Patents by Inventor Larry A. Curtiss

Larry A. Curtiss 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: 20240110292
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in part, methods and processes for the production of lithium superoxide (LiO2) which is free of other lithium-oxygen compounds, as well as compositions and electrochemical cells comprising lithium superoxide (e.g., lithium superoxide that is free of other lithium-oxygen compounds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Larry A. Curtiss, Hsien-Hau Wang, Khalil Amine, Samuel Plunkett
  • Publication number: 20230170473
    Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a lithium anode having a red poly(benzonitrile) coating covering at least a portion of the anode; a separator and an air cathode comprising reduced graphene oxide over gas diffusion layer; and an electrolyte comprising an ether solvent, benzonitrile, and a lithium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Hsien-Han Wang, Ritesh Jagatramka, Samuel Plunkett, Larry A. Curtiss, Khalil Amine
  • Patent number: 11658291
    Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a lithium anode having a red poly(benzonitrile) coating covering at least a portion of the anode; a separator and an air cathode comprising reduced graphene oxide over gas diffusion layer; and an electrolyte comprising an ether solvent, benzonitrile, and a lithium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Hsien-Hau Wang, Ritesh Jagatramka, Samuel Plunkett, Larry A. Curtiss, Khalil Amine
  • Publication number: 20220037646
    Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a lithium anode having a red poly(benzonitrile) coating covering at least a portion of the anode; a separator and an air cathode comprising reduced graphene oxide over gas diffusion layer; and an electrolyte comprising an ether solvent, benzonitrile, and a lithium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Hsien-Hau Wang, Ritesh Jagatramka, Samuel Plunkett, Larry A. Curtiss, Khalil Amine
  • Patent number: 11028490
    Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic electrode for converting molecules, the electrode comprising a predetermined number of single catalytic sites supported on a substrate. Also provided is a method for oxidizing water comprising contacting the water with size selected catalyst clusters. The invention also provides a method for reducing an oxidized moiety, the method comprising contacting the moiety with size selected catalyst clusters at a predetermined voltage potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Vajda, Larry A. Curtiss, Michael J. Pellin
  • Patent number: 10654772
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating alkenes, the method having the steps of contacting an alkane with catalyst clusters no greater than 10 nm for a time sufficient to convert the alkane to alkene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Vajda, Avik Halder, Larry A. Curtiss
  • Publication number: 20200079709
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating alkenes, the method having the steps of contacting an alkane with catalyst clusters no greater than 10 nm for a time sufficient to convert the alkane to alkene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Vajda, Avik Halder, Larry A. Curtiss
  • Patent number: 10385032
    Abstract: The invention provides a one pot method for generating propylene oxide, the method having the steps of contacting propane with catalyst clusters no greater than 30 atoms in the presence of oxygen for a time sufficient to directly convert the propane to the propylene oxide. The invented method eliminates the generation of intermediate compounds or intermediate reaction steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Vajda, Avik Halder, Larry A. Curtiss
  • Publication number: 20190017182
    Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic electrode for converting molecules, the electrode comprising a predetermined number of single catalytic sites supported on a substrate. Also provided is a method for oxidizing water comprising contacting the water with size selected catalyst clusters. The invention also provides a method for reducing an oxidized moiety, the method comprising contacting the moiety with size selected catalyst clusters at a predetermined voltage potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan VAJDA, Larry A. Curtiss, Michael J. Pellin
  • Patent number: 9590248
    Abstract: An active material composition includes a porous graphene nanocage and a source material. The source material may be a sulfur material. The source material may be an anodic material. A lithium-sulfur battery is provided that includes a cathode, an anode, a lithium salt, and an electrolyte, where the cathode of the lithium-sulfur battery includes a porous graphene nanocage and a sulfur material and at least a portion of the sulfur material is entrapped within the porous graphene nanocage. Also provided is a lithium-air battery that includes a cathode, an anode, a lithium salt, and an electrolyte, where the cathode includes a porous graphene nanocage and where the cathode may be free of a cathodic metal catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Jun Lu, Peng Du, Jianguo Wen, Larry A. Curtiss
  • Patent number: 9553316
    Abstract: A composition includes LiO2, reduced graphene oxide, and a metal catalyst or residue thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jun Lu, Khalil Amine, Larry A. Curtiss, Kah Chun Lau, Yang-Kook Sun, Yun Jung Lee, Xiangyi Luo
  • Patent number: 9496590
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating Li2O2 or composites of it, the method uses mixing lithium ions with oxygen ions in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises a plurality of metal clusters, their alloys and mixtures, each cluster consisting of between 3 and 18 metal atoms. The invention also describes a lithium-air battery which uses a lithium metal anode, and a cathode opposing the anode. The cathode supports metal clusters, each cluster consisting of size selected clusters, taken from a range of between approximately 3 and approximately 18 metal atoms, and an electrolyte positioned between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Vajda, Larry A. Curtiss, Jun Lu, Khalil Amine, Eric C. Tyo
  • Patent number: 9478837
    Abstract: A lithium-air battery includes a cathode including a porous active carbon material, a separator, an anode including lithium, and an electrolyte including a lithium salt and polyalkylene glycol ether, where the porous active carbon material is free of a metal-based catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Larry A. Curtiss, Jun Lu, Kah Chun Lau, Zhengcheng Zhang, Yang-Kook Sun
  • Publication number: 20160285107
    Abstract: A composition includes LiO2, reduced graphene oxide, and a metal catalyst or residue thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jun Lu, Khalil Amine, Larry A. Curtiss, Kah Chun Lau, Yang-Kook Sun, Yun Jung Lee, Xiangyi Luo
  • Publication number: 20150171496
    Abstract: A lithium-air battery includes a cathode including a porous active carbon material, a separator, an anode including lithium, and an electrolyte including a lithium salt and polyalkylene glycol ether, where the porous active carbon material is free of a metal-based catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Larry A. Curtiss, Jun Lu, Kah Chun Lau, Zhengcheng Zhang, Yang-Kook Sun
  • Publication number: 20150093658
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating Li2O2 or composites of it, the method uses mixing lithium ions with oxygen ions in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises a plurality of metal clusters, their alloys and mixtures, each cluster consisting of between 3 and 18 metal atoms. The invention also describes a lithium-air battery which uses a lithium metal anode, and a cathode opposing the anode. The cathode supports metal clusters, each cluster consisting of size selected clusters, taken from a range of between approximately 3 and approximately 18 metal atoms, and an electrolyte positioned between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Vajda, Larry A. Curtiss, Jun Lu, Khalil Amine, Eric C. Tyo
  • Patent number: 8968941
    Abstract: A lithium-air battery includes a cathode including a porous active carbon material, a separator, an anode including lithium, and an electrolyte including a lithium salt and polyalkylene glycol ether, where the porous active carbon material is free of a metal-based catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Larry A. Curtiss, Jun Lu, Kah Chun Lau, Zhengcheng Zhang, Yang-Kook Sun
  • Publication number: 20140305805
    Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic electrode for converting molecules, the electrode comprising a predetermined number of single catalytic sites supported on a substrate. Also provided is a method for oxidizing water comprising contacting the water with size selected catalyst clusters. The invention also provides a method for reducing an oxidized moiety, the method comprising contacting the moiety with size selected catalyst clusters at a predetermined voltage potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Vajda, Larry A. Curtiss, Michael J. Pellin
  • Publication number: 20140272610
    Abstract: An active material composition includes a porous graphene nanocage and a source material. The source material may be a sulfur material. The source material may be an anodic material. A lithium-sulfur battery is provided that includes a cathode, an anode, a lithium salt, and an electrolyte, where the cathode of the lithium-sulfur battery includes a porous graphene nanocage and a sulfur material and at least a portion of the sulfur material is entrapped within the porous graphene nanocage. Also provided is a lithium-air battery that includes a cathode, an anode, a lithium salt, and an electrolyte, where the cathode includes a porous graphene nanocage and where the cathode may be free of a cathodic metal catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Jun Lu, Peng Du, Jianguo Wen, Larry A. Curtiss
  • Publication number: 20130230783
    Abstract: A lithium-air battery includes a cathode including a porous active carbon material, a separator, an anode including lithium, and an electrolyte including a lithium salt and polyalkylene glycol ether, where the porous active carbon material is free of a metal-based catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Larry A. Curtiss, Jun Lu, Kah Chun Lau, Zhengcheng Zhang, Yang-Kook Sun