=1.00; (2) preparing a high capacity (1.15-2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventors: Kuochih Hong, Kuoshiu Hong, Huiyim Hong, Kuoping Hong
  • Patent number: 5501917
    Abstract: Improved multicomponent alloys for hydrogen storage and rechargeable hydride electrode applications, and in particular for rechargeable hydride battery applications, according to the formula: A.sub.a B.sub.b Ni.sub.c D.sub.y M.sub.x R.sub.z, and the hydride thereof, where A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Y, V, Nb, Pd, Mg, Be, and Ca; B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, V, Wb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Si, C, B, and Mo; D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of W, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ag, Sb and Sn; M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, P, S, Sr, and Ba; R is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, and Yb; and where a, b, c, x, y and z are defined by: 0.10.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.85, 0.02.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.85, 0.02.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.85, 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.30, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.25, 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.12 and a+b+c+x+y=1.00.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Inventor: Kuochih Hong
  • Patent number: 5006328
    Abstract: A method for providing a multicomponent alloy for hydrogen storage and for a hydride electrode. The steps involved in the method include: providing a quantity of elements A, B, C, . . . , where said elements are selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Al, Y, Zr, Nb, Pd, Mo, Ca, Si, C, Cu, Ta, and rare earth elements, the quantity of the elements including nickel and at least two other elements from said group; apportioning the quantity of the elements in order to form a composition A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c . . . such that the composition A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c . . . contains 5 to 65 mole percent of nickel and further such that the composition A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c . . . has, when in the form of a multicomponent alloy, a heat of hydride formation that is in a range of between -3.5 and -9.0 kcal/mold H; and, finally, melting the composition A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c . . . in order to form the desired multicomponent alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventor: Kuochih Hong
  • Patent number: 4849205
    Abstract: Four groups of advanced hydrogen hydride storage and hydride electrode materials, consisting of two common elements, titanium and nickel. In the first group of materials, zirconium and chromium are added with the common elements. The second group of materials contain three additional elements in addition to the common elements, namely, chromium, zirconium and vanadium. The third group of materials contain also, in addition to the common elements, zirconium and vanadium. The fourth group of materials adds manganese and vanadium with the common elements. The preparation methods of the materials, as well as their hydride electrode are disclosed. Electrochemical studies indicate that these materials have high capacity, long cycle life and high rate capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Inventor: Kuochih Hong
  • Patent number: 4551400
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel active materials which reversibly store hydrogen under conditions which make them exceptionally well-suited for elecrochemical applications. These active materials have both novel compositions and structures. A first group of active material compositions incorporate the elements of titanium, vanadium, and nickel. A second group adds zirconium to the first group of active materials. A preferred third composition group adds chromium to the first group of active materials. These materials may be single or multiphase combinations of amorphous, microcrystalline, or polycrystalline structures. Preferably, these materials have a multiphase polycrystalline structure. Methods of reducing the size or of sizing these materials, as well as other hydride-forming alloys, also are provided. Methods of preparing the inventive hydrogen storage materials and fabricating electrodes from these active materials are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna Sapru, Kuochih Hong, Michael A. Fetcenko, Srinivasan Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 4431561
    Abstract: A material for reversibly storing hydrogen is formed from a lightweight matrix which is chemically and structurally modified to improve its hydrogen storage properties. The utilization of a material which can be any of a number of different disordered structures makes possible the modification of local order chemical environments of the material to increase hydrogen storage capacity and/or improve absorption and desorption properties. Lightweight modifier elements structurally modify the local chemical environments of the matrix to provide a material having an increased density of storage sites to increase hydrogen storage capacity. Transition and rare earth modifier elements structurally modify the local chemical environments to provide a material with an increased density of catalytically active sites for dissociating hydrogen molecules to increase the rate at which hydrogen absorption and desorption can be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Krishna Sapru, Krystyna Dec, Kuochih Hong
  • Patent number: RE34588
    Abstract: Four groups of advanced hydrogen hydride storage and hydride electrode materials, consisting of two common elements, titanium and nickel. In the first group of materials, zirconium and chromium are added with the common elements. The second group of materials contain three additional elements in addition to the common elements, namely, chromium, zirconium and vanadium. The third group of materials contain also, in addition to the common elements, zirconium and vanadium. The fourth group of materials adds manganese and vanadium with the common elements. The preparation methods of the materials, as well as their hydride electrode are disclosed. Electrochemical studies indicate that these materials have high capacity, long cycle life and high rate capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Kuochih Hong